Fantasy Burst Online [ HIATUS ]

|| 10 ||[Revised]

Chapter Ten: The Game Launches [ Part 1 ]

"That's pretty much what makes up the whole third floor of this school building" nakangiti kong sambit sabay napatingin sa kasama ko na nakangiti lamang rin habang mataman na pinagmamasdan ang mga lugar na napupuntahan namin in this little tour around the campus na ideya rin ng principal.

We climbed up the stairs and reached the rooftop, giving us a full view of the school premises below. Manghang naglakad si Christa malapit sa railings na nakapalibot sa rooftop and I followed closely behind her, enjoying the view in front of me.

"It's so beautiful up here" komento niya sabay tingin saakin na ikinatawa ko na lamang. Does she really have to be so cute? Damn it.

"Whenever I don't feel like talking to anyone, this is where I go." I said, taking a seat on the tiled floor beside her. "Yung tipong gusto ko lang takasan ang responsibilities ko.

Minsan kasi, it's getting too overwhelming and I just can't keep up anymore. I need a breather." She sat down beside me and heaved a sigh of contentment, her strands of hair moving along with her shoulders.

"I got you. I understand. Talagang may times na hindi mo na alam ang gagawin and you're stuck in that moment na lahat sa paligid mo parang nagstop na ng tuluyan. If you don't move, wala ring mangyayari." She whispered, looking up to the sky as she continued speaking. "Back home, I have no one to talk to as well. Sa bahay, puro away ang parents namin and we don't exactly know what to feel about it."

"Dad has been a very good parent not only to me but to my brother as well.... but everything changed."

"Changed? Could you tell me what happened? " I asks, trying my best not to look like a creep here. I have a feeling that this is a burden that she carried for so long. I want to help her relieve some of it somehow. I don't even know why, I just do.

"Mom passed away and dad changed. He wasn't that loving and gentle father anymore. He started drinking, getting wasted as he stare at her portrait.

"Oh." It was all that I was able to say. Bad move Steven! You might have triggered a past that you shouldn't have! Damn it. Iniyuko ko na lamang ang ulo ko at mahinang nagsabi ng "I'm sorry to hear that. I shouldn't have asked."

She then smiled once more and shook her head from left to right slowly. "No. You don't have to apologize, Steven. Nangyari na ang nangyari. We can't change that now."

I suppose she's right. Tumayo ako sa aking kinauupuan at nagpagpag ng uniform to remove the dirt that may have stick into the fabric of my clothes as I lent her my hand, smiling gently at her once more. "Tara?"

She stared at me confused for a moment. "Saan?"

"Sa cafeteria. Nagugutom na kasi ako and I don't want to leave you alone at baka maligaw ka pa" I answered jokingly, and raised an eyebrow multiple times as if teasing her.

Namula naman ang pisngi niya at nakakuyom ang isang kamao na itinutok ito sa akin. "Hey! I can handle myself!"

Natawa na lamang ako at mas inilahad pa sa kaniya ang kamay ko to show her my point. I'm not going to leave her here. I want to spend more time talking to her. After all, I enjoy her company. It's nostalgic.