Strings Of Perfection

Multo - cup of Joe

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Hi. Before you continue reading---halalan na bukas. Let’s not take this lightly. Let’s vote wisely. Vote with purpose.
Pumili tayo ng may paninindigan, may track record, at tunay na naglilingkod.

Tayo ang kinabukasan. Tayo ang pag-asa ng bayan. Let’s rise to that. Let’s make it count.

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honestly, medyo di ako satisfied sa chap na 'to. pero okay na lang.

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Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko---o kung dapat ba talaga akong may maramdaman.

Pain, longing, and the quiet ache of memories I once buried beneath hatred stirred at the sound of his name.

Ang tagal ko nang hindi naririnig 'yon. I almost forgot how it used to sound---how it used to matter.

Pero ngayong narinig ko na ulit, parang may kung anong kumurot. Hindi malalim, pero sapat para maalala ko kung bakit ko 'to pilit kinalimutan.

"I'm sorry for being late, something came up---"

Hindi ko rin alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ko, pero awtomatiko akong napalingon nang marinig ko ang boses na 'yon.

The moment our eyes met, he froze.

Parang biglang huminto ang mundo sa paligid niya---shoulders stiffened, words caught midair. As if the sight of me knocked the breath out of him.

Ganun pa rin ang tingin niya; seryoso, composed, parang walang kahit anong nagbago. Pero nong magtagpo ang mga mata namin, something shifted.

For a split second, I saw it. That crack.

From calm to... vulnerable.

Parang saglit siyang nabilad. As if seeing me made everything he's been holding together threaten to fall apart. And I hated how I noticed. I hated how my chest tightened at the sight.

I should've looked away. Pero hindi agad. Tinitigan ko.

Long enough to remember everything I tried to bury. Long enough to feel that familiar sting crawl back into my chest.

Then it hit---hatred, sharp and unfiltered. Parang biglang may humigop ng lahat ng pasensiya ko at pinalitan ng init sa batok. I tore my gaze away, breathing unevenly.

Hindi ko siya kayang tingnan nang matagal. The longer I stare at him, the faster my hatred grows.

"You're just in time, Mr. Eliunous," bati ng isa sa election committee habang tinitingnan siya mula sa taas ng reading glasses niya. "We've reserved your seat here in front."

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. Tangina. Partida, freshman pa lang ’yan, pero may pa-VIP entrance na agad. Ano 'to, prodigal son return?

Why the fuck is he a freshman again?

Back in high school, he was untouchable---walang nakakalampas sa katalinuhan niya. Laging una, laging tama. Mr. Perfect, remember? The golden boy. The pride of every damn teacher.

So what happened? Kumupas? Napagod maging perpekto? O baka naman, sa wakas, natamaan ng karma?

I scoffed internally. Despite the years, despite everything---he still walks like the world owes him space. Parang lahat ng tao, automatic, gagalaw para sa kanya.