All Chapters of Before You Let Go: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Friday started too early.As in, hindi pa literal na sumisikat yung araw, gising na ako.I opened my eyes at five-thirty, stared at the ceiling for maybe ten seconds, then realized wala na. Hindi na ako makakatulog ulit.Not after yesterday.Not after Ruin’s note.Not after Caelan saying Dario’s lawyers were trying to reopen the case.So I dragged myself out of bed, took a shower, and stood under the hot water longer than necessary. Yung kind of shower na hindi mo alam kung naglilinis ka ba or nagtatago ka lang sa sarili mong thoughts.By six-fifteen, dressed na ako. Hair damp. Bag ready. Phone in my pocket.The condo was quiet.Of course.Mom and Dad were still asleep or already pretending the world didn’t need them until office hours. I didn’t leave a note. Maybe that was childish, pero honestly? If they didn’t notice I was gone most days, bakit pa ako magpapaalam?The streets were still half-asleep when I left.Less traffic. Less noise. Less people.I didn’t plan where I was going.

“Uy. Ano ’to?”I cracked one eye open and immediately regretted it.Rafi’s face was too close to mine, his grin too wide for someone who wanted to keep living peacefully.“What the hell?” I muttered, voice still thick with sleep.“Actually,” Rafi said, looking very pleased with himself, “ako yata dapat magsabi niyan.”It took my brain a few seconds to load.Then I realized.I was still on the couch.With Caelan.His arm was around my waist, my cheek pressed against his chest, and the blanket was tangled around both of us like the universe had decided to make everything worse for me before breakfast.Oh.Okay.Great.Beside me, Caelan didn’t even open his eyes. “Go away, Rafi.”Rafi pressed a hand to his chest. “Wow. Good morning din sa inyo. I just wanted to make sure family-friendly pa ’to.”Before I could decide whether to panic or disappear, Caelan moved.Fast.One second he was lying beside me, half-asleep. The next, he had launched himself off the couch and shoved Rafi toward the

Don Emilio’s Pizzeria was probably the coolest restaurant na napuntahan ko.Hindi siya sobrang bongga gaya ng ibang restaurant. Hindi rin ito yung klaseng may tiny portions at mga waiter na parang kasalanan mong mali ang hawak mo sa fork. Maliit lang ang lugar, medyo siksikan, maingay, at punong-puno ng buhay. Kumakapit sa hangin ang amoy ng garlic bread, melted cheese, at tomato sauce, enough to make anyone hungry the moment they stepped inside.Basically, heaven.The walls were covered with old photos, movie posters, handwritten notes, and framed pictures of families who probably ate here for years. May malaking poster ng The Godfather sa likod ng counter, which felt slightly dramatic, pero bagay naman sa lugar.Pagpasok pa lang namin, the old man behind the counter stood up like may royal family na dumating.“Amparo!” he shouted. “Nandito ang buong barangay!”Lola Amparo lifted her chin. “Emilio. Buhay ka pa pala.”The old man laughed. “Ikaw rin, amiga.”So apparently, normal greet

Mika slammed her lunch tray on the table like may breaking news siya sa buong bansa.Caelan looked up from stealing my fries. “Are you always this aggressive with lunch?”Mika ignored him completely and grabbed my arm. “Guess who asked me to the Christmas Ball.”I blinked. “Noah?”She squealed so loud that Caelan physically flinched.“Yes! Noah freaking Peralta asked me. Do you know how long I’ve liked him?”“Since freshman orientation,” I said.“Exactly.” She pressed both hands to her chest. “Saturday is going to be perfect.”Caelan leaned closer to me. “Is she always like this?”“Worse, usually.”“I can hear you both,” Mika said, then turned sharply to Caelan. “Speaking of Saturday. Are you asking Lyra?”My soul left my body.“Mika.”“What?” she said innocently. “Valid question.”Caelan stared at her.Mika stared back.It was honestly impressive. My best friend versus my boyfriend. Two completely different kinds of stubborn in one cafeteria table.Then Caelan stood.I immediately p

My first instinct was to move.Syempre naman.May kotse na rumaragasa straight toward me. Normal people would jump back, scream, run, do anything.Pero hindi gumalaw yung katawan ko.My feet stayed glued to the road like someone had nailed me there. I tried to step back, tried to force my knees to bend, pero wala. Parang may invisible hands na nakahawak sa ankles ko, keeping me exactly where Ruin wanted me.The horn screamed.Someone shouted.Then I saw him.Behind the windshield.Gray suit. Pale hair. One dark eye, one light.Ruin smiled.And then the car hit me.There was no movie-like slow music. No dramatic pause. No perfect last thought.Just impact.White pain flashed through my whole body. The air was knocked out of my lungs so hard I couldn’t even scream. For one awful second, I felt weightless, like the world had thrown me away.Then I hit something hard.A parked car, maybe.Glass cracked somewhere. Metal groaned. My body rolled, fell, and the pavement caught me without merc