Traversing with the Infinity (Sun Rays #1)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

I was literally on the verge of freezing up, completely speechless. I didn't know what to feel or how to even react. All this time, no matter how much I tried to deny it, seeing him here lit something inside me. But just as quickly, that feeling faded nang maramdaman ang lamig sa boses niya.

"Bruha ka! Si Jayscen 'yon, 'di ba?!"

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang halos kaladkarin ako ni Finnley upang makabalik doon sa puwesto ng pinagte-trainig-an namin. At dahil sa gulat, hindi na ako nakapagpigil ay binato ko na sa kanya ang bola ng sepak na hawak ko.

Pareho lang naman kami ni Finnley ng reaksyon. It was Jayscen—in the flesh, in presence, in scent. No doubt, it was really him. Pero. . . paano? How was he back here in the Philippines again? Hindi ba't doon na siya mag-aaral? Well, hindi naman sa nagko-complain ako, pero pucha. Ngayon na nga lang kami ulit nagkita tapos ganoon pa 'yong nangyari? Sobrang nakakahiya!

His eyes looked cold too, like he brought the winter air from the USA back here to the Philippines. He got even taller, his fair skin seemed to glow, and the way he carried himself felt even more intimidating. His American side showed even more now.

Hindi ako mapakali dahil sa mabilis na interaksyon namin na iyon. Why did it feel like his gaze earlier left a sting in my chest? His cold tone. . . it hit something deep inside my chest.

I don't really know, at ang daming naglalarong tanong sa utak ko. Maybe, just maybe, there's still a part of me that wants to be on good terms with him. I mean, I know—ang kapal ng mukha ko to even think that, because in the first place, I was the one who didn't take the risk. I was the one he courted, and I was the one who turned him down.

But somehow, even just a tiny bit, I wish we could go back to how we used to be. On good terms, still comfortable. It's confusing, missing someone you pushed away yourself. And now, I can't help but feel like he's holding some kind of grudge against me. And honestly, I can't blame him. And I will never blame him.

I simply shook my head, trying to shake those thoughts away. I was getting carried too far, and it wasn't good anymore. Even now, I'm starting to realize. . . it's Jayscen. It's always been him. He's the only one who could mess me up this way, make my mind a battlefield, but somehow still slip a little bit of hope into my heart.

Rize, focus! Hindi ngayon ang oras para mag isip-isip ng ganoon. Dapat mag-focus muna ako sa training. Tama, focus lang. Paulit-ulit akong nag-e-enhale at exhale habang nakapikit. Nang masiguro kong okay na at saka ko dinilat ang mga mata ko.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin. Dahil una sa lahat, paano ako makakapag-focus sa training kung halos ma-distract ako sa sobrang lakas na tunog ng mga raketa?! Nao-over power pa nila iyong tunong ng bola ng sepak kahit. Kaunti lang naman ang player ng badminton na nandito pero parang kami pa iyong nakikiteritoryo?!

Nang lumingon ako sa pinanggagalingan ng mga iyon ay nakita ko rin si Jayscen na nagte-training na at sobrang lakas ng pagkakahampas niya sa raketa. With just one glance, I found myself stuck, unable to tear my eyes away from him. Walang duda, magaling pa rin siya sa badminton.

Ako na ang naaawa para sa shuttlecock na ginagamit nila, e. Nanggigigil ba siya?!

"Easy, dude! Feeling mo naman makakasali ka sa intrams!" asar ng isang player ng badminton na naka-jersey kay Jayscen.

"Jerk off," sagot naman niya bago umupo sa bench at uminom ng tubig.

"Bad mood ka yata ngayon?" tanong na naman ng isang lalaki na may hawak na raketa.

I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't stop myself from eavesdropping. Kunwari ko pang nilalaro ang bola ng sepak at sinasadya kong sipain ito na parang naglalaro ng Sipa para mapalapit sa puwesto nila at umaakto na parang walang nangyari.