Chapter 2
459 Words
Nagising si Alina sa biglang paghinto ng bus. Madilim pa, wala pang 3 AM.
May faint sound ng ulan sa bubong, at halos lahat ng pasahero tulog pa.
Napatingin siya sa tabi — wala si Rafe.
Bumilis t***k ng puso niya, not because she was scared, but because… bakit siya biglang nawala?
She looked outside at the dim road.
There he was.
Nakatayo sa gilid ng waiting shed, staring at the mountains sa malayo. Parang may hinihintay. Or may inaantay na lumabas from the dark.
Something about the way he stood…
Something wasn’t normal.
She was about to open the window para tawagin siya when suddenly—
He turned.
Like he heard her.
Even through the closed window.
Their eyes met.
But his expression wasn’t the calm, soft one earlier.
This time, he looked almost… worried.
He walked back to the bus quickly.
Pagbalik niya sa seat, he said, “You should’ve stayed asleep.”
“Why? What’s happening?”
He looked at her for a long moment, then whispered:
“Just… don’t leave my side tonight.”
That was the moment Alina realized this wasn’t just a random bus ride.
After the stopover, the bus moved again. Tahimik. Madilim.
Pero si Rafe? Halatang alert. Parang may sinusundan.
Alina tried to lighten the mood.
“You look like you’re expecting zombies.”
He smirked a little. “Something like that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Pwede bang magkwento ka nang normal? Para sa’kin kasi… weird ka.”
“Weird?” he repeated, amused. “Bakit?”
“Kasi—kanina sa sketchbook mo, I swear… kamukha ko yung drawing.”
Rafe froze.
Not in a cute or shy way.
But in a caught way.
“You weren’t supposed to see that,” he said quietly.
“So totoo? Ako nga yun?”
He didn’t answer directly. Instead:
“I’ve seen you before, Alina.
Even before tonight.”
Her stomach flipped.
“Where?”
“Dreams,” he said. “Or memories. Hindi ko ma-explain. But every time I dream, you’re always there. Yung face mo, yung boses mo, even the way you hold that moon keychain.”
Alina felt chills.
“Seryoso ka?”
He nodded slowly.
“And last night… before I even rode the bus… I dreamed of this exact trip.”
She gulped.
“So alam mo nang magkikita tayo?”
“Yes.”
Then he added, softer—
“And I’ve been waiting.”
The bus lights flickered right after he said it.
Once. Twice.
Parang may dumaan na malamig na hangin.
“Rafe… ano ba talaga?” she whispered.
He looked at her, eyes dark but gentle.
“Someone is looking for you, Alina.
And they’re not supposed to find you first.”
- Writer
