I'm Here Again

Chapter 15

Thank you so much po sa pagbabasa nito 🥰

- Bun

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For more than a week now, I've been living with Mielle. It was something that Jace and Abriel was shocked about. Luckily, my reason as to why I made this decision got accepted and they didn't see the lies through it, especially the latter.

"Bakit mo kailangang umalis ng bahay? Dahil ba sa nalaman mo ng lalaki ako? Dahil ba sa pagtatampo ko sa'yo? Pa-es naman.. I'm the same person you met before. Wala namang nagbago dun. Bakit aalis ka?" Abriel's crying face pains me.

He was nothing but kind and understanding to me but..

"Ano ka ba naman Abri?" I held his hands. "Sabi ko naman sa'yo noon na aalis ako pag naka-ipon, 'di ba?"

"Wala ka pa namang ipon ah! At tsaka, aalis ka para pumunta sa iba."

He got that right.

"Aray ah?" I kidded. "Lilipat ako kay Mielle, Abri, at hindi ito dahil sa pagkatao mo o sa pagtatampo mo. I'm moving in with her because she helps me with my recovery from amnesia." Trying to sound sincere and convincing is a teenie bit tough. "At tsaka, given my role to the company, mas magagawa namin proficiently ang trabaho since magkasama kami."

"Pero Pa-es.. paano na ako?"

I didn't mean to.. but I involuntarily shivered with his question. "Ikaw naman, hindi naman ako mawawala Abri. Magkikita pa rin tayo sa trabaho. Tapos, pwedeng mag-hangout after work kapag free. Besides, trained ka naman na sa ganto, sabi mo. Babalik lang sa dati ang bahay mo, pero andito pa rin ako sa b-buhay mo."

Shoot. I stuttered! Did he notice?

"Hindi ka mawawala? Sa'kin?"

Again, I felt the chill to my back. "H-hindi," I had to clear my throat. "You're still my friend, even with the distance between us."

Abriel tugged my hands and deliberately hugged me. "I'm going to miss you so much, Pa-es. You have no idea how much you changed me the moment you came to my life."

"A-Abri naman.. makapagsalita.." I lightly hugged him in return and patted his back. "Tama na 'yan uy. Hindi naman po ako mamamatay --"

It was in an instant. Abriel showed me his dangerous glint. "Hinding-hindi ka mamamatay, Pa-es. Tandaan mo 'yan. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you."

Move, Aice. Move! Don't just freeze there! He'll find out that you knew!

"Mark my words, Aice --"

My hand did the first thing it could do: batok. "Stop with the theatrics, jeez!"

"Aray ko naman, Pa-es.. huhuhu!"

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, trying to show toughness, when in reality, my heart is pounding from nervousness. "Let's go. Hahatid mo pa ako sa labas."

"Mielle is there?"

"I think so." That was the plan after all.

He easily gave a smile. "Sweet! Ibibilin kita."

"I. Am. So. Shookt!" Mielle made a gesture as if her mind was blown -- even putting a few of her hair strands up. "Ang alam ko lang talaga eh ang pagiging lalaki ni Abriel! Kaya nga ayun ang panay na parinig ko ba na dapat alam mo na. Hindi ko akalaing, ganun kalala ang obsession blues na tinatago ni bantay!"