CLOSER NEXT TO YOU (Completed)

Chapter 34

Chapter XXXIV: STARTING POINT

He found it cute when Chloe looked at him like that. Chloe always acted cool so it was refreshing whenever he saw the other side of her.

"U-Uh I'm going," sabi niya, to cut the awkwardness.

"Uuwi ka na?" si Louie sa likod niya. "Salamat pala sa pagkain."

"Kuya B2, salamat po," sweet Tina said.

"Eat well," sabi niya rito saka bumaling ulit kay Chloe na nakatingin pa rin sa kanya."Bye.

He was thankful Chloe couldn't hear his chest that time. He walked to exit but Chloe was still at the doorstep. He stopped after three steps, wishing Chloe would move and gave him a way.

He looked at Chloe once more, tensed, saying, "I'm leaving."

Mukhang natauhan naman si Chloe sa pagkakataong iyon at gumilid para makadaan siya.

"Goodnight," sabi niya nang makalabas na ng pintuan saka dumiretso na pauwi.

"Narinig mo ba ate ang sinabi niya nung pagdating mo?" dinig niyang sabi ni Louie.

Slowing for a bit, he listened carefully. There was, again, drumming inside his chest.

"Di nga, ate?" dinig niya ulit kay Louie. Chloe must have nodded. "Magpapaligaw ka ba sa kanya, ate, kung sakali?"

Napahinto siya sa tanong na iyon ni Louie.

"Kumain ka na nga lang diyan,"Chloe replied with a slight annoyance at Louie's prying.

B2 smirked at it. Chloe could say an instant no but she did not .

Pagbalik niya ng bahay naabutan niya sa sala ang dalawang kapatid. Lookin' down at his feet, B1 looked up as he walked in.

"What happened?" he asked, seeing Pryn in tears.

Pryn, eyes red, said, "Mom, left."

"Doon muna daw siya sa hotel," dugtong ni B1.

He tried to connect Pryn's crying to his mom staying in a hotel. It told him something bad had happened but asked anyway. "Why?"

"Meron ata silang hindi pagkakaintindihan ni Papa," B1 said, with eyes saying 'it's a big trouble'.

Fighting is part of marriage. Their parents had been into fights just like other couples did, and the last it happened they helped their dad consoled their mom. As far as he could remember their parent's fight had never been resulted to separation, or his mom staying in a hotel at the very least. It should be bigger this time that even Pryn, who couldn't easily be shaken, tear up.

He tried to call his mom but failed to connect. The next he contacted was the hotel their family owned, but as expected their mom didn't went there. Sinubukan niyang tawagan si Helen pero hindi rin din daw ito doon pumunta. He called his lolo and lola on his mom's side but the two were even unaware that something was going on in their family.

"Mom must be really upset," he said, helplessly pocketing his phone.

"Siguro hayaan na muna na natin siyang pahupain ang galit niya," B1 suggested.

"No!" Pryn straightened up, disapproving. "Baka lalo lang lumala kung papatagalin pa nila. This is not a simple misunderstanding...nakita niyo sana kung paano si Papa magmakaawa kay Mama. Dad begged on his knees but Mom just silently ignored him."

Pryn continued, face wet, "She's so cold earlier. I thought I'm seeing another person."

"Nag-iwan lang ng text si Mama kay ate pagkaalis niya," B1 explained."May pinuntahan din ako kanina kaya hindi ko naabuutan si Mama."