Dying Embers

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Six: Saling-Pusa

From: Psalm

'Good morning :)) Kain ka na. See you later.'

'I'm ready for coach duty hehe.'

'Hi. Kakatapos lang ng warm-up.'

His messages came with a mirror selfie — hair still damp, maroon jersey slightly wrinkled like he rushed to put it on. May butil ng pawis sa leeg niya, catching the morning light. And yet, ayun siya, smiling like it was the easiest thing in the world. Like pagod didn't exist in his vocabulary.

It looked like something straight out of Instagram, effortless, casual, dangerously photogenic. He had that typical athlete look: tall frame, broad shoulders, relaxed posture. May natural confidence siya na hindi mayabang. 'Yong tipong hindi kailangang magpaka-cool kasi cool na talaga siya. Warm, even. Soft around the edges.

From Psalm:

'Start na kami.'

These past few days, we've been talking more. Sometimes through chat, sometimes in person. And somewhere in between, I started noticing things, how he never leaves a message hanging, how his replies feel like conversations you don't want to end. How he has this way of making you feel seen without even trying.

I glanced at the time. 8:30 AM.

I rubbed my eyes, still half-asleep, then quickly typed a reply.

'Good morning. Sorry, kagigising ko lang. But I'm about to get ready na.'

Akala ko hindi na siya magrereply agad. Siguro nasa court na, busy coaching the high school boys. But then my phone lit up again.

'It's okay. :) Just the thought na ako agad naisip mong i-message pagkagising mo... masaya na ako.'

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "This guy," I whispered to myself, grinning like an idiot.

Bago ko pa mababa 'yong phone, another notification popped up.

From: Jilliana

'Rainy, please. Kung makakapunta ka rito, pahiram charger mo. I'm dead batt already :(('

That was sent an hour ago. Ni-reply'n ko kaagad.

'Got it.'

I tossed my phone on the bed, grabbed my towel, and headed to the shower.

These days, I catch myself smiling without meaning to. Laughing without forcing it. Parang hindi ko na maalala 'yong huling beses akong umiyak. Maybe healing doesn't happen all at once, maybe it comes in quiet ways. Like Psalm's morning messages. Like days that no longer feel heavy.

Ever since I pulled away, from Chance, from social media, from everything that reminded me of that version of myself who kept breaking, I started breathing easier.

After showering, I slipped into light jeans and a plain white tee. I didn't even bring a cap or an umbrella. The court was covered anyway.

Paglabas ko ng apartment, I waved down a tricycle heading to CSU. It wasn't a long ride, pero today, it felt faster somehow. Or maybe it was just me, eager, a little nervous.

Like I was on my way toward something I didn't fully understand yet. Something unfamiliar... but safe.

Upon arriving, I walked straight to the field to find Jilliana and hand over my charger to her. There was a single outlet by the benches where she usually sat when her phone's dying.