When I Chase (When #1)

Chapter Ten

I opened my messenger application and quickly tapped the group chat that I have with my friends.

Me: Anyone available today?

Tinitigan ko lang ang screen para hintayin ang mga sagot nila. Nakadapa ako sa kama habang ang mga paa ko ay nasa ere at pabalik-balik na gumagalaw.

Vacant ako ngayong araw and I didn't have any plans prepared. Ang akala ko ay makakayanan ko na magpahinga lang sa bahay pero ilang oras pa lang mula ng kumain ako ng breakfast ay bored na agad ako.

Noelle Cortes: Sorry! Have classes pa & busy preparing for a group presentation.

She even inserted a picture of her in the library, face down on towering books with her laptop at the side. Nasama rin sa picture ang babaeng katabi niya ngunit hindi ko kilala kung sino.

Me: Boo! [thumbs down emoji]

Nang lumabas ang pangalan ni Maia at Rio na nagta-type ng isasagot ay umayos ako ng pwesto. Umupo ako at hinintay na lumabas na ang mga reply nila.

Rio Elise Tuazon : May plates akong tinatapos eh. [sad emoji]

Maia Riego: Same.

Johan Andre Leviste: May pasok pa kami ni Niko. Then gagawa plates after lunch.

Nikolai didn't bother replying. He just tapped the huge like button which made me scowl.

Bakit kung kailan hindi naman ako busy tsaka naman sila ngayon may kanya-kanyang ginagawa? I mentally groaned as I tapped a reply for them.

Me: Tss! Friendship over.

Inis na pinindot ko ang arrow sa tabi ng group at pinindot ang leave group button. I locked my phone but it lighted up, showing how Maia added me back on the group. May notification mula sa kanila pero hindi ko na binuksan pa ang application. I switched the chat box to mute and dropped my phone on the bed.

Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga sa kama at inisip kung ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon. Pwede akong pumunta ng mall at manuod ng movie mag-isa. Or I can binge eat somewhere. Alone. The options made me frown. I don't want to be alone.

My hand unconsciously reached for my pendant. I pinched it a few times as I stared at the white ceiling. Grant unintentionally slipped in my mid-thought.

"Grant!" napaupo ako at may malaking ngiti sa labi na inabot ang phone sa kama.

I quickly wiped the screen with my thumb and typed in my password. I browsed my contacts and pressed call when I found his name.

Lumipas ang tatlo, apat, hanggang sa naging anim na rings na ang lumipas bago sinagot ni Grant ang tawag. Bumalik ang ngiti sa labi ko at masayang binati siya mula sa kabilang linya.

"I'm busy right now, Fallon." iyon agad ang sagot niya sa akin. Napanguso ako.

"You're so rude, De la Fuente." I snapped. Hindi agad sumagot si Grant. Narinig ko pa siyang nag buntong hininga.

"What do you need, Fall?" lumambot na ang boses niya sa pagkakataon na iyon. It wasn't that gentle, but it not as harsh and cold. It made me smile.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the office right now. That's why I'm really bus—" I cut him off.

"Can I come?" bago pa siya makasagot ay mabilis na dinugtungan ko iyon. "My friends are all busy and I have nothing else to do. I'm bored and I thought I could annoy you or something—but I promise to be on my best behavior."

"I have things to do, Fallon. Your presence will just distract me." he coldly said. There was no apology in his voice. Halatang wala siyang paki sa mararamdaman ko sa sasabihin niya. It's a good thing that I wasn't that sensitive.