Chapter 3
Arushi ( POV)
Habang naglalakad kami sa mall, looking for a place to eat, napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. Citrine, as usual, wouldn't stop talking.
She gasped dramatically. "Excuse me?! Anong ibig mong sabihin, ha?"
Raegan sighed beside her. "It means shut up, Citrine."
Citrine pouted but didn't argue. Instead, she linked arms with Min-Jae this time, making the latter groan. "Citrine, personal space."
I just rolled my eyes as we continued walking. Eventually, nakahanap kami ng isang magandang restaurant, and we decided to stop there. Pagpasok namin, we picked a table near the window and settled in.
Then, suddenly-
Min-Jae's loud voice startled all of us. Nagkatinginan kami, then sinundan ko ang direksyon ng tingin niya.
And there she was-Lee Forest.
One of our old friends, currently sitting at a table on the other side of the restaurant, staring at Min-Jae like she just witnessed a ghost.
Lee Forest blinked, obviously surprised, before shaking her head and standing up. "Tsk, Min-Jae, ang ingay mo pa rin," she said as she approached us. "Ano 'to? Reunion?"
Citrine grinned. "Pretty much."
I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms. "Didn't expect to see you here, Gubat."
Forest rolled her eyes at the nickname. "You guys still call me that?"
Raegan smirked. "Of course. Some things never change."
Forest sighed but smiled a little. "Whatever. Mind if I join you guys?"
Min-Jae scoffed. "You think we'd let you go after finally finding you?"
Forest just shook her head and took a seat beside Min-Jae. I watched as they easily fell back into conversation, and for a moment, I felt a little nostalgic.
It had been a while since we were all together like this.
Maybe this day wasn't so bad after all.
___
Tahimik kaming kumakain, for once walang daldal si Citrine-until biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Napataas lang ako ng kilay habang tiningnan siya. She sighed dramatically bago sinagot ang tawag.
Maya-maya, narinig ko ang boses sa kabilang linya-Mama Primo.
Napairap si Citrine. "Mama, I don't want to go there. Si Lolo is so strict."
Narinig ko si Mama Primo na huminga nang malalim sa kabilang linya. "Citrine, you know how much your grandparents care about you. Matagal na kayong hindi dumadalaw."
Citrine groaned. "Pero, Mama-"
She pouted but didn't argue. Alam kong kahit anong sabihin niya, wala siyang panalo kay Mama.
Sa kabilang linya, narinig ko si Mama Primo na bumuntong-hininga ulit. "Salamat, Troney. Please behave, okay? I'll see you both later."
I crossed my arms. "Yes."
Raegan, na tahimik lang kanina, biglang ngumisi. "Damn, Lolo Costa pa lang 'to, nagmamatigas ka na. Paano pa kaya kung maging in-laws mo?"
Min-Jae chuckled. "Right? I can already imagine Citrine being forced to sit properly for once."
Forest smirked. "Or mag-behave."
Citrine gasped dramatically. "Excuse me?! How dare you all."
Napailing na lang ako habang kumakain ulit. One thing's for sure-this dinner was getting way more entertaining.
___
Nasa isang clothing store na kami ngayon, and while Citrine, Raegan, at Forest were busy browsing through racks of clothes, I made my way to the men’s section—specifically sa underwear section. I needed to buy new boxers. Mas comfortable ako sa ganito kaysa sa ibang types ng underwear.
Habang nagpi-pick ako ng design na okay, biglang may tumabi sa akin. Napatingin ako saglit—si Min-Jae. She was also looking at the boxers.
Napataas lang ako ng kilay. “So, same taste in underwear now?”
She snorted. “No, I just need new ones. Most of mine are already worn out.”
Napatingin ako ulit sa kanya. Right. Pareho pala kami ng ‘situation’. Me, Min-Jae, Raegan, and Forest—we all had the same condition. Hindi naman ito sobrang big deal sa amin, but it’s still something na hindi common sa karamihan.
Min-Jae casually picked a pack of boxers and inspected it. “This one’s good. Ikaw?”
I shrugged. “Still choosing.”
Napatingin siya sa hawak ko. “Oh, that brand’s comfy. I have a few of those.”
I nodded. “Nice.”
Biglang lumapit si Raegan, may hawak-hawak na oversized hoodie. “Huy, mga bakla, bilisan niyo diyan. Ang tagal niyo namili ng underwear, kala mo may fashion show.”
Min-Jae rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Raegan.”
I sighed. “Let me shop in peace.”
Tumawa si Forest habang lumapit na rin. “Honestly, mas matagal pa kayong pumili ng boxers kaysa sa pagpili namin ng damit.”
Citrine, who finally appeared, looked between me and Min-Jae before smirking. “Hmmm… ano yan, twinning underwear?”
Min-Jae groaned. “Citrine, please.”
I just ignored her and went straight to the cashier. Enough of this conversation.
One thing’s for sure—shopping with this group is always a chaotic experience.
___
Nasa sasakyan na kami pauwi. Forest and Min-Jae had already gone home, so ngayon, si Raegan na lang ang nagda-drive habang nasa passenger seat ako. Si Citrine naman, as usual, walang tigil sa kakadaldal sa likod.
Raegan sighed. “I just bought a hoodie, Citrine. You literally saw me buy it.”
Citrine pouted. “KJ mo naman.”
I tuned them out. Sobrang pagod ko na. Kanina pa akong gusto matulog, and now that we were finally just sitting in the car, my body felt heavier.
Unti-unti akong pumikit, the voices of my friends fading into the background. Then, like before… darkness surrounded me.
And just like that, I was dreaming again.
---
I found myself in that familiar place—a vast, empty space filled with nothing but silence. Pero alam kong hindi ako mag-isa.
Then I saw her.
The faceless girl.
She was standing there, just a few steps away from me, her presence both mysterious and… oddly comforting. Kahit hindi ko makita ang mukha niya, ramdam kong nakatingin siya sa akin.
No answer.
I took a step closer, pero parang lumayo siya. Hindi sa literal na umatras siya—parang biglang lumawak yung distansya namin kahit hindi siya gumagalaw.
Frustration bubbled inside me. “Why do I keep seeing you?”
Still, no response. Pero this time, she tilted her head slightly, as if she was studying me.
I felt my heartbeat quicken. Something about her presence was messing with my emotions in a way I couldn’t explain. She wasn’t speaking, she wasn’t even moving much, pero parang… parang may invisible na force na nag-a-attract sa akin sa kanya.
I took another step. “Can you at least say something?”
Then, finally, she moved.
Slowly, she raised her hand and reached towards me. Biglang lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. My body tensed, but I didn’t move away.
Her fingertips hovered just inches from my face, and for a second, I thought she was going to touch me—
BEEP! BEEP!
Bigla akong nagising. Napabalikwas ako, my breathing uneven. It took me a moment to realize na nasa kotse pa rin ako. Raegan was honking at a car in front of us, looking annoyed.
I swallowed, trying to calm my racing heart. “Yeah… sure.”
Citrine leaned forward again. “Hala, Troney, parang namutla ka. Nightmare ba?”
I shook my head, but I didn’t answer. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano yung panaginip kong yun exactly. But one thing was clear—
I needed to know who that faceless girl was.