Reaching You

nueve

MAVEN

Around me, the laughter of my friends echoed off the walls—Stacey and Maloi, always the life of the party, regaled us with tales of the latest escapade, while Jacey and Sheena cracked jokes, aiming to get everyone to join in. But despite the bustle, my gaze drifted repeatedly to Ali, who sat quietly, pushing her salad around with a fork, lost in her thoughts.

Does she thinking what we heard from her boyfriend earlier?

Now, I had known Ali long enough to sense when something was off, and today was no exception. Her usual sparkle seemed dulled, her laughter muted, and I could feel the weight of her silence like a heavy anchor dragging my spirit down. Yet, caught up in the warmth of my friends' banter, I hesitated to reach out. It was one of those paradoxical situations where curiosity and concern battled against the desire to respect Ali's apparent wish for solitude. Instead, I buried myself in the conversation, trying to draw her out with shared stories and the gentle pushing of our teasing camaraderie.

But as the afternoon wore on, my worry only deepened. I stole glances at her, hoping to catch a flicker of normalcy in her expression, but I found only shadows. Stacey's stories, the laughter shared amongst us—all of it felt tainted by Ali's silence, and as much as I wanted to pretend everything was fine, I found it increasingly difficult to do so. Just as I was about to lean over and gently probe her with a question, seeking to ease the thick tension that clung to us, Ali raised her hand in an abortive wave. 

"I'm sorry guys, but I need to go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, and slipped away from the table.

"Pasaan ka, ate Al?" tanong ni Sheena.

"May pinapaasikaso kasi si Mom sa bahay." sabi nito and waved a goodbye to all of us.

I felt the void she left behind: a gaping hole that pulled at my heart. I looked around at the others, their animated conversations churning, but I was stuck in my own whirlpool of concern.

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A rhythmic melody that only intensified my thoughts as I sat in the cafeteria, surrounded by chatter and laughter. Our merry group of friends had just wrapped up an animated lunch filled with teasing and stories, the kind of gathering that warms the heart. It felt like the world was conspiring to keep our spirits high until the very moment I stepped back into my car.

The rain poured down in sheets, pounding against the windshield as I drove home from what was supposed to be a joyful lunch with my friends. Laughter and inside jokes had filled the air, but now all I could hear was the relentless drumming of the storm outside my car. 

Just when I thought this gloomy weather couldn't get any worse, the sight ahead of me snatched the breath from my lungs. There, under the heavy rain, I caught sight of Ali. She stood by the café's entrance, her frame shivering under the weight of the downpour, but it wasn't the rain that froze her; it was the sight before her. My breath hitched as I turned my gaze to where her boyfriend—Jeremy—shared a stolen kiss with another girl. The world blurred as I watched Ali's face crumple, tears mixing with the rain for a sorrowful blend of despair and disbelief.

Panic struck. Time slowed as I fought to reconcile the jovial memories from our lunch with this heart-wrenching betrayal playing out in front of me. I knew I should drive away, leave it all behind, but my heart wouldn't allow that. Ali had always been my rock, her laughter a soothing balm to my restless worries. I couldn't let her face this alone. So, I took a deep breath, quickened my pace, and sped towards, hoping to catch her before the storm inside her mind eclipsed her spirit.