Eyes Don't Lie

Chapter 23

Truth to be told, I never felt the feeling as if someone's following me again. Wala ng binalita sa akin si Vernon pagkatapos niyang sabihin na nahuli na ang sumusunod sa akin. The guy isn't familiar to me, and I don't want to know the details anymore about my stalker. Ang sinabi lang ni Vernon ay naging fan ko raw ito nang sumali ako sa AECL.

Walang kaalam-alam sila Mom at Dad sa nangyari, even Katya. Hindi ko na sa kanila nasabi pa dahil naipakulong na rin naman agad ang sumusunod sa akin. And I don't want them to be concern about me anymore.

I'm still traumatized by what happened. Ilang linggo ata akong paranoid kakalingon sa paligid ko upang masigurong walang sumusunod sa akin kahit alam ko namang nahuli na ang lalaki. I even avoid going to library alone, which I always planned to spend my vacant time.

It feels scary knowing that people will cross the boundary just to get near to you. They don't care about the fear they will inflict to their victims. And every time I think about it, I always feel paranoid.

Good thing, Vernon's always there for me. Little by little, the fear in me subsided.

"You, okay?"

Mabilis ko itong niyakap nang magkita kami sa parking lot ng school. Vernon gave me a warm smile and stared at me silently.

Tinanguan ko naman ito at nginitian pabalik. "Thank you, Vernon. I don't know what will I do if you're not here."

"Ehem." Mabilis akong pinamulahan nang marinig ang pagtikhim ni Katya.

Shit. Bakit ko ba nakalimutang kasama ko ito?

I saw Katya teasingly smiled at me and glanced at Vernon. She already met Vernon last last week. Nahampas pa nga ako nito sa braso nang ipakilala ko siya rito.

"A-Ah, buti nakadaan ka?" Kumalas agad ako sa pagkakayakap kay Vernon at pabirong inirapan si Katya.

"I still have time, so I decided to cook for your lunch."

Inangat nito ang hawak niyang bag na may lamang bento box at fruit shake na nakalagay sa isang clear na tumbler.

"Thank you, pero hindi ka na dapat nag-abala pa. Kumain ka na ba?" Vernon smiled and my heart fluttered because of it.

He nodded. "I just want to make sure you're eating fine and... you said you love the food I cook..."

Napangiti agad ako roon. I know he's still concern about me. Kahit kasi sa pagkain ko ay naapektuhan dahil doon. I always lose my appetite everytime I noticed someone's looking at me. I feel conscious that they might be following me. Kaya pinaglutuan ako ni Vernon noon nang mapansin niyang hindi ko masyadong nagagalaw ang pagkain kapag lumalabas kami.

Masarap magluto si Vernon, kaya kahit naco-conscious ako sa mga pagtingin ng ibang tao minsan habang kumakain ay nauubos ko iyon. The food he cooks are always delicious.

"Naku, don't worry, Ross! Nauubos ni Astrid ang niluluto mo, at ayaw pa nga akong bigyan!" I blushed when Katya said that and immediately glared at her. I can't deny her accusation, because I know it's true! Shit.

I immediately noticed the amusement on Vernon's eyes. As if he's not expecting I really ate it. Mabilis akong napahawak sa pisngi ko at inirapan ito.

"Stop with that stare, Vernon!" Suway ko.

"Okay, okay." Nakanguso nitong saad, ngunit ang mga mata ay gan'on pa rin ang titig sa akin. Mapang-asar.

He handed me the paper bag after that. Nang maupo na kami ni Katya sa table kasama sila Janeth ay nag-umpisa na kaming kumain at magkwentuhan.