I Could Fall

Chapter Fourteen

Ali Santiesteban:
Let me know when you get home.

I've already changed in comfortable clothes when I read his chat. It was delivered forty minutes minutes ago. He probably sent it the moment we left their house.

My grin was growing so wide that I had to bite my lip to stop my face from ripping. I didn't expect to hear from him at all, kaya nga hindi ko pinansin ang phone ko. Sobrang kontento na ako sa interaction namin kanina.

I giddily typed a reply.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Hi! I'm home 😊

I laid in my bed and clutched my phone near my heart. It feels like I was on cloud nine. Sobra-sobra na ang kilig ko kanina. Meron pa palang pahabol.

Ali Santiesteban:
Good. Eat your dinner and sleep early. Goodnight, Hyon.

Agad? I pouted.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Okay. Goodnight, Ali. 😟

He replied instantly.

Ali Santiesteban:
Why 😟?

Napatawa ako sa emoji niya. Using emojis doesn't suit him at all.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Nag-goodnight ka kasi agad.

Ali Santiesteban:
That's cos I'm not into chatting and you have school tomorrow, sweet Hyon.

That's reasonable. Hindi rin naman ako mahilig mag-chat. At tsaka concerned lang naman siya sa akin.

Hyon Alexandria Serrano:
Oh. Okay then.

Goodnight, Ali. ☺️

Now that I know that he doesn't like chatting, hindi na ako umasa ng chat mula sa kanya. Maybe it's an age thing?

A lot of guys my age like messaging me. Pati nga si Atticus ay mahilig mag-chat sa akin. But then I thought of my cousin, Dashiel, who's averse to texting. Maybe it's not an age thing and it just really depends on the person.

I pulled out a book about called Science Squad from the shelf. It looked like a children's book based on the cover illustration but it has interesting topics and it looks cute. Ito na lang ang babasahin ko.

I hugged the book and roamed my eyes around the library to search for a vacant table. Our class is the only ones in the library since it's our library period.

Our library period occurs every Friday. We're free to do anything in the library during this time. Either review, do anything school related, or just read. Karamihan ay none of the above at nag-uusap lang habang nagpapanggap na nagbabasa ng kung ano.

I'm all alone right now because Dashiel stayed behind in our classroom to nap. It's technically not allowed, but it's okay as long as he doesn't get caught by a teacher.

Meanwhile, I think Atticus is at the canteen with his friends. Nagtanong ito sa akin kanina kung may gusto akong pagkain. I just answered no.

A few knocks on the wooden table followed by a voice interrupted me from reading, "Hello, Ma'am."

Pagkaangat ko ng mga mata ay nakita ko si Atticus na paupo na sa tapat ko. He's got a lollipop in his mouth.

"Bawal kumain sa library," paalala ko.

He just boyishly grinned at me and leaned on the table with his arms folded on the surface. "Swimming lessons tomorrow?"