Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 14

Hindi ako humihiwalay sa kaniya, kahit pa pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga foreigner sa loob. I don't want to look at him with red eyes and I'm still enjoying his presence, pero siya na mismo ang naglayo ng katawan ko para makita ang mukha ko.

I slightly bowed my head down, refusing to look at him. Zach used his index finger to lift my chin so he could see my face. I hid my emotion by looking at him sharply.

"Bakit ka umiiyak? Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga ka ngayon sa bahay niyo?" aniya bago pasadahan ng tingin ang suot ko.

This is the most stupid thing I could ever do. Run to Starbucks while wearing a pair of pink pajamas with swollen eyes and hugging this man in front of me like he didn't make me mad for weeks.

Nagbago ang ekspresiyon ng mukha ko nang maalala ang ginawa niyang pagkampi doon sa babae at ang pagiging cold niya sa akin sa school. He's just sweet every night, kapag nagse-send siya ng notes.

Ano 'yon? Manliligaw ko siya, pero night shift? Lamok ba siya?

Matapos ang ilang linggong hindi niya pamamansin sa akin, nandito siya sa harapan ko para tanungin kung bakit ako umiiyak?

I moved his hands away from me. I dried my cheeks. I'm done being an actress, I'm back at being a bitch.

"Bakit ikaw ang nandito? Si Yelah ang pinapunta ko."

Shocked by my sudden change of mood, he arched a brow. He instantly regained himself though. "I asked you first. Bakit ka umiiyak at anong ginagawa mo rito?"

I took my juice from the table and showed him. "Just vibing and chilling," I said before taking a sip."Ikaw? Anong ginagawa mo rito? Aren't you mad at me? You don't like me anymore!"

He consciously glanced at the people staring at us because we were making a little scene here. His index finger touched his lips as he told me to minimize my voice. I didn't listen. I spoke louder.

"Eh, 'di umalis ka para wala akong sinisigawan!"

As if he already lost his patience, he took my bag from the chair and grabbed my wrist as he lead our way out of the coffee shop.

"Hey! Bitawan mo nga ako! No one has ever dragged me this way. How dare you?"

Binitawan niya lang ako nang makalabas kami. I just realized that he's wearing a weird uniform right now. It wasn't his school uniform so he might be off to work this time.

"What really happened, Leigh? Ang sabi ni Miss, you had an attack last night that was why you're absent. She told us not to stress you about our research—"

"So you just came here because you were concerned about our research and me not contributing to the group?" I cut him off with a question.

Mariin itong pumikit at napahawak sa noo. His head dropped. "That's not it, Leigh. I'm concerned . . . sa 'yo."

My face distorted, not convinced at all. Concerned your ass, Jerk! He probably thought it's unfair for them, dahil sila lang ang mai-stress at hindi ako.

"Kahit ako pa ang tumapos ng buong research, that's fine. What I wanted to know is why are you here, when you are supposedly resting at home."

I drank my juice and didn't answer him. Pipilitin na naman niya akong umuwi.

"Leigh, tell me." Nakapamewang itong naghihintay ng sagot ko. "Tell me your problem so I can help you."

It's not like he can convince my Mom. Ang hirap ko pa nga siyang pinilit noon para lang makapag-enroll ako, siya pa kaya? Ni hindi nga siya kilala ng parents ko. Well, they might know him if he'll say he's Yelah's cousin.