In The Space Between

Chapter 5

"Tawagan niyo na si Lyle at Kenzo, para pag nakarating tayo sa harap ng campus nila, nandun na sila sa labas," Erin grumbled as Cleo and Violet's voices grew louder, bickering with the others through the voice chat. The noise was relentless, and Kaito, tired from the day’s exhaustion, massaged his temples with one hand while keeping the other firmly on the steering wheel.

In the backseat, Cleo and Violet continued their banter. Erin, seated in the passenger seat, occasionally threw in a snarky comment, fueling the back-and-forth.

"Seriously, do they ever stop?" Kaito muttered under his breath, earning a chuckle from Erin beside him.

"Kaito, it's our first time going to your house," Cleo piped up, completely ignoring his earlier frustration. "May pogi ba dun? Of course, except sa future asawa ko. Meron pa ba?" Her tone was playful, but her eyes gleamed as she mentioned Green, the subject of her frequent teasing.

Kaito merely rolled his eyes. Future asawa? He thought to himself. Green wouldn't survive a day with her.

"I don’t know," Kaito replied, not bothering to hide his exasperation. "But I know my cousins are probably already there by now. Both sides of the family."

Cleo, undeterred, leaned forward. "Hmm, so pwede ko bang ma-meet yung mga cousins mo? You know, just in case Green backs out—"

"Don’t bother flirting with them," Kaito cut her off, smirking. "You're not their type." His dry tone elicited a burst of laughter from Erin.

Both Violet and Cleo, offended by the jab, immediately retaliated by smacking him on the head. "Ulol!" they chorused, but Erin was still laughing too hard to care.

"Lumipat daw kayong dalawa kay Cyrus once we arrive sa DLSU," Erin said after composing herself, reading the latest messages on her phone. "Dito si Lyle at Kenzo at lilipat din daw si Aero."

"Ha? Ayaw nga namin, nandito na kami!" Cleo retorted quickly, crossing her arms in defiance.

"Utos ni Lyle," Erin quipped. "Wag daw kayong mag-alala, may designer bags naman kayo sa kanya."

Cleo and Violet exchanged a glance, their annoyance momentarily fading at the mention of designer goods. "Fine," Cleo sighed, feigning reluctance.

"But bakit si Aero dito din, at hindi dun sa car niya?" Violet suddenly asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.

"LOL, as if naman pag kasama natin si Lyle eh mahihiwalay niyo yun ka'y Aero." Erin rolled her eyes. "Hindi na kayo nasanay sa ‘kambal tuko’ na yun."

Kaito smirked, knowing Erin had a point. Aero and Lyle were practically inseparable, especially when Aero was around. The term “kambal tuko” wasn’t far from the truth. Whenever they had time together, it was like the two were glued at the hip, leaving no room for anyone else.

As they approached the university gates, Kaito’s mind drifted to the quiet moments he cherished. Being surrounded by his friends always filled the air with noise and laughter, but Kaito had grown used to silence. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate them—it was just that space, that quiet in-between moments, where he found his center. Moments where he wasn’t constantly pulled into banter, noise, and chaos.

Green, for instance, was a stark contrast to Cleo’s wild energy. Green knew how to respect silence. He didn’t force words where none were needed, and Kaito appreciated that more than he let on. Yet, despite their natural distance, there was something reassuring about Green’s presence—a subtle comfort in knowing someone was there without pushing too hard to break through the walls Kaito had built.

He literally don't know what got into his mind and the thoughts of Green suddenly popped up. He just shrugged that off.

As they neared the main entrance, Kaito spotted Aero’s car already parked outside, with their friends scattered around, waiting. Lyle and Aero were standing beside the car, while Cyrus leaned casually against it, a laid-back grin on his face. When Kaito's car pulled up, they waved, ready for the madness that was about to unfold.