Back From Beginning #WATTYS2020 (Next Cycle Playlist #1)

IX

Back from Beginning
Chapter Nine

Inabot niya sa akin ang isang folder na may clipped papers. Halos malula ako nang buksan ko iyon at nakita kung gaano karami ang mga salitang naka type doon.

"Must not enter Noah's room?" as I read the first sentence of the first paper I saw.

Inangat ko siya ng tingin. He just proudly smiled at me.

"Must make the house clean and in order."

Tinignan ko ulit siya. He just raised his brows while smiling proudly at me.

"Must be mindful of house chores? Must not make too much noise? Must let Noah rest when he is tired, in other words, do not disturb Noah?!" I almost screamed the last sentence.

Tumango lamang si Noah. He still looks so proud and confident about the contract.

"Hindi naman mukhang contract 'to ah. This looks like a set of rules!"

He raised his brow again.

"It's a contract, Julia. Scan the last papers."

I let out a sigh and did what he told me to do. Binasa ko ang huling mga papel at doon ko nga nakita ang duration ng contract.

"Valid until the end of the investigation? Fair enough..." I almost whispered it.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo nang tapusin ang fake relationship natin? Just tell me if you don't want to end it."

He seductively touched my lip, pero hindi ako nakaramdam ng kilig. All I felt was amusement.

"Ang yabang mo." I gave him a sarcastic look and slapped his hand off my lip.

Umupo siya sa sofa kaya naiwan akong nakatayo sa harapan niya.

"Des has no clue kung sino ang nagset up sa atin. It's harder than having a lot of culprits, at least may specific people tayong papaimbestigahan."

Natulala ako sa sinabi niya. Meaning, magtatagal pa ako dito? Matagal ko pang makakasama si Noah?

Is it a good thing?

Thinking about the ending makes me feel sad already. Syempre, kahit papaano, I already considered him as my friend... a friend I met in an unexpecred accident. Nakakalungkot lang isipin na masasanay kaming magkasama sa isang bahay but we will eventually separate ways after all of this is done.

"D-Don't worry, kapag natapos ang contract natin, I will pray hard para hindi na tayo magkita ulit. I will pray for my bad luck to end!" I tried hard to laugh para mawala ang awkwardness sa paligid namin.

He smirked and shook his head. Tumayo na rin siya at naglakad patungo sa kwarto niya.

"Be true to what you say."

I watched him walk away from me. Our distance was once again made clear in front of me. Malapit na ako sa kanya but he still feels distant.

Will we still be friends after this? Will we exchange numbers after all of these? Will we still greet each other kapag nagkita kami?