I'm Here Again

Chapter 23

Na-inspire ako sa comment mo ateng, pahiram po ah? 🤭🤗 

- Bun

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He's... back?

My heart started to palpitate as anxiety creeps in at how he's behaving, how he's staring at me. Little by little, the Rhyn-now who had been teasing me since the beginning is becoming more serious. His eyes are getting colder.. stricter.. Gone that mocking smirk, teasing glints, playful grin..

He's gone. Rhyn-now is gone.

And old Rhyn is back.

"Well? Cat got your tongue?" The deep and velvety voice I heard when we met the second time when I was Mielle is back, but it matured over the years.

My question came out as a whisper, "R-Rhyn? Are you the Rhyn... that I know?"

He didn't confirm nor deny. He just stared at me, as if studying my face. "Is your face now.. how your real face looks like?"

His inquiry made me blink a couple of times. "I-It is, yeah, it is. For some reason, I got back here and this body has my original face." He caressed my face again with his fingers.

"So this is how you look like," he muttered in a low tone, and my insides are somehow doing their exhibitions again.

"Rhyn.. teka nga.. hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko. Ikaw na ba talaga ang Rhyn na kilala ko? Bumalik na alaala mo? Ikaw na ba talaga 'yan? So pwede mo nang sagutin ako ng deretsahan tungkol kay Abriel?"

His wandering eyes that were checking even my forehead went down and met my curious pair. "Didn't I tell you that 'this is something you shouldn't be messing around' ?"

"Excuse me?"

Eyes wandered again -- down then back up to meet mine. "I don't want to talk about that character right now."

I was taken back that he said 'character' instead of 'person,' as if... he's angry?

Over what?

I wet my lips, feeling the dryness in my throat as I try to comprehend what is happening. "He's kind of an important topic right now though.."

"Not as important as properly welcoming you back." Rhyn held my chin between his fingers. 

"Wha --"

Without wasting anymore second, Rhyn captured my opened lips in surprise. His hand instantly snaked to my back and pushed me more against him.

He nibbled my bottom lip before whispering, "Welcome back, Aice."

@~@

"Atey, mahamogan ka diyan." Mielle told me from the room.

"I'm fine, Mil. Thank you."

"Sure ka ah? Oh sya, ako'y tutulog na. Matulog na din you soon ah? Maaga pa tayo pupunta sa kwarto nila Uncle para gisingin si Abriel." Mielle referred to the sedation the Rhyn gave to Abriel to ensure that he would get the proper rest. This sedation will wear off by tomorrow, he said.

I nodded. "Will do. Good night, Mil."

"Night night ateng! Sarado ko 'yung pinto ah? Sayang ang aircon."