Always Have Been, Always Will Be

30

Trigger Warning: Stalking

***

[ ◉¯]

Chapter 30

Run

It went on like that.

Hindi ko napansin ang paglipas ng oras. I committed to being with Sauyer's side at all time—every second, every minute, every hour...every day, until almost a few weeks had passed. Since I started taking care of Sauyer, I've had lost my sense of time. Hindi ko na nga alam kung ano na ba yung petsa, o ano yung kagapan sa school dahil hindi na ako pumapasok.

The only thing that I forced myself to be reminded of was the exams. It was approaching fast. Ang pinapaalala ko sa aking sarili ay pag-aralan lang ang topics at notes ko, tsaka na rin yung na-miss kong mga discussions. Naisipan kong saka na ako papasok ng school kapag exams na talaga.

It was late at night. Staring at my books for hours and hours made my eyes wearier than they already were. My eyes rose up to the wall I was facing, and the indicated twelve o' clock on it triggered a yawn from me.

Nilingon ko si Sauyer galing sa kaniyang desk na inuupuan ko, at minasdan siyang mahimbing na natutulog, para bang hindi lang ako nahirapan na patulugin siya kanina.

After I stared at him for a good minute, I withdrew my gaze and brought it back into the textbooks in front of me, heaving a heavy sigh. I realized I couldn't continue studying because of the sleepiness that was catching up to me, and also that I couldn't focus overall.

Hindi naman siguro si Sauyer magigising bigla, kaya hindi na 'ko magpoproblema kung babangon siya at makita niyang wala ako.

Tahimik akong tumayo sa kinauupuan ko at kumuha ng kung ano-anong damit galing sa aking bag saka nagbihis sa banyo. Pagkalabas ko ay nakasuot lang ako ng simpleng orange na t-shirt at dark red na cargo pants. It wasn't a palette I would usually go for, but I no longer minded it. Bibili lang naman ako ng kape at snacks sa seven-eleven dahil hindi ako marunong magluto sa kusina.

I carefully exited the room and made sure to not make any sound when I left the house. Tulog ang lahat na katulong kaya wala nang nagtanong pa sa akin kung saan ako pupunta. Before I knew it, I was in seven-eleven, holding a bottled iced coffee and a few snacks. I wanted to make it quick by entering the store, picking what I wanted, and paying for it. But when I saw Thaianara in line for the counter, I halted on my tracks.

Tatalikod na sana ako at hihintayin na lang siyang makalabas nang napabaling din siya sa 'king direksyon saka nanlaki ang mga mata, nagulat sa presensya ko. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napamura sa aking isipan. Nagkunwari akong wala lang iyon sa akin habang naglalakad upang pumila sa likuran niya. I didn't want to show that I was affected so I tried to make my face as stoic as possible.

"Ma'am, may barya ka lang po ba?" Tanong ng cashier sa kaniya nang nasa tapat na siya ng linya.

Suminghap siya. "Ah, pasensya na, ate. Iyan lang ang dala ko ngayon, e," she apologetically replied and laughed awkwardly.

I pursed my lips and pretended that I wasn't listening and instead was looking at outside of the store.

Madilim pala kapag gabi, 'no?