Hello, Yellow Fellow

Chapter 36

Hello, Yellow Fellow
Chapter 36: Shadows

I was now staring out the window, trying to distract myself from getting swallowed by the emotions that had been lingering since earlier.

Isang oras na simula nang umalis kami ni Shan, and the silence between us was almost deafening. Both of us had kept quiet, lost in our own thoughts. I glanced over at him, focused and serious as he drove.

Shan and I felt more like friends now. Naging mas close kami ever since I let myself explore things without Maki by my side. Alam mo 'yon, just to distract myself, kaya minsan sumasama ako sa mga gigs nila.

Thankful ako na sinamahan niya ako. He said he liked Vistaluna too, and naaalala ko pa noong nagkita kami on one of their gigs last week, napag-usapan namin iyon. He even shared na may magagandang memories siya doon.

"Any problem, Eli?" tanong niya nang mapansin niyang nakatitig ako sa kanya. Agad akong umiwas at umiling.

"Nothing, Shan," I smiled.

"You sure? Baka gutom ka na? Hindi mo pa ginagalaw 'yong pagkain na binili ko para sa'yo."

Napatingin ako sa food pack na nasa harapan ko. He bought me something to eat along the way, pero hindi ko man lang nagalaw. That simple act made my chest feel tight for some reason.

"Mamaya na siguro, hindi pa ako gutom."

Tumango siya at bumalik ang focus niya sa daan. The scenery outside was calming— fields of tall grass swaying with the breeze and trees casting shadows under the warm sunlight. Sobrang ganda tignan, especially with how peaceful everything felt. It made me feel lighter somehow.

"I want to ask you something," he broke the silence.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. "Yeah? Ano 'yon?"

"Kanina, parang nagulat ka nung sinundo kita. Are you uncomfortable being with me?" He gave me a brief glance before looking back at the road.

Umiling ako agad. "Hindi, may sense of nostalgia lang akong naramdaman."

Tumahimik siya saglit, as if thinking of what to say next. Did I make him feel bad? Napaisip tuloy ako, minsan kasi hindi ko namamalayan na nakakagawa ako unconsciosly ng mga actions na may epekto sa ibang tao.

"I'm sorry if I made you feel that way," I apologized, feeling the need to clear the air.

He chuckled softly. "No need to be sorry, Eli. I just wanted to clarify things."

I gave him a weak smile. "May naalala lang kasi ako nung nakita ko 'tong sasakyan."

Napakunot ang noo niya. "Have you sat in my car before?"

"Yeah." Tumango ako, a small smile forming on my lips as memories came flooding back.

"Paano ka nakasakay dito? Hindi ka nga pumapayag na ihatid kita dati." Umangat ang isang kilay niya, clearly confused.

Should I tell him? There's a part of me that wants to clear things up. Minsan ko nang naisip kung bakit ito ang gamit na sasakyan ni Maki that night. It's obviously Shan's car.

"Ano kasi, si Maki..."

"Matthew?" Shan's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Yeah. He used this car once when he ordered coffee at our shop."

"How the heck—" he looked even more confused, trying to piece it all together.

"I don't know how, basta, tandang tanda ko itong sasakyan na 'to." I couldn't help but laugh a little.