Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 18

Smile

Ang pagkalansing ng mga kubyertos ang aking narinig pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko sa banyo. I pursed my lips to suppress the sigh that was about to surface.

Napatingin sa akin saglit si Treyton bago niya ibinalik ang kanyang buong atensyon sa paghahanda sa hapagkainan. Tumaas na lang ang kilay ko nang maamoy ko ang kalalapag niyang pagkain sa mesa.

I inhaled a lot of air to pacify my raging senses. I shouldn't be stressed at six in the morning but heck! The audacity of him to even touch what I had cooked for him last night when he already made it clear that he doesn't care about it?

"Leaving too early?" I immediately heard him asking after I turned my back at him to get my backpack on the couch.

Hindi na ako sumagot pa. After last night's scene, I woke up early today so that there'll be no chance for us to converse, knowing that Treyton's a heavy sleeper. Pero nasira na iyon dahil sa hindi malamang dahilan ay nagising din siya ng maaga ngayon.

So I'll do what I do best and that is to act like he doesn't exist.

Naglalakad na ako papunta sa pinto nang magsalita ulit siya. "Will you just waste my effort? Kumain ka muna bago ka umalis," he suggested but basing on the tone of his voice, it sounded more like a command.

I scoffed loudly. He really has a thick face! How could he say that to me when he just did that to me last night?

I resumed walking but I froze on my tracks when he blocked the way. I pinned my eyes on the door behind Treyton because if I would even have the guts to look at him for long, my mind would be confused as to why he looked unrealistically good while wearing a wrinkled oversized black tee and with a hair that could pass as a bird's nest.

"Keep on ignoring me and I'll bother you more," he said, spitting every word carefully as if he's threatening me.

Tumingin na ako nang diretso sa kanya para tumigil na siya. "Okay, I'm acknowledging your presence. Masaya ka na?" I mocked him.

He gave me a stern look that made me cower a bit. "I'll be happy if you'll eat breakfast."

My mind malfunctioned upon hearing his words. I didn't know how long I was caught off guard because of what he said but when I see Treyton's lips curving upward, I knew that I made a fool out of myself again.

The heck! Why am I too expressive!

"Sorry pero magiging malungkot ka na yata ngayon," sagot ko bago ko siya nilampasan. Napangiwi naman ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko para pigilan ako.

Geez! 'Yong may sugat pa talaga yung hinawakan niya! Nananadya talaga ang lalaking 'to!

Nagtagpo na naman ang mga mata namin nang lumingon ako sa kanya. I can see mischief in his eyes that made me gulp. "Final answer?" he taunted.

Nabalik naman ako sa huwisyo dahil sa hapdi na kumakalat sa aking daliri. I retrieved my hand with a swift move that he didn't expect. I met his gaze again before speaking. "Final answer," tugon ko bago pinihit ang doorknob na nasa aking likuran.

Bago ako tuluyang makaalis ay kusa na lang lumabas ang mga salitang kanina ko pa pilit kinikimkim. "I apologize in advance if the food doesn't meet your standards. I cooked it in a rush yesterday for someone who didn't even appreciate it. Pero I'd be thankful if you'll even taste it para hindi naman mapunta sa wala ang pinagpaguran ko."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago napatingin kay Treyton. Hindi maipinta ang mukha niya sa hindi malamang dahilan. Ngumiti na lang ako ng peke pagkatapos at tuluyan nang umalis.