Reaching You

diez

MAVEN

Hindi ako nakatulog nang ayos kagabi kakaisip kay Ali. Kaya naman ito ako ngayon kanina pa naghihikab. As I stepped into the bustling corridors of Ateneo, a familiar flutter of anxiety twisted in my stomach. The school halls were alive with the sounds of laughter and chatter, but to me, they felt like a battleground.  

I sat at the cafeteria table, laughter spilling into the air as Maloi recounted her awkward encounter with our chemistry teacher. Gab and Sheena, leaned in closer, captivated by her animated storytelling. The cafeteria hummed with the scents of pizza and fries, and for that brief moment, my world felt perfect. But my attention was pulled elsewhere as I sat across from Ali. I tried to catch Ali's eye, hoping to share a reassuring smile, but her focus remained fixed on her food. 

Just as I leaned in to ask her about the latest, a fist collided with my jaw, sending a jolt through my body, forcing me down onto the table. The laughter around us melted into stunned silence, leaving only the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I could taste blood on my lip, and the shocked faces of my friends spun around me in a blur. I turned to see Jeremy's face twisted in rage, his eyes boring into mine. 

"You think you can take my girl?" he spat, the words laced with venom. 

"Jeremy!" Ali's voice cut through the charged atmosphere, sharp and commanding.

There was shock, confusion, and a fierce urge to defend myself welling up inside. Akma kong susuntukin si Jeremy para makaganti, but Ali stepped between us, pushing Jeremy back and standing firm like a shield. 

"Stop! Both of you, stop!" Ali's voice was sharp, cutting through the haze of chaos. I could see her desperation mingled with anger, her face reddened. I blinked up at her, bewildered that she was facing me, ready to shield me from Jeremy's fury. My heart raced for reasons I couldn't quite grasp. 

"Ali, tumabi ka diyan!" sigaw ni Jeremy and harshly grabbed Ali's arm away from me.

"Ang gago mo para saktan lang si Ali, Jeremy!" The words blurted out, raw and fierce. I grabbed Ali from him and stood in front of her, shielding her.

"Sino ka ba kay Ali ha? Kung makaasta ka diyan. Kaibigan ka lang." he scoffed, wrinkling his nose as if he could smell my loyalty and disdain from across the room. 

"Leave Ali alone. She's better off without you," I shot back, fingers clenched at my sides. With every word, I felt lighter as I filled the space previously occupied by Ali's heartbreak.

Jeremy's eyes turned calculating. "What do you think? You have her back now? You think you have a chance with her?" With that, I could feel the ground shift beneath me.

"Jeremy, it's not her fault! This is about us, not Maven!" Ali's eyes flashed. I could see the pain etched across her face, a mixture of anger towards Jeremy. 

"Anong sabi mo? 'not her fault'?" Jeremy shot back, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Of course it is! Sinisiraan ako ng gagong 'yan sa'yo, 'di ba?!"

"No one deserves her like you think you do," I affirmed, my voice steady. "Not after what you put her through."

"Ano bang alam mo ha!" susuntukin na niya ulit sana ako nang sampalin siya ni Ali na ikinagulat ng lahat sa cafeteria.

In that moment, as Ali cried out, "I know about Kristine! I saw you two kissing at our favorite cafe! You think I wouldn't find out?" the atmosphere shifted. Jeremy's anger faltered, and for a second, his face went pale.

"Al...."

 "Jeremy, please," she called, her voice trembling yet firm. "Stop this. I'm done. We're done." The words hung in the air as Jeremy gaped, the realization hitting him like a punch.