All For Show (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Leo left quite abruptly na medyo napaawang ang labi ko at napakunot ang noo ko. That was weird. Bakit kailangan niyang umalis agad? I would've introduced him to Pablo naman—or maybe hindi na dapat kasi malay ko ba kung ano ang mangyayari pagkatapos ng araw na 'to? Would we still see each other? Probably not. As far as I was concerned, we run in different social circles. And hindi pa naman ako desperate enough para puntahan siya sa bar niya. Iyong ginawa ko dati, that was out of sheer desperation only because I needed something from him.

And after today? Ano pa iyong reason ko?

That I wanted to see him?

"Hey," sabi ko nung lapitan ko siya dahil mukhang wala siyang balak na lumapit sa pwesto ko. "Did something happen inside?" I asked kasi lumabas siya.

Tipid siyang umiling. "No," he replied. "You were just gone for too long. I thought something happened."

"Oh," sabi ko. "I just went to the CR then nakita ko si Leo dito sa labas."

Hindi naman ako manhid na tao, but at the same time, ayokong maging assuming. Before, alam ko naman na nilalandi ako ni Pablo, but maybe that was only because I was doing it first, so he was just matching my energy. But right at this moment? That crease on his forehead was throwing me off. Because he looked a bit pissed. But why? Dahil lang kausap ko si Leo? It wasn't like we were doing anything—we were literally talking.

He gave me a small nod again.

I gave him a forced laugh.

"What? Jealous?" I dared ask kasi iyon talaga ang itsura niya ngayon. He looked like a jealous boyfriend na nakita ako na kausap iyong ex ko.

"Should I be?" he replied, and his reply was even more intense dahil sinabi niya iyong mga salita na iyon habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. He didn't even miss a beat and replied quite quickly right after I asked my dare I say ridiculously forward question.

"No," I said as I tilted my chin up. Oo, gwapo siya, pero bakit ako magpapatalo?

"Okay."

"We were literally just talking."

"I didn't say anything."

"But the way your brows furrowed tells another story," I shot back.

Nakatingin pa rin kami sa isa't-isa. No one wanted to back down, so it seemed. Halos hindi ako makahinga nang maayos habang nakatingin ako sa mga mata niya. I forced myself na 'wag babaan ang tingin because I really would lose in this staring competition kapag napatingin ako sa mga labi niya.

"Really," sabi niya. "Do tell—what am I feeling right now, Cerise?"

God, I hated it when he says my name like that! Like he's seducing me kahit literal na binanggit niya lang naman iyong pangalan ko.

I stared directly at his eyes. "Like you're jealous."

I felt how the beats of my heart gradually began to increase its pace. But I didn't break the gaze—talo iyong unang magiiwas ng tingin. He's probably better at this than me, but that didn't mean that I won't put up a fight.

I like him, fine, but he likes me, too, kahit konti siguro. Because if not, why on earth would he agree to my ridiculous request? It's much easier to say no. It's not like I could physically drag him with me here.

"Well, I am supposed to be your boyfriend," he said.

"I know."

"And I saw you talking to your ex."