SELENE [BOOK 2]

CHAPTER 39

Matapos kong maligo ay lumabas na ako. I am done drying my hair too. Bakante ang kama ng tingnan ko. I looked around to find Steve only to see him on the balcony, who seems to be in deep thought. I walked in his direction and only heard him letting out a heavy breath.

"Ang lalim nun, ah?" I said that made Steve look at my way.

"Selene..." he called my name. He stood up properly.

Tumabi ako sa kaniya. Bahagya itong lumayo sa akin ng dumikit ang mga balat namin.

He looks tense. I looked at him confusedly because of his move. I didn't expect that from him.

"What's wrong?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

Steve looked at me and shook his head. "Nothing," he answered.

"Are you really sure?" naniniguradong tanong ko.

He stared at me for a while. "Yes," he replied in a hoarse voice.

"Why are you still here outside? It's cold. You should go inside," he said.

"I followed you here when I saw that the bed is empty," sagot ko.

He nodded. He gulped, and I saw how his Adam's apple moved intensely.

"You should sleep, pumasok kana, susunod ako maya-maya." Steve said that made my brows furrowed.

"How about you? You're not sleeping? Sabay na tayong pumasok," sabi ko. Pero napansin kong umiwas lang ito ng tingin at ngumiti sa akin.

"Maybe later, sige na, malamig rito," he said and sighed.

Maybe he's not sleepy? Pero may napapansin talaga ako kanina pa. Parang may malalim itong iniisip ng makita ko ito rito. Kanina rin, ng umakyat kami rito, tahimik din siya.

"Napansin kong kanina ka pa tahimik ng umakyat tayo, are you mad?" I can't help but to ask him while staring at him.

Pilit kong hinuli ang mga mata nito pero ayaw niya pa rin akong tingnan sa mga mata. Iyong pag-iwas niya sa akin kanina lang... Galit ba siya?

Iyon ang unang beses na ginawa niya iyon. Medyo nasaktan ako sa ginawa niya. "May nagawa ba akong... Mali? Kaya ka tahimik at umiiwas?" I concluded.

Kaya siguro pinapapasok na niya ako at pinapatulog? I'm overthinking again, but I just can't help it.

He shook his head and ruffled his hair when he saw the expression on my face. He put his hand on his waist and let out a heavy sigh, and seconds after that, he lowered his head and looked at me directly in the eyes.

"Wala, wala kang ginawang masama. It's me, okay? Matulog kana." Steve said softly.

Umiling ako. I want to know the reason why he's silent. Mas lalo tuloy akong hindi makakatulog nito.

"It's bothering me, Steve. It's rare to see you like this... You couldn't even look at me in my eyes. You're avoiding me." May pagtatampong sa boses ko ng sinabi ko iyon.

"I'm not avoiding you, Selene... I-It's just that..." buntong hiningang sabi ni Steve. "It's... It's better for you not to know; the reason. I'm sure you'll be uncomfortable. So please, Selene, sleep okay?" Steve said.

I stared at him. Ano ba iyon? It'll make me uncomfortable? What is it then? How would I know if he won't tell it to me? It's making me frustrated.

Imbes na magtanong pa ay tumalikod na ako at maglalakad na sana papasok ng napahinto ako ng hawakan ni Steve ang palapulsohan ko.

"Selene..." Steve called my name.

I didn't talk and remained silent. I heard him let out a heavy sigh and mumble a curse.