Steal His Innocence - Completed

Chapter 11 : Stare

VIANA'S POV

"Uhmmmm..."

Nagmulat ako ng mata at agad kong naramdaman ang lamig ng aircon sa balat ko. Tahimik ang buong unit. I love this kind of silence—'yung walang sumisigaw, walang nag-uutos, walang nagdi-demand. Saturday. Walang pasok. Perfect sana para mag-review for midterms.

Kaso may kumatok sa pinto.

"Ma'am, the management wants to inform you na magkakaroon po tayo ng short blackout mamaya sa condominium."

Napapikit ako. "Seriously?"

Pagkasara ko ng pinto, napa-irap ako. Ayoko mag-aral nang walang ilaw at aircon. Hindi ako martyr. Tinext ko agad sina Marj, Sasha, at Micha. Lahat busy. Solo flight ang lola niyo.

Fine. Coffee shop it is.

Sa Stockwell Café sa Tomas Morato ako naupo, malapit sa saksakan. Nakalugay ang buhok ko, naka-oversized shirt at shorts lang. Walang effort pero still decent. Seryoso akong nagsusulat ng notes sa reviewer ko. Hindi ako pabebe pagdating sa grades. Kahit party girl ako sa gabi, achiever pa rin sa umaga.

Pa-last sip na ako ng matcha ko nang may pamilyar na likod akong nakita sa counter.

Tall. Straight posture. Dark hoodie.

"Asher," tawag ko.

Napalingon siya. "What?"

Taray. Kahit simple word, parang may attitude. Kakakuha lang niya ng coffee at palabas na.

Mabilis kong niligpit ang gamit ko. "Sandali!"

Lumabas na siya ng café nang mahabol ko.

"San ka punta? Uwi ka na?" sigaw ko habang naglalakad.

Hindi siya sumagot. Typical.

"Huy! San ka nga pupunta?" habol ko, medyo hingal.

"Why?" tipid niyang sagot.

"Sa condo ba? Sama ako."

"What?!" Napahinto siya.

"I'll take that as a yes!" ngumiti ako nang malaki at naglakad na parang decided na ang mundo para sa amin.

Tahimik kaming naglakad papunta sa condo niya. Ramdam ko pa rin ang slight tension mula kagabi. Ayoko namang isipin niyang wala lang sa akin 'yun.

Pagpasok namin sa hallway ng floor niya, nagsalita na ako.

"Asher, sorry kung nagawa ko 'yun kagabi."

"Don't mention it," sagot niya, diretso lang ang tingin sa harap. Kaliwang kamay nasa bulsa, kanang hawak ang kape. Parang robot maglakad. Walang ka-drama-drama.

"Bakit lagi kang galit sa akin?" tanong ko sa elevator.

"Because you are annoying."

Ouch. Straight to the point.

"But you're letting me annoy you. Yiiee. You like me, 'no?" asar ko habang binubuksan niya ang unit niya.

Pagpasok namin, lumapit ako at bumulong, "Anyway... I liked your kiss."

Halos hindi siya gumalaw.

Umupo ako sa sofa niya at nilatag ang laptop ko. Sa totoo lang... malambot talaga labi niya kagabi. Lasang alak at juice pero baka dahil sa halo ng drinks ko. Napailing ako sa sarili ko. Ano ba 'to.

"I really love your sofa, Asher. Siguro masarap dito mag—"

Binato niya ako ng unan bago ko pa matapos. "Watch your mouth. You're not in your house."

Tumawa ako. "Grabe ka. Joke lang."

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at nagbasa ng makapal na libro. Ecology ata.

"Ano 'yan? Magbabasa ka lang? Wag mo na ako pansinin," pang-aasar ko.

"Stop bugging me."

"Bug? Di ako insekto, 'no!" irap ko.

Pero eventually, tumahimik din ako. Nagsulat, nag-review, nag-type. Hindi ko namalayang nakahiga na pala ako sa sofa, libro niya nakatakip sa mukha ko.

ASHER'S POV

Ding-dong.

That must be the pizza.

I paid the delivery guy and the smell instantly filled the unit. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until now.

Paglingon ko sa sofa, naroon pa rin siya. Curled up. Asleep.

"Viana," I called, poking her shoulder lightly. No response.

"Viana," I tried again, a bit louder.

"Putangina naman... natutulog 'yung tao," she mumbled, turning to her side. The book slid off her face.

I froze for a second.

Her hair was slightly messy. Lips parted just a little. No makeup retouch. No sharp comebacks. No teasing smirk.

She looked... soft.

I shook my head. What am I even thinking?

I moved the scattered papers from the table so she'd have space. I grabbed a pillow and a blanket from my room and carefully placed them over her.

"Nerd... ang tanga mo talaga," she murmured in her sleep.

I almost laughed.

She keeps calling me that, but she still ends up here.

I sat back down with my pizza and watched her for a moment longer than necessary. It's strange. I don't like the way she curses. I don't like how reckless she can be. I don't like how she throws herself into situations without thinking.

And yet.

She studies hard. She tries. She doesn't give up easily. She hides it behind jokes, but I've seen the way her eyes soften when she talks about her foster parents... or that kid she mentioned once.

My gaze dropped to her lips.

The bar.

That accidental kiss.

My throat suddenly felt dry. I coughed, almost choking on my pizza.

What is wrong with you, Asher?

I grabbed water and drank quickly, trying to calm my thoughts.

I don't like her.

She's not the kind of girl I imagine for my future. She's chaotic. Loud. Complicated.

And yet when she said she liked the kiss earlier... my chest tightened in a way I didn't expect.

I looked at her again.

She shifted slightly, brows furrowing like she was dreaming about something intense. Instinctively, I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

Her skin was warm under my fingertips.

I pulled my hand back immediately.

This is bad.

She's trouble.

And the worst part?

I don't think I want her to stop coming here.