Ang plano namin ni Atasha? Simple lang. Kumain after class, tapos umuwi bago magdilim. Kasi nga bawal ako gumala nang walang paalam. Kasi nga hindi ako boarder, hindi ako independent. Kasi nga may nanay akong may sixth sense pag may nililihim ako.
But rules are meant to be bent when fries are involved.
So ayun na nga kami ni Atasha, naglalakad palabas ng gate, nagmamadaling hindi halata. Saktong 4:00 PM, kalalabas lang ng klase. Excuse naming dalawa? “Traffic sa labas, bes. Gutom kami. Short lang ‘to. Promise.”
As if may ganung concept sa mundo ng magulang.
“Dito tayo sa Jollibee. Malapit lang, hindi halata,” sabi ni Atasha, na parang criminal mastermind.
“Sigurado ka bang ‘di tayo maaabutan?”
“Eli, relax. I know your mom’s routine. Busy pa siya this hour.”
So I followed her.
Pagpasok pa lang ng Jollibee, medyo crowded. Alam mong study break vibes — may naka-uniform, may naka-civilian, may nagda-date, may nagmu-mukmok na parang iniwan ng thesis group.
Nag-ayos kami ng buhok, ng uniform, ng mukha — kasi nga may chance na may makakita.
Pero ‘di ko inaasahan na ‘yung makakakita, nakita na pala ako noon pa.
“Order ka na, ako kukuha ng seat,” sabi ni Atasha.
Tumango ako at pumila.
At doon, sakto — as in sa mismong drinks station, sa kabilang side ng pila — nandun siya.
Xhyler Jace Davids.
White polo, lanyard loosely hanging, ID flipped sa likod. May tray siya. Chickenjoy, fries, at sundae. Deadly combo.
Bakit ako kinabahan? Ewan.
He turned slightly, like he sensed something. Then, our eyes met.
And just like that — I froze.
He gave a small, lazy smile. “‘Sup.”
I blinked. “Hi?”
He chuckled. “‘Sup talaga? Ang awkward mo.”
Umirap ako, sabay tumingin sa menu para kunwari nagre-research ako ng budget-friendly meal.
“Small world,” sabi niya.
“Or maliit lang talaga ang town.”
“Still... we keep bumping into each other.”
I almost replied with “coincidence,” pero bago pa ako makasagot, he dropped the line.
“So ikaw pala ‘yung nagsabing... ‘Fries and sundae complete the soul.’”
TUMIGIL ANG ORAS.
Wait lang.
Naalala niya ‘yon?!
Teka. I-clarify natin. Balik tayo weeks ago…
Flashback – 2 Weeks Before
Saint Augustine Hallway
After-class chaos. Dikit-dikit ang tao, parang EDSA. Bitbit ko ang coke float ko habang si Atasha ay panay reklamo sa init.
“Bes, mag-fries tayo. Promise, kailangan ko ‘yon for my soul.”
“Di ba soul mo ‘yung nagsabi na magda-diet ka?” tanong ko, sabay inom.
“Pakyu ka.”
Napatawa ako, then I said something without thinking:
“Alam mo, fries and sundae complete the soul.”
Sakto. Nadulas ako sa sahig na may natapong tubig. Nahulog ang coke float. Tumalsik ang yelo.
“AY GAGA!” sigaw ni Atasha.
Napaupo ako sa sahig, natawa, nahiya, nag-cringe. Maraming nakakita. Pero isa lang ang tumingin at ngumiti quietly.
Siya.
Si Xhyler.
That was the first time I saw him clearly. Ang weird, kasi tahimik lang siya sa hallway. Hindi siya tumulong, pero ‘yung tingin niya — parang alam niya ‘yung kabobohan ko and found it... amusing.
And now — weeks later — he’s here.
And he just quoted me.
Back to present.
“Excuse me, kailan ko sinabi ‘yon?” tanong ko, defensive pero kinakain na ng kilig.
He tilted his head, smirking. “Sa hallway. Nadulas ka. May float. May fries craving. Unforgettable moment.”
My jaw dropped. “Sinabi mo pa talaga ‘yung nadulas part?”
“Details matter,” sabay sip sa softdrink niya.
“Stalker ka ba?”
He raised both hands, kunwaring inosente. “Hindi ako ‘yung nagsabing fries and sundae complete the soul.”
I couldn’t answer. Because… honestly?
It was flattering.
Nakakainis na nakakakilig na flattering.
Bumalik ako sa table namin, tray in hand, puso sa lalamunan.
“Girl,” bulong ni Atasha. “Kausap mo siya. As in, Rhyler?!”
“Alam niya ‘yung sinabi ko nung nadulas ako.”
“Eli. That was like... two weeks ago.”
“I know.”
“At siya lang ang nakaalala?”
“I guess?”
“Hala. Halaaaaa. THIS IS SOMETHING.”
And habang kumakain kami, nakaupo siya sa hindi kalayuan. Alone. Occasionally glancing.
Not in a creepy way.
More like... in a knowing way.
Like he knows who I am.
Like he remembers more than he shows.
That night, habang naglalakad kami pauwi ni Atasha, tinanong niya ulit:
“Bes... do you think he knows you like him?”
Napaisip ako. “Hindi naman sa gusto ko siya—”
“Eli. Come on.”
“Fine. May something. Pero... I don’t think he knows.”
But I looked back once more, and saw him exiting Jollibee, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone.
He looked up. Caught me staring.
And for the first time...
He winked.
YOU ARE READING
Strings of Fate
Teen Fiction"Hindi ako magbo-boyfriend. Hindi ako iiyak sa lalaki. At lalong hindi ako magpapakatanga sa love." That's Eli's rule. After seeing her friends fall apart because of boys, she promised herself she'd stay focused. No distractions, no commitments, no...
