Impervious Treasure (Azcona Cousins #2)

24

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Chapter 24

I avoided his intense gaze.

"You're overreacting. I'll just transfer to a new school but I am still here in the Philippines."

That's for the best. I don't like to be bossed around by his mother. Hindi niya ako tuta para sabihan na lubayan ang anak niya dahil una pa lang, hindi ako ang nagpakita ng motibo.

I've always been tainted in Tita Raquel's eyes, her deep rooted anger towards my family is exuding. I can feel it everywhere right now... to the point that she has me investigated and followed by her men.

I don't have any intention of creating vendetta. Tama na 'yung isa.

Ang lala.

Sapat lang 'yon para mabalisa ako ngayon. I feel like I am always the bad guy. Nakakairita na kaya niya talagang gawin 'yon dahil ayaw na ayaw niya sa'kin.

I fixed the huge book that I used. Iniwan ko siya saglit para ibalik ang libro sa shelf. Nang mabalik ako ay 'di pa rin ako tumingin sa kanya.

His mother's words are constantly replaying. I thought I'd forget it once I divert my attention to something else: katulad na lamang ng ginawa kong pagmamalupit kay Martin. But it freaking reared now. Ramsis always has the mastery of making me look back to things that I know I shouldn't ponder on so much.

I was never intimidated by someone until Tita Raquel broke out the existing peacefulness of my mind.

"I'll go ahead."

Lalampasan ko na dapat siya ngunit hinaglit niya ang aking braso at hinatak ang upuan. He made me sit close to him.

I exhaled softly before looking at his confused expression.

"Are you in a bad mood? I heard from your batch that you're in the process of creating your speech. Pwede kitang tulungan ngayon. Wala naman akong ginagawa."

I looked at the wall clock. It's already past their school hours at naririto pa siya.

"Kanina ka pa rito?" I asked in a cold tone.

He scratched his nose. "We had to attend a seminar," he had a defensive look on his face. "It was about anti-trafficking. Nakinig naman ako bago kita pinuntahan dito," wala naman akong dinagdag na tanong pero nag-explain pa rin siya. "Do you believe me? I am not stalking you, okay? Nagkataon lang na narito ka rin."

"Ang dami mong sinabi."

He pursed his lips.

"I felt obliged... you are scaring me right now."

My breathing went heavy. Ang bilis niyang makapa ang malamig kong pakikitungo.

Is this a good start to drive him away?

I stood up. "Aalis na 'ko."

Natataranta rin siyang tumayo at sinuot ang itim na bag na halatang magaan lang. Ang kaliwa niyang kamay ay nakahawak sa laylayan ng aking activity shirt. I looked at it, still with my cold demeanor. Ramsis slowly put off his hand. "Uuwi ka na? Sabay na tayo," he smiled.

"I won't go home yet. May pupuntahan pa 'ko."

"Then I'll go with you, saan ba?"

"I want to be alone, Ram. Umuwi ka na at kanina pa ang dismissal niyo."

Pumasada ang iritasyon sa kanyang ngunit mas nanaig ang pag-unawa sa'kin.

"May problema ka ba? I am not good at giving solutions but I can listen."