Avenues of the Diamond (University Series #4)

13

"I was already planning to pack my things when I saw you."

I sat down on the floor after getting my luggage bag, putting all my things inside. Clyden was busy looking around my unit until he went back inside my bedroom. He looked a little fascinated by the pastel design. It described me. Ganito rin naman sa kwarto ko sa bahay, ah. Bakit mukhang namamangha siya?

"And I came here to convince you." Clyden carefully sat down on the mini couch inside my bedroom. He looked so uncomfortable while looking around. "I want you back, Maureen. In the house."

"I also want to go back," I whispered. "Everything's not the same without you. Sounds so cheesy and corny, right? Ew, why did I even say that?"

He let out a small laugh before standing up to help me get some of my things. Tinulungan niya 'kong mag-impake ulit at since hindi naman marami ang dinala ko papunta rito, kaunti lang din ang kinailangan kong dalhin.

"So saan ka galing?" he asked while closing the luggage.

I suddenly stopped walking, holding some of my skincare products in my arms. They almost fell when he caught me off-guard with the question. How should I say it?! I came from a date with another man, and then I came back, asking him to date me. I would sound like a player.

"I ate dinner," I simply said, putting my skincare products inside the paper bag. I couldn't even look at him.

"With?" he asked again. God, can he please just stop asking? I ate dinner! 'Yon na 'yon! I also didn't want to lie because I knew it would just make things worse, so I decided to change the topic.

"Kanina ka pa ba naghihintay sa labas ng condo ko?" I asked him back, refusing to answer his question.

"Maybe," sagot niya pagkatapos hatakin patayo ang maleta ko. He looked at me again, and his brows furrowed when he noticed my awkward reaction. Maybe I looked guilty. "I had a hard time in the lobby. Good thing Kalix was there to pick me up."

"Oh, right. He lives here, too." I nodded. He finally forgot about his question. Thank God.

"Sino'ng kasama mo mag-dinner?"

Oh, damn. Just when I thought that he already forgot about it, nagtanong siya ulit! He just couldn't let it pass, huh? I forgot that this med student was so good with memorization. I remembered how he memorized my phone number in just a few seconds. Mukhang hindi siya titigil hangga't hindi nasasagot ang tanong niya.

"I was with a friend." I kept stalling. Binuhat ko na ang paper bag at naglakad palabas ng kwarto. He followed me from behind.

"I asked who," he sarcastically said. I could now hear the annoyance in his voice.

"Lewis," I answered in all honesty. "He's Adi's friend. Football player."

"Kayo lang dalawa?"

Ugh! He kept on asking unecessary questions! Hindi pa ba enough 'yong sinagot ko na ang name? Okay, maybe guilty lang talaga ako kaya naiinis ako. Hindi ko masagot nang maayos. I couldn't even lie to him.

"Yes," I answered, pulling the luggage with me. "Let's go. I'm taking my car, and you take yours. Let's see each other in the house." I changed the topic again.

"So it was a date, huh?" He still couldn't let it go!

"Maybe it was, but I bailed, okay? Come on. It's already getting late, so traffic na." I tried to open the door so we could leave the unit, but he pushed the door back with his other hand, creating a loud slam noise. I bit my lower lip, avoiding his eyes.