Gihigugma Tika | SeKen

Chapter 7: Lies

QUICK footsteps creeps outside and Paul hurriedly slipped the papers back into Kenn's comic book. His heart thuds as he panics, trying his best to thumb it back properly. Beads of sweat started forming on his forehead as he closed the book and just in time, the door swung open. He heaved a sigh of relief, wiping his sweat as he tried to calm his nerves.

"Wews! Muntikan na ako ro'n ah!" he exclaimed in his very low voice. "At siya pa talaga ang pumasok, gago... bakit hindi nalang si Austin?"

Once he successfully regained his composure, he acted like nothing had happened. He reached for his phone beside him and put it back in his pocket before dusting his palms through his denim shorts.

His eyes focused once again on the newcomer. He didn't know why but he wanted to laugh while observing his discomfort. Though he was trying hard to hold it back, still, he didn't know how long he could keep it to himself.

On the other hand, Kenn scanned the room as he tried his best to ignore his thumping chest. There is really something that is bothering him but he still doesn't know what it is. He saw Joe and Dale giggling on the farthest corner, both busy playing a mobile game.

He smiled until his eyes landed on their leader's face. He can clearly see how the older suppresses his laughter. He pursed his lips tightly but eventually, his eyes widened when he saw his comic book beside Paul. Now, he figured out where his fear was coming from.

He was frozen as he was screaming silently in his head. There is no way that it is beside the last person he wanted his comic book to be that close. His breathing is now uneven and he refuses to blink that it sting his eyes.

Nonetheless, he cared less. His palms are beginning to get damp, cold sweat drools from his temples. The observant Paul noticed how their main dancer looked like he had seen a ghost.

The leader cleared his throat before he asked confusedly. "Hoy! Ayos ka lang ba, Kenn? Ba't namumutla ka? Baka kung napaano ka na riyan tapos hindi ka man lang nagsasalita. Ano'ng nangyayari sa'yo?"

Although Kenn is glad that Paul is finally talking to him and even initiated to converse with him first, he can't seem to rejoice at that news. He swallowed before walking towards the couch as fast as he could like he was catching a deadline for his report's submission.

Without a word, he grabbed the book beside the other man before hiding it behind him. This made their leader look up to him with a confused stare, mouth slightly parted with furrowed brows. Though Kenn found it pretty cute, he can't seem to focus.

"Hala! Napaano ka na naman? Ayos ka lang ba?" Paul eyed him intently. "Ano, galit ka na naman ba sa mundo tapos idadamay mo na naman ako?"

This made him frown. "Excuse me?"

Paul cackled. "Excuse me my ass! Ano, ulyanin ka na ngayon?"

"What?"

Paul gave him a challenging look. "Baka nakakalimutan mo kung pa'no mo ako trinato sa loob ng isang buwan. Ni wala nga akong ideya kung anong naging kasalanan ko sa'yo tapos ito ka na naman. Ano na naman 'to? Pagkatapos mo akong ignorahin, galit-galitan ka na naman ngayon?"

He gritted his teeth, trying to control his temper. "Hindi ako galit."

The older raised a brow. "Hindi? Bakit kung makahablot ka niyang libro, parang may kasamang gigil? Ano na namang nagawa kong kasalanan sa'yo? Dapat sinabi mo para hindi na ulit ako mag-isip ng kung ano-ano. Akala mo naman talaga—"

"P-Pinakialaman mo ba ito?" he asked, stammering. It's not his intention to cut off Paul's statement but his greatest fear knocks on him with a sly grin.

"Ang alin ba?" Paul looked up amusedly and that face didn't help him think straight. "Your comic book? Of course not."

Kenn tensed, not totally believing the older. "Iyong totoo, Paul!"

Paul snorted. "Bakit ka naninigaw? Bakit ko naman papakialaman ang hindi naman sa'kin? Besides, bibili na lang ako kaysa sa manghiram pa ako sa'yo. Baka magka-utang pa ako at mas lumala pa ang galit mo."

"Hindi nga sabi ako galit!" he cried out.

Paul wanted to laugh. "O, sabi mo eh. Anyway, hindi ko nga pinakialam iyang libro mo. Check mo pa nang magkaalaman. Lakas mo mambintang eh wala ka namang ebidensya."

"Malay ko ba'ng binuksan mo pala," he reasoned out defensively. "Nakalimutan ko lang ilagay sa bag tapos makikita ko na nasa tabi mo na ngayon?"

The older raised a brow. "Ano bang pinapalabas mo? Eh nandiyan naman talaga iyan sa couch kanina. Nadaganan ko pa nga—"

"Tapos binuksan mo?" Kenn interrupted. Clearly, the main dancer is nervous as hell since his voice becomes wobbly all of a sudden. "Pau, bawal ang sinungaling."

"Hindi ko nga binuksan, okay?" Paul chuckles mischievously. "Bakit? May tinatago ka ba sa librong 'yan? Patingin nga ako."

Kenn was taken aback as he blushed furiously. "W-Wala! At... at kung meron man, wala rin akong planong ipakita sa'yo. Manigas ka!"

Paul looks at him intently and he never liked that kind of gaze from the older. It tells him something and it didn't help his anxiety to calm. "What if pinakialaman ko nga, may magagawa ka ba? What if may nakita nga ako, anong gagawin mo?"

Kenn paled and the younger wanted the ground to swallow him whole. He can feel his knees weaken and his world suddenly stops spinning. "P-Pau..."

Paul laughed. "Joke lang. Bakit ba tense na tense ka? Nakaka-intriga ah! Parang gusto ko na tuloy makita. Pahiram nga ako."

"Hindi mo nga binuksan ito?" When the older shakes his head, Kenn sighs in relief as he backs away for safety purposes. "Sige. Una na ako. Bye!"

Paul smirked at him. "Tsk, funny..."

Kenn looks at him confusedly, irking his brow. "Ha?"

Paul just shrugged while leaning his back onto the couch and closed his eyes. Kenn frowned and left without saying a word. He purposely closed the door roughly behind him and Paul didn't even budge.

The room went silent after that. Dale's giggles died down so Paul opened his eyes only to find Joe and Dale's intense gazes towards him. He huffed as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes again. "Tinitingin-tingin niyo riyan?"

"Ikaw ah..." Dale trails off.

Paul scoffs as he opens his eyes. He was met by their resident sunshine's grinning face. "What?"

"Bakit ka nagsinungaling?" Dale asked with a suspicious glare.

He frowned. "I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!" Dale insisted. "Ano ba kasi ang nakalagay sa papel?"

He just smiled tightly. "None of your business."

Dale whines, "Isusumbong kita kay bestpal! Sinungaling ka! Sabi mo hindi mo pinakialaman pero binasa mo talaga."

"Hindi nga sabi. Nakita ko lang at nasilip ko ng kaunti pero hindi ko talaga binasa as a whole. Huwag ka ngang judgmental." He pouted as he weaved another lie.

Dale smiles warmly. "Okay."

Dale seems convinced but the ever-silent Joe isn't. He knows. He may have been focused on the game earlier but he knows and he saw it with his own eyes how Paul's facial expression changes from time to time. It's too obvious and clearly, their leader paid attention to those papers that he accidentally found. He's just good at denying but Paul can't hide it from him.

***

End Notes: laging tatandaan, alam ng Josh ang lahat at nakikita ng Josh ang all HAHAHAHA