Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 23: Reunion

Hinahati ko na rin ang akin, albeit slower, when he removes my plate of steak away from me and switches it with his cut ones.

Kumain na siya na parang wala siyang ginawa na nakakabilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Thanks." Hindi ko mapigilang matulala, bakit ba siya ganito? "Tangina ser, kulang ako sa aruga mabilis akong mag overthink pag ganito ka."

Tumawa lang siya, "Just eat."

The meat is so good. It's smoky and soft.

Papatayin ata ako ni TJ sa atensyon. Inabot niya ang kanyang tinidor na may pasta, nagkatinginan kami bago ko tinuro ang pinggan ko para ilagay niya.

Umiling siya, wanting me to eat it from his fork. "Hindi ka ba laway conscious?"

Marahas akong sumubo kasi masyado na akong namumula sa hiya, tangina ayaw kong nararamdaman 'to.

"Why would I be? We used to do it before. We also used to sleep together back then—" Tiningnan ko siya ng mariin habang ngumunguya.

"Gago! Why do you make it sound so suggestive?" Kumibit balikat siya sa sinabi ko. "Bata pa tayo non, ibang iba na ngayon."

"You're still you, and I'm still me." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Napahinga ako ng malalim, realizing we really do act like a couple. "TJ... 'wag kang ganito pag kaharap natin ibang tao ha."

He grins, "Are you shy little Hope?"

Yes, and more.

"Ngayon ko lang nalaman na ikaw si TJ..." Gusto ko makilala ang kaibigan ko nang hindi magulo ang paligid namin. "Kaya hindi pwede ako ang ka-date mo sa ball."

"Why?" Nagseryoso siya, pinunasan ang bibig gamit ang table napkin at humarap sa akin.

"It's weird. Hindi naman nila alam na magkaibigan tayo dati. Bigla nalang tayo mas naging close. Baka kung ano ano na iniisip nila."

He laughs. "Who cares?"

"I care. Alam mo ba pinaguusapan na tayo ni Jane at Talia kahapon?" Tiningnan ko siya ng mariin. "Nag uusap sila kung nag d-date daw tayo dahil pinaguusapan na ng ibang staff."

"They're naturally nosy. Don't listen to whatever they're saying."

But she was right.

Katulong nila ako, it's weird if we look like we're dating.

I let out a slow exhale, calming my nerves. I should practice what I preach. Pinaglalaban ko sa ibang tao ang ginagawa ko sa buhay pero... I know deep inside, I'm scared, and I'm disappointed with myself.

Ang baba ng tingin ko sa sarili ko at the same time I know I can do whatever it takes to reach my dream.

It's paradoxical.

Itinuro ko ang bote ng wine na napakamahal pala. "TJ, kalahati na ng sweldo ko sa isang buwan 'tong ilang baso ng wine. That's a small example of how different our worlds are."

"What's different when we live on the same planet and the same fucking country?"

"Seryoso nga, can you stop talking as if this is a trivial matter? Ibang iba ang mundo mo sa mundo ko, TJ."

He doesn't care because he can afford to not care.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pinaglaruan ang table napkin sa harap ko, trying to ignore the way he was studying me, how relaxed he looked, arms across his chest while leaning against the table. Sa aming dalawa, he was not supposed to be calm, he should be embarrassed, he should be freaking out from the rumors spreading he's dating me, their maid!

"I'm not going to hide our friendship, my little Hope."

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. He continued talking.

"You know when we were kids... you weren't shy before." He tilts his head to the side. "You did things without second thoughts."

Napanguso ako. "Hindi kaya."

"Oo kaya. You were doing extreme things when you were a kid."

Sana habang buhay bata nalang ako kung ganoon. Sana matapang pa rin ako sa pagharap ko sa mundo.

"Aren't you tired of being so selfless? Of taking care of other people? Thinking of what they think?" He leans much more, staring at me intently. "Let me take care of you."

My heart was bleeding, and I looked at him. I looked at him behind his smirks and facade.

"Eh sinong mag aalaga sa'yo? Gusto rin kitang alagaan TJ."

Something flashed on his face as I stared.

Tumango siya. "Let's take care of each other."

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