Oneirataxia: My Fictional Man

CHAPTER 41

Chapter Forty-one   (Pardon me. A bit longer than usual.)

"Uy, teka! Joke lang naman 'yun!" habol sa akin ni Zion nang tinalikuran ko na siya para bumalik na sa sasakyan ko.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at dere-deretso lang na naglakad habang napapairap sa sama ng loob. I didn't expect him to be so full of himself. He seemed so arrogant, perky, and rude! Mas mabuti pang uuwi na lang ako, ayokong mabahiran ng dumi ang ala-ala ko kay Benjamin lalo na't kamukha pa niya.

Bubuksan ko na sana ang pintuan ng sasakyan nang hawakan ako ni Zion sa palapulsuhan. I stiffened with the sudden contact. His hand felt rough against my delicate skin.

"Don't touch me, will you?" I pushed his hand away and glared at him furiously.

"Woah, feisty, hmm? I like that," banat niya at ngumisi na naman nang nakakaloko.

Pinanlisikan ko si Zion ng tingin pero hindi man lang siya natinag. Mas lalo pa niyang nilapit ang sarili sa akin at may pakagat-kagat pa sa labi habang nakadungo sa akin. My heart raced rigidly by our close distance. I took that as a chance to simply sniff his distinct and manly scent. It was suffocating that it made me step backward, looking back at him with eyes widening from shock.

"Shit, I'm sorry." He was surprised and a bit confused towering down at me. He seemed so clueless about what to do when he saw the bulging tears in my eyes.

Benjamin and Zion smell just the same, and it's making me so damn emotional, especially that the memories of my intimate moments with Benjamin had crossed my mind like raging waves. Oh goodness, I miss everything about him.

I had a claim before that maybe Chanel copied a real person in reference to Benjamin's appearance, but she clearly denied it to me.

"Did you feel harassed? Uncomfortable? I'm sorry, I wouldn't do it again." His tone and expression suddenly switched. Umatras siya ng ilang hakbang papalayo sa akin habang ang dalawang kamay ay nakaangat sa magkabilang gilid na tila sumusuko.

"Don't mind me, aalis na ako," mahina kong sabi at akmang bubuksan ulit ang pintuan ng sasakyan nang mabilis siyang lumapit ulit sa akin at hinawakan na naman ang braso ko.

"Please, stay." He's obviously demanding but the tone he used was weak and sorry.

"May gagawin pa ako, just let me go." I shoved his hand away and I finally able to open my car.

This time, he didn't stop me anymore, but his silence made me. With a frustrated look, I turned sideways to face him and saw something in his eyes that immediately faded seconds after.

Inangat ko na ang isang binti para sana'y papasok na sa loob ng kotse ko ngunit muli ko itong ibinaba sa lupa at napasinghap na lang sa inis. Inaamin kong naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil nababahala ako sa katahimikan niya.

That's what I clearly wanted--- to silence him so I can peacefully drive away, but I suddenly felt an unwanted emotion struck through me.

"What?" I snapped at him with piercing eyes.

"It's my grandparents' death anniversary, hindi mo ba ako sasamahan sa loob? You drove all the way here just to see me which I didn't have any idea why, but since you're already here, might as well accompany me, please?"

"Why me? Your grandparents didn't even know me," I replied, trying to make excuses.

"Why not you? You were the only person who looked at me with longing and affection two years ago. It weirded me out but the thought calmed me knowing there's still one person left who looked at me with no judgment."