Twisted Affection (Completed)

TWENTY-SIX

"I'm sorry, Laurene. The timing was too off. I didn't know," Zaiden quickly apologized, regret lacing his words. He looked at me with an expression of deep remorse.

Huminto ako sa paghikbi at tiningnan siya. "Zaiden.." I managed to whisper.

He wipes away my tears. "I have to confess something. Alam kong hindi siya konektado sa nangyayari sayo pero ramdam ko kasing ngayon lang tayo nagkausap ng ganito," Pinunasan ko ang luha sa pisngi ko at hinintay lang siyang magsalita ulit.

"I'm sorry for not realizing that it was you who I met that time when you were in your first year. I mean, hindi sa hindi kita kilala noon, hindi ko lang kasi matandaan agad na ikaw pala iyong babaeng nailigtas ko sa isang grupo. I didn't even manage to look at you because I'm in a hurry." He confessed.

"You remembered?" Ngumiti siya at tumango.

I still remember the time he protected me. Even though I'm not petite in the past, may nagtangka pa ring gumalaw sa akin. There were five guys trying to assault me, and Zaiden happened to pass by. He saved me. Not only did he save me physically, but he also saved me emotionally, making me admire him. That incident even triggered a change in me - I started taking care of my health, especially after being diagnosed with PCOS. Naging conscious na ako sa mga kinakain ko hanggang ngayon.

"But when I saw you at the bachelor party, I honestly didn't recognize you. I was used to seeing you with glasses and I remember you being chubbier back then. And do you know that your chubby cheeks were the reason I always stared at you?" He added a soft smile.

My eyes widened in surprise and I quickly looked away, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks. Hindi ako kinilig, nahihiya ako dahil always pa naman akong mag isa. I didn't know he noticed me that way.

"You're staring at me? I.. I didn't know." I stammered.

Naging Professor ko lang rin kasi Zaiden pagkatungtong ko ng Third year kaya siguro hindi niya rin ako matandaan. Akala ko nga nakalimot na talaga siya dahil hindi niya man lang ako kinamusta. Parang wala lang ganun. Hindi niya pa talaga ako nakilala agad.

Marahan lang siyang ngumiti. "And yeah, because of that.. I'm starting to develop forbidden feelings for my student." Pag amin niya na nagpagulat sa akin. Hindi ko agad maproseso ang sinabi niya. Zaiden fell in love with me? But he didn't care about me at all in the past.

"Z-zaiden?" Nagugulat kong tawag.

Lumungkot ang mata niya. "Why would I hide anyway, right? Yes, Laurene.. I fell in love with you but I fell in love with the old Laurenestine," He said softly.

"Don't get me wrong, nagustuhan pa rin kita kahit ngayon pero mas hindi na pwede dahil alam kong may nagmamay ari na sayo. Ayokong makihati, Laurene. Lalo na at sa kapatid ko pa." Dagdag niya pa. Hindi ko alam kong bakit hindi akong naging comfortable sa pag amin niya.

Tumingin siya sa daan at doon lang lumikot ang mga mata niya. Umayos lang rin ako ng upo at tiningnan kung saan siya nakatingin. "Simula nang nagbago ka at lagi kang umaaligid kapag nandoon ako, hindi talaga ako nandidiri o ano pero kailangan ko lang pigilan ang nararamdaman ko. Hindi naman kasi tayo pwede at sa totoo lang, I felt disappointed because I'm a coward. Hindi ako kasing tapang ni Zairon para ipaglaban ka. Duwag ako Laurene kaya hinayaan kong mahulog ka sa kapatid ko. My twin deserves to be happy because of the experience he had with us," He paused for a while at may kinuha siyang tissue at binigay sa akin. Pinahid ko rin ang luha at sipon ko.

"I let him pursue you because I love my twin, Laurene. Akala ko ay pinaglalaruan ka lang niya noon at hindi talaga siya nahulog sayo pero nalaman kong.. na in love nga ang kapatid ko sayo, katulad kung paano rin ako nahulog sayo noon." sincero niyang sambit na mas lalong bumibigat sa puso ko. Hindi ako sumagot dahil na speechless ako. Bakit niya ito sinasabi sa akin?