Tenebrous Affection

Chapter Thirty

Tenebrous Affection
Chapter Thirty

"Ana, we're leaving!" Dumagundong ang makisig na boses ni Avan hanggang sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay niya.

He decided to take me to a date, saying we need to unwind. Of course, I agreed. Kaya heto ako ngayon nag-a-apply ng concealer sa ilalim ng mata dahil litaw na litaw ang eyebags ko.

After applying a lip balm, kaagad akong bumaba. Naabutan kong nag-uusap si Avan at Clovis and they both look serious. They seemed closed.

I cleared my voice to get their attention, "tara na?"

Avan's wearing a white polo that was folded up to his elbows and paired it with fitted black jeans. He's wearing glasses too. Looking fancy, huh? Medyo nahiya ako dahil simpleng nude t-shirt at ripped jeans lang ang suot ko.

Do I need to change them into dresses?

"Ana," pagtawag pansin niya sa'kin. "You look beautiful, okay? You are always be beautiful to me."

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. Kinikilig ba ako?

"Now, let's go?" He asked sabay lahad ng kamay niya. Ilang segundo ko iyong tinitigan bago tuluyang kunin.

We sat at the passenger compartment of the car. Clovis was driving. Hindi ko alam na driver niya rin ito. Baka naman cook at taga-linis niya rin?

"Uhm, can I ask something?" Panimula ko. Ayokong tumahimik nalang at hayaang matuyo ang laway ko buong biyahe.

He stopped typing from his phone to give me a soft look. "Sure, you can," he responded.

"H-how did you know it was Xyren?" I asked him, stuttering.

He hid his phone from his pocket and sighed, "why did you suddenly ask?"

I pursed my lips and collected all my thoughts. "I just want to know the exact details. Ayoko ng ganito na wala akong alam," I replied. "Do you have any evidence?"

Pain flashed through his eyes. I know this is hard for him pero kailangan ko talagang malaman. Hindi ako pinapatahimik ng kalooban ko.

Iginiya niya ang tingin sa labas, "there's a witness."

"W-who is the witness? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.

Tumawa ito ng pagak, "A-ana even if I want to tell you, I can't... because I'm scared, okay?"

"Scared of what?" I asked him, with my brows furrowed.

"Isn't it obvious? Takot ako kay Xyren. Every time na nakikita kita, he's always at your side," he wept. "He's just out of my league."

Marahan akong napayuko. Hindi ko alam na gano'n siya katakot kay Xyren. I mean, hindi naman siya ganito noon. He was brave and... I heaved a breath. He was definitely traumatized after the incident, Aya.

"S-sorry," bulong ko. "It must've been hard for you." Hindi na ito nagsalita pa. We remained silent.

He must be tired of me for always saying sorry. What change will it do? Wala. Idagdag pa na wala ako sa tabi niya noong nahihirapan siya plus... me living with the same house to the man who almost killed him. I am so cruel.