Escape Route

CHAPTER 9

I've always prided myself on being the logical one. The type of person who can keep my emotions in check and never let things get out of hand. I never thought I'd be the type of girl who'd lose her cool over someone, especially someone like Eliezer.

But as the days passed, it became harder to ignore. I'd find myself thinking about him at the most random times, like, while I was brushing my teeth, during class, or even when I was supposed to be working on something else. It wasn't just his jokes or his smile. It was the little things that caught me off guard, the way he remembered the tiniest details about me, like how I liked my coffee, or how he always tried to make sure I was okay when I seemed distracted.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn't confused anymore. I knew what I was feeling. And maybe, just maybe, he felt it too.

I've always been the quiet type, the one who prefers to keep to herself, to fade into the background.

But Chae? She has this way of pulling me out of my shell without even trying. With her, I don't feel the need to put on a facade. For once, it's easy to just be. Siguro dahil hindi siya humihingi ng kahit ano mula sa'kin, I thought as I made my way to our usual meeting spot by the library entrance.

Chae was already there, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, and a mischievous grin on her face. Her long, wavy hair flowed down her back, and her denim jacket, though simple, seemed to suit her perfectly. She noticed me approaching and her grin widened.

"Finally! Akala ko hindi ka na pupunta," she teased, pushing herself off the wall as I came closer.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. "You're so dramatic."

"Dramatic? Lait? Seriously, Adah, I've got eyes, you know," she said with a playful raise of her eyebrow. "Alam ko na may something nangyayari sa'yo at kay Eliezer." She wiggled her brows at me.

I froze for a second. How did she know? I hadn't even said anything to her. Has she been paying attention? I quickly shrugged it off. "What are you talking about?"

Chae burst out laughing. "Come on, Adah. Hindi mo ba nakikita ang mga signs? It's written all over your face. Parang... glowing ka lately."

My cheeks flushed involuntarily, and I could feel the heat spreading across my face. "Chae, stop it. You're crazy."

"Ano? Alam mo, hindi ako tanga. I can see the way you look at him. You don't need to deny it," she said, crossing her arms and leaning back with that annoying yet endearing grin.

I laughed awkwardly. "Seriously, we're just... working together."

She raised an eyebrow. "Working together? Sure, I'll buy that. Pero I see it," she teased, clearly enjoying every moment of this. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna make a big deal about it. Pero I am rooting for you two."

I felt my stomach do a little flip. "Stop it already," I muttered, embarrassed but secretly relieved that I didn't have to hide things from Chae anymore. Not really.

"Alright, alright. Pero seriously, don't forget to have fun with it, okay?" she said, her voice softening for a moment. "You deserve that."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. For all my focus on the debate, on everything, I had forgotten that I could actually enjoy this, whatever this was. Maybe it was time I let myself do that. "Thanks, Chae," I said quietly.

Chae smiled and wrapped her arm around mine. "No problem. Now, let's grab some lunch before you get all moody again."

As we walked toward the cafeteria, I felt a little lighter, as if a weight had been lifted. Chae's teasing was more than just playful, it was a reminder. A reminder that it was okay to have fun, to let go, and to stop overthinking everything.