The Deadline

C h a p t e r T h r e e

Sorry for  latelatelatelate update. :(

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Chapter Three : Can we be friends?

Lone

It's currently raining so I brought my umbrella. Nasa tapat at ngayon ng bahay kung nasaan si Riddle. The gate is half open so I entered and stopped in front of the door. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang journal na nakatago sa likod ko.

I stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Tao po.." Nahihiya kong tawag. There's no answer so I made it louder. "Tao po!–"

In my surprise, the door suddenly opened revealing Rid with his Gray hoodie and brown pajama pants. His expression is asking when he saw me.

"Why?" Maikli niyang tanong. His voice is still rough as same as we met in that store and shivers me at the same time because of the bit coldness you could found in it.

Napakurot ko ng kamay sa kaba, tracing my lost words. Why do I automatically shut myself without doing any effort?

"Ano.." Panimula ko. I composed myself silently. "May sasabihin ako."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "What is it." It sounds like not a question, more like, an emotionless statement.

"I-I saw your Journal you left in the school," I said as I keep managing my voice. Ipinakita ko ang journal niya. ", seems like you forgot this–"

Nagulat ako bigla ng kinuha niya ang Journal mula sa kamay ko. He started flipping the pages of his journal, checking on it. After that, he shot me a blank stare. "Where did you get this?"

Napalunok ako."In the place," i stopped. "..where you always stay?"

Nakakunot parin ang noo nito. Maya maya pa ay napatango nalang siya. I'm shocked when he tends to close the door. Wala naman akong pake kung pagsarhan niya ko. Ubos na siya siguro sa sasabihin o hindi talaga siya friendly na tao katulad nalang ng palagi niyang ginagawa.

But my stupidity strikes as hell, I unconsciously stopped him from doing that.

Napapikit ako sa inis habang hawak ko ang pintuan na siyang pinipigilan ko sa pagsara. I saw his eyes darted in my hands against the door. He gave me his annoyed look. "What else do you want?"

Wala akong masabi. Kahit ang skills ko sa pagpapalusot, nawala nalang bigla like it was shut down forcefully. Ngumiti ako ng hilaw. Finding my own words. "Ano.. kamusta.. ka?"

Shiit! Ano ba yang mga pinagsasabi mo, Lighten Klein!

"I'm fine." Malamig niyong sagot. "Now remove your hand. I can't close this."

Pinasadahan ko siya ng isa pang hilaw na ngiti. Mabilisan kong tinanggal ang mga tanga kong kamay doon at itinago sa likod. Walang pakundangan na sinarhan niya ang pinto sa harap ko.

"Suplado." Nakasimangot kong bulong. Naglakad ako palabas. Bago ako makarating sa labas ng gate ay muli kong nilingon ang pinto ng bahay ni Rid.

"Alone, huh?" Bulong ko sa sarili. "How can you live like that? Do you have plans like what I've dreamed? I hope you were not."

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"Ma, si ate ayaw akong bigyan ng fruit salad!" Sumbong ni Kremlin kay Mama. Today is sunday at ang usual na ginagawa ng nanay ko ay magluto ng kare-kare at fruit salad as a dessert. At narito ang kapatid ko na napaka-sugapa.

"Duh, wag kang feeling victim dito, Krem." Iritado kong pasada sa kanya sabay dakot ko gamit ang kutsara sa tupperware ng fruit salad. "Tignan mo, halos ubusin mo na yung kalahati, sugapa!"