"Kuya, just here please," I said as the tricycle rolled to a stop.
I handed the driver fifteen pesos with a polite "thank you."
He smiled, nodding as he accepted the fare, and without a word, sped off into the chaotic blur of the busy street.
I stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of my bags pulling at my shoulders.
I had just returned from the countryside yesterday, only to find myself back here again, the city always so overwhelming compared to the peace of the fields.
Exhausted, I rested on the side of the road, my eyes wandering over the swarm of vehicles that buzzed past like bees.
There were more cars than motorcycles now, it seemed. In the distance, I spotted my boarding house, a sight that brought a flood of familiar memories.
I sighed, wondering what awaited me inside.
Were my roommates around? Or was I walking into an empty room?
Maybe I'd clean up a bit once I got there.
Sigh, I thought, as I tried to shake off the exhaustion.
Minutes passed, and I found myself staring absentmindedly at the passing people when a guy approached me, a smile plastered on his face.
He was walking straight toward me, and I hesitated-should I smile back?
But I didn't know him, and he didn't seem familiar.
As he got closer, I noticed he was carrying an eco-bag, probably from the small grocery nearby.
"Hai!" he greeted cheerfully, his grin wide and confident.
Caught off guard, I forced a smile, trying not to appear too awkward.
"Uh... Hai? Hehe..." Who is this guy?
"I don't think I've seen you around here before. Do you live in that boarding house?"
His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Yeah... I do," I replied, still unsure about this random encounter.
"I thought so," he said, still smiling.
"Well, see you around!" And just like that, he walked away, leaving me even more confused.
"Ah... hehe," I muttered, watching him leave.
Weird... Shaking off the strangeness of the encounter, I adjusted my grip on my bags and started heading toward the boarding house.
Suddenly, without warning, I felt arms wrap tightly around me from behind.
The shock hit me before I could even react, and my belongings fell to the ground.
My heart raced as fear gripped me, and I pushed the person away as hard as I could.
"H-Hoy!" I shouted, my voice trembling as I tried to steady myself.
The guy I had just met stood there, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, sorry! I was just messing around," he mumbled before quickly dashing away, his feet carrying him faster than I could yell after him.
What the?! I stood there, heart pounding in my chest, watching him run.
Who does that?! My hands clenched into fists, heat rising in my face.
Bastos! I cursed under my breath, still too stunned to process what had just happened.
Before I could fully gather my thoughts, I felt another hand grab mine, but this time, the touch was different-familiar.
I barely had time to react before the person took my fallen bags and led me away from the bustling street, into a more secluded spot under a tree.
The shade offered a brief reprieve from the chaos.
"Who was that man?" a cold voice asked, sending a shiver down my spine.
I looked up and my heart nearly stopped.
Chan? My ex.
His face was tense, his jaw clenched in anger. The fire in his eyes burned red, and I could feel the weight of his emotions pressing down on me.
I quickly looked away, my pulse quickening. Embarrassment washed over me like a wave, and my heart pounded so loudly I feared he could hear it.
"Hey..." His voice softened, and he reached out, gently tilting my chin until our eyes met.
The coldness in his expression melted away, replaced with concern.
"Are you okay? Who was that guy? What did he do to you? Tell me, love."
His words sent a jolt through me, and I swallowed hard, unable to speak.
Why does he always have this effect on me?
It had been over a year since I'd last seen him, and now, out of nowhere, he was here again, making my heart race in ways I couldn't control.
"Are you angry with me?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Or... are you afraid? I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I can't stand seeing someone treat you like that."
He sighed deeply, his expression softening as he ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head, kneeling to gather my bags.
My thoughts were a tangled mess, and I couldn't find the words to explain.
I just needed space, some distance from everything that had just happened.
I turned to leave.
"Love, where are you going?" His voice followed me as I began walking toward the boarding house.
He quickly caught up, taking some of my bags without asking, but this time, I let him.
I was too tired, too emotionally drained to argue. I just wanted to be inside, where I could breathe.
The silence between us stretched on as we walked, a heavy tension hanging in the air.
When we finally reached the stairs leading up to my room, I stopped and turned to him.
"Can I have my things now?" I asked softly.
He hesitated, his eyes searching mine as if he wanted to say something more, but in the end, he handed my bags over.
"Thank you," I whispered, turning away before he could respond.
I hurried up the stairs and into the safety of my room, my heart still pounding in my chest.
As soon as I stepped inside, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I knew it was him.
But I couldn't bring myself to check it. I needed space. I needed quiet.
I put the phone down without looking at it and busied myself with unpacking-rice, groceries, anything to distract me from the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Chan always had a way of turning my world upside down.
But I couldn't let him disrupt my peace, not now. I was already struggling to hold myself together.
I needed my peace of mind, and I hoped, deep down, that he would understand that.
YOU ARE READING
POV
Non-FictionLife often presents itself as a series of hurdles, each one taller than the last. These hurdles, though daunting, are not meant to break us but to shape us into who we are meant to be. It is through our darkest nights that we gain the strength to fa...
