Hope it's worth the wait, enjoy reading! :))
xo, Coco
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NINETEEN
"Oh please. Of course you heard me right, sadyang O.A. ka lang talaga." I folded my arms across my chest and I was about to roll my eyes at him kaso nagpigil ako. The look of utter disbelief written all over Key's face made me feel bad for not telling him any of this sooner. "Pwede ba, Keith Kato, don't be such a drama queen, hindi naman ako pumayag eh."
"You mean hindi pa?" He corrected. Key spoke so softly pero may weird, dark undertone pa din sa boses niya which made my stomach turn into knots. Darn. Tama siya eh, hindi ko naman kasi tinurn-down si Gray completely. I just told him that I needed more time to think, and that he'd support naman daw whatever my decision would be.
And geezus, 'yung issue kasi dito, hindi naman tungkol sa pagitan namin ni Graham, or is it between me and Key. It is just about me. My future. Plain and simple.
Kahit na pa hindi sumulpot out of the blue si Gray para yayain akong maglakbay at magsunog ng kilay sa England together, University of Cambridge will always be my first choice dahil doon nagtapos ang parents ko – as lawyers – so people around me expect na tatahakin ko ang kaparehong landas. And if I don't, well, that would kind of suck.
Frustrated, Key ran his hand over his dark hair while his eyes were fixed on me. "I'm not overreacting. Pero Prez..." he breathed between his distracting, slightly parted lips. Darn. "Am I really not allowed to keep you to myself and be selfish for once in my life?"
"Lagi na ka – ew, what?" I felt hot flashes trickle over my face so inikot ko ang ulo ko at an angle para hindi niya ito masaksihan. Guh. "Ayan ka nanaman sa jeje moves mo eh! It's not what you think," sinubukan kong palabasin 'yung pinaka-reassuring na boses na kaya ko. Kung kalian naman kasi na-demote na ang antas namin nitong si Keith Kato from 'Secret Lovers' to 'Medyo-Friends-With-Sexual-Tension', saka siya nagkakaganyan. He's acting more possessive than ever.
Yes, the sight of Gray after so long made me realize kung gaano ko na-miss ang hambog niyang pagmumukha, pero wala na, what I had for him was nothing more than a childish crush – dala lang ng stages of puberty 'yun.
"Ancient history na 'yung sa'min ni Graham. Extinct na. Wala nang maliwanag na kinabukasan, all right?" I flicked my wrist in a dismissive manner and I landed my hand sa door lever. "Okay na? Is your diva moment over? Sige, laters dude. I'm a little busy."
"Oh, not so fast. Pinagseselos mo ako, so I'm not yet done sulking." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na nasa door knob at hindi ako ikinatuwa na he subdued me so effortlessly. He held my upper arms, pinaikot niya ako, and he pressed my back against the door. Que horror!
"...is that bad, Prez?" Tanong niya in a low, melodic half-whisper. He moved so close to my face that I can feel his hair brushing against my ear. O-kay, this is awkward. Ay crap, hindi maaari, kailangan kong i-tuon ang attention ko elsewhere, ASAP. Kailangan ko ng liwanag ni Hesus.
Breathing became even more difficult nang medyo lumayo si Key mula sa mukha ko and his intense, penetrating gaze centered me once more. Eep.
Seconds lang ang itinagal ng aming stare fest at mabilis din namang naglaho ang kawalan-ng-oxygen feeling na ito because of an uninvited, high-pitched voice that I know too well – the one that never fails to flip my bitch switch. Tsss, babaeng 'to talaga, kahit kalian na lang eh. Scene stealer! Ito ba talaga ang layunin niya sa life? Ugh.
"KK! Can't we go home yet? I'm bored na eh, you're so tagal! KK?!" Dinig na dinig hanggang dito sa pantry ang malakas na hiyaw ni flour girl like she's some nagging wife na nagmamay-ari ng buong lupaing ito.
