Chased by El Lewis Vesper Esquivel

Chapter 18

"He likes you, huh?" Joaquin smugly smiled at me.

Kaagad naman akong nag iwas ng tingin. He's been suspecting it but my guts told me otherwise. I mean, you can't blame me if I believed it that way. I really thought he was just lying and acting. And that my parents are behind all of his actions.

"And he is jealous of me?" He asked this time, teasing me.

He laughed out loud making the other students in the canteen look at us. Napapikit ako ng mariin.

"God! I can't believe he is really jealous of me...kaya pala ganoon siya kung tumingin. I thought he just doesn't like me."

"Lower down your voice, Jouaquin." I interrupted him.

He continued laughing but then he suddenly stopped, then he looked at me more teasingly.

"He is here, look behind you."

Kaagad naman akong napatingin sa likod ko at nakita siyang papasok na ng canteen. I just texted him that I am eating my lunch with Joaquin. His eyes moved around, trying to find us until he found our spot.

"I'll be going bye! Baka masuntok pa ako niyan." Joaquin suddenly stood up and used the other exit door, opposite to where El is.

I was just about to protest but he disappeared within my sight as fast as he could.

"Lenikah…" And I didn’t have a choice anymore when he occupied the seat right in front of me.

Napabuga na lamang ako ng hangin ng mas umingay ang canteen dahil sa pagdating niya, and of course I could feel pairs of eyes looking at our spot intently.

Napainom ko ng tubig.

"I'll be attending a seminar in Palawan next week. It will be for three days." He calmly explained.

My uneasy eyes settled on him as he looked at me gently. I cleared my throat first.

"Then go." I am sure everything became awkward for me since that night happened.

I could barely look him straight in the eyes and I can't even talk back to him anymore. His gestures towards me definitely changed and I just felt so anxious about it. Every touch, words and the way he looked at me changed significantly...or maybe I just noticed it now? I don't know, I am confused as hell. 

The way we treated each other before was more comfortable.

"We are all boys including the faculty...walang babaeng kasama." He added more.

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Does he really think that I'm gonna get jealous or something?

He smiled at me playfully. "I know that you won't get jealous, I'm just saying it."

I looked at him sarcastically. "Good. Mabuti na nagkakaintindihan tayo."

He chuckled at my remarks kaya mas lalong sumama ang tingin ko sa kanya.

I looked at my phone and my time is almost up. Right timing. Tumayo na ako at inayos ang mga gamit ko.

"I'll go first. Malapit na start ng next subject namin." I informed him while fixing my things.

"Ihahatid na kita." He insisted and stood up too.

I wanna say 'no' so bad, but I do not want him to think that I am quite of avoiding him just because of what happened between us. l have plans avoiding him but somehow I know that it may just backlash on me, lalo na kapag nalaman ng mga magulang ko.

I didn't have a choice but to nod my head.

The students kept on looking at us in the hallway, and as much as I do not want the attention, I guessed this is just normal for him and his family. And now that we are in a arranged marriage, siguro dapat masanay na ako?