Along Parallel Lines

special chapter 03

note: chapter reference [00:95] happy valentine's day everyone!

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S I D

A month had passed.

A month had passed watching Reese from afar, watching how she spent after school hours with her almost-boyfriend, read tweets from people who are obviously bullying her, and until one day, I rarely see her at the university.

There was a time that I did not attend my classes, just to watch her all day, and saw her cutting her classes, saw her leaning onto her car, just staring into nowhere, and then she would cover her face and her shoulders will start shaking.

Jesus, I wanted to get near her that time, I wanted her to know that whatever she's going through, she's not alone.

That if she feels like she can't lean onto her friends or Francis, I'm here.

Pwede naman niya akong pagkatiwalaan.

Pero pagkatapos namin mag-usap ni Erika, I stopped crossing paths with Reese, whenever our eyes met, I'm the first one who would let go. I was trying to understand my sister. I tried, but I really just can't cut my ties with Reese that easily.

I just can't.

"Kumain ka na ba?" Tanong ko kay Erika nang lumabas siya sa building kung nasaan ang unit niya.

"Pumunta ka dito para tanungin ako niyan?"

"You can say that."

Although, I was literally just passing by, and I thought of her when I saw what time is it.

"Ask your friends," she told me while her arms are crossed.

"In case you forgot, I have no friends."

"Friendship over with Reese?"

"You told me she isn't my friend."

She just rolled her eyes at me and walk back inside the building.

"Is that a yes or a no?" I yelled at her.

"Fifteen minutes!" She shouted back.

Erika isn't so bad, she just really cares for me as her brother, at hindi naman siguro mali yun.

Naiintindihan ko siya pero sana maintindihan niya rin ako.

We have different definitions of being safe and in my case, it means being with Reese.

"Sid," Erika called me while we're about to enter a restaurant. "Six o'clock."

At that, I turn to where was she pertaining, and I saw them.

I tried to mask up to my true emotion but I think it wasn't enough.

I keep on glancing at Reese na mukhang hindi komportable na makasama kami, kitang-kita ko rin kung paano niya iniiwasan na tumingin kay Erika.

But who wouldn't?

When Erika keeps on flashing a fake smile.

What an attitude.

"I haven't thanked you yet for finding Reese last time," Francis broke the silence.

"Well you don't have to worry about it," I told him. "The important thing is, Reese, is here." Our eyes met but she immediately avoided my gaze. Does that make her uncomfortable?

"Yeah, it's a pleasure that you and Reese are friends," Francis casually said.

But my attention was immediately caught by Reese, choking.

I don't know how it happened, it was like a normal action that I immediately went beside her, rubbing her back, while making her drink the water, I was even about to wipe the water from her lips but she stopped me with her eyes wide open.

Lumingon siya kay Francis na nasa akin ang tingin.

Matalim ang tingin niya sa akin pero umiwas lang ako ng tingin at umalis sa tabi ni Reese. Ilang segundo pa lang ang nakakalipas, tumakbo na si Reese palabas.

"Reese, wait!" I called her.

But Erika held my arm to stopped me and again, I was just there from afar.

I watched her being followed by another man.

When I could've been that man.

"Let them be," Erika said as she gave me a glass of water.

We are now inside her unit and we decided to just take out food and eat here.

"What was that all about?" She suddenly asked.

Tumingin lang ako sa kanya at ipinatong yung baso sa lamesang nasa harap ko.

"Her boyfriend was there Sid."

"Not yet." Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Ano?"

"Hindi pa sila."

"Kahit na! Do you really want to follow your father's footsteps?" She unbelievably said.

"Again Erika? Nandito nanaman tayo?"

"If you would just listen to me, this would've been over long ago."

"Well I already did, okay?" I snapped. "I listened to you and it made me feel shit that I can't do something about everything she's going through!"

"She's not your responsibility, she's not even yours, to begin with."

"She's no one's property and have you seen the look on her face earlier? She's not happy with Francis."

"Oh come on Sid! She's no concern of yours."

"Well, she is! I am concern about her because I love her more than Francis does. I don't want to see her like that. She doesn't deserve that," I paused. "And can you please stop comparing my situation to my Dad? I'm not him and maybe the reason why you keep seeing our Mom to Reese is that you haven't forgiven her yet. Hindi siguro ako nandito para sa mga tatay natin, hindi para ayusin yung gulo sa pagitan nila dahil wala naman gulo sa kanila. Maybe I'm here because what I am supposed to fix are you and Mom."

I stood up and grab my things and just when I'm about to open the door, I spoke again.

"Don't visit Mom if your mind still hasn't changed regarding the things she did in the past, it won't help her condition at all. Huwag mo na rin muna akong kausapin, naiintindihan ko kung saan ka nanggagaling, pero sana kung ano man yung desisyon ko, i-respeto mo na lang."

"You really love Reese that much to the point that you're turning your back to your own sister," she scoffed.

I glance at her, "Yes I do love Reese but to be frank, not as much as I love Mom, and I'm not turning my back to you, I just want you to understand that love is boundless, and if you really love someone, you cannot be bounded from their flaws and their past, no matter how ugly those might be. So if you have finally come to your senses, you know where to find Mom."