right strings

-139-

-psyche pov-

i sat down on the bench to wait for heeseung, i scrolled on my phone when he texted that he need to do something so, hindi sya makakapunta.. he even said that hindi naman na daw din tuloy 'yung activity kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

i shrugged, he's acting so weird. tumayo na lang ako sa kinauupuan ko dahil nag iintay sa akin si manong leo. i was walking peacefully when a guy plying with his skate board almost hit me.

"i am sorry!" i shouted when he was about to fall, i stand on my feet from falling.

"psyche? what are you- i'm sorry!" my eyes widened when i saw jake earing a snap back looking at me with his worried look.

"i'm fine" i flinched and move backward when he reached my shoulder to check me up.

"are you sure you're okay?" i nodded at him, "yes i am fine, are you fine?" he nodded as well.

"why are you here?" he asked me, pinulot nya ang skate board nya bago kami naglakad papunta sa malapit na bench.

"magkikita sana kami ni heeseung, ibabalik nya yung book ko sa chemistry but nagka emergency sya kaya hindi sya nakapunta, sakto naman pala hindi na natuloy yung homework natin don" tumango si jake. "it must slipped on his mind"

"ikaw? bakit ka nandito?" tiningnan ko si jake, bago kami naupo sa may bench

"si sunghoon, niyaya nya ako mag skate bumili lang ng kape hindi na bumalik biglang tinawag ng coach nya" tumango ako sa kanya at ngumiti naman sya sa akin.

"kasama mo si manong leo?"

"oo, as always" i faked a laugh. "how's tita?"  he asked again

"okay na si mommy, she can move freely now than the past weeks. si dad naman naging less strict na sya, busy na din sa work." i answered him honestly.

"that is good to hear"

"i am getting afraid that everything are turning to something new now, i felt so good... but what if it suddenly turned worst the next day right? i just suddenly don't want to be happy anymore" i sighed at pout looking at the people passing us by.

"you are worrying to much, what if you focus on the good things today, and just worry about others tomorrow! it's not something like being happy is forbidden to you." he pat my head making my hair ruined so i pouted and fix it.

he giggled before turned his head on his skate board, he played it using his feet. and i can't stop looking at his side profile now.

should i tell him now?

right, i can worry tomorrow though, just like what he said...

"why are you looking at me like that? " he giggled at me and frick my forehead.

"ouch!" i glared at him and he just laughed.

"you deserved it because you are looking at me weirdly" he saw it... damn.

"i never saw you skate, can you show me?" i changed the topic to save myself from second hand embarrassment,  he picked up his skate board and proudly stood up infront of me.

"of course" umayos ako ng umupo and he started to show his moves from me.

"go bestie get it i guess!" i shouted, i heard that line on tiktok from jungwon hahaha he laughed and i can't stop myself from laughing as well.

i clapped my hands when he finished, and he sat next to me again panting.

"it's weird right?" i frowned.

"what? you are so good kaya!" depensa ko sa kanya.

"no, i mean about sunghoon, irene and i" i know my face suddenly turned gloomy. "w..why?"

"i just felt that she chose the ice rather than the land. sunghoon skate on ice while i skate on land.. i felt like it was destiny." i heard his dry laughed after. i don't know what to say so i remained silent.

"oh.. sorry, i am fine now though" he snapped back and i smiled a bit on him.

"can you teach me how to skate?" he nodded immediately, with my sudden changed of topic.

we both stood up, and he was holding me on my arms while i am balancing myself on the board.

"i'll let you go right now," he slowly let go of my arms and i tried my best to balance myself but i failed. i fell down and i heard his foot steps towards my direction.

"it was hard" i cried and pouted. he sat infront of me and helped me to stand up.

"kind of, you should stop now.. you might get hurt" umiling ako.

"let's try again" napakamot sya sa batok nya bago tumango din naman agad. he held my arms again to guide me.

"you're trembling... don't worry, i am here to catch you" he let out a small laugh. i suddenly looked at his face.

he is so near me... sana hindi nya naririnig kung gaano kabilis tumibok ang puso ko.

"what if i already fall?... to you?" he stopped, and looked into my eyes as well.

"what..." his face turned shocked

"i.. like you, jake" i swallowed hard and my heart can't stop beating so fast like i ran 10 laps of the school field.

"you.. like me?" he almost whispered.

"do i have a chance, jake?" i asked after gathering all the courage i have on my body.

he let go of me and moved backward, i suddenly felt a pain on my chest.

"i'm sorry psyche..."