Time and Fallen leaves

Peter Pan

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The room feels awkwardly silent between the two. After what happened with Erin's fans and Jake's outburts, hindi na muling nag-usap ang dalawa. The two just silently went inside their room and lay down on their respective beds — with the comforter sprawled on the ground where Jake is going to spend the night. Walang umiimik, just the ticking of the clock and their ragged breaths can be heard in the already confined room. Pakiramdam nila ay mas lalong sumikip ang kwarto dahil sa tensiyon na namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

Sure, they bicker every now and then, with Jake mostly starting. Ngunit ito lamang ang unang beses na nag-away ang dalawa ng seryoso. No one dared to say sorry, tila nagpapataasan ng pride dahil kung tutuusin, pareho silang may katwiran.

But Erin couldn't take the pressure anymore. She knew Jake ever since high school and became her best friend way back college kaya kilalang-kilala niya na ang binata. Hindi mahirap sakanya ang humingi ng tawad unless he really knew he's in the right. And witnessing that firsthand is hard to handle.

"Do you remember when we were in college?" Hindi na natiis ni Erin ang tensiyon. Siya na ang naunang bumasag sa katahimikan. But Jake didn't respond, dahil alam niyang galit pa rin ang binata. But she knew he's still awake and listening. So she bit her lip, bit her pride too, and continued.

"Lagi kang nandiyan para saakin, until now. Especially when times were really tough" Nakatulalang sambit ng dalaga, staring at the ceiling that's been painted white but now aged with time. Pinaglalaruan nito ang kanyang daliri, trying to remain calm as she compose her thoughts. "You're like Mushu to Mulan, Pascal to Rapunzel, Olaf to Anna or Elsa" Napangiti ang dalaga sa tuwing inaalala niya ang pangyayari noon. Jake's always there even when she need not saving. Tila isa siyang kabute noon na bigla nalang susulpot at aayain si Erin na gumala. If Keen and Milo sees them together, they'll probably get jealous with how much they've gotten close.

"Do I look like a pet to you?" Sa wakas ay binasag na rin ni Jake ang katahimikan, making Erin giggle. "Hindi man lang ako ginawang si Peter Pan ni Wendy, or Dopey to Snow White, or Maui to Moana" Kahit nasa sahig si Jake ay ramdam ni Erin ang pag-iling nito, she can also imagine him pouting kaya mas lumawak ang ngiti ng dalaga.

"Fine, you're my Peter Pan" hindi sumagot si Jake, muling tumahimik ang kwarto. But she knew that the lad is grinning from ear to ear, biting his lower lip trying to suppress himself from giggling like a teenager. Erin knew Jake that much. And she loves him for who he is, every bit of him.

"Hindi pa rin tayo bati" he responded after a few seconds but Erin just smiled. Kailangan niya pang suyuin ang Disney prince. Ipinikit ni Erin ang kanyang mga mata, but she regretted doing so. Because as soon as she closed hey eys, all the memories came back to her.

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"Can I see you later?" Erin asked over the phone. Various noise were heard from Parker's end; from unintelligible arguments, the sound of keyboards being clicked simultaneously, sounds of sipping from a cup. Erin guessed he's inside a room with his peers.

"I"ll try, we're working on a project" Erin's mouth automatically formed into a pout. It's not even 24 hours since Parker made her feel that he can't live without her and now he suddenly doesn't have time to even sip a coffee with her. Ayaw man isipin ni Erin, because that would be an absolute petty in her part — but she felt like Parker is being distant again. Na para bang walang nangyari. Erin hates to admit that she feels like she's relying on Parker too much. Alam niya naman na matagal niya na itong issue simula high school pa lamang. Keeana's passing created a significant impact on her, it led to her attachment issuses.