Feint (Royal Society #3) COMPLETED

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Coincidence

"Parang tanga talaga," umiiling na sabi ni Vini sa akin.

It's another day for us and kakatapos lang ng huling klase niya kaya sa library na lang kami nagkita dahil tulad nga ng sinabi niya, madami siyang gagawin.

I had to fight the urge to mess up his hair dahil alam kong isa siya sa mga lalaki na ayaw ipagalaw ang buhok. Kahit na natural naman ng magulo ito. It's own hairstyle, he said.

I placed my phone on the table nang magsalita siya habang nagsusulat. I am distracting myself with my phone para hindi ko siya magulo. But then he initiated the conversation.

"Bakit?"

He sighed and leaned back to face with his contorted expression. "There are some students trying to dodge the school works and reason out their duties."

"Ah," I nodded. "That's normal situation in here. It's Upper Clan's rule to let the students free from obligation when it comes to their duties."

"But still," he sighed and shook his head before continuing his work.

"Vini." Tawag ko dito pero hindi siya tumingin. Is he mad at me? For defending those students? "Are you mad at me?"

He stopped and looked at me. "What? No. I'm just a bit off today. Sorry."

Yeah. I can tell. But I didn't bother responding. He looked awfully stressed that I can't even tease him about it. Mukha ngang hindi na siya nakakapagpahinga.

The good thing about their clan is that her sister is way too nice to him. Maybe because he is the only sibling the Queen has. Nakakapagtaka dahil iba ito kung makakausap mo. She have a sharp tongue, sabi nila. Idagdag mo pa na mataray ang itsura palagi nito.

But Vini said her expression is just like that. Mabait naman daw ito. Siguro sa kaniya dahil kapatid siya.

I wonder what will her reaction be kapag nalaman niyang I am dating her brother? I think she will go berserk.

Dating. We are dating! Vini and I are dating! Hanggang ngayon hindi parin ako makapaniwala. I thought I still have a long way to go before making him notice me after the ruckus back in Midaestas.

"Hey, I'm really not mad." I blinked and realized I spaced out. I mentally shook my head.

"Huh?" I asked because I didn't catch what he was saying earlier.

"Are you okay? Natulala ka bigla sa mukha ko," natatawa niyang sabi.

I snickered and stood up from my seat kaya napatingin siya sa akin. "I'll buy food. What do you want?"

"We just ate, Amara," he chuckled.

"But I'm hungry!"

He laughed and took out his wallet. "Here, buy your food. Busog pa ako," he said, handing me his wallet.

I didn't take it and crossed my arms instead. "If I won't buy food for you, then I won't take your money. I have my own, babe."

I slipped. Oh my gosh. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at alam kong hindi niya iyon papalagpasin kaya naman mabilis akong tumalikod para umalis.

This is embarrassing! Ilang beses ko na bang napahiya ang sarili ko sa harap niya?

Diretso lang ang lakad ko papuntang labas habang nakayuko. I can still feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment kaya mas mabuti nang nakayuko ako. Kaya naman sa ikawlawang pagkakataon ay napahiya ako dahil sa pagtatago ko ng kahihiyan.

"I'm sorry!" I said to the person I bumped with. I looked up and gasped when I saw who it is. "Carrine!"

"Amara? Oh my," she exclaimed and pulled me for a hug.

I lost my smile the moment my face was hidden from her. This isn't a coincidence for sure. There must be a reason why she suddenly showed up. And I have to know that. I have to.

I tapped her back as a sign for her to release me. She did and gaped at me. "Look at you! Ang ganda mo!"

Tumawa ako. Still the same Carrine na parang laging may gusto sa akin. But that doesn't erase my doubts towards her.

"Thank you, you too," I said, complementing her. She changed physically kahit na hindi naman kami ganon katagal hindi nagkita.

Her face matured and she grew taller. Looking at her now, she looks Danae at some angle. That, or I am missing my twin.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing, just roaming around."

That's weird. Her vague answer only heightened my doubt.

"Want to roam with me?" I asked, hoping she would agree so I can ask questions without her being suspicious of me.

She nodded but then, "oh! Is that Vince?" She asked.

I reluctantly nodded. Hindi ko naman pwede i-deny si Vince iyon dahil malinaw masyado mata ni Carrine.

"Vince!" She exclaimed and dragged me with her. Napapikit na lang ako nang mariin ng maalala kung bakit nga ba ako lumabas.

"Vince! How are you?" Carrine asked.

Vini, on other hand, looks confused with how Carrine asked him. Like they were close. Like they shared a lot of memories. Like they knew each other very well.

"Just fine," maikling sagot nito. I can see that he is not comfortable with Carrine's presence. With the way he talk and reply, I can see it.

Carrine snickered then gasped. "Oh wait. Are you two together?"

"No," I denied immediately. I looked at Vini and he looked hurt. I wanted to apologize but I need to get Carrine out of his sight. Vini is the one who saw Carrine that day. I can't afford to drag him into this mess.

"Oh, that's too bad," she whispered.

"I was about to get some food earlier before we bumped into each other. Come with me?" Aya ko dito at pumayag naman siya kaya iniwan na namin si Vini. But he gave me a stern look before going back to library.

"Vince still look cold," Carrine said as she cling her arms into mine.

"And you changed," I replied.

"Huh?"

I shrugged and continue walking. "I just noticed. You are now expressing yourself ganon. It's a good kind of change though," I said.

"Ah, I had to. That's the only way to get into people's life."

I wanted to stop and ask her what does she mean by that. But she voluntarily told me. "A lot happened when you left. I got lost for a while but I found my way back and realized that I was walking on a different path all along."

I was trying to analyze her words but nothing came into my mind. But I know there's a hidden meaning behind her words. It's there but I can't pin point.

She stopped walking and smiled. "Remember when I told you about my parents? How I felt like I am different from them? Like I don't belong to them?"

I nodded.

"It's because I wasn't theirs to begin with."

***
Unedited :))