Scarlet Strings of Love

Chapter 11: Tiefen des Meeres

"The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too"
― Vincent van Gogh

"For your next homework," the students groaned and the teacher rolled their eyes. "You need to write an essay or a literary piece answering the question 'what makes a man?' and you're going to pass that on our next meeting. Short story, poem, kahit kanta, I don't care, basta masagot lang ang tanong, okay? That's all. Class dismissed."

He walked to the library, head full of adjectives that can describe a man. Wala siyang mapapala kapag nag-search siya online dahil puro negative lang naman ang mga sinasabi ng mga tao. Though, he can use that as well.

He grabbed the biggest dictionary he can find from one of the shelves and sat on the nearest table. Naghanap siya ng mga adjective na pwede niyang pagkuhaan ng idea para sa gagawin niyang essay.

Given that he's a man, Emman knew that some of his classmates would think that he's biased. At least, that's what he thinks. He's just making a simple creative essay, anyway. A lot of women who'd pass his table would wave at him and when he'd smile back, the women would squeal and push each other para lumapit sa kaniya. Saglit na napangiti si Emman sa sarili niya. His narcissist self shining through.

Hirap talaga kapag gwapo. He thought, but then...

"I can never fall for someone everybody loves, you know."

Napatigil siya nang marinig niya ang boses ni Czarina sa utak niya. Why now? He groans and ruffles his hair. Pinagpatuloy niya na lang ang paghahanap ng adjectives pero paulit-ulit niyang naririnig ang boses ni Czarina sa isip niya.

"I think all men are narcissists, kaya nga ang daming mayayabang na lalaki diba?"

"As if I'd fall for a playboy."

"You don't need me, Emman. Ang daming babaeng nakapaligid sa'yo, o."

He gave up the dictionary because he knew the demon whispering to him that is his conscience in Czarina's voice will not stop tormenting him. Sinara niya ang libro at nakinig na lang siya ng mga kanta sa phone niya.

I put all my cards out on the table

You ain't ever gonna show your hand

I would rather hold you close than

Try to understand

Bakit ba siya nag-shuffle ng playlist niya sa phone niya? Wala na siyang nagawa. Hindi niya rin naman kayang tapusin ang homework niya dahil ginugulo siya ni Czari-- ng konsensya niya. Emman sighed, he could just half-ass things like always.

No, this time he'll make an effort. This time, he'll change.

Emman would always half-ass a lot of things back in high school. From homeworks to other major projects, he'd always give 50% and never a hundred. Hindi naman sa tinatamad siya. He just doesn't have the right motivation.

Until his feelings for Czarina bloomed. He didn't mean to feel something for Czarina, at first. In fact, he didn't even look at her before. She's a weeb, her nose always in those weird comics she calls 'manga'. Sounds like a fruit, he said one time, and that was how he went home with his arm sore. She'd pinched the life out of his arm, ilang oras niyang hindi nagalaw nang maayos ang braso niya.

He didn't care about her at all. Ang dami namang babae na nahuhumaling sa kaniya. May bagong friend request sa facebook account niya araw-araw hanggang sa napuno na lang 'yon. Dumami rin ang followers niya sa ibang mga social media accounts niya. He doesn't need a weeb in his life. Mas gusto niya ang mga babaeng nakasanayan niya n'ong nagstay siya sa America with his dad— big tits, hot, small waist, long hair, and dumb most of the time. Doon siya nasanay. Hindi siya sanay sa babaeng matalino, weeb, maikli ang buhok, at plain magdamit.