Every Tick of Serendipity ( Ruler of Fate Series #3 )

KABANATA 18

Kabanata 18

The eighteenth tick

The surrounding area started forming around a familiar building. I roved my eyes around before running upstairs to the second floor of his apartment. Just before I could insert the key to his apartment, someone did open it.

A smile formed on my lips as I saw Kairos. "Hello!" I greeted.

Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko matapos makita ang maleta sa likuran niya. His eyes never met mine at all. Dumeresto lang siya palabas, habang hila ang bagahe niya.

I stepped aside when he closed the door again. "Kairos..." Mahinang tawag ko sakanya, pero parang hindi niya man lang alam na nandito ako. It's as if I'm a ghost... Or invisible in his eyes.

My eyes blinked when he turned his back on me and walked away with his luggage. Sinubukan ko uliy siyang tawagin, pero ngayon, sarili ko ng boses ang bumigo sa'kin. No matter how wide I opened my mouth or how much my throat itched because I was trying to scream for his name, over and over again, my voice has no sound at all.

Susundan ko na dapat siya, pero isang hakbang palang ang ginawa ko, naradaman ko na kaagad ang pamilyar na lamig at lambot na nakabalot sa buong katawan ko. My head started turning lightweight, as the whole building and him, became the opposite. Dumidilim sila nang dumidilim, hanggang sa tuluyang mawala ang kahit ano, maski ang papalayong si Kairos ay nabura, nang imulat ko ang mga mata ko.

Bumungad sa'kin ang pamilyar na kisame. I held my head and sat up slowly. "That dream of him... Leaving again." Umiling ako at marahang minasahe ang magkabilang sintido ko.

I sighed and looked at my sliding door, leading to my balcony. Saglit akong natulala sa sinag ng araw na tumatagos sa aking kurtina, papunta at tumatama sa sahig ng kwarto ko.

I stood up and walked closer to it. Inurong ko ang kurtina na naglikha ng ingay matapos kumaskas ng curtain ring sa bakal na pinakakabitan no'n. Pagkatapak ko sa labas, ang init na mula sa masakit na araw kaninang umaga ay dumapo sa talampakan ko.

I bit my lip and looked sideways — to where the guest room was located, that one where he used to stay up last night. "Didn't he really sleep?" Mahinang tanong ko, habang tinatanaw ang hindi kalayuan, at kasunod ng balcony ko.

Suminghap ako ng hangin bago tuluyang pumasok. I closed the sliding door and went inside my bathroom. I started showering and cleaning myself with that thought still lingering in my mind.

"Should I watch him?" My head tilted as I raised my trousers.

Listen... If you ever need me, if you want to see me, or if I ask you out... Don't you ever wait. Just don't... You understand?

My eyes blinked when his words appeared in my mind like a flash. Mistulang sinabi niya ulit sa'kin nang harap-harapan 'yon nang maramdaman ko ang pagtaas ng mga balahibo ko.

When I felt my lips smiling, I bit on it, but even with that, it still showed up. "I'll hold on to that... I'll hold on to everything good he said to me." Mahinang bulong ko.

I put on my black trousers and slid my fingers along the hangers of my tops. Kusang tumigil ang kamay ko sa itim na long-sleeves. I took that out and placed it in front of me. "Should I wear a puffy mini skirt to add volume sa bottom?"

"Hmm..." I shrugged. "I should..?" Naghanap ako ng kulay itim at manipis na skirt at sinuot 'yon. I faced myself in my big wall mirror.

I pouted and pointed at my reflection. "Looks cute... But too much." Hinubad ko ulit ang skirt at naghanap na rin ng panibagong pangtaas.