"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
Aprielle Castellano was determined to commit suicide by jumping off the bridge, letting herself drown, and die with her lungs filled with water━well, not until this blue-haired gu...
"isnʼt it lovely all alone heart made of glass my mindʼs of stone."
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03 | pedestrian lane
IT'S BEEN FOUR days since that night, and fortunately, I became a bit comfortable having Charcoal around despite my defense always being on guard.
"Apat na araw na tayong magkasama, and yet, I don't really have an idea where this escapade will take us," I said before slurping my instant noodles.
The ambiance that surrounds us was very relaxing, making me let go of all the burdens and anxiety for a while. Coal's van is currently parked by the road's pavement in the middle of the rice fields; a palette of orange, yellow, faint pink and peach scattered across the pastel blue sky as the sun sets along the horizon.
I heard the man beside me sighed. "To be honest, hindi ko din naman alam. I've been going around, finding a company that would venture into this uncertain road. Now that I found one, hindi ko pa rin masagot kung saan talaga tayo patungo. All I want is to heal and complete ourselves, to finally reach the stars."
"Well, kailangan nating maghanap ng iba pang kasama. Nakakasawa na rin minsan ang mukha mo, 'no," I scoffed. I casually returned my focus on the food when I saw Charcoal turning his head to me, forehead creased and jaw dropped.
"Ano? Sa gwapo kong 'to?" Itinuro niya ang sarili niya, hindi makapaniwala.
Four days is enough to get to know a person like Charcoal De Silva, and one of his personality traits is . . . having too much confidence on his looks.
He has his clumsy and funny side too, and it's actually the reason why I got comfortable around him. But above all, he's kind and sincere. Puwede na nga rin siyang maging philosopher sa pabigla-bigla niyang mga salita.
Philosopher Charcoal De Silva. It suits him, right?
"But actually, yes, I think we have to find some company. Boring ka rin kasing kasama," he said while sighing, acting as if he's stressed or some sort.
I glared at him but said nothing. Tama naman kasi siya. I'm too dull that it seems like there's a separated dark cloud above my head, following me around. I'm relieved yet embarrassed because Charcoal had to deal with my anxiety attacks for the past days.
