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

XXXII

Back From Beginning
Chapter Thirty-Two

"I'm really sorry, Julia..."

Sunud sunod na tumulo ang luha ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang nararamdaman ko. Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit talaga ako umiiyak?

Is it still about the hate comments kaya umiiyak ako? Is it also about the death threats kaya nagsosorry siya?

"Noah? Julia?"

By instinct, I immediately pulled myself away from him. Umiwas rin siya ng tingin and we both acted as if nothing was actually happening.

Bakit andito si Fausto?! How the hell did he even get inside our condo?

"Uy andyan pala kayo! Aga naman ng lights off niyo." Fausto remarked as he entered the room.

"Naistorbo ata natin, pre."

Mas lalo akong namula nang narinig ko naman sunod ang boses ni Vaughn.

"W-Wala naman. M-May gagawin lang ako, feel at home." wala sa sarili kong sabi bago sila iniwan doon.

I ran to my room. Nabunggo pa ako kay Enzo but we're both too stunned to even start a small talk.

Wow great. Now the whole Next Cycle is here, at hindi man lang pinaalam sa akin ni Noah na pupunta sila ngayong hatinggabi dito.

"Hey you said we're having drinks here, bakit parang nakainom ka na Noah?" iyon ang huli kong narinig galing kay Fausto bago ko sinaraduhan ang pintuan ng kwarto ko.

I tossed and turned on my bed. I tried to feel my heartbeat and it's beating like crazy.

Siguro masyado lang akong kinabahan sa pagdating ng Next Cycle? But why am I even too nervous that they came to our house?

Fudge, Julia, matulog ka na nga!

Hindi ko na maalala kung anong oras ako nakatulog. The last thing I heard was Noah and the others' hearty laugh. I bet they were already drunk that time.

Kaya nang nagising ako ay medyo magaan ang pakiramdam ko. I felt so motivated and driven in life like never before.

Naabutan kong nakaupo na sa single chair si Fausto, halatang kakagising lang at tulog naman si Ace sa sofa. Vaughn and Enzo are nowhere to be found.

"Fausto, s-si Enzo?"

Kinusot niya ang mga mata niya bago ako hinarap.

"Kagabi pa umuwi, Julia. Di naman uminom kasama namin. KJ nga eh."

Tumango ako. Siguro hindi pa sila okay ni Noah.

Every nerve in my body suddenly reacted to the smell of a familiar scent behind me.

"Noha kape nga." utos sa kanya ni Fausto.

Hinarap ko siya pero hindi niya man lang ako nilingon. He went straight to our kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Oy Noah kape ah." ulit ni Fausto.

Gusto ko sanang magsalita. I want to talk. to him about last night but my guts left me already before I can even think of speaking up.

"Kayo na magtimpla." masungit na sabi ni Noah.

"Ito naman oh, ang sungit. Parang kagabi lang ang saya saya mo."

Noah glared at Fausto kaya nang nilingon ko itong isa ay nakatakip na siya sa bibig niya.

"You're a freaking headache." Noah groaned before he slammed the door to his room.