When Timings Align

CHAPTER 20

Nung maghapon nagplano kami ni Xyrelle mag chill. As in chill coffee at konting lakad. Maybe, window shopping ng mga gamit na hindi naman namin afford. Walang tutorial, walang pressure, walang Knoxx. Yun ang plano.

Wala si kainah today, dahil stuck sa memorizing niya. Si Avi naman, group meeting nila. Ako? Ito free. Kasi kahapon pa ako nagpaandar ng effort sa mga ka-groupmate ko. Kaya ngayon, I earned my peace.

"Rylie," bulong ni Xyrelle sabay tapik sa braso ko habang nasa line kami ng coffee shop.

"Hm?"

Sumenyas siya sa likuran namin, "Sila knoxx."

Lumingon ako and there he was. Standing a few steps away, wearing a white t-shirts and gray pants. He looks so...hot kahit ang simple ng suot niya.

Napailing ako. Para akong binuhusan ng maraming kape, ano ba 'tong pinag-iisip ko, shit!

Kasama niya sina Asher, Khalid at... of course... Olivia.

Siyempre may Olivia. Perfect hair. Clean girl aesthetic. Hindi ako galit. Medyo inis lang. Slight lang. Konti lang talaga.

"Uy," si khalid ng makita kami, lumapit sila at mukhang o-order na rin.

I nodded. "Hi."

That's it. That's all I could manage. Si Xyrelle na ang kumausap sa kanila at sakto naman na dumating yung order namin kaya ako na kumuha.

"Asher," bati ni Xyrelle, with a small wave. Parang may something din sa dalawang to, eh. I just pretend not to notice every time Xyrelle pretends not to care.

Asher suddenly suggested we all sit sa same table. At dahil wala naman kaming masamang intension at dahil masyado akong frozen to protest nagkasama-sama kami sa isang round table ng café.

It was loud. It was chaotic. May pa-funny story si Khalid, may pa-sneaky stare si Asher kay Xyrelle, and Olivia kept talking about sa isang subject nila na hindi ko maintindihan o sadyang ayaw ko lang talagang intindihin.

But somewhere in between all that noise, Knoxx leaned slightly toward me and whispered,

"Didn't think I'd see you today."

And I swear... the way he said it?

Like it mattered to him. Like my presence wasn't just coincidence, but something worth noticing.

I looked at him. "Well, here I am."

He stared for a beat.

"Good," he muttered, then leaned back, sipping his drink.

He's so unfair. How can someone look this chill and still manage to pull you like gravity?

And the worst part? I know I shouldn't feel this.

I was about to sip my drink when-

Cold. Wet. Sticky.

Tumalsik ang iced coffee ni Khalid diretso sa blouse ko. It happened so fast, hindi ko alam kung paano niya na sagi yung cup ng drinks niya. The drink tipped, and before I could dodge, ayun... instant coffee bath.

"OH MY GOD, Rylie!" halos pasigaw si Xyrelle, eyes wide but more in a look at me panicking way, "Baka mag-stain!" dagdag niya.

"Shoot," bulong ko sa sarili, abala akong pinupunasan ng tissue pero parang lalo lang kumakalat.

May brown na mantsa sa puti kong top. Perfect. Just perfect.

"Khalid, what did you do? Oh my gosh!" Si Olivia na tumayo pa para daluhan ako.