T.S. STORIES #4: Say Don't Go (Completed)

Chapter 10

Venice offered me a set of breakfast meals earlier, but I declined it and decided to leave the place. Since Raiver swore he would take me home, I'm in his van for the second time. This time, I'm riding shotgun.

About his question last night, I asked him to give me some time to make up my mind. He promised to wait, even if there's a greater chance that I might say no.

I clearly told him, I'm here to visit my family, not for any work. I even suggested he should reach out to his friends to help his project, but they are all too busy to join. He saw me as a glimmer of hope, but am I?

"We're here," he said as he pulled over the van in front of our house.

I was about to open the door when his hand reached my shoulder. "How long should I wait—"

His question was interrupted by a knock on the door beside me. It's my brother, crossing his brows upon seeing the van.

"Baba na ako."

I pulled the door handle and went out of the van, greeting my brother with a frown.

"Ikaw pala, kuya. Sino naghatid sa'yo?" he asked, and suddenly snuck to see who's inside the van. "Ah, ikaw pala."

"Pasok ka na. Aalis na rin 'yan," I drove him away.

We got through the gates, as I watched his van leaving the village. I wasn't able to give him an answer, but he already knows it. He should wait until he gets an official response from my end.

Upon reaching my bed, what happened last night flashed in my mind. I didn't really expect to actually have a decent conversation with him. Should I consider this, somehow, a closure? I mean, this could be the perfect time to leave every burden I was carrying since then, although I've already said to myself that I've moved on—or was I pretending I did after all this time?

Everytime someone tries to bring up my one-sided feelings I had for him, I'm acting so weird and my mouth would spit the same thing, 'I've moved on.' But, in reality, the burden would kick in my chest, trying to burst, until it happened—I snapped at Raiver back at the beach yesterday.

I got back to my senses when my phone rang. A video call request from Annie?

As I swiped my finger on the green button, Annie and Kristelle's faces flashed on my screen. They were sharing one camera through Annie's account. "Are you okay, Icarus?" Annie asked, sipping on her milk tea.

"Okay naman—"

"WEH? 'DI NGA?" they gushed in unison, their eyes wide with curiosity. I was confused.

"You're acting like you knew what happened," I said, raising an eyebrow.

They both looked at each other and chuckled together, a secretive glint in their eyes. Weird—

I got up as soon as I realized what they were trying to say. "Nando'n kayo?!" I exclaimed, my loud voice breaking the silence in my room. "I've been calling you yesterday, pero 'di kayo sumasagot! And you guys went there?!"

"Daddy, chill. Let us explain," Annie said, waving a hand dismissively.

So, they told me that after the girl, Venice, called me and said that I was going—which wasn't even sure in the first place—she called the girls. They were also confused about how she had their contacts, but they were immediately told that Raiver invited them to come because I was going. He also wanted the girls to surprise me at the beach, so they all dodged my calls since yesterday.

Back at the venue, they hid themselves in scarves and big sun hats. I do remember there were some guests in big sun hats somewhere in the venue. Probably, those were the girls attending the event without my knowing.

And, they saw everything.

"Girl, kaloka talaga 'tong si Raiver. Kung ginawa niya rin 'yon sa akin, sasampalin ko rin siya no! Luluhod ka bigla sa harap ko, baka ikagalit pa ng boyfriend ko!" Annie rambled, her voice rising with indignation.

"Yeah, right. Eh kung nagbigay siya ng invitation in a proper way, walang mangyayari, 'di ba? Napaka-unprofessional niya sa part na 'yon," Kristelle commented, shaking her head.

"So, anong nangyari pagkatapos? Kita na lang namin na bitbit ka niya do'n sa cabin niya," Annie asked, which crossed my brows.

"He really did that? Nagising na ako madaling araw eh," I replied, scratching my head.

"Tapos?" Kristelle leaned in closer, eager for details.

"Tapos, ano... Nag-usap kami," I admitted, feeling my cheeks warm slightly.

"Sharing one bed? Gan'on?" Annie's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Oo—" I said, but both of them cleared their throats all of a sudden.

"Icarus, taken na 'yan. Alam mo 'yan, 'di ba," Kristelle reminded me, her tone serious.

"Alam ko. Nag-usap lang naman kami that time, tapos wala ng ibang nangyari. We just reconciled, and he asked me again to join their project. Tsaka, he's already out of my league, FYI," I told them in my defense, raising my hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay," they said, nodding. "If that's what really happened. But, did you really join the project? It's quite interesting pa naman."

"I told him to wait for my final answer. Tsaka, hindi naman ako bumalik rito para makisali sa mga ganyan. I just want to spend time with my family, rather than on that beach project. They could just reach out to anyone aside from me," I explained, trying to sound resolute.

"But think of it, Icarus. Pansin ko rin ha. Parang eager siyang lumapit sa'yo, since no'ng pool party. 'Di kaya, ikaw talaga ang habol no'n?" Annie suggested, a sly grin forming on her lips.

I shook my head firmly. "No. I'm rejecting your hypothetical assumption, Annie," I said, crossing my arms.

"Grabe siya. Thesis panelist pala 'to," she said, rolling her eyes. "Pero, ang sabi-sabi kasi, ia-arrange marriage daw 'yong ex-crushiecakes mo after graduation. You know, parang typical adult fiction story lang. Ikakasal ang guy at girl para sa isang deal, gano'n."

"Talaga? Legit source mo?" Kristelle asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sshh, malakas sumagap ng signal ang mga antenna ko," Annie quipped, tapping the side of her head.

They turned their eyes back on me. "Anyway, tell us if you accepted his invitation, ha? Para sama tayo do'n sa beach!" Annie chimed, her excitement palpable.

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you asap," I promised, smiling at their antics.

The call ended, and I took a deep sigh. It is still early in the morning, but it's already draining and overwhelming. I just stared at the empty white ceiling, hoping for the good on the days yet to come. I still have more than a month before I'll finally go back to school.

I guess, now is the perfect time to check everything on my bucket list. On my phone, I scrolled down on my notes, until I found a list of new places I've been wanting to go to in our province. Back in my apartment, I would be on my bed after school, scrolling and then, seeing new places popping in my timeline.

Maybe, I could get all of these messy thoughts out of my head by just some unwinding time.

Maybe, I could escape from my thoughts of him.