A Tale In Session (City Series #1)

Chapter 28

"Jaxon?" I softly asked. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Ngumiti sa akin si Jaxon at nag-lakad patungo sa akin. Why is he here? Why am I here? Tumingin kaagad ako sa paligid at nakitang nasa isang daan kami. It was somewhere that looked like a long road.

"I missed you, Raffy," he told me.

Umiling kaagad ako at humakbang paatras. Hindi ko maalala kung bakit ko ba siya kaharap ngayon. I haven't seen him in so long.

"Jax, what are you doing here?" I asked once again.

He smiled and sighed. "Hindi ba ito ang gusto mo? Diba ako naman yung gusto mo?"

"No," I immediately answered. "I told you to never talk to me again, Jax.."

"Diba mas pipiliin mo naman ako kaysa kay Claude?" He scoffed.

Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nanliit ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si Claude na mayroong malungkot na ngiti.

He turned around and started walking away. Sinubukan ko siyang habulin pero hinawakan ni Jaxon ang braso ko.

Binawi ko kaagad ang braso ko at tinulak si Jaxon. I started running after Claude, but he wouldn't look back no matter how many times I called for him.

My chest started to feel heavier and heavier as I ran. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa pagod o sa sakit na ayaw niyang lumingon pabalik.

"Claude!" I shouted.

Sa wakas, napatigil siya sa pag-lakad niya at lumingon sa akin.

"Claude, please!" I continued to shout. "Claude!"

I immediately opened my eyes and sighed in relief once I realized it was all a dream. What the hell was that? Was that my subconscious reminding me of what happened five years ago?

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang mapagtantohan kong iilang pulgada na lang ang pagitan ng mukha namin. He looked so peaceful.

Agad kong nilayo ang mukha ko at tumayo.

Natalia was already up. Margaux and Franco were not on the couch anymore, as well. Si Lance at Hanzo na lang ang natirang tulog dito sa sala, at siyempre, si Claude.

I tried to calm myself down. Tumayo kaagad ako at dumiretso na sa banyo para mag-toothbrush at mag-hilamos. Pagkababa ko, wala na si Claude sa sahig pero nandoon pa rin si Hanz at Lance. I went straight to the kitchen and found Natalia and Claude talking, while Margaux was preparing breakfast.

"Morning," bati ko sa kanila.

"Hey," Claude greeted.

Si Natalia naman ay nagbigay ng malaking ngiti sa akin at si Margaux ay kumakanta lang habang nagluluto.

"Coffee?" Alok sa akin ni Claude.

Umiling ako habang naka-ngiti, politely declining his offer. He placed his cup down and leaned back on his chair and slowly crossed his arms. Kumuha ako ng baso sa isang cabinet at nilagyan 'yon ng tubig.

"Kailan ka uuwi ng Manila?" Margaux asked Claude.

"Bukas," he answered.

Halos masamid ako sa tubig na iniinom ko nang marinig ko ang sagot niya. Bukas na kaagad? Akala ko ba... this week? Bukas na talaga kaagad?

Wait, bakit ba ako affected? I knew he was going back, anyway. That doesn't even concern me.

"Ang bilis naman!" sabi ni Natalia.

"Work stuff." He laughed.

"Bakit ko naririnig si Raffy kanina na sinisigaw pangalan ni Claude?" tanong ni Hanzo pagkapasok sa kusina habang kinakamot yung likod ng ulo niya, halatang bagong gising.