Escape Route

CHAPTER 7

We were sitting in our usual spot at the café. Chae was venting about the most random stuff as usual, and I, well, I was trying to pretend I was listening. But to be honest, my mind was somewhere else, specifically, it was caught in this weird spiral of thoughts about Eliezer and his sudden attention. Like, seriously, what was up with him lately?

"Adah!" Chae whined, clearly not realizing that I wasn't paying full attention. "Bakit ganito? First, my favorite pen goes missing, then my laptop decides it doesn't wanna charge, and now my sister's been stealing my clothes! Is the universe just out to get me?" She dramatically wiped a fake tear from her eye, rolling her head back like she was auditioning for an Oscar.

I forced a smile, trying my best to look like I was actually processing her pain. But inside, all I could think about was Eliezer and how he's been acting... off. I swear, the guy has been acting like he's my personal life coach lately.

I cleared my throat. "Uh-huh. Yeah, the universe is definitely conspiring against you, Chae. But have you tried telling your sister that those clothes are sacred?"

She didn't notice the sarcasm in my tone as she continued on her rants. "I'm serious! Aalis na ako sa bansang 'to, kasalanan to ng gobyerno!"

Honestly, I wasn't really listening to her anymore. I was lost in my own thoughts, and before I realized it, I blurted out, "Parang... parang may pake na siya."

Suddenly, Chae stopped talking and just stared at me, her eyes wide. "Ha? What? Ano yun, Adah?"

I froze. I definitely didn't mean to say that out loud. "Uh... Wala. Wala, Chae. You know, just random thoughts."

Chae raised an eyebrow, leaning in with a suspicious grin. "Huh? Random thoughts? Girl, I know you too well. What do you mean may 'pake'? Spill."

I tried to brush it off, but Chae wasn't having it. "Ate ko, I know you're keeping something juicy. Ano yun? Eliezer ba?"

And there it was. The moment I couldn't avoid anymore. "I don't know, Chae," I said, finally giving in. "Lately, parang may masyadong pake si Eliezer sa mga ginagawa ko. Like, he keeps checking in on me whether I've eaten, if I've slept, all that stuff."

Chae's eyes lit up. "Ahhh! So may 'something' na!"

"W-what? No! I mean... I'm not sure." I fidgeted with my coffee cup, trying to play it cool. "It just feels like... I don't know, he's concerned in a way that's different from before."

"Different how? Hindi ba yun good thing?" Chae asked, leaning back in her seat, practically grinning like she knew something I didn't.

I shrugged, unsure of how to explain it. "I don't know. It's just... weird, Chae. I'm not used to him acting like this. I don't know if he's just being a good debate partner, or if it's something else."

"Maybe he's just being a good friend... or maybe something more?" Chae said, practically winking at me. "Tingin ko, may chance siya."

I nearly choked on my coffee. "What?! No! No way! He's just... being nice."

"Aww, sure, Adah. Just 'being nice,'" she teased, clearly enjoying how flustered I was getting. "It's not like you like him or anything."

I turned away, rolling my eyes, but deep down, I couldn't deny it. What if I did like him? Ugh, that thought made my brain hurt.

Chae just laughed and took a sip of her drink. "Anyway, you've got a lot to figure out, don't you? I mean, if he's acting like this, maybe it's time to consider that you might be more than just debate partners."

I just shook my head, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, well... maybe. But I'm not ready for all that."

Chae gave me a knowing smile. "You're not fooling anyone, girl. You're already thinking about it."