Perennial Blooms (Ciudad de Escalante #2)

Phase 11

I heard Cassiel's steps following me. Hindi ko alam na nasundan pala niya ako ng ganito kabilis. Akala ko ay magtatagal pa para makipag-kumustahan sa mga babaeng kasama kanina.

Nakikita na may ginagawa ako tapos aabalahin pa? Ayos lang naman kung manatili sila roon pero kung lalandi lang din habang nagpapapicture?

Gosh. Those are common types of insects. I don't want to witness how they flirt in front of me.

I glanced at Cassiel and he's staring directly in our way. Nakapamulsa at tahimik siya. Ramdam yata na iritado ako kaya hindi ako kinakausap. He didn't utter any word as he walked beside me. That's good but unusual...

"If you're planning to comment on my behavior earlier, don't. They're disturbing me in the first place," I declared to break the silence.

Lumingon siya sa akin.

"Kung may sasabihin ba ako, makikinig ka? Hindi naman. Sayang effort..." seryoso niyang saad at pinilig ko ang aking ulo sa pagtataka.

I thought he would say something about my rudeness. I don't know what their reaction is. I hastily stood up and never bothered to pay a single look at them before I walked out.

"Namumutla ka yata?" tanong niyang muli at lumapit sa akin. He stared at me closely like he's checking something in my face.

I blinked when I realized that I didn't put any concealer or powder on my face this morning. I'm pretty, but I need some make-up to conceal my eyebags. Naglalagay din ng tint minsan dahil maputla ako kapag hindi kumpleto sa tulog.

"I'm not on my prettiest version today, so don't stare at me," I asserted. His eyebrows furrowed, and he laughed after that.

"Kahit naman nasa prettiest version ka hindi ka pa rin pwede titigan..." natatawa niyang sabi.

"At least you're aware and... I said stop staring! I didn't get enough sleep so I felt ugly today," iritado kong sabing muli ng maramdaman ko na naman na nakatingin siya.

"Ang taas talaga ng standards mo 'no? Iyan na pala ang pangit sa'yo? Hiyang-hiya itong mukha kong tatlong araw ng walang maayos na tulog," sambit niya habang tinuturo ang mukha na maayos naman.

He looked fine, and I don't know, just fine.

"Kulang pa yan sa tulog ah? Ganda pa rin..." pabulong niyang sabi at tumingin sa daanan.

I didn't hear it clearly but I think he said the word 'ganda' or 'maganda' in his last line. Lumingon siya ulit sa akin kaya ibinaling ko ang aking ulo sa harapan.

"W-Why are you here anyway? Iniwan mo sila roon?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan at nag-iwas ng tingin. Natanaw ko naman ang university gate sa hindi kalayuan.

"Kaya nga kasama mo ako diba? Malamang iniwan ko..." pamimilosopo niya. I sneered in a mocking manner.

Nagsisisi ba siya na iniwan niya ang mga kasama roon?

"You don't have to leave them and follow me. I think they want to have some alone time with you," madiin kong pahayag. It looks like they missed him so much.

"I left them because I want to have some alone time with you," he uttered, making me refrain from walking.

What did he say? Alone time with me?

"But still! I heard it's been months since the last time you saw each other. You should've stayed with them to catch up..." I muttered.

"It's been years since the last time I got an opportunity to walk with you just like this. Hindi ko pwedeng palampasin," he said that made me speechless.