Chasing Shadows of Love

KABANATA 2

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FACE-OFF

"Where did you go? I'm worried about you." Bungad sa akin ni Rio pagkapasok ko sa kaniyang apartment. Should I say na muntik na akong manakawan, nadapa sa court, at nagkaroon ako ng bagong crush na hindi ko maintidihan.

"Bumili ng makakain. Kain tayo?" Alok ko sa kaniya sabay pakita ng supot ng pagkain na binili ni Rhys.

Spaghetti, chicken, burger, fries, at may kasama pang ice cream fudge ang binili ni Rhys para sa akin. Gusto niya pa sana ihatid dito kaso hindi ko naman ito pagmamay-ari para papasukin siya basta basta.

At anong gagawin namin sa kwartong to? Bakit ba ako nag-iisip ng masama.

"So, How long do you plan to stay here?" Napatigil ako sa pagkain sa tanong ni Rio.

"Ah, the sooner the better kinakailangan na mas makaalis agad ako rito. Nakakahiya naman kasi. Hahanap na lang siguro ako ng murang mauupahan at trabaho kung sakali." He paused for moment, tila nag-iisip.

"Or pwede ka naman dito. All expenses paid. Hindi muna kailangan magbayad pa. At hindi rin naman kita pinapaalis." Ano 'to friendship with benefits?!

"No. You silly woman." Nagsalita na naman ba ang bibig ko ng kusa? Du-duct tape-an ko na 'to sa susunod para hindi ako napapahiya.

"I wouldn't mind if you stay in here. I was alone and living by myself throughout the school year so nothing can go wrong if you stay here. And I wouldn't worry for you if you have not eaten, if you are not comfortable and safe. Because I will promise that I can provide those for you." Kahit higit pa sa friend, okay lang.  G ka ba? This is much of an assurance. Ganito ba siya sa lahat? Sana hindi.

"Nakakahiya naman. Hindi ba't may binabayaran ka pa rito?" This beautiful place must cost a lot. Lalo pa't two floor apartment ang kaniya.

"Just the bills. With the help of my mom, this apartment is mine now." How I wished that my mother is still also here with me. I miss her.

She has the same mindset as me. Na magkaroon ng utang na loob, na hindi dapat tini-take for granted ang lahat ng bagay. Na minsan kailangan din nating dumaan sa hirap.

"Hindi kasi kakayanin ng konsensiya ko ang hindi magbigay, Rio."

We just decided to split the bills in half. Pati grocery kasama na rin dahil marunong naman daw siyang magluto. Balak niya nga sanang magluto ngayon kaya lang nakabili na ako.

"Veridian University?"

Basa ko sa lace ng ID niyang nakalapag sa lamesa, besides ng mga notes niya tungkol sa nursing. Hindi ba't diyan din nag-aaral si Rhys.

"That's my school." Tanong niya habang naghuhugas ng aming pinagkainan. Pati paghuhugas ayaw din niyang ipagawa sa akin. "Saang college ka nga pala, Rainne?"

"Elysian Ace College EAC for short... I didn't get to pass on Veridian eh." He pinched my chick. "It's okay. Besides, EAC was also a good university for business courses."

"Your school is near ours, very near. I could also bring you to your school. Sabay na tayo." Jusko, wala ba kaming balak paghiwalyin ng tadhana? Kasi kung wala, sang-ayon ako. Hindi ako papalag!

Baka kilala niya si Rhys! Sa dami ba namang fans no'n sinong hindi makakakilala sa kaniya sa campus nila? Baka nga may pareho silang fan base nitong si Rio.

Face to Face: Sinong mas angat, sinong mas gwapo: si Rhys o Rio? A children act but funny at some times.

"Do you somehow know who's Rhys?" Nagtama ang mga tingin namin. Ang ekspresyon niyang malamlam ngayon ay napalitan ng pagkainis.

"Why is he troubling you?"

"No." I answered shortly.

"Don't be near that man, Rainne." I was taken a back of what he said. Rhys seems to be a good man. Misteryoso pero parang mabuti naman.

"Why, is he dangerous?" Nagkibit balikat siya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Just a hunch." But his reaction tells the otherwise. There must be something else not just a hunch but a reason.

"I'll just study again and please give me your schedule so that I will know the meeting points of our first classes."

Napailing na lang ako. For sure, hindi naman na siguro kami magkakasalamuha ni Rhys dahil kailanman hindi na ako pupunta sa basketball court na 'yon.

My thoughts were disrupted when a notification pop-up on my cellphone.

+1 new request to follow you.

Pagbukas ko pa lang ng cellphone ko ayan na ang bumungad sa akin. Sino namang magfo-follow sa akin gayo'ng hindi naman ako pala post sa socials ko. And the last post I have was the picture of the hands of my mother before she has taken away from me.

@Crhysostomo
104 posts 35k followers 403 following

It was Rhys. Grabe ang mga pa abs. How did he find my account? Gwapo, sobrang gwapo. At bakit niya ako ni-follow? Hot and sexy. Rainne, stop. Hindi nakakatulong.

Planes, other countries, and luxury items. Ibang mga bagay na makikita sa profile niya. It somehow reminded me kung gaano ko gustong ma-achieve 'yung mga bagay na 'yon. Out of my league. Ekis. Lupa lang ako at langit siya, may malayong agwat sa isa't isa.

I just comtinue to browse to see his other post. I click the pinned one. It was him in a stage, in his neck was medals that I can't count. He is an achiever.

Rhys Crisostomo Estrella
Valedictorian

Wow! He is not just a player after all, but also a person who studies hard. But, as I continue to scrutinize the post. On the left side of the stage, Rio was sitting.

Magkaklase sila?

@oRion congrats, bro.
@crhysostomo congratulations too, our class salutatorian.

Does this mean na magkaibigan sila? Valedictorian and salutatorian. They are both handsome and smart is this really a face-off?!

He remained on my follower request. Because I don't know how will I deal with him. Along with the reaction Rio made when I said his name.