Tamed [GL] (Cambridge Series #1)

Chapter 13 - Drive Me Crazy

TAMED XIII - DRIVE ME CRAZY.

SHE gave me a cold look and shoved my shoulders, making it clear that she wasn't buying what I was selling. I shut my eyes tight against the pain. This is her response, and it's as straightforward as it can be.

She rejected me.

Nanghihina ako.

Na para bang mawawalan ako ng malay ano mang minuto.

She made me feel like I committed the worst thing ever and what it's like to be rejected. I was so disgusted with myself for what I did. Maybe she felt the same way with me and even more disgusted. I meant, who likes getting kissed without their consent? If someone tried that on me, I'd give them a good smack.

"Stupid, Zam, stupid," pagalit kong bulong sa sarili. Tinahak ko ang daan palabas ng pintuan only to get halted when she grabbed my arm and pulled me along.

"Zamantha. . ." She wiped my tears away with her bare hand as she whispered an apology, all the guilt in her eyes visible.

It's getting harder to look at her beautiful face without wanting to kiss her again. And if I were a man, I wouldn't mind kissing her everyday. Then, in a hushed voice, she returned the half-heart token I had given her. "Take it back."

Tumango-tango lang ako at tinanggap iyon. Ano bang pumasok sa kokote ko at ginawa ko 'yun? I was just guilty, right? I am still guilty.

Suot pa niya 'yung mask, gusto ko siyang makita nang ganito kalapit, kahit ngayon lang dahil alam kong bukas, magbabago na ang lahat. "Can I see you face?"

She closed her eyes enough to let me know it's okay. Itinaas ko nang dahan-dahan ang isang kamay ko and slowly removed her mask, hinayaan niya naman akong gawin iyon. Tumambad sa akin ang napakaganda niyang mukha. Ang mamangha sa kanya, bagay na walang araw na hindi ko nagagawa.

Pinsan talaga ni Brent 'to?

"You're beautiful," malumanany kong bulong sa kanya. Gusto ko mang haplusun ang mukha niya pero pakiramdam ko, para siyang isang salamin na kapag pinagpilitan kong hawakan gamit ang malamig kong kamay ay magkakalamo. Mababasag, nakakasugat.

"M-mauna na po ako."

She silenced me by pressing her index finger against my lips. "Don't talk, stop it."

Right before I passed out and everything went dark, I caught her final words.

"Do not quit the play Zamantha."

***

FOR the first time in a long while, I woke up moments before my alarm clock went on, and I was wondering why I hadn't heard the usual loud noises from the neighbors. I usually spring out of bed when I wake up, but today my body is telling me to stay put and enjoy a few more minutes of rest.

Siguro ay dala lang ito ng nakakahabag na panaginip ko kanina. Iyak daw ako nang iyak kagabi pagkatapos ng event, and worst pati si Professor Sandoval ay hinalikan ko. Muntanga naman. Ba't ko naman 'yon gagawin?

Sa dinami-dami ng pwedeng halikan sa panaginip, jusko ba't babae pa? She should've have slapped me from that dream, I deserve it.

As I nestled into my pillow and breathed in the soothing scent of lavender, the dream that I had hoped was a bittersweet illusion turned out to be truth.

Mabilis akong napabalikwas ng bangon nang makaramdam ako ng lamig. May mali.

Kailan pa kami nagpakabit ng aircon?

Queen size ang kama, pink and white ang motif ng buong kwarto. I rushed to the bathroom and started washing my face. Hilamos lang ako nang hilamos hangga't sa unti-uning nabuo sa isip ko ang buong kwento kung bakit ako nasa kwarto ngayon ni Professor Sandoval. Nakakahiya! Na-recall ko na ang buong pangyayari, iyong panaginip na kanina ay tinatawanan ko ngayon ay pawang katotohanan pala.