Hello, Yellow Fellow

Chapter 34

Hello, Yellow Fellow
Chapter 34: Cycle

"Are you okay, Eli?"

I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his. Fuck, bakit 'to nandito?

I could feel the tears still on the verge of falling, but seeing him there, so steady, so composed, somehow made it a bit easier to breathe.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Maki sa kamay ni Shan na nakalingkis sa bewang ko. Kitang-kita ko kung paano tumalim ang mga mata niya. His jaw clenched even tighter, bawat segundo parang mas lalong lumalalim ang galit niya. 

"Elio," his voice was low, may halong pagbabanta. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng buo kong katawan sa bigat ng tono niya. 

Napalunok ako, trying to steady my breathing.

Pero may kung anong bumulong sa akin. It was telling me to let Shan's hand stay right where it was. Gusto kong patunayan kay Maki na hindi ako basta-basta. Kung siya, nagagawa niyang pabayaan ako kanina, why shouldn't I do the same?

Maki's expression darkened even more, his eyes filled with something I couldn't fully read— jealousy, rage, maybe even betrayal. Halos pumutok na 'yong mga ugat sa leeg niya, at parang oras na lang bago siya tuluyang sumabog. 

Tangina, nakakapanghina. Napalunok ako.

Tatanggalin ko na sana 'yong kamay ni Shan sa bewang ko, pero bago ko pa magawa, mas lalo niya pa itong hinigpitan. Nabigla ako, na halos mawalan ako ng lakas para makalas ito. 

Maki's eyes were locked on Shan's hand like he was ready to rip it away, pero pilit siyang nagpigil. He gritted his teeth, the tension in the air almost unbearable.

"Get your fucking hands off from Elio," his voice dropped even lower, almost a growl. The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.

But Shan just let out a low chuckle, obviously testing Maki's patience. 

"What? Elio seems fine with it," Shan smirked, his voice casual. "Besides, you're scaring him."

Napunta ang tingin ni Maki sa akin, at tila sinusukat niya ang bawat galaw ko, parang tinitimbang kung ano ba talaga ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

Hindi ko makita ngayon 'yong mga mata niya na dati kong nakikita— soft, caring, protective. His gaze was hard, filled with something darker, something I wasn't used to seeing from him. Jealousy, rage... everything rolled into one. 

Reign let out a small laugh, breaking the heavy silence. "Oh my God, this is just too much," she cooed, her voice laced with mockery. "Elio, darling, it looks like you're caught between two very... passionate men. How exciting."

Tinitigan ko siya nang matalim, pero ngumiti lang siya she was really enjoying the chaos. 

"Reign, cut the crap," Shan snapped, his voice turning cold. "This isn't the time."

Pero hindi pa rin nagpaawat si Reign, mas lalo pa siyang ngumiti, obviously amused by everything. "Come on, Shan. We're just having a little fun here, right? Maki?" She batted her lashes at Maki, pero wala siyang nakuha ni isang reaksyon. 

Maki's eyes were still on me, his jaw ticking as he tried to hold himself back. Ang bigat ng titig niya, parang hinihila ako pababa, making it harder for me to breathe. 

"Eli," Shan leaned closer, his voice almost a whisper. "Don't let them get to you. Focus lang tayo sa shoot, okay?"

Tumango ako, kahit pakiramdam ko parang natutunaw ako sa bigat ng sitwasyon. My chest was tight, emotions swirling, and I could barely catch my breath. Pero alam kong tama si Shan. I had to get through this.