Earthquake (Disaster Series #3)

Kabanata 12

Casual

I see why Ate seems to be invested in him now. Beyond his physical features, are his intriguing gestures, every curl of the corner of his lips, the way his eyes speak, the low rumble of his voice... and his mind.

And here I am, at 4 AM, rolling my eyes and laughing at his ridiculous words.

Nagising kasi ako ng madaling araw at uminom ng tubig. I decided to get some fresh air in the balcony of the guestroom where I'm staying. Turns out his room is next to where I'm staying at . And he's also there, on his balcony, drinking something on his big mug.

There's a good distance between my balcony and his but with the silence of the dawn, our voices are clear, cutting through the chilly air.

"I swear that's the reason." Nagkibit-balikat siya 'saka sumandal roon sa guardrail ng balcony niya.

I puckered my lips, and made faces as I stared at the maze of hydrangeas below.

"Francia didn't tell me anything about that." Nagdududa ko siyang pinukulan ng tingin.

Paano ba naman kasi, gossiper din pala 'tong Anghel na 'to. He told me the reason why Francia and Heron had a fight is because the latter is jealous of me. How could that be?

"Of course she won't tell you that. It's a childish reason. That bastard is childish." His lips twitched mockingly.

Marahan akong natawa at umiling sa kanya.

There, in his barely lit balcony, is his serious face. Supladong-suplado ang mukha niya, dahil siguro madaling-araw at kakagising niya lang?

But there is something so amusing about it now. He is always smirking, grinning, and smiling mischievously for the rest of the hours of the day. Maybe this is the reason why his face is grim and gloomy in the morning coz his lips are tired throughout the day.

Napanguso ako sa naiisip at nakangisi na sa kanya. He looked at me with his lips in a grim line and I smiled wider.

Mas lalong kumunot lang ang noo niya sa akin, bahagyang nag-iwas ng tingin bago uminom doon sa mug niya.

"Stop that. Are you trying to invite me over to your balcony?" He rolled his eyes this time.

Napasinghap ako at napatigagal sa sinabi niya. Nang nakabawi ay unti-unti akong natawa.

Now, where did that idea came from?

I smirked.

"You're cute. Sige nga, tumalon ka diyan sa balcony mo papunta rito," I challenged mockingly.

Marahang umihip ang hangin at unti-unti akong nakapakurap nang napagtanto ang sinabi sa kanya.

What the hell? Did I just call him cute? Look at him, Laurent, look at those muscles peeking from his top! Hinamon mo pa talagang lapitan ka?

Too late though.

He already put down his mug and braced his hands on the guardrail before swiftly jumping off from his balcony towards mine. He quietly landed on his feet and is now in front of me.

He raised and eyebrow at me, tila nanunuya sa hamon ko sa kanya. Kaya lang, kulang ang ekspresyon dahil wala ang mapang-asar niyang ngiti.

I mirrored his reaction, raising an eyebrow as I crossed my arms across my chest.

"Sungit mo ah," I mumbled and pursed my lips.

"I am not," he drawled lazily, his eyes falling down on mine, then further...

Tumingala ako sa kanya at tinitigan siya pabalik. His eyes are heavily-lidded, I don't know if he's sleepy or just in a trance about something as he remained unmoving in front of me, towering with his six feet tall or so height.