This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya nang ilang segundo, hindi alam kung anong sasabihin. His words rang inside of my head and caused me to feel a little dizzy.

"Gusto mong maging Muslim...?"

Tumitig siya pabalik sa akin. Gumalaw nang konti. The shadow dancing on his features moved a bit as he raked his fingers through his messy disarray of raven hair.

"Yeah..." tamad niyang sagot.

"Bakit?" halos malunok ko na ang dila ko. I'm not even sure if he heard it. Sobrang hina ng boses ko.

A ghost of sinister smile touched his lips, as if he discovered something amusing. Idagdag mo pa na naiintimidate ako sa sobrang tangkad niya. Zeus looks like he's about to do something evil and get away with it because he knows how powerful he is.

At least to me.

Ganun ang pakiramdam ko sa kaniya. Sa tuwing nagtatama ang mga mata namin at hinahawakan niya ang titig ko, hindi hinahayaang bumitaw. Zeus Ferrer and his advances. Any girl would melt at his touch, there's no doubt about it.

"Well, let's just say I want to marry pretty Muslim girls..." he chuckled sexily.

Nawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko. My face automatically fell with what he said. I pursed my lips and then stepped back from him.

"It's not a good joke." I said in a lethal tone. It surprised me how my tone immediately reflected on how angry I am right now. My blood automatically boiled.

Nawala ang ngisi sa mukha niya at medyo napalitan ng pagkagulat at pagkalito ang rumehistro sa mga mata nito.

"Bakit—"

"I am offended, Zeus." I said sharply, glaring at him. "If you think you could become a Muslim convert just to marry pretty Muslim girls... then you have an unhealthy mindset."

"Hey, Naia, I'm just joking..." bahagya siyang namutla nang makita kung gaano ako ka-seryoso.

"As I've said, it's not a good joke." I said again. "Uuwi na ako. Have a good evening, Zeus."

"Naia!"

Inignora ko siya at mabilis na naglakad palayo. My lips trembled. Anumang segundo ay maiiyak na ako.

"Shit," I heard him cursed under his breath.

Binilisan ko pa lalo ang paglalakad ko at pinara ang unang tricycle na nakita. Halos patakbo ko pa itong sinalubong para lang hindi ako maabutan ni Zeus.

I'm glad he didn't chase after me, though. Bagsak ang mga balikat nitong nakatingin sa akin at sising-sisi ang mukha. I caught him pulling his hair out of frustration and kicking the lamppost when the tricycle moved.

Iniwas ko ang tingin ko.

How could he say that to me?

He wants to be a Muslim convert to satisfy his carnal desires? That's way too much! I would've been really glad if he'd told me that he fell in love with Islam, and he wants to serve Allah for the rest of his life. I would've liked him more if he openly accepts the Islamic faith to enter his heart.

But no.

Pagak akong natawa. Zeus is no different from other hormonal-driven teenage guys. Why am I even surprised? He's got the looks of a bad boy after all, and he acts like one.

Umuwi ako sa bahay na mabigat ang puso. I really like him, though. But him, mocking my religion, is not something I could easily forgive and forget. It pisses me to no end and it fears me that thoughts of harming his handsome face entered my mind. That joke of him gave birth to my newfound friend, anger.