Pursuing Our Freedom| ✓

Kabanata 15

Just Friends — Audrey Mika

Kabanata 15

A clear indication that you like someone is when they become unearthly attractive in your eyes. All of the sudden, they become out of this world. Biglang ang hirap na nilang abutin, parang hindi siya galing sa mundo mo at natatangi siya kumpara sa iba.

I looked at Iscalade, who was wearing his STEM shirt while turning a ball of baskeball around using his finger. He was laughing with his blockmates. May mga babaing kumakausap sa kanya habang nasa pila sila. He really was popular, wala pa nga siyang ginagawa pero nilalapitan na siya.

I narrowed my eyes. Mukha pa naman siyang tao sa mata ko. Hindi pa naman umaabot sa gano'ng klaseng paghanga ang nararamdaman ko.

But I noticed small details, that's another indication that you might like someone. You are too focus on them that you notice the tiniest thing about them.

I wonder where it begun, me noticing all the small details about him. Like how his eyelashes are longer making his eyes more expressive. Kapag ngumiti-ngiti siya, ang hirap na hindi ngumiti pabalik sa kanya. Kahit 'yata hindi mo siya kilala, you will be fond of him because of how his smile can literally lighten anyone's day.

"Mas naging gwapo po ba si Iscalade?" I asked Paulene whilst walking around the gym, we have time to bond with each other since it's our intramurals.

"Ewan ko? Gwapo naman talaga siya simula pa no'ng una," sagot ni Pau. "I told you, add to cart! Wala namang nagbago kay Iscalade."

"Pero gumagwapo po siya sa paningin ko." I said, bluntly. Bigla namang natigilan si Pau at tumawa. I frowned at her.

"Crush mo ba, Philo? Madalas kasi kapag magkasama nang matagal, nakakasawa na 'yung mukha. Pero kung ganyan ang nararamdaman mo, baka crush mo siya?"

"But we're friends..." and friends don't like each other that way. Crossing the platonic line can be chaotic. At parang hindi ako handang humakbang patungo sa kabilang linya.

I would rather embrace a comfortable life even if it's mundane than risk everything for an uncertain happiness.

Let's be real, who's willing to lose someone so dear to them that they named them the best among all the friends they have? There's a reason why he's my best friend and I don't wanna lose that title just for a fleeting feeling of romance.

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I saw Zafirah staring at me, pissed and as angry as a volcano. Kinabahan naman ako dahil hindi ko alam bakit gano'n ang tingin niya. Although, she always look intimidating so maybe I was putting thoughts into her actions.

"Tapos ka na mag-refill? Gusto ko kasi uminom," she asked as she approached me.

I nodded abruptly. "Sige lang po."

I'm taller than her but she looked more mature than me. It's on her aura, she emits confidence but she look easily annoyed. It makes her prettier, confident girls had that in them. Mas gumaganda sila kapag alam nilang maganda sila.

"I'm also sorry for staring." She cleared her throat, looking flushed.

"Wala 'yon! It's nothing, really. Nagandahan lang po ako sa'yo kaya ano po..." I was flustered. Nagulat dahil hindi inaasahan ang paghingi niya ng patawad.

Hindi naman ako nasaktan o ano. Nagkataon lang siguro na nakita niya ako habang naiinis siya. I shouldn't really think of it that much.

She complimented me back but I was never good at receiving compliments so I left. I just didn't want to prolong the conversation. Hindi ko rin alam bakit hindi ko kayang makipagusap nang matagal sa hindi ko pa masyadong kilala.