Chapter 8 – Heart at Second Glance
Scene: Classroom – Group Presentation Practice
For the first time in weeks, magkasama ulit sa isang task si Migs at Roni. Wala nang bardagulan, wala ring dramatic tension. Parang… may restart.
Pero hindi rin siya kampante. Kasi ‘yung “okay na kami” vibe nila ni Roni ngayon? Parang tumatawid sa manipis na lubid. Isang maling hakbang—laglag.
Migs (internal):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS15Tzbywm
“Okay. Just act natural. Don’t be weird. Don’t look at her lips—okay, too late. Focus, Castro.”
Roni (habang binabasa ang papel):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPHXCecBgN
“‘The importance of proper communication in resolving conflicts.’ Wow. Very meta.”
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEytasDts7
“Perfect na topic natin. Applicable sa mga taong… ‘di marunong magsabi ng feelings.”
Roni:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWNBoLV7Pz
“Gusto mong may tama ka, no?”
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZtQllCxe8
“Kahit medyo.” Ngisi. Kahit half-joke, half-sumbat.
Scene: Canteen – The Pancit Pact
Roni:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUAb76gQ4m
“Hoy. Huwag mong kalimutan, utang mo ... Pancit Malabon at kikiam.”
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLyQK0vZM0
“Pambayad ng kasalanan?”
Roni:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4noYxU0hc
“Pambayad ng character development.”
Tumatawa silang dalawa habang sabay sumubo ng kikiam. May mga maliliit na ngiti. Kulitan. Pero both are lowkey stealing glances habang kunyari focused sa food.
Migs (internal):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYFzrdgnDf
“Ganito ulit kami dati… pero ngayon, may mga ‘what if’ na. At isang ‘sana’.”
Scene: Roni’s House – Hanging Out with Her Family Again
Tatay Edgar:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiej0z2zhBT
“Oh, Migs. Tagal mong nawala rito ah. Akala ko pinatalsik ka na ni Roni.”
Roni (sabay sip ng tubig, halos mabulunan):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd3Wdkssay
“Tay!”
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrLx5OgAiz
“Hindi po. Na-ban lang po ako pansamantala. Pero nag-a-apply na po akong reinstated best friend.”
Nanay Linda (nakatawa):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmTGm4uFgk
“Welcome ka lagi rito. Basta ikaw, hindi kami kokontra.”
May kilig si Migs sa loob. Dito siya lagi bumabalik para maramdaman na may pamilya rin siyang turingan.
Scene: Sa Labas ng Bahay ni Roni – Pa-uwi na si Migs
Roni:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg2pM6yQWE
“Thanks sa Pancit at kikiam.”
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbaOC9INXS
“Thanks sa second chance.”
Tahimik. Wala munang biro. Walang sarkasmo. Wala ring confession. Pero damang-dama ang sinasabi ng mga mata.
Migs:10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVSyuL01lW
“Alam mo ‘yung mga quote sa social media na… ‘Kung mahal mo, sabihin mo’? Gusto ko sana noon pa.”
Roni (mahina ang boses):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbxUPYJfWj
“Eh ba’t di mo sinabi?”
Migs (ngiti):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvV7kZmTL3
“Kasi ‘yung mahal ko… may boyfriend na ngayon.”
At biglang… boom. Mood switch. Heart drop. Reality check.
Scene: Arianne’s POV (short ending snippet)
Pinanood ni Arianne mula sa bintana ang pag-uusap ni Roni at Migs. Hindi niya naririnig, pero kita niya ang ngiti. Kita rin niya ang tension.
Arianne (internal):10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDj5NpDyf3
“Ang hirap palang sumingit sa kwento na matagal nang sinusulat ng tadhana.”
