Chasing Captivated Dreams (Part Time Series #1) | (On - going)

Kabanata 14

Hello! Just a quick reminder that this is purely a work of fiction and is not associated with any university. Enjoy reading!

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Kabanata 14

I crossed my arms as I waited for the three. Hindi ko mapigilang silipin ang relo ko bawat minuto—sampung minuto na silang late. Ang usapan, 3:30 kami magkikita sa park. Dumating ako nang 3:25, pero ngayon ay 3:40 na, wala pa rin sila.

Binuksan ko ang phone ko at chineck ang group chat namin. Ang nadatnan ko lang ay ang tuloy-tuloy na asaran nina Jiro at Ruby, habang si Kean ay panay seen lang. Nag-chat ako na late na sila ng sampung minuto bago lumipat sa camera para tingnan kung maayos pa ang buhok ko.

I was wearing a light blue short-sleeved button-down shirt, light blue jeans, and cream-colored Nike Air Max sneakers. I let my waist-length hair fall naturally, its curled ends flowing freely. I had only applied light makeup—just enough to look natural on my fair skin—and the pink lip gloss gave the final touch. May suot rin akong simpleng bag para may paglalagyanan ang aking wallet.

"You're late," I muttered when I saw Ruby.

She wore a simple white t-shirt layered with a black and white plaid shirt, black baggy cargo pants, and white shoes. The wind played with her long dark hair, accentuating the red highlights through it. She had styled it in a messy half-bun that suited her well.

She stood on her skateboard, balancing herself as she pushed off with her right foot at a fast pace, speeding toward me. As she got closer, she kicked the end of her skateboard, making it flip in midair before landing perfectly in front of me.

She flashed me one of her cheeky grins.

"Angas ko, 'no?" natatawa niyang sabi.

People often called Ruby poganda, confident, and effortlessly charming. She never really defined herself as feminine, and I always saw her in a more masculine style. But I had a feeling she liked guys—just based on how she acted...

Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "Hindi."

"Ha?! Bakit?!"

"Because you're ten minutes and thirty-six seconds late."

Kinamot niya ang batok niya habang natatawa. "Pasensya na, boss. Medyo naging busy lang."

Yeah, busy arguing with Jiro in the group chat.

Ruby sat beside me and started chatting for quite a while. Naikwento pa niya na kapag naka-tight clean bun siya, hindi halata ang kanyang red highlights, kaya hindi siya napapagalitan. Kung tutuusin, napansin ko rin na nagiging kapansin-pansin lang ang kanyang highlights kapag nasa araw siya.

"Diba sa CSU nag-aaral si Liander?" biglang pag-iiba ng usapan ni Ruby.

I pursed my lips and nodded. Since last week, after we watched a movie, Liander had been busy. Bihira na rin siyang mag-part-time sa Café Lumière—huli noong Sabado—at ilang beses niya nang nabanggit sa akin sa chat na may rehearsals sila pagkatapos ng klase.

"Oh! Baka makita mo siya, may booth yata ang BSArch. Malay natin, nandoon siya," sabi niya sabay kindat at pagtapik sa akin.

I shook my head. "He's part of the pageant."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Ruby sa sinabi ko, kasabay ng pag-awang ng kanyang labi. "Sa Mr. & Ms. CSU?" tanong niya. Dahan-dahan akong tumango. Base sa pagkukwento ni Liander, palaging may rehearsals sila pagkatapos ng klase.

"Ano ba kayo?" tanong ni Ruby sa akin.

"Humans?"

"Tarantado," sagot niya sabay sapo sa kanyang noo. "Bukod sa pagiging tao."