Dangerous Addiction (BxB, 2022 COMPLETED)

Kabanata 55

KABANATA 55

NAKANGIWING PINAGMAMASDAN ni Leon ang lugar na pinagdalhan sa kanya ni Keith. It’s not supposed to be a bar. They could just go to a mall and have a walk, but of course, he’ll be distant. Still, the thought’s in there. Why a bar?

“Hindi mo pa itatapon ‘yan?” tanong sa kanya ni Keith na humila sa kanya pabalik sa huwisyo.

Kunot noo niya itong nilingon. “Why did you bring me to a bar? May balak ka bang patayin ako rito?”

“But why would I kill you?” Keith stared at him incredulously before he shook his head. “Ito ang naisip kong lugar dahil alam kong gusto mong uminom. ‘Yon lang.”

Iniangat niya ang ngayo’y wala nang lamang lata ng beer niya. “Nakikita mo ‘to, ‘di ba? Nakaisa na ‘ko. Tapos dito mo pa ‘ko talaga dinala at hindi sa ibang lugar.”

“Wala akong maisip na ibang pagdadalhan sa ‘yo. Alangan namang sa hotel room?”

“Ba’t mo naman ako dadalhin sa hotel room?!”

Malalaki ang mga hakbang na ginawa ni Leon para lumayo mula kay Keith at kung wala siyang naramdamang humarang sa likuran niya, hindi siya matitigilan. Nilingon niya kung anong nabangga niya at nang mapagtantong basurahan, itinapon niya ang lata ng beer na hawak.

Nagkibit balikat si Keith. “It’s a joke. There’s no need to step back too much. I’m not planning anything, Leon. I just wanted to talk.”

“Yeah, I don’t trust you...” he trailed off, his voice emphasized his suspicion of Keith but the male laughed it off. “King inang ‘yan. Wala ka talagang creativity sa lugar.”

Humigop nang malalim na hininga si Leon at dumiretso na sa bar. Nilagpasan niya lang si Keith na noon e aliw siyang pinanonood na maglakad. He can’t understand why Keith looked so happy, but it irks him. Pakiramdam niya e mina-mock siya ng binata pero dahil wala siyang pruweba, hindi niya ito aawayin. ‘Tsaka na. Gusto niya na lang matapos ang araw na ‘to, e.

“Sandali...” Narinig ni Leon ang malalaking paghakbang ni Keith palapit sa kanya ngunit nanghihilakbot niyang binilisan ang paglalakad. “Ba’t ka nagmamadali?”

Leon hissed and raised a finger at Keith. “You’re scaring me. King ina, baka bigla mo ‘kong saksakin patalikod dahil lang binasted kita.”

“What? No.” Inosenteng umiling si Keith. “I won’t do that. I just wanted to walk beside you but I guess I still can’t, huh.”

“I’m Keithphobic.” He rolled his eyes heavenwards.

Keith hummed in amusement. “I guess I’m a type of phobia now, huh.”

Instead of responding, Leon pressed his lips together when he realized that he wasn’t supposed to phrase it out like Keith’s something to be scared of. Rather, he should be someone to be disgusted about. Kumibot ang isang kilay ni Leon sa realisasyon pero hindi niya na binawi ang sasabihin. Wala naman siyang mahugot na termino para roon kaya para saan pa ang pagsasayang ng brain cells para mag-isip? Never mind.

“You don’t seem a bit excited,” Keith said as they lined up in front of people who were waiting to get inside the bar. “Hindi ba, favorite place mo ang drinking bars?”