Sunsets and August

10

"You've got a lot of explaining to do." si Christian na ngayon ay naiirita pagkabalik namin dito sa resort.  "Every time na naiiwan ka mag-isa, marami ang nangyayari sa'yo!" 

I closed my eyes, trying to block out his words. He had been scolding me since we got back, and even our other friends remained silent, not daring to interrupt his sermon to me. Sinubukan ko magsalita pero mukhang hindi siya interesado makinig. 

"Tama na 'yan. Let her speak," Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag sa sinabi ni Alliyah. 

Christian looked at Alliyah, his frustration evident, but he eventually stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I started to explain everything. 

"Well, that girl got some stalker vibes." sabi ni Krish pagkatapos ko sabihin sa kanila lahat ng nalaman ko kila Sammie.

"Exactly! She's just using her family's situation to get close to Caleb. I mean, it's not a coincidence na nakita nila si Aljaye out of nowhere." dagdag naman ni Althea.

"True, I have a bad feeling about her." si Shaina na sumasang ayon sa sinabi ng iba naming kaibigan.

"Yeah, she's also giving off 'I'm here to cause some trouble'," sabi ni Alliyah with a dramatic face. I just laughed it off.

"Are you friends with Casey now? Wasn't she the reason you and Caleb had problems?" tanong naman ni Bea. 

"We're fine now. It's my fault for letting my emotions get the best of me. I should've talked to Caleb instead of assuming things before."  As I finished explaining, lumapit naman sa'kin si Ezra with a serious expression. 

"But how did Caleb know we were here in Batangas, in Mabini?" he asked habang nakataas ang isa niyang kilay. 

Hindi ko pala nasabi sa kanila na nag-usap kami ni Caleb. I hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "We exchanged messages while we were on our way here. I didn't expect him to surprise—or rather, follow—me."

Bea raised an eyebrow, teasing me. "Follow you?"

"Yeah, I didn't know he would come all the way here," I said.

Krish let out a low whistle. "That's some dedication. He came all the way here para lang makausap ka."  

"I knew it!" Ezra exclaimed excitedly, pointing at me. "No wonder you couldn't sleep during the trip here; you were probably talking to him that whole time!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't mention it sooner," I apologized, feeling a bit guilty for keeping it from them.

Before anyone else could say anything, my phone buzzed in my hand. I glanced down to see a message from Caleb.

@cals.gray

 Hey, Is it okay if we talk tonight over dinner? Just the two of us in the dining hall?

"He wants to talk tonight," I announced to my friends, my heart skipping a beat. The girls squealed in excitement, exchanging knowing glances.

"Ohh, dinner date!" Althea teased with a grin.

Christian, however, remained skeptical and protective. "How about his ex? What if she sees you two together? It could cause another problem."

I was about to answer him, but another message came, and it was from Sammie. 

@sms.gray