After All There Was You || Macolet AU

13

--- Flashback ---

"Cassy, come on. Baka gabihin tayo."

Katatapos lang nila Casey at Alex makipag-hang out sa mga kaibigan nila. At dahil minsan na lang sila magkaro'n ng oras gumala, mukhang sinulit na nila masyado dahil sa mga oras na ito'y malapit nang lumubog ang araw.

However, Casey had been nothing but silent the whole time they were all together. Kung magsasalita man siya, either she would respond to her friends or may sasagutin siyang tanong nila. After that, she'd just go back to zoning out.

It wasn't unusual of her to be so silent when around her friends, which is probably why they didn't really notice her behavior- but Alex sure did. Kanina pa nga niya napapansin na parang wala sa sarili ang kaibigan niya.

"Cass? Okay ka lang ba?" Tanong ni Alex nang mapansin niyang huminto sa paglalakad si Casey.

But Casey's mind is currently running through places. By that, about everything that happened earlier. Alex was observing her earlier, but what she didn't know was that Casey's doing the same thing to her.

Kanina pa niya pinagmamasdan kung pa'no makisalamuha si Alex sa iba nilang mga kaibigan, trying to observe if any of her actions towards her friends were any different from how Alex does to her.

At buong pag-oobserba niya ay wala siyang ibang maisip kundi ang pakikitungo ni Alex sa mga kaibigan niya'y ibang-iba pagdating sa kaniya.

Alex was very attentive to her- asking her what she wants to eat, where does she want to go next, or if she needs anything in particular. On the other hand, she would just let the rest of their friends do whatever they want.

However, all of those things weren't enough basis for Casey to prove that Alex truly does like her back. That's why...

"Lex, may tanong ako..." Panimula ni Casey, her eyes glued onto the concrete floor.

Alex was taken aback by this, especially with the tone of Casey's voice. Nevertheless, she responded, "Ano 'yon?"

Casey took a deep breath before asking, "Ano bang... tingin mo sa'kin?"

Mas lalong nagulat si Alex sa tanong niya, "Anong... ibig mong sabihin..?"

Casey bit her lip, hesitating to speak up for a moment. Gathering all the courage in her system, she managed to talk and let out her words, "Napansin ko lang kasi... iba 'yung pagtrato mo sa mga kaibigan natin kumpara sa pagtrato mo sa'kin. Para bang... mas binibigyang pansin mo 'ko kaysa sa iba..."

"Well..." Panimula ni Alex bago magpatuloy sa pagsasalita nang walang pag-aalinlangan, "Gusto ko lang na comfortable ka, Cass. Alam ko naman na hirap kang makipag-socialize when it comes to other people. Diba, hindi naman tayo magiging close kundi kita kinukulit before?" Alex ended with a grin.

Napangiti naman si Casey sa narinig niya mula kay Alex. "Pero ibig sabihin ba no'n... kaya ka lang attentive sa'kin kasi gano'n mo 'ko nakilala? Pa'no kung magkaro'n ka ng ibang kaibigan na kapareho ko lang na 'di marunong makipag-socialize?"

Alex looked up, trying to find the right words to say, before looking back at Casey and responding with, "Siguro? But not like how I treat you, that is..."

Casey blinked her eyes and faced Alex, "Not how you treat me?" Pag-uulit niya.

"Oo. Kasi, Cassy... ikaw talaga 'yung tipo ng tao na I want to take care of. Kahit naman friends natin, alam na special ka sa'kin." Alex said genuinely, ending with a smile.