Rains of Darkness (Celebrity Series #2) [EDITING]

Darkness 26

Chapter 26

The Courting

I don't know what to feel after hearing the terrifying news from April and Jane. Pagdating ko sa bahay galing sa trabaho ay kaagad kong tinawagan si Ark. I didn't expect his decision... to be like that.

"Hello, baby..." he answered with deep voice. I can even sense him smiling.

Gabi na kaya alam kong pagod siya sa trabaho. For some reason, I feel happy that he could still take my phone calls. I know he's very busy.

"Ark," I called him.

"Yes, baby?"

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "You rejected Elvira's offer for being her escort?"

He went silent. Ayaw kong pangunahan ang desisyon niya pero gusto ko lang malaman kung bakit...

"Kahit sa paanyaya niyang maging bisita na lang sa exhibit at hindi na escort ay tinanggihan mo rin, 'di ba? Bakit? Hindi mo ba naisip ang nararamdaman niya?" I asked.

"Bakit ko iisipin ang nararamdaman niya? Hindi siya ang gusto ko..."

"Are you serious, Arreza?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Napapikit ako.

"How do you refused her?"

"Hindi ako pumunta."

"Without informing her?"

"May schedule din naman ako at sinabi ni Tito sa kanya kaya..."

"Wala kang palya sa lahat ng exhibit ni Elvira. Magtataka ang mga tao!"

"What do you want me to do, hm?" he asked softly. "I want to prove myself to you so I don't want to be involved with her anymore."

Natahimik ako. I told him to prove himself to me, yes, but I didn't expect it to be like this...

"Iniiwasan mo si Elvira para mapatunayan mo ang sarili mo sa akin? Is that it?"

"Hindi ko siya iniiwasan. I just refused to come. Gusto mo bang iwasan ko siya?"

"What? Of course not! Bakit mo siya iiwasan?"

He sighed heavily. I feel the frustration and tiredness of his breath.

"Then, tell me everything you want. I'll do it."

"Wala kang gagawin, Ark."

"Hindi ako lalapit sa kanya... kung hindi kailangan at kung hindi tungkol sa'yo. I don't want to get close with her. Dahil alam kong itutulak mo lang ako sa kanya."

Napasinghap ako. My heart was beating wildly.

"Ark... Sana nanood ka na lang. Elvira will be sad and I will feel guilty. Alam mong gusto ka niya."

"Pero ikaw ang gusto ko," he said making my heart skipped again. "Dapat ba pumunta ako? But if I'll come, that will stir up another rumors. I don't want you to misunderstand everything."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko at hindi na sumagot.

"How did you know about that news, anyway?" he asked.

"My friends were big fan of you. Naibalita kaya nalaman nilang hindi ka dumalo at pinag-usapan sa hub."

Gusto kong kausapin si Elvira. But I'm also afraid that she will not feel good if I reached out.

"Hmm... I know you're invited, too. Why you didn't watch her exhibit?" he asked.

"Nagtatrabaho kasi ako."

"I didn't see you even once in her exhibits."

"I don't like crowds."