Chasing the Sun (College Series #1)

Chapter 14

"Nay..."

"Anak?! Sol?! Alas diez na! Nasaan ka na?!" Punong-puno ng pag-aalala ang tinig niya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Nay, nasa bahay ako ng kaibigan ko. Dito po ako matutulog."

"Sinong kaibigan iyan? Si Mitzie ba? Si Duke? Si Troy?!" sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

I gulped. "Si... M-mitzie, Nay." Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi.

"Bakit hindi ka nagtext agad?" saway niya sa akin. "Ang lakas pa naman ng ulan! Akala ko ay napaano ka."

"Wala bang tulo ang yero, Nay? Ayos ka lang ba d'yan?"

She sighed. "Ayos lang ako rito, Sol. Ikaw ang inaalala ko."

"Ayos lang ako, Nay..." I trailed off. "Sige na, matutulog na kami. Mag-iingat ka d'yan. I-lock mo ang mga pinto nang maayos."

I could hear her sigh. "Ikaw rin, Sol. Mag-iingat kayo d'yan."

Nang ibaba niya ang tawag ay saka lang ako nakahinga nang ayos. Ayokong umuwi sa bahay nang pugto ang mga mata ko dahil sigurado akong magtatanong lang si Nanay. I lied to her, obviously. I was at Harvin's condo, and he offered me some clothes.

I was back to my senses, but I couldn't bring myself back down. Kahit hindi ko lubos na kilala ang lalaki, I wasn't sure why I thought he was harmless.

Napailing ako. I couldn't believe I cried in front of him. He was almost a stranger! I just showed him my weakness! But again, Harvin seemed okay and... trustworthy.

Mag-isa si Nanay sa bahay at hindi ko maalis ang pag-aalala sa isip ko kahit ligtas naman ang barangay namin. Bakit ko ba kasi hinayaan siyang mag-isa roon? Ni hindi pa ako nakapagtext dahil sa kaiiyak!

"Sol, are you okay?"

Napabaling ang atensyon ko kay Harvin. Gaya ko ay nakapamalit na rin siya ng sweat pants at malaking tshirt. Nakalugay na ang mahaba kong buhok at bahagyang pinatutuyo ito.

My eyes were puffy. Sigurado akong mahahalata ito bukas dahil mahapdi pa rin ito kahit tumahan na ako.

I nodded. "Salamat, Harv."

He just smiled. "Told you, I'm kind!" biro niya bago ako tabihan sa couch niya.

We were standing in front of a large glass window, where the crescent moon shone brilliantly. The stars were not visible, but the moon's radiance was enough to illuminate the sky. It was so quiet and soothing. It was a little fuzzy because of the raindrops on the window... or maybe it was just my tears trying to distort my vision of the perfect moon.

"Nagluto ako," Harvin suddenly uttered. "Just in case you wanted to eat."

I smiled a little and shook my head. I appreciated his efforts to console me. He even let me stay with him to think that we barely knew each other.

"Thank you, Harvin," tanging nasabi ko.

Parang may nakadagan na kung ano sa puso ko habang inaalala ang nakita. Duke didn't go home with me to stay with Mitzie. He didn't mind if I was soaking wet because his mind was focused on her.

I thought the rain would help me wash away the remnants of pain. Ngunit kahit ilubog ko sila sa kailaliman ng utak ko, lumilitaw at lumilitaw pa rin ang mga ito.

Hinayaan ko na lang tuloy. Inisip ko na lang nang inisip habang bitbit ang pangakong bukas ay hindi ko na ulit ito babalikan at iiyakan.

"Kape tayo."

Sumulyap ako kay Harvin at marahang tumango. Siguro dahil sa katahimikan ay nabibingi siya.

Ngumiti siya sa akin bago tumayo. Nagtungo siya sa kusina kaya muli kong binalingan ng tingin ang malaking bintana. Kanina ay hindi na rin naman ako nagulat nang malaman kong may condo ang lalaki. South Eastern University was one of the most prestigious schools in the country, and only rich people could afford it.