Star-Crossed Melodies (Echoes #1)

Chapter 30

Trigger Warning: self-harm, abuse, sexual violence.

Chapter 30

Believe

I was fiddling with my pen, waiting for Ellis in front of their building. It was only the first week of the second semester, and they were already swamped with work. Kami rin naman. Isama na rin ang practice sa basketball, halos hindi ko na mapag sabay lahat.

At ngayon lang ako nag karoon ng oras para puntahan si Ellis para sabihin ang tungkol sa basketball. Hindi ko masabi-sabi sa kanya sa text.

He rarely replies to my texts because he's so busy. I understand that, which is why I decided to visit him in person. Ako rin ang kinukulit ni Coach Willy na banggitin ko na raw para makapag practice na kami nang maayos.

Pito na kaming miyembro. Nakakasama na namin ang tatlo sa pratice pero dahil kulang, hindi maayos. Si Ellis talaga ang hinihintay.

Nakahilig ako sa poste na naroon habang tinatanaw ang daan papunta sa building ng educ. I texted Ellis that we should meet, just for today. He agreed but asked me to wait outside the building instead of going to his room.

I didn't argue. I miss him. It's been days since we've communicated through text, and it's hard for me.

Nirerespeto ko ang mga gusto niya. Nanliligaw ako palang ako kaya hindi puwedeng kumulit. Baka hindi ako sagutin, mahirap na.

"Faustino Abuel? Ginagawa niya diyan?"

"May hinihintay yata. Tingnan mo nakatingin sa educ building,"

"May girlfriend na siya?" gulat na tanong ng isa.

Napatingin ako sa dalawang babae na nag uusap sa aking gilid. Nang makita na nakitingin ako, dali-dali silang umalis, namumula ang pisngi.

I rubbed my temples because I was drawing attention from passing students. Some were even surprised as if I didn't belong here. Maybe I do look out of place. Ang laki-laki kong lalake para sa building na 'to!

"Grabe! May hinihintay 'yan diyan..." ani ng isa nang lumampas.

"Sayang. Akala ko single,"

"Si Leyla Pagcaliwan yata ang hinihintay. 'Di ba educ student din 'yon?" bulong nila.

Really...

"Malay mo hindi?"

"Ang hilig niya naman sa educ student, kung ganoon?"

Umangat ang gilid ng aking labi at bahagyang napayuko. Oo nga, 'no? Ngayon ko lang napansin. Puro pala educ student ang nalalapitan ko. Siguro kailangan ko ng teacher kasi bobo ako noong elementary.

I heard more gossip before I saw Ellis, with his friends. I was leaning against the post, watching to see if anything had changed about him. I hadn't seen him for a few days.

He found me and his red lips parted. I licked my lips. I walked towards them. His friends were noisy. I think there were six of them, and only three were guys. And I almost thanked heaven that Thayer wasn't there.

Hindi sira ang araw ko!

"Hala! Si Austin! Sana pala nag ayos ako," humagikgik ang katabi niyang babae. Hindi iyon si Leyla.

"Dito ba ang punta?" tanong ng katabi niya.

I had my hands in my pockets as I approached them. I didn't take my eyes off Ellis, and he couldn't look at me. May sinasabi ang katabi niyang babae pero parang na didistract siya kasi nandito ako.

Why so nervous? Baka nakalimutan na nito na nanliligaw ako kasi ilang araw kaming hindi nakikita?

"H-hi! Sino po ang kailangan n'yo?" the curly-haired girl asked me, almost blocking my way.