Dying Embers

Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One: Hopelessly Small

"Rain? Anong ginagawa mo rito? Gabi na ah?"

His voice pulled me back to reality. I blinked, disoriented, only to realize na nasa harap na pala ako ng bahay ni Henry. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na doon ako dinala ng mga paa ko. Maybe deep down, my heart already knew, he'd understand. He's been through heartbreaks too. He knows what it's like to break quietly, without anyone noticing.

"Are you... still mad at me?" halos pabulong kong tanong, my voice trembling, afraid to touch old wounds.

His gaze softened, melting into something warm. "Alam mo naman, Rain... I can't stay mad at you for long."

That gentleness undid me. I bit my lip hard, trying to hold it in, pero wala rin. Tears began to fall, one after another, blurring the shape of his face.

"Hey..." his tone dropped, softer this time, careful. "Why are you crying?" Parang natatakot siyang mas lalong mabasag ako kapag ginulo pa niya.

And just like that, I felt small again, like a child na biglang nawalan ng sandalan. My chest tightened, throat aching, and before I could stop myself, I reached for him. My arms wrapped around Henry, clinging, desperate, like he was the only solid thing in a world that was slowly falling apart.

"Si... Psalm..." I choked out between hiccups, voice breaking into pieces.

I felt Henry tense. His breathing changed. His chest rose quicker beneath my cheek, his warmth suddenly heavy. "Why? Anong ginawa niya sa'yo?" May halong galit at proteksiyon sa boses niya, enough to make my tears spill harder.

Kumalas ako nang bahagya, just enough to wipe my face with trembling hands. Hindi ko siya matingnan. My blurred eyes fixed on the floor instead, sa anino ng mga paa ko na nanginginig din sa lamig at hiya.

"W-wala naman... pero..." my voice cracked again, the rest swallowed by sobs. "Narinig ko sila ni Tunnel kanina and... and..." I couldn't finish. The words crumbled in my throat, replaced by gasps and the sound of my own heartbreak.

My shoulders shook. My voice, when it finally came out, was fragile, almost pleading. "Hindi mo ba ako... papapasukin?"

Kung hindi lang ganito kasakit, natawa na siguro ako sa sarili ko, sa itsura kong parang basang sisiw sa harap niya. Maybe Henry would've laughed too, if only things weren't this heavy.

He hesitated, eyes scanning my face for a moment, then sighed. "Oh, sige... uh, pasok ka. Pero—"

Hindi ko na siya hinintay matapos. I stepped inside, the faint scent of alcohol clinging to the air. The house felt dim and quiet, warm, yet heavy. Dumiretso ako sa sala, naupo sa sofa, trying to steady my breathing, my pulse still racing like it wanted to escape my chest.

A moment later, narinig ko ang mga yabag ni Henry. Mabilis, parang nagmamadali. He appeared a second after, brows furrowed, worry etched on his face. Pero the moment our eyes met, may halatang ginhawang dumaan sa kanya. Like somehow, just seeing me there eased something in him. Or maybe... something else entirely.

"Why are you acting weird?" tanong ko, one brow raised.

"Kasi—"

"Hari, is that Nimbus? Could you tell him to buy ice cubes—"

I froze.

The voice came from behind, casual, calm, but painfully familiar. Agad akong napalingon, and my breath hitched the second our eyes met.

Chance.

Of all people. Of all the damn possibilities, bakit siya pa?

Minsan naiisip ko, sana hindi na lang kami pareho ng circle. Sana madali lang umiwas, madali lang lumayo. Pero heto na naman siya, like a ghost I couldn't shake off, a wound that refused to close.