Until We Meet Again

awkward tension

chapter 02

₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊𐙚

I hadn't prepared for this and hadn't even allowed myself to consider the possibility of meeting him again, not even once.

When i saw him, memories I’d tried to bury came crashing back— the way we used to laugh, the photos we took during those long summer days, and our hands barely touching as we spent time in our favorite spot with the setting sun casting a golden hue over everything.

Ang mga sandaling iyon ay parang napakalayo na sa katotohanan at halos parang panaginip nalang.

"Is that Khalel?" Eli tapped my shoulder.

I nodded stiffly, unable to tear my eyes away from him.

Kumakaway pa siyang naglalakad papunta sa direksyon namin. Seeing him again felt like the wound I thought had healed was being ripped open. Tanging mapait na ngiti lamang ang aking naiplastar sa aking mukha.

There he is, he's taller now and his shoulders are broader, giving him a commanding presence. His natural pinkish lips curve into a charming smile, and the way his hair falls perfectly around his face makes him effortlessly handsome.

"What's wrong with him?"

I snapped back into my senses when I saw his thumb pointing at my face, realizing that he was already right in front of me.

His words snapped me back to reality. I realized I had been standing there, staring at him like an idiot.

"Ewan," si Eli, nakaangat pa ang kanyang balikat na sumagot.

"Long time no see," nakangiting bati niya and they both hugged each other.

I stared at him for a few seconds. In that instant, I realized the ache of not having that smile around for a long damn time, and seeing it now feels like finding a piece of my world that was lost.

"Baka matunaw ako niyan kakatitig mo," he murmured. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

As if! Assumero!

He reached out his hand for a handshake, but I pulled mine back, tucking it behind me as I took a seat.

"How are you, Khalel?" kaswal na tanong ni Eli sa kanya.

"I'm doing fine."

He stuffed his hands back into his pockets and glanced at me. Tipid niyang sinagot si Eli at naghanap siya ng upuan na nasa gilid lang naman ni Chloe.

Kitang-kita ko kung paano tumitig si Liam sa akin nang nakakainis at inaabangan kung saan pupunta ang paningin ko. Pinandilatan ko lang siya ng mata saka siya umiwas.

"You still play basketball?" Liam asked.

"Uhm, yeah. That's actually the reason why I got the scholarship."

Ito rin sila parang dedma lang sa mga kinuwento ko sa kanila about Khalel. After telling them how annoying that guy was.

I watched as he settled into his seat. The tension between us humming with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Kitang-kita sa amin pagtitinginan ang ilangan.

"I saw you last night sa Ivory Bar, dude. You were totally wasted," sambit ni Liam.

"Ayaw ko talagang pumunta do'n, pero pinilit ako ng mga kaibigan." Khalel responded with a shrug.

Blah, blah. He just kept talking. I crossed my arms, my gaze narrowing as I watched him, feeling the bitterness rise within me.

"How about your lovelife? Musta na?" diretsahang tanong ni Eli sabay ngiwi.