Tenebrous Affection

Chapter Twenty-four

Tenebrous Affection
Chapter Twenty-four

Jico rested his chin on both of his palms. "If you are going to choose now, sino sa kanila?" He asked out of nowhere. I glared at him. Alam naman niyang napaka-sensitive na topic nito para sa'kin tapos itatanong pa niya.

"What?" He hissed. "Wala ka namang choice, Aya. Balang araw mamimili ka rin sa dalawa," sumbat pa nito sa'kin. I rested my head on the table para mag-isip. He has a point!

Narinig ko ang pagsimsim niya sa orange juice na inihapag kanina ni Nanay Lucy. "Yesterday, you chose Xyren. Paano na sa susunod?" Tanong niyang muli.

Mabibigat ang mga buntong hiningang pinakawalan ko bago siya muling tinitigan. "I don't know," mahinang sagot ko.

He suddenly flicked my forehead.

"Aray ha! Bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" I asked him, irritated.

"Naloloka kasi ako sa'yo. Puro ka nalang 'i don't know'. Ang tanda mo na Aya, you have to decide things quickly bago ka magsisi sa huli," mahabang paliwanag nito saka nag-dekwatro.

"And Ayumi, don't give me that reason na kaya gano'n ko kadali na sabihin 'yon kasi wala naman ako sa lugar mo but hey, damang dama kita. Ilang gabi rin akong puyat dahil sa kakaisip kung si Neon ba o Levi ang pipiliin ko," seryosong saad niya.

I knew it! Kahalayan na naman ang laman ng utak niya. I thought seseryosohin niya ang pag-uusap namin, pero sa simula lang pala.

Everything that he said was true. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata at dinamhan ang sariwang hangin na umiihip patungo samin. I tried to remember my College days with Xyren.

"Ano 'yang nginunguso mo, ha?" I asked him, with my eyebrows furrowed. Hindi ito sumagot, itinaas baba lang niya ang kanyang kilay habang ipinaglalapit ang aming mukha.

I moved my upper body backwards, "tumigil ka nga! Nasa cafeteria tayo, Xyren," paalala ko sa kanya dahil baka nakalimutan niya.

He pursed his lips and locked his eyes on mine. "Let them witness our love, baby," he beamed and paused. "Besides, wala nang magbabalak na agawin ka sa'kin if they saw us kissing."

I know because they will be frightened. Napaka-dominant and intimidating kasi niya. Is he even real? Like hello, he's just twenty for pete's sake!

Daig niya pa ang isang serial killer kung matakot sa kanya ang mga lalaki dito. Sa mga kababaihan naman, he was like a God na halos magsiyuko kapag dadaan na siya. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang matawa na kaagad din namang napalitan ng lungkot. I haven't told him that I'm leaving.

"Why me, Xyren?" It suddenly came out of my mouth.
I even gasped when I realized what I've asked.

Umayos ito ng upo, "what do you mean by that, young lass?" I gulped.

I cleared my voice and averted my eyes down the floor. "I-I mean, I'm clumsy, a crybaby, and not even that gorgeous to match you. So, why me?"