Twisted Affection (Completed)

SIX

"LOVE?" Isang mahinhin na boses ang narinig namin. Mabilis kong pinunasan ang aking luha habang nakayuko. Gumalaw na si Professor Zaiden at sinalubong ang babae papasok.

Pag-angat ng tingin ko ay nag katinginan kami ng fiancé niya bago niya tiningnan ang Professor. Iniwas ko agad ang aking tingin nang hinapit ni Professor ang baywang ng babae at hinalikan ito sa pisngi.

"I'm looking all over for you. Nandito ka lang pala." Sambit ng fiancé niya.

"Ah, I just checked one of my students na napaaway kanina. She bled her lips." He answered.

"Oh my, that's painful," tumingin ito nang may awa sa akin. "Are you alright?"

Gusto kong ikotin ang mata ko dahil sa inis ngunit mas pinili ko nalang ngumiti ng pilit. "I'm fine, thank you. It's just a minor scratch."

Tumango-tango siya at tumuon ulit sa Professor. "By the way, I'll be staying in the city for a few days. I thought we could spend more time together."

Ngumiti si Professor Zaiden ngunit nararamdaman ko ang bigat ng kanyang mga mata. "That sounds great, love. We'll make the most out of it."

Tinignan ko lang silang dalawa, nararamdaman ang malamig na hangin na dumarampi sa aming pag-uusap. Mas bumigat ang aking nararamdaman dahil sa nakikita ko.

"Ms. Laurenestine Valencia, this is Shannon, my fiancée," Professor Zaiden introduced us, and I forced a smile despite the turmoil inside me.

"Hi po, Ms. Shannon. Nice to meet you," I greeted with all the strength I could muster.

Shannon smiled politely, but her eyes seemed to scrutinize me, as if she could sense something beneath the surface. "Nice to meet you too, Laurenestine. I hope your lip feels better soon."

"Thank you," I replied, trying to sound composed.

"Love, I'll just finish up here, and we can go grab some dinner later, okay?" Professor Zaiden said to Shannon with his affectionate tone.

"Sure, take your time. I'll be waiting outside," she replied, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving the clinic.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Professor Zaiden turned to me with a serious expression. "We need to talk."

Bumigat ang dibdib ko pero sinagot ko pa rin siya. "About what, prof?"

"About us. About what's been happening," he said in a frustration tone.

I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. "I don't know what's happening, Prof. One moment, you're distant, and the next, you're attentive. You told me about your fiancée, the wedding, and now you're saying it's all a misunderstanding?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang reaksiyon niya. May inis at parang mapuputol ang pasensya niyang hinilamos ang sariling palad sa kaniyang mukha.

Nilapitan niya ako na nakayuko pa rin dahil hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang gagawin ko ngayon. Mabigat ang dibdib ko at lumulukob na naman sa selos at sakit. Nakaupo ako kaya umupo na rin siya sa harapan ko upang magkaharap kami. Gusto ko mang tumingin sa kaniya at magmakaawa ulit, parang gusto na lamang na tumahimik.

Napatingin ako sa palad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. "I didn't want to involve you in my personal life. Shannon and I are going through a rough patch, and I thought it would be better not to burden you with our problems."

That's when I raised my gaze to his face. I could see the worry on his face, but the usual expression and warmth were missing. The coldness in his eyes that I once sought wasn't present.

"But you mentioned it, Prof. You made me believe there was something between us," Sabi ko habang nanginginig ang aking boses.

"I never meant to mislead you. Things are complicated, and I didn't want to drag you into it. I care about you, but my commitment is to Shannon. I can't change that," he explained and his eyes searching for mine for understanding.