Cupid's Outlaw

Chapter 16: Liar

"Babe, are you still there?" rinig kong tanong ni Spade mula sa kabilang linya.

Bahagya akong natigilan sa pag-iisip. "Yeah, sorry. I just spaced out."

It's been days since his birthday gig, and so far, hindi pa naman ulit kami nag-aaway. It's probably the longest time we didn't have any issue.

May naidulot din yatang maganda ang pagsabi niya kay Heart ng tungkol sa amin.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalala niyang kumento.

I nodded slowly kahit alam kong hindi niya naman ako nakikita. "It's just... I'm a little nervous about the nationals tomorrow."

"Oh," he sighed, "wag mong masyadong isipin. I'm sure you'll ace it."

I took a deep breath and looked at my sweating reflection on the wall mirror. "I really hope so..."

"Just trust yourself babe," he chuckled.

Saglit kaming natahimik, pagkatapos ay bigla ulit siyang nagsalita. "Miss na kita kaagad. I wanna make out with you again."

A small smile formed on my lips. "I'll see you again soon. For now, kailangan ko pang mag-practice eh."

"I know. Don't be too hard on yourself, alright? I'll try to call again later."

"Noted po. Thank you, babe."

Pagkababa ko ng tawag ni Spade ay tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Nakaupo ako sa lapag at nakasandal sa pader.

Since it's already the end of May, bukas na ang national competition ng Ice Age. Nanalo kami noong regionals at dahil karangalan iyon para sa school namin, binigyan ang org namin ng sariling dance studio sa loob ng campus. Kaya naman ngayon ay hindi na kami sa gym nagpapractice.

It's past 9:00 PM and the rest of the team had gone home already. Nagpaiwan muna ako dahil hindi pa ako satisfied sa performance ko. Madalas akong nawawala sa sarili at nagiging lutang.

Ewan ko ba. With Spade, Reider, and everything in between, I was just too distracted.

Tumayo ako at pinlay ang music sa phone ko. I'll keep practicing the entire routine until I'm satisfied. Ayoko namang maging pabigat bukas. Baka mamaya ay ako pa ang magpatalo sa amin.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagsasayaw nang bumukas ang pinto. I instantly stopped when I saw Reider's upper body peeking in.

His eyes widened a bit for a short second before his face was in its poker mode again. Pumasok siya at sumandal sa tabi ng pinto.

"Why are you still here?"

Tila mga kabayong baliw ang puso kong automatic at mabilis na nangarera. Fuck. What did that even mean?

Inayos ko ang ponytail kong maluwag na bago ako tumalikod sa salamin at humarap sa kanya.

"Practicing," hinihingal at kunyari ay walang pakialam kong tugon. "You?"

"I was about to turn the lights off and lock the room," malalim ang boses niyang sagot.

I looked at his stern yet gentle face, and I realized it's been so long since the last time I managed to look straight at him without being nervous about creating unnecessary rumors.

Simula kasi noong sinabi niya sa akin ang rason ng pagdistansya niya ay tinuloy niya na talaga ang hindi pagpansin sa akin. Naiilang na rin ako sa tuwing magkakasama kaming dalawa, lalo na kapag walang ibang tao.

Even now that months had passed and we're awkwardly alone in this room, his intent gaze was still enough to make me so nervous. I looked away.

"Just leave me the key. Ako na lang ang magsasara ng studio."