Pursuing from the Shore (Sun Rays #2)

Chapter 1

Entry: Redler' Archive

First time talking to people who have actually read my novel—imagine that. It didn't even last an hour. Apparently, I run out of social battery faster than I run out of words on paper.

I think I was awkward. Like really awkward. As if you replay everything after and wonder if you accidentally spoke in bullet points instead of sentences. That's me.

But here's the highlight: someone barged into my room. Accidentally, yes. Dramatically, also yes.

And for a split second, I almost snapped—like, full grenade mode. Didn't. But I felt it.

First encounters are strange like that. Some arrive gently, some crash into your door.

Anyway, I didn't like it. Grr. My headphones agreed with me.

— aredgate

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Chapter 1

DILEMMA.

It's situation where you're expected to choose, as if choosing has ever been that simple.

They define it neatly—two options, a list of pros and cons, a clean decision waiting at the end like a reward. But no one really talks about the in-between. The part where you stall. Where you sit with both choices in your hands and neither of them feels like it belongs to you.

A dilemma is supposed to be about deciding what's best for you.

Funny.

Because sometimes, it doesn't feel like a choice at all—it feels like you're just picking which version of yourself you're willing to disappoint.

I think that's where I am right now—somewhere between logic and instinct, between what makes sense and what makes me feel like I can breathe.

I was gripping my phone snugly while staring at the screen nonstop. It's been minutes since I received a notification and a message.

Kadalasan, wala naman kaso sa akin iyon.

Pero, sa nakikita ko pa lang, and pangalan ng taong nag pa-follow at nag-a-add sa akin ngayon sa Twitter at Instagram ay hindi ko na mawari kung hahayaan ko na lang 'to o hindi. And the worst part is... he's adding my private account.

Renzler probably told him about it!

dlv followed you.

dlv sent you a private message.

I tightened my eyes shut as I impatiently tossed my phone away to my bed. It bounced too hard that I immediately stood up from sitting at my gaming chair. Dali-dali akong pumunta sa kama dahil tumalbog ang phone ko at muntikan nang nalaglag sa sahig.

How reckless of me. Wala pa akong pamalit do'n kung sakaling masira.

"Siraulo," I curse myself.

The next morning, I was busy jotting down on my notebook while Edorina who's sitting across the table was busy typing something on her phone. Dinig na dinig ko pa ang pagtipa ng mga kuko niya sa phone habang humahagikgik.

"Seryoso, para kang aning d'yan," I commented while busy writing in my notebook.

We were at a small coffee shop near Morgen High—Kape; Tahanan. Its name was written in Baybayin at the entrance.

Edorina and I came here every morning since we were both early birds. For me, this place wasn't just for coffee; it was where I could sit, relax, and enjoy some quiet time alone.