Impervious Treasure (Azcona Cousins #2)

18

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Chapter 18

My heart's beating like the wind thumping so loud in this open space. I remained my cold composed facade but deep inside, I am lost in my own reverie. I felt tension pressing my heart. It hit me again. I thought I was totally fine hanging out with Ramsis.

"Sorry, am I intimidating you?" Hellain queried.

"No, but to clear it to you, I am not anyone's girlfriend," I locked my eyes with Ramsis whose cheeks were prominently blushing under the dusky night sky. His brows almost knitted together. Malamya niya akong hinampas at 'yon naman ang naging hudyat sa'kin para tanggalin ang pagsipat sa kanya.

I looked at Hellain. Inipon niya ang kanyang mahabang buhok sa kabilang balikat at natunghayan ko ang pagkislap ng mga hikaw niya.

She whistled. "Coward," pasaring niya.

"Shut up, Hellain."

Ramsis and I weren't talking to each other the whole time that we were with his cousins. I don't know if he felt shy or embarrassed. Miski ako ay 'di ko alam ang dapat na maramdaman sa sinabi ni Hellain. I just felt comfortable during the time when Hellain asked Ramsis for another round of skateboarding. 'Yon lang ata nagpa-alis ng kaba o kung anumang bumabagabag sa'kin. We had dinner at a nearby fast food restaurant. No one dared to strike a nice conversation, 'di naman ako maasahan sa mga ganoon kaya wala rin silang mapapala sa'kin.

"Sorry. I'll bring you there next time. 'Yung tayong dalawa lang para hindi awkward."

"I don't think I can still watch you skate..." I trailed.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Bakit naman? Boring ba?" aniya sa maliit na boses. "Basketball na lang, gusto mo?"

We're still inside his car. Narito na kami sa tapat ng bahay namin pero mas ayos nang dito kami mag-usap dahil malakas ang hangin sa labas.

Umiling ako at tipid na ngumiti.

"Hindi naman. Marami na kasi akong gawain, schoolworks are piling up quickly. Lalo na dahil demanding sa oras ang Practical Research at isama mo pa ang mga exams."

He nodded as if he fully understood what I said but I bet he didn't because after that small nod, a frown surfaced on his face.

"Can I join you... uh for exams?"

"What?"

Ramsis scratched his nose. "Pwedeng sabay tayong mag-aral? Sa library, coffee shop, o kung saan ka komportableng mag-aral."

I suddenly became curious about his study habit right now dahil 'pag nagkikita naman kami ay 'di naman naabutan ang isa't isang nag-aaral. When the SciMath clinic had been wrapped up because of my personal reasons, all of the club's activities had been suspended for the meantime and that also meant that Ramsis and I hadn't been interacting for club purposes.

"Bakit? Nahihirapan ka ba sa lessons niyo?"

"Uh... Oo, minsan..."

Oh.

"I think we shouldn't see each other often. Nagiging distraction ang paggala natin sa一"

Ramsis' chest upheaved. Isang munting singhap ang ginawa niya at nalito pa ako noong sinabunutan niya ang sarili.

"H-Hindi! Uh, ano kasi... fuck this," he said when he couldn't fire the right words right into my face. "Don't go yet," kinulong ng kanyang mainit na kamay ang papulsuhan kong nakahawak sa seatbelt. "Y-You got the wrong message!"