Forcedly Yours [R-18]

Chapter 22

We stayed another thirty more minutes on the balcony of the dining hall as we waited for my sister to finish eating.

I couldn't help but notice how tense Leyton was the entire time. He also leaned his body away from me.

It felt odd because he always used to touch me in any way he could. It was always a hand on my leg, on my elbow, he also used to bring his face on my neck or the back of my ear absentmindedly.

Nakita ko ang effort na binibigay niya sa sarili para ilayo ang katawan sa akin. He had his arm on the back of my chair and that's it.

When my legs accidentally touched his, he moved away quickly as if he was electrocuted.

It felt like he was the one traumatized by my touch.

I should be the traumatized one but for some reason, I was not. I even felt...relieved that he was here. How messed up is that?

It was evident he was being eaten away by guilt.

Parang may pumiga sa puso ko. Why do I feel bad? Why does it hurt to see him this way? Out of his element?

Mukhang hindi naman napansin ni Karina dahil hindi nawala ang excitement niya sa mukha hanggang sa matapos siyang kumain.

Leyton booked the room beside ours and also accompanied us as we shopped for souvenirs. He even paid for everything.

I was contemplating getting a baseball cap for Aiden because I know how much he likes wearing one but decided against it.

Our relationship is already shaky as it is. I'm not going to disrespect him by buying something for someone he had been jealous of. Even if that someone was one of my best friends.

---

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagod nang makauwi kami ng hotel. We rested for a bit and changed our clothes to dine out. Karina and I refused to waste our last night in Paris even though we were both tired.

Alas dos ng madaling araw ang flight namin pabalik ng pinas kaya pwede naman kaming matulog nalang sa plane.

With Leyton here, I suddenly felt the need to dress up and put a bit more effort into my look.

I wore a navy blue tube maxi dress and paired it with white high heeled shoes. Sa halip na e pony tail ang buhok ko tulad ng nakasanayan ko, napagpasyahan kong hayaan iyon na nakalugay at hinawi ang buhok ko gamit dalawang blue hair clips.

We were all wearing our trench coats when we went out of the hotel and only removed them once we were in the rooftop fancy restaurant.

Sa kabila ng pagod ay nagkatinginan kami ni Karina at napangiti ng sabay. I briefly glanced at my husband as he leaned on the railing with a smile teasing his lips.

I also noticed how some women's eyes followed Leyton with admiration as we passed them. They were beautiful too, Leyton didn't seem to notice and I almost sighed in relief.

Ugh.

Umupo kami sa isang round table kung saan kami giniya ng waitress.

Tinanong namin ang best seller nila at pinili iyon. We were drinking wine by the end of the night as we enjoyed the view of the city where we could also see the Eiffel Tower.

Mahilig kaming gumimik dati ni Sonia kaya alam kong hindi ako mabilis malasing. Karina was almost passed out in the hotel elevator going up to our room. Buti nalang at nakapag impake na kami kanina bago magdinner. It was already almost 11PM and we're going straight to the airport which is only 10 minutes away from here.

Leyton leaned lazily off the elevator and stared at me.

I raised an eyebrow at him questioningly.

"You okay?" tanong niya.

"Yeah, madalas kaming lumabas ni Sonia dati kaya medyo nasanay ng konti ang katawan ko sa alak," napapahiyang sabi ko.

For some reason, I don't want him to think of me as a party girl kahit na wala namang masama doon kung sakali. I guess, I always believed he thought of me as someone innocent, and for some other messed up reason, I wanted to remain the way he imagined me to be.

He nodded before running his hand through his hair. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" tanong niya nang huminto ang elevator sa floor namin.

I bit my cheek, suddenly anxious by the serious look on his face but nodded my head anyway.

Pumasok si Karina sa kwarto namin at nagpaiwan ako sa labas at humarap kay Leyton.

"So..." I let the word hang in the air as I waited for him to say anything.

He looked at my feet and my dress before looking away briefly. I knew he always loved me in maxi dresses. He always told me he did. Now though, he looks away every time his eyes roam my body.

Sinuklay niya ang kamay sa buhok niya at humarap sa akin ulit.

"I was thinking of staying here for a few more days with you," panimula niya na bahagyang kinagulat ko. "I wanted to bring you to Silver's fashion show, too." agad na dagdag niya.

My blood rushed through me as I felt suddenly excited about staying here alone with him.

"H-how about my classes?" wala sa loob na tanong ko.

"I had you excused," ang taning sabi niya habang matiim na tinitigan ako.

I nodded slightly and we both fell quiet.

"Okay," tanging sambit ko.

"Yeah?" he looked as if he couldn't believe I agreed.

I bit my lip and simply nodded. His eyes fell on my lips and he clenched his jaw and looked away for the hundredth time of the day.

---

Karina and I said goodbye to each other and I watched as she and Brenda disappeared and went in the departure area before Leyton and I left the airport.

"I had your things transferred to my room," kaswal na sabi niya habang nasa elevator ulit kami ng hotel paakyat sa floor namin.

"Okay," I said absentmindedly, my eyes felt too heavy to question anything.

Feeling ko ay mahihimatay agad ako pag higa ko ng kama. Just the thought of still having to wash my face and body almost seemed like torture. God, I just want to sleep.

Ngunit parang biglang nawala ang antok ko nang pumasok kami ni Leyton sa hotel room namin.

I felt suddenly wide awake as my skin prickled with the knowledge of just us being in the room.

I awkwardly got my toiletries and pajamas and rushed inside the bathroom. I went back in the room after 15 minutes wearing my sleeveless and pajama shorts.

I didn't meet his eyes as he quietly went into the bathroom to also wash the day off his body.

I was lounging on the king-sized bed and staring out the window when he came out several minutes later.