A Sea of Tears and Stars (18+)

䷅ ䷆ ䷍ XXIV | The Stream

All day, I just clean. Clean, clean, clean. I am trying to funnel all my energy into my limbs, hoping it won't bubble up in my head and stir up negative thoughts.

But the more I scrub and sweep, the more my thoughts keep circling back to Jon. To his beautiful voice, to his silent gazes, to his sweet words, to the way his damp lips pressed against my knuckles. . .and now, to the way he's suddenly shutting me out!

Frustrated, I scatter the metal debris I just picked up back onto the floor. . .just so I have something to pick up again. Baliw na kung baliw.

"That's what they call overworked," komento ng nakangiting si Ayaz nang mahuli niya ang kagagahan ko. May dala siyang malaking backpack at nakasuot ng casual clothes.

Wait—where is he going?

Malamang ay napansin niya ang pagtataka sa hitsura ko kaya nagpaliwanag siya.

"Jon wants us all to find some lodging in the village. They are flipping this ship over tonight to check on the nullibeam."

Kasabay nito, namataan kong naka-bag na rin ang iba naming mga kasama na lumalabas mula sa kani-kanilang mga kwarto. Pol and Dylan, on the other hand, are wrestling with some boxes from the storage room, dragging them out to the empty lot outside. I nearly bite through my bottom lip, pissed. How is it that everyone seems to know what's happening. . .except me?

"Why didn't you guys clue me in?" pabulong kong sabi kay Irene nang dumaan siya malapit sa akin. Maging siya, handa nang umalis.

"Oh, I didn't know you weren't informed. Jon told us a while back when we were in the lobby. We all thought you were asleep so we didn't bother to call you—"

"I was scrubbing Miki's bathroom floor!"

Nagbuntong-hininga siya. "Anyway, you still have time to pack—"

"No, there are a lot of things to repack from the fridge!" galit kong sabi.

"Sylvs, relax. You've been on edge all morning. Wanna tell me why? I'm ready to listen."

Umawang ang mga labi ko, pero wala namang lumabas na boses mula sa'kin. Alangan naman kasing aminin ko kay Irene ang puputok kong galit kay Jon. The last thing I need is for this situation to turn into gossip.

"I'm. . .fine," sabi ko bago walang-pasabing umalis sa harap niya't nagtungo sa kusina.

Todo-busangot kong hinatak mula sa silong ng counters ang ilang insulated metal boxes. Inorganisa ko sa loob ng mga ito ang mga pagkain mula sa refrigerators.

As I'm working, I see Jon walk in, still in his work clothes, now a lot dirtier and his curly hair looking even scruffier. He approaches me casually, my heart doing some annoying cartwheels.

Pero lumagapak din naman ang lahat ng emosyon ko nang mamataan kong balak lang pala niyang kumuha ng isang botelya ng tubig mula sa hinaharap kong fridge. As he casually chugs his drink, I start shoving the iced meat packs into the boxes with loud, deliberate thuds, making sure he hears every single one.

If he wants the silent treatment, fine. I'm giving him the loud treatment.

After filling up one of the boxes, I hoist it up, ready to haul it out of the ship. I catch sight of him approaching, probably thinking of offering help, but I just pick up the pace, marching faster with the oversized box in my arms.

Eksakto ring sinalubong ako ni Dylan nang makalabas na ako. Inagaw nito mula sa'kin ang binubuhat ko.

⁂

Pol, Irene, Ayaz, and Miki had already taken off to the village, about half a mile away from where we're parked. Those sneaky jerks caught a ride on another airvehicle while I was still packing my own belongings, leaving me behind.