"Across All Places, It's You"

CHAPTER 6: The Ride Together

The next morning, just as the warm sun began peeking through the trees of San Isidro, a sleek black car slowly pulled up in front of the Sebastian family’s modest home. The engine purred quietly, the windows slightly tinted. Inside sat Zarred Altamonte, looking effortlessly calm and composed, his school bag on his lap, and the family driver waiting patiently in the front.

He rolled the window down.

“Yarra,” he called with a soft smile. “Halika na, sabay na tayo papasok.”

Yarra, still adjusting her school uniform and fixing her ponytail, blinked in surprise. “Eh? Sorry, Zarred ha. Kailangan ko kasi sabayan ‘yung kapatid ko eh. Baka malate kami.”

Rahya suddenly appeared behind her, grinning mischievously. “Ate, sumakay ka na. Okay lang ako. Nandito naman si Jenny, kasabay ko.”

“Sigurado ka?” Yarra asked, a bit hesitant.

“Oo naman, ako pa. Dali na, huwag ka nang chosy,” Rahya teased, raising her eyebrows and giving her sister a playful wink.

Jenny chuckled from behind. “Go na, Yarra! Ang sosyal ng service mo ngayon, grabe!”

With a reluctant smile, Yarra turned to Zarred, who was now holding the door open for her from inside the car. She climbed in and sat beside him.

As the car drove off, silence filled the space for a moment — not awkward, just unfamiliar.

“Thanks for the ride,” Yarra said quietly, her fingers playing with her bag’s zipper.

“No problem,” Zarred replied. “It’s nice to see you every morning.”

She looked at him, amused. “Ang aga aga, bolero ka na.”

He laughed — a rare, genuine sound. “Hindi ako bolero. Totoo lang.”

They both smiled, the soft hum of the car and the passing scenery making everything feel surreal.

“Do you always ride like this? Ang sosyal ng kotse niyo.”

Zarred shrugged. “Yeah. Driver’s been with the family since I was small. I offered yesterday pero wala ka.”

Yarra tilted her head. “I was with Rahya. Alam mo naman… I promised Mama to always look after her.”

“That’s one thing that didn’t change about you,” he said, glancing sideways. “You still put others first.”

Yarra didn’t respond, but her heart warmed a little.

As they neared the school gate, students started whispering and pointing. Some girls giggled. A few boys raised eyebrows.

“Sino ‘yung kasama ni Zarred?!”

“Girlfriend niya na ba ‘yon?”

“Si Yarra ‘yun, diba?”

Yarra shrunk a little in her seat. “Ay naku, dami nanamang marites.”

“Let them talk,” Zarred said calmly. “We know the truth.”

They arrived at school, and Zarred opened the door for her like a gentleman.

“Let’s go?”

She nodded. “Let’s go.”

And from that morning on, it became a quiet routine. Every day, Zarred waited outside Yarra’s house. Every day, she pretended not to smile too much. And every day, their friendship stitched itself back together, slowly and sweetly — like time never really tore it apart