{A/N: Dala ng kasawian nung prelims week at SiHae event. Pwede rin siyang sequel ng Tularan Natin Ang Mga Tangang Kagaya Nila. Excuse the sappy title. Inspirasyon ang picture sa itaas. /stares / Maryosep. Ano ba 'tong ginagawa mo sakin, Chanyeol?}

“Sa’n ka galing?” bungad sakanya ni Chanyeol pag tapak niya sa loob ng apartment. Wala ngayon ang ngiti na karaniwang nakapaskil sa mukha ng binata. Ang itsura kasi ng dalaga, mukhang nakainom pa ata. “So, pumunta ka talaga sa homecoming?”

Indeed, it was useless to ask. Una, dahil alam naman niya na ang sagot, at ikalawa, kasi kahit gaano na kahalata, hindi rin naman aamin ang tinatanong niya.

“Bakit gising ka pa, Chanyeol?”  gaya ng inaasahan, umiwas ang dalaga sa tanong. Not really expecting an answer from her him, she went straight to her room after she had put away her shoes. She needed to vanish from his sight as fast as she can.

Chanyeol stared at the door as it closed. He knew better than to leave her alone this easily. Umupo siya sa labas ng kwarto ng dalaga, at sumandal sa pinto. Maya-maya lang, narinig na niya ang inaasahang mga hikbi mula sakanya. As reflex, he shut his eyes and grimaced. Hindi na niya alam kung pa’no pa niya sasanayin ang sarili sa pakikinig sa tunog na ito, dahil kahit pang ilang libong beses na niya itong narinig, hindi pa rin siya namamanhid. Masakit pa rin…

He didn’t know if he could ever teach himself to hate her because he can’t love her either.

Can’t? As if naman hindi pa niya mahal yung tao…

Her cries went further in a crescendo, and built up a storm in Chanyeol’s heart. Completely, the anger displayed in his face earlier disappeared as his orbs softened, equally hurt. He called her name in almost a whisper and knocked gently on her door, twice.

The girl was also leaning against the door, trying to support herself. She sniffed as she tried to answer despite her shaking voice. “Matulog ka na, Yeol. Ok lang ako.” 

“Buksan mo ‘tong pinto.” Chanyeol commanded monotonously, keeping himself from sounding frustrated.

She sighed, “Pa’no kung ayoko?” and replied like the child that she is.

There was a long silence that followed suit, but she knew that those words weren’t enough to send him away.

“Yeol, matulog ka na. Seryoso, ok lang ako.” During the long pause, she managed to calm her voice to make it a little bit more stable and make herself sound convincing. Sweetly, as she always does, she says to him, “Good night...”

“Wag ka nang makipag patigasan ng ulo sakin. Alam mong hindi ka mananalo. Hindi ako aalis. Hindi ka ok.” Tinaggal uli ni Chanyeol ang anumang bahid ng emosyon sa mukha at boses niya. Nagsimula nanaman