This is How We End (Published under Pop Fiction)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

This might've been the first time I saw Leviticus in an all-white uniform. The guy had always been neat and prim. With his military cut and milky complexion, he might as well represent every woman's fantasy of a good boy.

Nag-aalangan akong lumapit. Sinulyapan ko ang sarili sa salamin na nakasabit sa dulong bahagi ng kulay abong pader. I tugged on my hijab and took a deep breath. Levi is stirring his coffee silently. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa babaeng katabi niya. Malaki ang ngisi at niyugyog pa si Levi. He turned to her, cracked a lazy half-smile, and shook his head. The girl pouted.

Sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. The cranky Levi is actually letting a girl tease him. Kung si Zoey pa ito o ang kaniyang kuya, malamang ay nagtatalo na sila ngayon. It warms my heart seeing how laidback and carefree he is with this girl I'm about to meet.

I waded through the tables until I reached their booth. Nang mag-angat ng tingin si Levi at nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ay isang palakaibigang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi niya. The girl stopped poking him and went silent when she saw me.

"Levi." I nodded at him and smiled at the girl. She flushed. Cute.

"Ate Naia, thanks for seeing me..." Levi stood and pulled me into a brief hug. Tumayo din iyong kasama niyang babae at nginitian ako. Levi turned to her. "This is Constance. Tancy, this is Parvana Naia Bukhari, my brother's.... girlfriend." Aniya na hindi tinatanggal ang tingin sa babaeng kasama.

Bahagyang ngumuso si Constance. Iniabot niya ang kaniyang kamay sa akin at nginitian ako. "So, you're the infamous girlfriend, huh?" she muttered before grinning widely. "Nice to finally meet you!"

"Thank you..."

Biglang nagdilim ang mukha ni Levi as he gestured me towards my seat. "My brother's not coming today, right?" he muttered.

Kumurap ako. "Uhm, no."

"He better not." I heard him whisper under his breath. Constance glared and jabbed him at the ribs using her elbows. Mas lalo pang sumimangot si Levi. Gusto ko sanang tanungin kung may problema ba kung nandito si Zeus pero hindi na ako umimik pa. Mukhang nabasa ata ni Constance ang nasa isip ko dahil siya na mismo ang sumagot.

"Gusto ko kasi noon ang kuya niya..." she supplied. "Kaya parang bata na nagseselos ang isang 'to..."

"Tss."

"But don't worry!" she quickly filled in. "Hindi ko na siya gusto. Noon lang yun. Baka bigla mo akong awayin eh..." tawa pa niya.

I laughed softly, too. "No, I wouldn't do that."

Nang makaupo na ako nang maayos ay doon pa lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong matitigan siya nang mabutihan. She has a doll-like face, angelic and soft. I'm a few inches taller than her. Mukhang malambot ang hanggang baywang niyang buhok at palakaibigan ang mga mata. She has a small mole at her chin and plump cupid-arrow's lips. Her heavy-lidded almond eyes are bright and filled with charm. She looks like Meadow Walker to me. A black-haired version of her.

And she's curvy, too... she has flesh on all the right places to compensate for her shorter height. Napailing ako nang bigla kong ikinumpara ang katawan sa kaniya. She probably spends some of her time at the gym or she's just really blessed with good genetics.

"Alam mo, I have a Muslim friend before..."

And even her voice is soft, too. Masarap pakinggan at tama lang ang lakas. She smells seductively of strawberry.

"Really?"

"Yes! She's a college friend. We were close despite our differences but then she moved and I lost contact with her." A sad look crossed her pretty face in a heartbeat before it glowed again with happiness. "But I've never really forgotten her. Every now and then, pinagdadasal ko na sana makasalubong ko siya sa daan."