All Chapters of When The Sun Sets: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ang bigat-bigat ng dibdib ko. Parang may nakadagan at hindi maalis-alis kahit anong pilit kong pagpapakalma sa sarili. Ang mga mata kong nais kong iiwas sa eksenang nagbibigay kirot sa akin ay hindi sumusunod sa gusto ko. Sa halip ay nanatiling nanonood. Umaasang may mangyayaring pagtanggi mula sa matalik na kaibigan."Sebi, let's go." Levi tugged my arm and tried to pull me away.I pushed his hand away and shook my head. I want to stay and watch. To prove myself that Rafael will really reject that girl. I was holding onto that indifference on his face, angry and annoyed. I was hoping that it's because he doesn't want what's happening. "Sebi, tara na," pamimilit pang muli ni Levi."Dito lang ako.""Sebi,”"Manonood ako.""Pero nasasaktan ka." Ang lungkot sa boses niya ay hindi nakalagpas sa pandinig ko. It brought another shivering pain in my chest yet I chose to keep it unnamed.

Their team did an underhand serve so it wasn't a struggle for us to catch it. Gigi, from my team, received the ball. Ate Ethel received it from her and passed it to me. A quick glance to where Sol is before I jumped and spiked the ball hard. It landed just in front of her, almost hitting her face. Nanigas siya at halos matumba sa impact ng bola. Hindi siya natamaan pero muntik na. Sinadya ko para matakot.Agad siyang dinaluhan ng mga teammates niya, she was close to crying. Ano? Iiyak siya ngayon pagkatapos niyang maghamon? Simula pa lang 'to, marami ka pang-aabangan."Are you alright?" Ate Ethel asked, faking her concern in a taunting way. Mamula-mula ang mata ni Sol sa pagbaling ng tingin sa kaniya bago sa akin. She glared at me and I gave a smug smile. Umiyak ka. Mas matutuwa ako.The game went on and whenever the ball lands to me, I always direct it to her. To the point that her teammates were already pushing and guarding her from the ball. Hindi

"Dalhin mo 'tong listahan para hindi ka malito kung ano ang bibilhin. Pagkatapos mong dumaan sa hospital, ito naman yung mga bibilhin sa palengke. ‘Wag mong kakalimutan yung—akin na. Akin na at ililista ko pala at baka nga makalimutan mo pa. Naku at iyon pa naman ang pinaka-importanteng sangkap!"Mama went on and on and I just obediently sat down on the sofa, watching her and waiting for her to finally finish. Sa katunayan nga'y inip na inip na ako dahil kanina pa kami rito sa salas.It's already Saturday afternoon when she asked me to buy these things. Pinapatawag din daw kasi siya sa office kaya't 'di siya makakadaan. Pinapabili niya rin ako ng mga sangkap ng kare-kare dahil natitipuhan daw niyang magluto ngayon. "Ma, baka gabihin po ako.""Saglit, isa na lang ‘to—oh ayan! Nakalista na d'yan lahat. Lahat 'yan ay dapat mong bilhin. Ito ang pera, ang sukli, pang snacks niyo na lang ni Seira."Pagkatapos kong tanggapin ang listahan at pera ay nagpa

"Saan kayo? Date 'yan, ‘no!" pambabatikos sa akin ni Rein noong mapansin na naghihintay si Rafael. Mabuti na lang at uwian na at iilan na lang kaming natitira. Cleaners na lang ang nasa loob ng classroom at mga palihim na nakikinig sa usapan namin ni Rein. The look on their faces tells me that they were waiting for my answers."Tumahimik ka.""Ih!!! Madaya ka! Nangako tayo sa isa't isa na sabay tayong magkaka-jowa!""Noong grade 5 pa 'yon.""Oh my God!" She looked at me in accusation. "So, you're considering, huh? Sasagutin mo na? Sasagutin mo? Malandi ka! Sana all!""'Wag ka ngang maingay!""Shit! You like him? You like Rafael?" Halos isubsob niya ang mukha sa akin. I timidly looked around and almost blushed in embarrassment when I saw the other six of my remaining classmates in the classroom were also waiting for my answer."H-Hindi—""Gago! Ulol! Sinong nilo

Young love has always been defined as reckless and fragile. It's in between maturity and understanding. Easy to break, a phase of challenge for the youths to encounter. They say that it teaches us a lot of things. This is where we'll learn until the depths of our experiences. Until the end of our pain.And they say that young love… rarely lasts.Pasiring akong nag-iwas ng tingin kay Rafael na naabutan kong nasa labas ng classroom at kausap si... Sol."Oh?" ani Rein na inginunguso pa ang dalawa.Kakarating lang namin mula sa faculty dahil sinamahan niya ako pagkatapos ipatawag ng adviser namin kanina sa gitna ng klase at maaabutan ko pa si Rafael na nakikipag-usap kay Sol sa labas ng classroom mismo. "Nambababae?" pang-aalaska ni Reineste sa akin."Hayaan mo siya.""Hoy! Alfonzo! Ano 'yan, ha? Babaero ka!"I grunted and pulled her arm as she makes a scene. Sa unahang pinto kami dumaan, nasa ba