Ablaze |Season 1|

Chapter 42

OCTAVIA

"SAAN KA galing, Eight?" She asked as soon as she reached me, like she finally saw what she's been looking for, in my existence.

She looks so excited with the sight of me; her beautiful eyes sparkled with innocence, and her smile looks utterly genuine. I love the reaction.

"Dumaan ako kila Tori." I shrugged off my shoulders and combed her soft hair upwards. "I had a little talk with her."

Sinabayan niya ako sa paglalakad kaya pinatong ko ang kamay sa balikat niya. She feels so small and fragile to hold, like I always need to be careful when touching her because I might break her. "May chismis?"

I shook my head and smiled at the back of my mind because she so loves chismis. Pati nga ako ay madalas niyang kinukwentuhan tungkol sa mga nangyayaring alam niya. It's not the chismis alone, but there's also knowledge behind it.

"Silly. Wala." I lightly squeezed her shoulder. Tinulungan ko siyang magbitbit ng dala niyang mga encyclopedia dahil mukhang sa library siya nanggaling. "We're fine now."

Forgiveness. I forgave Tori, not because she completely deserves such thing, but because I deserve the peace. It's the kind of sin that I can say that I can forgive.

I believe that there are people who deserves to be forgiven, and there are those who do not. I still consider her as a good friend, but maybe... there's a part of me who won't be able to trust her for a while. The wound will heal, but the scars will remain.

"Hindi na ba masakit?" She tenderly asked and took a glance over me, referring to the betrayal that I felt.

I smiled a little. This is the kind of talk that I want. I keep on craving to know so much of her knowledge. "Come to think of it, Ferish. Do those things that hurt us, really stop hurting?" I asked that made her think.

Hinapit ko siya palapit sa akin nang makitang may mga napapatingin sa kan'ya. Let me be selfish about this girl. Now that I realized what has been confusing me for the past weeks... or even months, there's no such thing as I'll let anyone else take her away from me. I sound so insane, but to hell with that.

She adorably tilted her head to the side. Ako na ang nag-ayos ng ilang hibla ng buhok na napupunta sa maamo niyang mukha. Wala pa siyang sinabi pero parang mababaliw na ako rito sa tabi niya. How can she do that?

"Maybe no. It's like, it never stop hurting but we outgrow the pain, that's why we sometimes feel like we're healed." She gestured her hand, emphasizing her point.

Kumaway siya sa mga bumabati sa kan'ya. I almost forgot that she's kinda popular, for being one of the best students.

"The pain is always there, especially when triggered---it will definitely hurt. Just like the trauma; it will always be there." She gave me a small smile. "At some point, pwedeng nasanay lang tayo sa pain kaya hindi na natin ramdam ang sakit."

"Trauma, huh?" I chuckled nonchalantly at the thought of it. I have so much of it. "What trauma do you have, Ferish?"

Inaya ko siya na magpunta sa rooftop ng building ng dorm namin para magpahangin. Dumaan siya sandali sa dorm para ilagay sa kwarto niya ang mga nahiram na libro.

Sumunod naman siya sa akin. We watched the whole view of the university from the top. It feels nice to be here; taking our precious time together without minding the world that continues to spin. It felt like we're the only people who exists, and I could never ask for more.

"Marami, Eight."

"Hmm?" I gently hummed. Sumandal ako sa railing at humalukipkip, habang siya ay nakahawak doon at nakaharap sa direksyon ko. "Like?"