After class the next day. Akuji felt nervous for some reason. He approached Raele while his mind was wandering somewhere.
"Hey, Raele. I'm heading out first."
Nagulat si Raele. Napayuko siya saglit bago muling binalik ang tingin kay Akuji. Parehas silang seryoso.
'I was the one who told him not to walk me to the station anymore, but why am I feeling disappointed?' Raele was so confused. Tumango siya at kumaway. "Ingat."
Tipid na ngumiti si Akuji bago tuluyang umalis. Habang naglalakad sa mahabang pathwalk si Raele ay hindi niya mapigilang maisip kung ano ang ginagawa ni Akuji. Napatingala siya. Dalawang oras pa bago lumubog ang araw kaya maliwanag pa ang paligid. Marami rin siyang kasabay na estudyanteng naglalakad.
Nang may dumaang bisekleta sa kaniyang gilid ay naalala niya bigla ang tagpo nila ni Akuji noong balak siya nitong bigyan ng bisekleta. Natawa si Raele sa isip.
"I'm so used to walking with him on this road that right now, I feel like I'm walking on a different path." he mumbled.
Nasa kanang kamay niya ang ice cream nang tumunog ang kaniyang selpon. Saktong kakaupo niya lang sa loob ng tren. Isang mensahe ang natanggap niya mula kay Akuji.
'Hey! Nakasakay ka na ng tren?'
Napangiti si Raele at agad nagtipa ng sagot.
'Oo, kakasakay lang.'
Nagulat si Raele nang isang segundo lang may mensahe na agad si Akuji.
'I was worried you've gone somewhere and lost your way.'
Natawa siya bago nagtipa muli ng sagot.
'I won't. I told you, I've memorized the way here.'
"Is he not busy? He replies fast." Raele mumbled while reading a new text from Akuji.
'Nah. Tomorrow, sabay ulit tayo.'
'Okay!'
"Maybe he had commitment today. That's why he headed out first? But why is he texting me?" nangunot ang noo ni Raele bago kinain ang ice cream na malapit nang matunaw sa kamay niya.
'I'm sorry I left early. Let's grab some ice cream tomorrow. My treat.'
'I'm eating one right now.' reply ni Raele.
'I'm guessing it was pinipig.'
'You never get it wrong. Haha.'
Nangunot ang noo ni Raele nang walang dumating na reply. "Maybe he's now busy."
After a couple of minutes, he received Akuji's response.
'I want to call you.'
Namilog ang mga mata ni Raele nang sunod na tumunog ang phone niya para sa isang tawag. Agad niya itong sinagot.
"Hi, Akuji." bati niya bago dilaan ang ice cream na hawak niya.
"Hey!"
"Aren't you busy?"
"I... not really." tunog nag-aalinlangan nitong sagot.
"Okay. So what's up?"
"I'm inside the mall right now. Do you have anything in mind you want to buy?"
Napanguso si Raele. "Wala naman."
"Really? I remember you said you want some book. I forgot the title. What was it, again?"
