Take My Innocence Away (Innocence Series #2)

Chapter 09

09

"Saan ka pupunta?" I was on my last step from climbing down the stairs when I heard Clai's voice in the living room.

I guiltily bit my lower lip as I met her suspicious stares. Naka-cap, puting jacket, at naka-shorts ako ngayon kaya halata sigurong lalabas ako ng townhouse.

"U-Uh, may bibilhin lang sa may convenience store." maagap na sagot ko.

There's a hint of nervousness in my tone, I couldn't deny it. Sana hindi niya iyon mahalata.

"Gabi na, ah. Anong need mong bilhin?" kita kong mas lalo lang gumuhit ang kuryosidad sa mukha niya dahil sa naging tugon ko.

She's currently watching Netflix on our TV. To probably hear me more, she reaches for the remote control to lower its volume for the meantime.

Laking pasasalamat ko na lang dahil siya lang ang nadatnan ko rito sa baba. Kung nandito pa sina Mags, Juliet, at Saffron, tiyak akong sasabog ng tanong itong sala namin.

I understand them, tho... because what I'm doing right now is very unusual.

Lalo na't bago ako bumaba, nag-ayos pa talaga ako ng sarili at sinigurado na... uhh, mabango ako.

"H-Hindi naman ako magtatagal. Promise!" I shut my eyes tightly. I know my answer was far from what she asked, but I just badly wanted to go now.

I couldn't stand the thought of Gideon getting impatient because he has already been waiting for too long. Bibili na lang ako ng kahit ano mamaya sa convenience store para kahit papaano, hindi naman ako nagsinungaling kay Clai.

Pwede ko namang sabihin sa kanya kung sino ang kikitain ko... pero mamaya na siguro. Kapag tapos na kaming mag-usap ni Gideon. Alam kong kakailangan ko rin ang advice niya.

Para hindi ako masyadong maguluhan. O alam ko kung ano ang dapat kong gawin.

It was a moment of staring to each other before Clai finally took a deep breath and hesitatingly nodded her head. "Okay... basta ingat ka. Sabihan ko na lang sina Mags kung sakaling hanapin ka man nila rito."

My face immediately lit up at what she offered. Lumapit pa ako para patakan siya ng halik sa pisngi at yumakap. It's just so hard to conceal the mixture of happiness and excitement that eagerly ran through me.

"Thank you, Clai! Love you!" I muttered sheepishly.

Kakalas na sana ako sa yakap pero nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang magkabilaan kong balikat at taimtim na tinitigan.

It probably took a couple of seconds before she finally spoke. And I know that look... she can always read whatever is running on my mind. "Basta wag mo lang pamamagain ang labi mo, ha? Naku, mahihirapan tayong pagtakpan 'yan, Amery Ishmael!"

I swear my whole body felt like frozen meat at that time! Agaran din ang pag-akyat ng init sa buong mukha ko at nang tuluyan ng maiproseso ang sinabi niya, hindi ko na siya halos matignan ng diretso.

Was I really that obvious?!

"Clai—" I'm internally preparing to defend myself but she hurriedly hushed me up.

"Don't worry, you're a teenager. It's part of learning things from your own." she smiled with a wink and planted another smooth kiss on my cheek before going back to her business, like she just didn't rock my world.

Mabilis kong inayos ang sarili pagkuwan at nagmadali na ring lumabas ng townhouse. I composed myself by placing my right hand on top of my beating chest.