Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

25 | Kiss

25 | Kiss

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"Red really looks good on you."

Ngumuso ako, wala sa mood mag-inarte sa papuri. "Should I really go for it?"

Zenith took a while before she responded. "Oo. That's how democracy works. Unless you want them to take it against you, you have no choice but to do what they want."

Mas lalo akong nalungkot sa sinabi niya. Kaya nang lumapit siya at mas kinapalan ang tinta sa labi ko, wala akong naging protesta.

I really didn't want to do it! A date with a stranger? A guy? What a fucking nightmare!

Bakit ako? Marami rin namang maganda sa bloc namin. I was also the president of the college so my hands would be full during the event. What were they thinking? Bakit parang nasa akin ang lahat?

"Kung ayaw mo talaga, sabihan mo mga kaklase mo. Easy!" Zenith said and occupied the chair in front of me. "Why do you make everything so complicated?"

"E kasi nga lahat sila agree sa idea na 'yon."

"So? If it's uncomfortable on your part?"

"I can't turn them down."

She looked at me as if she lost all her patience for today. "O, nakikita mo na kung anong problema mo?"

"E kasi . . ."

"Sometimes you're too nice and scared of offending people for your own comfort. That's some serious behavior you should look out for, Iñara. You can be nice but never to the point of disrespecting yourself."

How the hell did it escalate to that?

Wala akong nagawa kundi mangalumbaba at tamad na sipsipin ang kape ko gamit ang straw. Should I really tell them I couldn't do it? If I decided to do it, would I be able to pull it off without appearing like I didn't want to be there?

Nakakabaliw!

"O, ano? Kumusta na kayo ni Markus?"

If I wasn't careful, I would have spat what was in my mouth, cliché as it could be.

Zenith's brow perked and she swirled her coffee like an old lady excited for a gossip. My life was her entertainment, after all.

"I guess we're okay," tugon ko sa nag-aalangang tinig.

"In what sense?" She leaned forward.

"He's cool again. I mean not really like before. But he speaks to me."

She pulled the corners of mouth downwards. "That's very him. So, are you okay with that?"

I scoffed. "Anong klaseng tanong 'yan? He made his choice. Kung anuman 'yon, it's his to be burdened about."

"I'm really curious, though." She fixed her gaze on my face, eyes filled with wonder. "Hindi mo ba talaga siya magugustuhan?"

"Zen!"

"You're so defensive. Curious nga lang, 'di ba?"