Multimedia: Lorenzo and Iris
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《Present Life》
August 10, 2022
Friday | 2:37 am
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Tahimik ang loob ng sasakyan.
The engine hummed softly as Trace drove, one hand on the wheel, the other resting tensely on his lap. Walang music. Walang usapan.
Just silence.
At sa passenger seat, nakasandal si Laureen, nakapikit, pero hindi tulog.
Ramdam pa rin niya ang bigat sa ulo, ang hilo, at higit sa lahat... ang gulo sa isip niya.
"Okay ka na?" tanong ni Trace, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa daan.
Mahina siyang tumango. "Medyo."
"Medyo isn't okay," he muttered.
Napabuntong-hininga si Laureen. "I'm fine."
"Yeah," he scoffed lightly. "Kanina rin 'yan sinabi mo bago ka sumuka." That shut her up.
Lumipas ang ilang segundo, hanggang sa magsalitang muli si Trace..
"What was that?" Diretso, walang paligoy-ligoy.
Napalingon si Laureen sa kanya. "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean," sagot niya, this time mas mababa ang boses. "That thing with him."
She looked away, out the window. Streetlights passing by, one after another, blurred.
"Nothing," she said. And that made Trace tightened his grip on the wheel.
"Don't," he warned. "Don't give me that."
Natahimik silang muli, pero hindi na tulad kanina. Cause this time, it was heavier.
"I saw you," he continued. "The way you were looking at him. The way he was looking at you." His jaw clenched. "Hindi 'yon wala lang."
Laureen swallowed.
"I don't know how to explain it," she admitted.
"Then try." His voice softened, pero may diin pa rin. Because he wanted to understand, but something else was creeping in. Something sharper.
"I just..." she struggled. "Every time I'm near him, parang may—"
"Connection?" Trace cut in and that made her look at him.
"...Yes."
The word hung in the air. And Trace can't help but to let out a humorless chuckle.
"Of course," he muttered.
"What does that mean?" she asked, frowning.
"Wala," sagot niya agad.
"Trace."
He sighed. Then finally glanced at her.
"What I mean," he said slowly, "is that you barely know the guy... pero parang mas kilala mo pa siya kaysa sa'min."
That stung.
"That's not true—"
"Really?" he cut in. "Kasi kanina? You didn't even hesitate."
Her brows furrowed. "Sa'n?"
"Sa kanya," he said, more direct now. "The way you stayed. The way you listened."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Life That Echoes
FantasiSome love don't end. They linger-soft, distant, and aching like echoes that refuse to fade. Lorenzo once had a love that felt like forever. Annys was his home, his future, his everything. Until death took her too soon, leaving behind a silence he n...
