Aaron
You could hear a pin drop in the quiet of the hallway. Dalawang salita lang ang binitiwan niya, but it landed like a punch to the gut. Heavy and final. As if he'd said a whole damn paragraph.
The surprise on my face shifted into confusion.
"Elena," I replied to his question, but it sounded more like I was asking than confirming.
Tinitigan niya ako. Matagal. Unreadable. 'Yung tipo ng ekspresyon na suot niya noong unang beses ko siyang makilala.
Tapos, dahan-dahan, nabiyak 'yung mukha niya sa isang pilit na ngisi. Tumango-tango siya sa sarili. And without another word, tinalikuran niya ako and walked toward our dorm.
That's when it hit me.
Shit.
Napamura ako sa isip ko. I rushed to catch up with him. "Hey, it's not what you think it is."
He didn't respond. Eyes still focused ahead like I wasn't even there. But my chest was pounding. Because I knew deep down, I screwed up somehow. Pang-isang milyon ko na 'to, ah.
At ang nakakaputangina pa, akala niya siguro sinasadya ko.
"I told you I was gonna be home late because of a project," I said, walking beside him, desperate. "Siya 'yung partner ko, Elena. I forgot to tell you her name—hey, listen to me muna—"
He reached the door. I tried to follow, but he was quicker. He tried to slam it shut.
Buti na lang, I shoved my leg into the gap just in time.
Pinilit niyang isara, at naipit 'yung binti ko. Masakit, of course. Pero tiniis ko. Kailangan kong magpaliwanag.
"Don't do this, Kakashi. Let me explain. Alam mong tumigil na ako sa bisyo kong 'yun—"
"Mambabae ka hangga't gusto mo, wala akong pakialam."
That's the part that scared me the most.
Because he said it so damn calmly.
No anger. No rage. Just ice. And for some reason, that hurt more.
His words had venom, even if his tone didn't.
I clenched my jaw, forcing myself not to snap back.
I tried again, mas gentle ngayon. "I swear, we only worked on the project. Nothing else. Pinky promise. Please, open the door."
"Tinanong ko kung sino 'yon. Hindi ko tinanong kung anong ginawa niyo," he replied, still cold.
I shut my eyes tightly, stressed.
"Open the door, Levi. I'm serious. Let's talk like adults, please. May mga tulog na. Let's not make a scene. And let me explain."
Then I heard his dry, bitter laugh. "Hanep. Ngayon ka pa talaga naging concerned kung may tulog na."
I groaned. "Ikukuwento ko sa'yo every damn minute we spent together. Just let me in—Damn it!"
The door slammed harder against my leg. That's it.
I stopped waiting for permission.
With one strong push, I forced the door open, stepped in, and slammed it shut behind me.
I pinned him to it.
His wrists above his head. Our chests rising and falling fast. I was so close I could feel the heat of his breath against my lips. His eyes threw daggers at mine, but I didn't care.
Hindi ako titigil, hangga't hindi niya ako pinapakinggan.
"Bitiwan mo 'ko," he said through clenched teeth. "Isa!"
