Dying Embers

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Ihahatid Kita

Natapos na ang training ng mga baseball players. Pawisan sila, pagod, pero may kakaibang sigla sa mga ngiti nila. Chance, Henry, and Nimbus gave one last short pep talk sa mga bata, voices calm but firm, echoing softly across the field na unti-unti nang tumatahimik. Tapos, nagsimula na silang magligpit, isa-isang naglalakad papunta sa sidelines.

Almost 5:30 PM. The sky was painted gold, like someone brushed the horizon with honey. Ang ganda, promise. Pero parang hindi ko siya ma-appreciate. Hindi ko pa nasasabi kay Psalm na aalis ako. Should I tell him where I'm going? I feel like I should.

"Tara na?" si Clara, cheerful as always, like the world is permanently soft for her.

Nakalapit na ang tatlo sa amin.

"Let's go. Gutom na ako. May alak ba, Martinez?" si Henry, stretching like he's already clocked out of life.

"Meron." Chance grinned, flicking a bit of sweat from his jaw. Then he glanced at Nimbus with a loaded smirk. "Pagsabihan mo nga 'yan, hindi pa rin natauhan."

Nimbus snorted. "Bro, at this point, amnesia na lang ang solusyon para makalimot 'yan."

Henry clicked his tongue. "Gago."

"Rain, sa amin ka na sasabay," Clara chimed in, too lightly. Too flawlessly. As if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.

Parang may humila sa loob ng dibdib ko.

"H-Huh?" I blinked, trying to keep my smile steady. "No need. Sasabay na lang ako kay Henry."

Henry raised both hands, apologetic. "Sorry, Rain. Isa lang helmet ko. Motor lang gamit ko ngayon."

I turned to Nimbus. "Eh di kay Nimbus ako."

Nimbus scratched the back of his neck, half-sorry, half-amused. "Motor din dala ko. And... angkas ko si Jilliana."

I looked at Jilliana, pleading with my eyes. She just raised her fingers in a peace sign.

"Sorry, Rainy," she said, unapologetically cute. "Car sickness. You know this."

I stared at her. Really. Traitor.

Clara giggled softly, like she knew exactly what she was doing. "Rain, it's fine. With us na lang. Right, Chance?"

Chance paused, not long enough to matter, but long enough to hurt. His jaw tightened a bit. Then he nodded. "Yeah."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Ugh. No one wanted to save me. This is awkward. Painfully awkward.

"Okay..." I whispered.

On the way to the parking lot, I walked beside Jilliana, slowing my pace. The air smelled like grass and sunset. 'Yong tipong moment na dapat aesthetic... pero pangit ang feelings.

I pinched her side. "You're evil."

"Aray! Ano na naman?" she whined, but she was laughing.

I rolled my eyes. "Car sickness pala, ha? You really want me to sit through that ride?"

She linked her arm with mine, carefree and soft. "Consider it exposure therapy. Para sa puso mo. The more you face it, the less it hurts. Kasi whether gusto mo o hindi... we're in the same circle."

I groaned loudly. "Wow. Thank you, Miss Therapist. Next time, may TF na ba 'to?"

"G kausap ko si BIR," she winked. "May resibo."

I groaned dramatically. "I hate all of you."

Jilliana grinned. "No, you don't. You're just... soft."

Pagdating namin sa parking lot, Chance clicked his key fob and the car beeped.