Forbidden

Chapter 20

"By any means," he started. "Do you like Jared?"

Parang may kung ano sa tainga ko na nang marinig ang pangalan ni Jared ay biglang kumalabog ang puso ko. Parang may kung ano sa tyan kong hindi ko alam!

Ganoon na ba ako ka-attached sa kanya na kahit pangalan niya lang ang naririnig ko ay grabe ang epekto sa akin!

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa pinsan ko.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" I nervously chuckled.

"I understand na naging close kayo ni Jared. And by the looks of it, it seems that you like him. Baka sa isang buwan na nagkakilala kayo, you might've develop something for him," aniya.

Feeling ko namumula ang mga pisngi ko. I was speechless! No words came out of my mouth. It feels like my tongue was tied up or there's a lump in my throat. Basta! Parang naging pipi ako!

"You are an open book for me, Sky," marahan niyang wika. "Mula nung nasa hacienda pa tayo hanggang sa AEC anniversary hanggang sa ngayon, napansin ko, Sky. You look at him differently than how you would look at us. Lalake ako. And I know in just a 'three-second-look' kung ang babae ay may gusto sa lalake."

Napakagat ako ng labi ko.

I admit the fact na mayroon akong kaunting crush kay Jared. Pero takot ako kay Krypton. Takot ako sa magiging reaksyon o sa pwedeng masabi niya sa akin.

I could deny it, you know!

However, takot rin ako na magsinungaling sa kanya. He could read my mind if he wants to. Siya ang pinakanakakakilala sa akin. At sa lahat ng pinsan ko, siya iyung hindi ko kayang pagsinungalingan. Siya iyung sobrang nirerespeto ko.

"Yes or no, Sky," he demanded. "Simpleng sagot lang."

Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. His brows were slightly knitted.

"Crush lang naman eh," I blurted out. My voice was barely audible at parang mas lalong uminit ang mukha ko.

"Crush lang?" Napataas niya ang kanyang kilay.

"Anong masama roon?" Tanong ko. "Admiration lang naman eh."

Pinatuloy ko na ang pagbi-bake ko.

"Admiration lang?"

"I like Jared. That's it. Period!"

A while ago I feared to tell him about the thing I have for Jared yet when I blurted it out, it just vanished.

Napasabunot siya sa buhok niya out of frustration.

"Aren't you aware, Sky? You like him and as time goes by, you might wake up one day and --BOOM!-- You already love him!"

"We are cousin. That's impossible!"

"Iyun ang problema. Magpinsan kayo. Ano iyon kapag nahulog kayo sa isa't isa?" Sabi niya.

Hearing that made me terrified...

I laughed awkwardly... more of, nervously, though...

"You're ridiculous," I told him. "Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Ako lang naman ang may gusto sa kanya, hindi naman siya eh! And never worry 'cause this is just a crush, alright? Mawawala rin ito 'no! I know he is my cousin at alam ko ang limitations. Hanggang crush lang, talaga."

Aangal pa sana siya ngunit hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataon.

"Huwag OA." I raised my hand for him to stop from his paranoia. "Hindi ko naman siya papakasalan eh. Chill, Krypt!"

"You had a crush on him." He muttered.

What is the big deal?! Ohmygad!

So, Ara was not the reason he was like that. It was because of me!