Dying Embers

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven: Anong Akala Mo

ᯓ★ play this while reading: fallin' all in you — shawn mendez 𝄞 ⋆ˎˊ-

"Hey, Rain!" Clarence's voice cut through the noise right after the game.

The scoreboard still glowed red and bold above the field — Chance's team had won by six points. Close match, pero walang duda: Chance really was a prodigy. His movements on the field felt almost unreal, like the ball had its own magnet and he was its pull. Minsan nadadapa siya, minsan nadudulas sa damo, pero kahit gano'n, nahuhuli pa rin niya ang bola. Like he was born for this.

"Clarence!" I called back, a little surprised. "Hindi ko in-expect na nandito ka. Sana nag-text ka." Jilliana had already gone ahead to the library to cram her Science notes — nakalimutan daw niya kagabi, kaya ngayon siya humahabol.

He jogged toward me, still catching his breath. "Ah, confiscated ni Coach phones namin. Walang chance na makapag-update ako sa'yo. Pero, oh right — pinapabigay ni Mama." He pulled out a thin box, roughly the size of a paperback, and handed it to me.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "I have a bad feeling about this," I muttered, staring suspiciously at the box. Then I shifted my glare to him, my brows refusing to relax. "At ikaw, ilang beses ko bang sinabi, huwag mong tawagin na 'Mama' si Mommy. Nakakainis. May sarili ka namang Mommy, Clarence."

He just laughed and, like always, ruffled my hair as if I were still ten years old. "Jealous Rain strikes again. Sorry, pero hindi ko babaguhin 'yon. Kuya mo ako, so I get the final say." His grin was shameless.

"Not even close! Isang araw lang tanda mo sa'kin!" I shot back, sticking out my tongue at him.

That only made him laugh harder. "Miss na rin kita, Rain." He sighed and then, almost casually, added, "By the way, I heard someone's interested in you? 'Yong lalaki na nakalaro namin kanina?"

Natigilan ako. My forced smile barely reached my eyes. "Clarence, please — don't tell Mom."

"As if magagalit siya." He scoffed. "She'd be the one shoving you straight into his arms."

"Kaya nga huwag na muna, please. Kapag nalaman niya, sigurado akong every five minutes niya akong tatawagan."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "That's so Mama. Pero tandaan mo, ha? Before ka um-oo do'n, I need to meet the guy. Kakausapin ko siya nang maigi. Kahit interrogate pa."

Napangiwi ako at bahagyang sinuntok ang balikat niya. "Don't you dare. Sige na, umalis ka na."

He only laughed louder, clearly amused at my reaction, before his coach's sharp whistle pulled him away. Clarence waved one last time before jogging off.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tinalikuran na siya, but just as I did, biglang may pumatong ng baseball cap sa ulo ko. Napaigtad ako.

"What the—" I tilted my head up and froze.

Chance.

His handsome face hovered dangerously close, his lips pressed into a pout, his brows knitted together. May kakaibang init sa mga mata niya, a mix of irritation and something heavier. For a moment, akala ko talaga galit siya.

He glanced briefly in Clarence's direction before turning back to me. Without warning, he flicked my forehead.

"Aray!" I winced, rubbing the spot he hit.

Chance clicked his tongue, still frowning. "Sino 'yon, ha? At bakit ka nakikipag-usap sa gitna ng tirik na tirik na araw? Ni wala ka pang dalang payong o jacket." His tone was sharp, scolding almost, but the way he pulled down the cap's visor to shield my eyes softened the bite of his words. The brim lowered enough to dim the sunlight — and hide his expression.