Strings of Fate

Chapter 30

“Kaya mo ba siya?” I whispered.

“Kaya mong hindi,” she said.

“But what if I do?” tanong ko. Mas mahina. Halos pabulong.

Atasha didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked at the clouds, then at me.

“Then fall slowly,” she said. “Fall smart. But Eli... if you’re gonna fall—don’t fall alone.”

I bit my lip.

My hands tightened around the coffee bottle.

I didn’t know if I was falling.

But it was starting to feel like I was already halfway down.

1:12 PM – Courtyard, under the tree near the science wing.

“Eli, huwag ka masyadong mapapansin,” mahinang sabi ni Atasha habang naka-slouch kaming pareho sa bench. She was holding her bento box habang ako naman, busy kakakuha ng french fries sa brown paper bag na binili ko sa kantina.

“Hindi ko naman ginusto ‘to,” I muttered.

“‘Yung hindi mo ginusto na pansinin ka ng buong STEM 4?” she raised an eyebrow. “Or ‘yung hindi mo ginustong... ma-in love?”

Bigla akong natigilan.

Napatingin ako sa fries sa kamay ko, parang kailangan ko siyang tanungin kung may sagot siya.

Aaminin ko—last week pa ako tuliro. Pero kanina lang, habang pauwi kami from PE and Rhyler handed me a bottle of cold water without saying anything else, parang nag-click na sa utak ko:

Shit.

He remembers what I like. He notices the little things. He doesn’t even say much pero I find myself... waiting. Looking. Hoping.

And I hate it.

“I’m not in love,” I said, trying to sound firm.

Atasha snorted. “Girl. You’re in something. Don’t know kung in denial ka pa or dahan-dahan mo nang ina-accept.”

I slouched deeper.

“Hindi kasi siya madali. He’s... Rhyler. He’s—”

“Hot?” she cut in.

“Hindi lang ‘yon!” I glared at her. “He’s confusing. He’s quiet one second, then makulit the next. He looks at me like he knows something I don’t, tapos bigla na lang siyang magpaparamdam ng sobra... then cold ulit the next day.”

“Slow-burn nga, diba?” Atasha smiled like a smug matchmaker. “Saka kaya siguro mas matindi. Kasi you weren’t looking. Hindi mo in-expect. Pero he’s there. Lagi. And you let him in.”

I took a deep breath.

I hated na she was right.

“So anong gagawin ko?”

She looked at me with eyes softer than usual. “Wala. Just let it unfold. Kung ano man ‘to—feel it. ‘Wag mo takasan.”

4:35 PM – All-Girls Group Chat
Group Name: “Mains” – 8 members, 8 hearts

Louise Tayco:

So… may nakikita akong pangalan ng "Jace" sa mga kwento lately?? Sino ‘yon?

Graciel Gutierrez:

Guys, confirm ko lang ha… ‘Yung Rhyler na nasa rumors? Siya ba ‘yung sinasabing may texting buddy gabi-gabi?

Athena Martin:

Sino ba ‘yan?? Bakit lagi siyang laman ng blind items ni Mariel from STEM 4 sources?

Kathrina Sarmiento:

Wala akong idea kung sino siya pero palagi ko siyang naririnig kapag may nagchi-chika sa school namin. Parang laging may bagong kwento tungkol sa kanya?

Janice Arceta:

I feel so left out. Sino si Rhyler? At bakit ko lang nalaman na may lalaking gumugulo sa tahimik na mundo ni Eli?

Mariel Castro:

Guys, in our defense… si Eli never nagsabi ng kahit ano. As in zero details. Puro tsismis lang source natin!!

Tumigil ako sa pagbasa sandali. My thumb hovered over the screen, not knowing whether to laugh or hide.

Atasha Villanueva:

Kasi nga, si Eli hindi talaga nagku-kwento.

I looked up from my phone.

Atasha was sitting next to me sa McDo kung saan kami nagkita after ng klase. She had that knowing look again—like she’s been waiting for this exact moment.

“Don’t,” I warned, mahina lang.

“Don’t what?” she smirked. “I’m not telling them anything concrete. Wala naman silang alam sa actual dynamic niyo. Lahat sila rumors lang ang alam. Hindi nila nakita ‘yung mga actual moments. Ako lang.”

She paused.

“Pero kahit hindi mo sabihin, Solene... kitang-kita ko na.”

I blinked.

She called me Solene. She only ever uses that when she’s being serious-serious.

Atasha looked back down at her phone and started typing in the group chat.

Atasha Villanueva:

Hindi ko rin naman kayo masisisi. Wala talaga kayong alam.
Wala kayong alam sa real score.
Kasi si Eli, kahit sa’kin, matagal bago umamin.
Pero sa mga tahimik niyang kilos, sa mga panakaw na sulyap, sa mga segundong nanahimik siya pag lumalabas ang pangalan ng isang tao—
I knew.
I know.

I froze.

“Wag mo na i-send—” I whispered.

Too late. Sent.

Mariel Castro:

WAITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
WAIT LANG
WAIT LANGGGGGGGGG

Louise Tayco:

You mean to tell me… may tinatago si Eli na K-drama level na kilig??

Graciel Gutierrez:

Confirm mo nga Eli. Sa dami ng clue ni Atasha parang puzzle na lang kulang.

Janice Arceta:

OKAY ANG GULO KO. I NEED A TIMELINE. A SPREADSHEET. A TELESERYE. LAHAT.

I covered my face with both hands.

Atasha nudged my side gently. “They’re just excited, Solene. They love you.”

I peeked through my fingers. My heart was racing—not from embarrassment, but from the terrifying realization that...

This was real.

The moment they knew, it stopped being a secret.

And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if that scared me...

...or if it set me free.