EL'S

ine, but not when it's

ardine cans, two packs of instant ramen, and a whole loaf of bread

already dropping on

to the kitchen counter. "You keep this up,

older guys, even if not b

stable work. Do th

from the sink. "You tw

all running on fumes. Our cramped apartment, just enough space for three, was dimly lit and w

one of the cans. "Can we agree that sardines ar

ke we have a cho

ish was brain food. I'm trying

es when things got hard. It was his way of shielding us. H

masks. His ju

ed behind her smudged reading glasses. "I

t still. "I

djusting his medication again. The doctor recommended anot

et's all go cry togethe

" Ma w

or

table-an official-looking envelope, creased at the corners

a notice. But we knew what it

rd therapy," I

o," Ma said, her voice

poke aft

g to count them like it could distra

essing her palm to her forehead. "I

y. "You're already

Denzel overstresses, and I overcompens

inable one,"

w minutes later. "I applied

ones?"

, and a local food truck that said '

"That sou

resumé anyway. Maybe I'll bec

anything w

acy." He sighed. "I hate this gap yea

slow down. You

, though still playful, but now with a bit of frustration

s not

ed. What c

sardines and r

lling over my chess notebook. The pages were marked with notations,

ting through the silence like

our favorite mo

at the

lian Def

curious. al

ggressive.

like you *h

down and pushed

n't be d

her rule in

stered by heart emojis.

ably heading to the balcony for fresh air an

new note

cation adjustm

ow up on d

with Isidro

bill...

at the

mu

n tied to everything e

h can w

h can I

er until some

note. Shut

fled voice outside the window,

e were sti

bar

E'S

he probably cares. If she doesn'

t feels like playing chess-except I don't know

not cold. Honest, but just enough t

nds later. I stared at the screen longer than I'll ever admit, and whe

And I couldn't stop

said beside me as we walked a

thin

the r

the che

a low whist

," I mu

t any more in your head, you

diffe

t like it's

be liked. She doesn't flirt back.

agi

ut

ople. People like me. T

sharp replies, and carefully measured silences. And som

our cha

nored my h

I file a

rep

cou

" Nate peeked o

hosting. She

ing you like a

l counts. I'm i

e hope

n the bench with his earphones in. He looked like someone who woke

o him yet?"

ut w

l. About the fact that you're obviously

"There's nothin

et

erves, and nearly collided with Tim at the net. Coach yel

somewhe

ack by the water station

one b

you're

in a weirdly

rin

ur way of sayi

way of saying do

too

. Not a heart. Not a f

ly, that w

aw Rheiza near the

t up wi

ques

this is about Denzel, I'm

s the first time I saw you in Mater Carmeli. Quite a pret

like she was deciding to blush

d to ask what I act

hink she

g." She rolled her eye

as

hink she's scared. And I think she doesn't l

was hoping for.

en have

don't flirt with Denzel the

don

her, you'r

lin

ring at my phone again. No text

: hard

harder

till

ave and clo

e game