The Tale of Astro

Chapter 05: Ending's Before Beginning

July 29

Sigrid's P.O.V.

I'm currently packing some things in my backpack when I heard a noise coming from the gate outside. That must be Liam.

Since kitang-kita mula sa bintana ng unit ko ang front gate ng apartment, sinilip ko ang kotse na nag-park sa harapan. It's a black and yellow Camaro that kind of resembles our humongous robot friend, Bumble Bee.

Binilisan ko na ang pagkilos at lumabas na sa unit ko. I started to sense that someone is looking at me the moment I got out of the unit. It's like someone's observing me from afar.

Ilang minuto pa akong tumayo doon habang inaayos ang lock ng pinto pero hindi pa din nawawala ang strange feeling na nararamdaman ko. Ano ba 'yan? Napapraning na yata ako dahil sa adventure namin ni Kaizo last saturday. Speaking of that Uppercut, pinagalitan siya ni Dad sa call kahapon nang dahil sa gulo na pinasok namin but later thanked him for what he did. For now, I can't visit him in the hospital since he can't relax whenever I am around, kidding aside. Dad sent the best nurses out there to take care of him and left me no choice but to stay away from him until he's recovered.

As for that uneasy feeling, I've decided to shrug it off. Maybe I'm still tired.

Dumiretso na agad ako sa elevator para hindi na mainip si Liam sa baba.

"How are you?" he asked after we exchanged our morning greetings.

"Still kicking," I answered while fixing my seatbelt. He then started the engine of his car.

"So, are you sure that we're going there?" Napalingon ako sa kanya matapos mapansin ang biglaang pag-iiba ng tono sa huling salita na binanggit niya.

"Yeah. It's worth the risk. Siya lang kasi ang makakasagot ng lahat ng tanong ko sa ngayon. Tito Caesar's still not in his usual self so maybe I can pay them a visit."

"Hindi ba pwedeng hintayin mo na lang ang sagot kay Mr. So o kaya naman ay tawagan mo na lang siya sa cellphone number na ginamit niya sa pag-order noon sa café? That's more favorable than going there yourself." I can clearly see that his eyes are really hesitant.

"I appreciate your concern but I think I can handle this. I wouldn't want to appear rude to Mr. Ban for talking about some complicated matter over the phone. Another is our school responsibilities, I don't want to fill my plate. Malapit na ang start ng classes natin so I can't expect myself to focus on two major things." Binigyan niya ako ng isang ngiti bilang reply. "Salamat, Parekoy."

"Well, I can't do anything to stop you," pahayag niya matapos tumingin sa mga mata ko. We just met a traffic light emitting a crimson color in front of us.

"Ikaw nga ang best friend ko."

"IKR." Natawa kami pareho sa sagot niya. It's just not like him.

"Pero hindi nga. Salamat talaga sa pag-intindi sa 'kin. Thank you for staying with me." Alam kong hindi siya manhid. Alam kong alam niya kung ano ang tinutukoy ko. He's always aware.

"I won't leave you no matter what. I'll make no mistake of leaving you. I promise." And that's my best comrade, Liam Grayson Ferrer-Lopez.

***

"You're not kidding about that Wall Maria," he said looking surprised.

"You know I'm not." Yup. I did mention something about Wall Maria to him. For those whose not aware of this awesome walls Mr. Hajime Isayama has came up, there are three walls in that great piece of anime. There's Wall Maria, the outer one; Wall Rose, the middle; and Wall Sina, the inner city that served as the king's home. So yeah, Attack on Titan's the best.