35: The Hope of it All

There’s a buzz. A frown instantly made its way to my face. “Brye” I mumble, making Ally look at my way, her left brow raising at me. I copied her face before slowly sliding the accept button and placing it on my ear. “Ri?” I ask for him, waiting for him to answer. A groan welcomed me, following a whine, making my frown run deeper. “How’d you got to school kanina?” I hear him ask. His voice lingered with frustration and irritation. I blinked at his random and sudden question.

I could hear the faint clinking of kitchenware around him. ‘Must be on a brunch with his family’, was the thing I first thought of. “Lili?” He whispered. “Well, sumakay ako sa bus,” I replied while picking up my pen again. “Bat?” I followed. “Are you not nagtataka I wasn’t in my unit? Or nagaalala?” the sass in his voice spilled. I smiled at the thought of him rolling his eyes. “But I haven’t heard you come home, Ri, and sure ako na once you get back to your unit, you won’t. You’d knock my door open bago ka makapa