Invisible Line in Between

Chapter 32

#NewClassicILIB

Chapter 32
Extinguish

"Nasaan pala ang sasakyan mo?" kuryoso kong tanong kay Isaiah at bahagya siyang nilingon.

Under the silver moonlight, we were shoulder to shoulder as he walked me home. It felt good to finally be this close to him.

Before, I would always draw the line in between us―limiting myself and setting up boundaries as his fan. I always reminded myself that he isn't someone I could reach, all the more I couldn't hold. He was like a hot ball of glowing gases that would burn me if I dare touch.

Now, it feels so surreal that I could stay beside him like this as I decided to become like Icarus, who risked everything just to fly closer to the sun.

"I didn't bring it with me," he answered. "Our van just dropped me off here."

My eyes widened a little bit. "Straight from the airport?"

Wearing a comforting smile, he nodded.

"Paano ka uuwi?"

Napaisip ako. I thought that maybe I should ask my father to drive him home since it was rather late. Hindi siya puwedeng magcommute pauwi dahil baka may makakilala sa kanya. Though he can book a car... I still wanted him to go home comfortably.

"Mukhang mas namo-mroblema ka pa kaysa sa akin. Your face is screaming your concern." Bahagya siyang natawa. "But don't worry―Ike will be here any minute now. I hope you don't mind that I told him earlier your address to pick me up."

I shook my head. "Not at all."

I wasn't even concerned about it a bit. Ang gusto ko lang ay maayos siyang makauwi para makapagpahinga agad.

"Pero paano mo pala nahanda 'yon?" Umandar na naman ang aking kuryosidad. "Halos dalawang oras pa lang simula nang lumapag ang eroplanong sinakyan ninyo, 'di ba?"

He smiled bashfully and scratched his nape. "I asked someone a favor to help me."

Suppressing a smile, I pursed my lips. "Uh, okay..."

I didn't know what else to say. I broke our eye contact to look away as I felt all my blood went up to my cheeks.

Kahit nakarating na kami sa bahay ay hindi agad ako pumasok sa loob. I stayed with Isaiah, waiting for Ike. Inaya ko siyang pumasok sa bahay, pero tumanggi siya at pinilit na sa labas na lamang siya maghihintay. I couldn't just let him stay out here alone, so I sat beside him on the curb.

We didn't wait long because Ike arrived just within five minutes. His car stopped in front of us, and he rolled his window down.

Mukhang pagod na siya at inaantok. Namumungay na ang kanyang mga mata at mukhang nakasuot na ng pantulog.

"Hi, Zendaya..." he greeted me with a husky and sleepy voice. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Napangiti ako kahit na medyo nakaramdam ng awa.

"I'll go now," paalam ni Isaiah sa akin at tumayo.

Tiningala ko siya. Nakalahad ulit ang kanyang kamay sa akin para tulungan ako sa pagtayo. I accepted his help. Pinagpag ko ang aking pang-upo nang makatayo.

"Ingat kayo!" paalala ko saka nilingon si Ike. "Sorry sa abala, Ike."

He just smiled and shook his head, while Isaiah finally got inside his car. Sumilip din siya sa bintana ni Ike at ngumiti muli sa akin.

"I'll text you once I'm home," he said.

Tumango lamang ako. "Ingat," sabi ko ulit.

As soon as Ike closed the window, they sped up and went on their way home. Ako rin naman ay bumalik na sa loob ng aming bahay. Dumiretso ako sa aking kuwarto at nagshower na. Hindi ko ramdam ang pagod at antok kanina nang kasama ko si Isaiah, pero nang bumagsak ako sa aking kama ay agad akong nakatulog.