Saved by Time's Sand

Chapter 6: The Unexpected Shift

Xierra's POV

The following morning, I found myself staring at the ceiling, reluctant to leave the comfort of my bed. Kahapon pa lang ang unang araw, pero pakiramdam ko parang isang linggo na akong nasa school. I sighed, trying to muster the energy to get up. The strange interactions with Winston, the new environment, and the overwhelming feeling of starting something new were all swirling around in my head.

I finally pushed myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom, letting the cold water wake me up. As I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth, I couldn’t help but replay the events of yesterday. "Bakit kaya ang weird ni Winston kahapon?" I thought, my brows furrowing. It was unlike him to act that way—so distant yet oddly concerned.

As I got dressed, I heard a knock on my door. "Xierra, magmamadali ka na. Sasabay ka ba ulit kay Winston?" Mom called out from the hallway.

"Oo, Ma. Papunta na ako," I replied, grabbing my bag and heading downstairs.

Pagbaba ko, nakita ko si Winston na nakatayo sa may pintuan, his usual stoic expression in place. Pero ngayon, parang may kakaiba sa kanya. Maybe it was the way he was looking at me, parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya masabi.

"Good morning," I greeted, trying to keep things light.

"Morning," he replied, his voice even. "Ready na?"

I nodded, following him out the door. The ride to school was just as quiet as yesterday, but this time, I was more aware of the tension between us. It wasn’t just the usual silence; it felt heavier, like there was something both of us were avoiding.

As we neared the school, Winston suddenly spoke up. "Naiwan mo kahapon yung meds mo. Mabuti na lang at napansin ko."

I glanced at him, surprised. "Ah, oo nga pala. Thanks, Kuya."

He didn’t respond, but I could see his grip on the steering wheel tighten. I wanted to say something more, to bridge the gap between us, but I didn’t know how. Instead, I just nodded and turned my gaze back to the road.

When we arrived at school, I was more than ready to escape the awkwardness. "See you later," I said, quickly getting out of the car.

"Xierra," Winston called after me, his tone serious.

I stopped and turned to face him. "Yes?"

"Take care," he said, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before looking away.

It was such a simple phrase, but coming from Winston, it felt like it meant so much more. I managed a small smile. "Thanks, Kuya. Ikaw din."

As I walked towards the school building, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, kahit na hindi ko maintindihan ang lahat ng nangyayari. Maybe this year would be different after all.

The day passed by in a blur of lessons and activities. Mas nagiging komportable na rin ako sa mga subjects, kahit na minsan ay nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng kaba. Gabriel and I ended up working together again in another group activity, and I was starting to appreciate her sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude. Jay, Artaniel, and Loi were also growing on me, making the group dynamics less intimidating and more enjoyable.

"Alam mo, Xierra, hindi ka pala mahirap pakisamahan," Gabriel said as we finished our discussion for the day.

I chuckled. "Bakit, mukha ba akong suplada?"

"Hindi naman. Pero akala ko dati mahiyain ka. Yun pala, madaldal ka rin," she teased, nudging me playfully.

I laughed, feeling a bit more at ease. "Depende lang siguro sa tao."

As the final bell rang, I packed up my things, feeling satisfied with how the day had gone. Pero bago pa man ako makaalis, I received a text from Winston: "Hihintayin kita sa parking lot."

It was unusual for him to text me, lalo na para lang sabihing maghihintay siya. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was part of his newfound concern, or if there was something else going on.

When I reached the parking lot, I found Winston leaning against the car, his expression unreadable. "Ready ka na?" he asked as I approached.

"Oo, Kuya," I replied, getting into the car.

The drive home was quiet again, but this time, it wasn’t as uncomfortable. There was a strange sort of peace between us, like we were both trying to figure out how to navigate this new dynamic. As we pulled into the driveway, I glanced at Winston, catching him looking at me with that same unreadable expression.

"Bakit mo ako lagi tinitignan, Kuya?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

He looked taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "Wala. Gusto ko lang siguraduhin na okay ka."

His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. "Thanks, Kuya," I finally said, my voice softer than before.

He just nodded, not saying anything else as we got out of the car and headed inside.

As I climbed the stairs to my room, I couldn’t help but think about how much had changed in just two days. The tension between me and Winston, the new friendships I was forming, the challenges of Senior High—all of it was overwhelming, but in a way, it was also exciting.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe things were starting to fall into place. And as I settled down to study for the night, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for what tomorrow might bring.