The Man in Strings

X. Sneak

A/N: I'm really, really sorry for the slo.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.w updates. I'm having a hard time with my life and might just get back when I am myself, again. This is just a draft written weeks ago and I'm not yet planning to publish this until I get better but I guess you should have this, at least.

See you again.

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I carefully opened Maine's door. Hirap na hirap akong hindi gumawa ng kahit anong tunog, because Valeen's sleeping next to her. Are you informed that I'm just crawling my way away from hell?

Valeen's stay got extended. She stayed here for a week, and I couldn't even get my hands on Maine. Not even once.

At breakfast, she'd wake up ahead of us and cook for the two of them. Hindi nya ako sadyang isinasama. I'd make my usual cup, and she would just send me death glares as she prepare Maine's breakfast every morning. Araw-araw 'yon. Dinadalhan nya si Maine ng pagkain sa kwarto. Ako naman, kailangan kong pumasok ng maaga - kaya hindi ko sya nakikita.

I only got excited three days ago, noong nagpaalam si Maine na mag-go-grocery sya. Valeen just nodded, and I followed her five minutes after. Turns out she's waiting for me. Sigh. If only you knew how fast I ran towards her and hug her.

"I missed you," I whispered to her, like we're Romeo and Juliet who can't be together. A part of me still asks why we should be experiencing this but Maine's persistent on pleasing Valeen. She said this set-up will just make things better for the two of us. I remembered her saying: Kapag nakita nya na sincere ka talaga, at willing kang mag-intay, she'll see through your intentions.

Para na akong nanliligaw ng in-laws nito, ah. Pakiramdam ko nga, mas madadalian ako if I talked to Maine's mom.

"Huwag mo ngang kaamuyin 'yung buhok ko," saway nya sa akin at humiwalay na. "Mauubos 'yung amoy ng shampoo ko, ha."

"I'd buy you dozens of that shampoo," I pulled her towards me again and hugged her tight. "Just let me smell your hair."

"Anong uri ng hug naman 'to?" She asked, amused.

"I-kinda-missed-you-kind-of-hug."

"Kinda?"

"Okay," I pulled away a little but held her close, still. "I-really-missed-you-badly-kind-of-hug."

Maine giggled. "You're good at inventing hugs."

I smiled back at her. "I have an endless list of hugs, Maine," sabi ko sa kanya. "I-enumerate ko isa-isa para lang mayakap kita."

"Loko-loko," sabi nya habang inaya nya na ako papunta sa grocery. Mahirap na. Baka masundan pa kami ng dragon. Napapatawa na lang ako habang naglalakad ako katabi nya. Para kaming mga highschool students na tumatakas dahil baka abutan ni Nanay at sabihan ng kung anu-ano na kesyo bata pa kami at hindi pwede. Maybe Maine got what I was thinking, and so she just went on with my stiffled laughs until we have to return to the house (with another five-minute gap). If Valeen found that suspicious (she's sending me daggers again by the time I got back), I couldn't care. I just played it off and shrugged. Bahala na sya kung anong isipin nya. I got my hug, I'm okay.

Today, I prepared something for her. I woke her up around five in the morning, with me barely making it. Valeen's such a light-sleeper. Akala ko pati 'yung paghinga ko magigising sya, eh. I even made the effort of wearing socks before I woke Maine up.

Napaupo sya, and I placed my forefinger over my lips. Sssh, I mouthed, and I led her downstairs after telling her to carefully get undies from her drawer. I handed her clothes I bought (I just knew her size even from college, okay? Don't judge.) because I couldn't even step into her room with Valeen in the vicinity.