Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Czarina, totoo bang wala na kayo ni Max?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa sketchpad at sinalubong ang ngisi ni Kristoff. Sa likod niya ay an dalawa niyang kaibigan na laging kasama, nakaabang din sa sagot ko.

I felt annoyed for invading my privacy, but I didn't show it to my face. Instead, I smiled sensually at the three boys.

"Oo. Bakit?"

"Talaga? Break na kayo?" he laughed. "Akala namin di ka na pakakawalan ni Max tapos... biglang break na kayo!"

Shrugging, I went back to what I was sketching. Kanina pa ako dito sa ledgers, hinihintay si Sorcha. It was the same ledgers that the Treverons used yesterday with their jamming session. Ngayong araw nga lang, halos wala sila. There are some college boys playing a friendly basketball game with the high schoolers in front of us. Medyo maingay pero hindi ko yun alintana at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.

"Single ka na ulit, Czarina?"

I rolled my eyes. Asking the obvious. Duh!

Instead of being offended, Kristoff just laughed and advanced towards me. "Ngayong single ka na, siguro naman pwede ka na naming yayain sa party?"

"What party?"

"Uh... wala lang. Sa bahay. Tayo-tayo lang..." malaki ang ngisi niya.

Irritated, I shut my sketchbook and stared at him. "Really?" I said slowly.

"Oo! Tsaka, kasama silang dalawa... syempre."

Do these guys think I'm stupid?

"I—"

"She's not coming."

Nanatiling nakaawang ang bibig ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na baritonong boses. Bigla nalang lumitaw si Rigor sa likuran nina Kristoff, matalim ang tingin at halatang iritado. Did he heard what we were talking about? I quickly shut my mouth and clenched my fists in my lap. Kung kailan ko siya iniiwasan, ngayon pa talaga siya magpapakita?

"Uy, ikaw pala, Rigs..."

"Don't call me Rigs. Di kita kaibigan." Malamig niyang wika saka binalingan ako. "And stop bothering her. She's not coming with you."

Namuo ang galit sa mga mata ni Kristoff nang mapahiya sa harap ng mga kaibigan. He took a step forward and gave Rigor a once-over.

"Ano, sa tingin mo dahil senior ka, hindi kita papatulan?" maangas niyang wika. "Ang yabang mo, ah?"

Rigor ignored him and turned to me. Kaagad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Umalis na nga kayo, Kristoff. Ang gugulo niyo, eh." Ani ko.

Kristoff glanced angrily at me, muttered something under his breath, and then walked away with two of his friends.

Ilang segundo rin kaming tahimik ni Rigor nang sa wakas ay mawala na sila. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin kaya nagkunwari akong binuksan ulit ang sketchpad habang mahigpit ang hawak sa lapis, hindi naman alam kung anong karugtong ng iguguhit.

"You didn't answer me last night."

I froze. The tip of my pencil is crushing against the rough paper with the pressure brought by my hand. Nag-isip kaagad ako ng isasagot pero talagang wala akong maidahilan! I texted him, he called me, and I, the most idiot of all, didn't speak anything! Pinatayan ko siya ng tawag!

"Uhm..."

"May problema ba?" bahagya niya akong nilingon upang usisain. I bit my lower lip and looked away. Had I known that I'm going to see him today, I should've worn something more appropriate... hindi itong red off shoulder at skinny jeans na tila ba nang-aakit. I remembered Sorcha mentioned once that Rigor likes his girls consevative and shy. Iyong mga mahinhin at hindi makabasag pinggan...