Hurricane (Disaster Series #1)

Kabanata 22

Teardrops

Biglang kumalat ang init sa magkabilang pisngi ko dahil sa straight forward na sinabi niya 'saka tumikhim at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Uhmm... Okay, sorry," was my only stupid response.

When I slowly returned my glance on him, his thin lips rose up in a slow manner.

"Hmm..."

Biglang naglaho ang mood niyang seryoso at hindi namamansin kanina. Ngayon, biglang napalitan ng mapaglaro niyang tingin.

"I'm a fool," he mumbled to himself and still, I heard it.

He then smirked and picked up the wrench spanner that fell on his feet, pinaikot-ikot niya 'yon sa mahahabang daliri bago ibinalik sa tool box na nasa gilid.

"Kumain ka na muna para makapagsimula agad tayo," biglang sabi ko bilang panakip sa hindi maintindihang nararamdaman.

"Okay... and sorry for telling you that I was jealous when I'm not supposed-" he trailed off and shook his head.

Tila nadidismaya para sa sarili ang ekspresyong nakapaskil sa mukha niya pero hindi niya rin naman hinayaang mawala ang malapad na ngisi sa labi.

I bit my lip and averted my gaze. Kasi, hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin. I'm just overwhelmed with the foreign feelings that rushed in.

Nauna na akong naupo sa round table at sinenyasan siyang maghihintay lang ako roon na matapos siyang kumain pero sumunod rin naman siya at naupo sa stool na kaharap ko.

"Hindi ka muna kakain?"

"Later," he mumbled.

I sighed, siguro magpapahinga muna siya saglit dahil kakaayos niya lang sa pick up? Hindi na ako umalma at imbes na makaramdam ng awkwardness gaya kanina ay nagpangalumbaba ako sa round table at pinagmasdan siya.

He was looking down on me, looking kind of torn but then the idea that he was helpless faded in a blink when he looked so ruthlessly intimidating while looking down on me with his long lashes that casted shadows on his prominent cheekbones.

I wonder why he looks like this? I mean, he looks like that ruthless character that a Turkish actor played, na hindi ko gusto dahil mas gusto ko iyong second leading man, angelic and gentleman. And now it's making me wonder why I'm even attracted to him. It makes no sense.

We remained looking at each other. And suddenly, I had the courage to ask him about something.

"Luci?"

Upon hearing me call his name, he clenched his jaw and massaged the bridge of his nose, na tila ba may narinig na problema dahil sa pagtawag ko sa kanya.

"Hmm?" he drawled and rested his elbows on the table.

"Do you think I should stop entertaining... other boys?"

Umawang ang labi niya bago siya umiling sa akin.

"It is okay to entertain other boys, Cara," he said with firmness.

I watched him in awe, he's saying this when he just admitted awhile ago that he was jealous. Naiinis na tuloy ako sa sarili kong mga desisyon sa nakaraang buwan.

"Why? I mean... you said you like me, aren't you going to, uh... court me?" just as I finished the sentence, my eyes suddenly widened and fell on my sandals.

"I mean... you won't get uhmm... jealous?" my eyes remained on my sandals as I wiggled my toes.

Nakakahiya... at ako pa talaga ang nagtanong kung manliligaw ba siya sa akin? Hindi na tuloy ako makatingin sa kanya ngayon.