Invisible Line in Between

Chapter 23

"Getting better..." I answered.

I might not be okay yet, but I was slowly going back on the right track. It was a progress that I was proud of after being down the slump and losing my way.

I turned my head to face him and asked, "How about you?"

His lips parted. It was like he wasn't expecting that I'd ask him about his feelings.

He chuckled and bowed his head down. "I don't know..." he vaguely answered my question. "I don't know if I should lie or tell the truth."

May kirot akong naramdaman sa aking puso. For a second, I regretted asking him. I didn't want him to think that I was prying into his feelings. Ayokong maisip niyang nanghihimasok ako sa kanya. I should've just let him open up to me―if he would―instead of asking him.

"Am I okay?" he asked himself as he lifted his head to look up to the sky. "I know I'm not okay, but I'm trying to be..."

Biting my lower lip, since I didn't want to see his pained expression, I also averted my gaze away from him.

"Have you ever experienced falling in love?" he suddenly asked a question which caught me off guard.

Yes.

I fell in love with you and I still do―but I can't tell you that.

Zipping my lips, I didn't answer his question. I was afraid that I might slip a tongue and accidentally tell him how I truly feel about him. He didn't pressure me to answer, though. I guessed he was also lost on his own thoughts and feelings that he didn't care about it.

"I met her years ago..."

My heart hammered against my chest and my eyes widened as I realized that he was really opening up to me. I wasn't sure if he trusts me enough to keep his secret or if he just really didn't have anyone to talk to about his heartbreak, so he had no choice but to tell me about it.

"She is my sister's best friend."

"Blair..." I couldn't stop myself from saying the name of the person he was talking about.

At first, Isaiah was slightly taken aback when he heard me say Blair's name. But then, he just smiled and licked his lower lip.

"Right..." He nodded his head lightly. "I almost forgot that you're a friend of her."

My eyes widened. I didn't expect that he would know that. Though I wasn't sure myself if I was really a friend of Blair or just an acquaintance. Pagkatapos ng concert ay hindi na kami nakapag-usap na dalawa. Kahit na mayroong subject kung saang magkaklase kami ay hindi kami nagpapansinan. Hindi ko rin naman naisip na kausapin siya. She also didn't bother approaching me.

"She told me that you were partners for a case digest before," he explained how he knew my vague relationship to Blair.

"Uh, oo..." sabi ko na lang kahit bahagyang nanunuyo na ang aking lalamunan.

"So, yeah..." He breathed out deeply. "I had been courting her for years already. Though I wouldn't really describe it as courting, but I've been loving her for a long time now."

I didn't know how I managed to keep a straight face, while the man I love was telling me about his romantic feelings for another woman. The lyrics of the song they just released suddenly hit so different to me. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang sakit sa bawat salitang nakasulat sa kanta.

"She's often misunderstood by other people, but I know her well..." he said. "She's an amazing woman. She could be feisty and intimidating, but the reason why she's like that is because she grew up to be independent. Her parents aren't always at home as they live overseas. She's close to my family because my mom always wants to invite her since she's always alone."