The Engineer (Batchelor Series #2)

27

It was a quiet evening, the kind where the world feels heavy, like the air before a storm. I sat on my bed, the soft glow of my desk lamp casting shadows over my textbooks. I had promised myself I’d focus on schoolwork, bury myself in assignments, but no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept wandering—sa mga bagay na pilit kong iniiwasan. The whispers at school. The rumors. And most of all, si Renz.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at isinara ang libro. I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated. I kept telling myself that avoiding him was the right thing to do. Pero may mga gabi, tulad nito, na naririnig ko pa rin yung tawa niya sa utak ko. His laugh echoed in my mind, reminding me of everything we shared.

Suddenly, may narinig akong malalakas na yabag sa labas. Kasabay noon, a familiar voice rang out, loud and slurred.

“Drakon!”

My heart skipped a beat. I froze. Kilala ko yung boses na ‘yon—si Renz. My pulse quickened, a mix of dread and anticipation building in my chest. I hurried to the window and peeked through the curtains.

There he was, leaning against the gate, swaying slightly, a bottle in his hand. His disheveled appearance sent a wave of conflicting emotions through me. Sa isang iglap, bumalik lahat ng alaala—ang mga tawanan, ang mga away, at ang halik na nagpabago sa lahat. But all I wanted in that moment was to retreat, to disappear.

But then, he looked up. Our eyes met, and I saw the desperation in his gaze. “Drakon! Please, open the door!” His voice cracked, pleading.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” I called out, trying to sound firm, pero ramdam ko ang panginginig sa boses ko.

“Please! Kailangan kita kausapin!” he shouted, his words slurred, but his tone urgent. “I’m sorry! Just let me in!”

I hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one else could see this. The last thing I needed was more gossip, pero may kung anong humihila sa akin pabalik sa kanya. With a deep breath, I opened the door, just a crack.

“Renz, lasing ka,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “You shouldn’t be here.”

He stumbled forward, his eyes full of pain. “Alam ko… pero kailangan talaga kitang kausapin. I messed up. Please, just let me explain.”

For a moment, I didn’t move. The weight of the past few weeks hung between us like a thick fog. “Fine,” I muttered, opening the door a little wider. “But make it quick.”

He stumbled inside, and the moment he did, the air felt heavier. His scent—mixed with alcohol—filled the room, and I felt the tension coiling inside me. He looked at me, his eyes glassy but sincere.

“Drakon,” he said softly, his voice filled with regret. “I’m so sorry. Hindi ko sinasadyang saktan ka. I just didn’t know how to handle everything.”

“Really?” I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. “And you think showing up drunk is going to fix it?”

He winced, guilt flashing across his face. “No, but I didn’t know what else to do. Hindi ko na kaya, Drakon. I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you… I miss us.”

I felt my chest tighten, his words hitting harder than I expected. I wanted to believe him, pero may galit pa rin sa loob ko. “You made it clear what you wanted, Renz. I thought we were done.”

“No!” His voice cracked, and he took a step closer. “Hindi ko ‘yon gusto. I’ve been a mess without you. I just… I was scared, okay? Scared of what people would say, scared of what this would mean for us. Pero… hindi ko kayang mawala ka.”

I swallowed, trying to hold back the flood of emotions rising in my throat. “And what about the rumors, Renz? Do you think I want to be at the center of all that? I can’t just ignore it.”

“I don’t care about the rumors!” He took another step toward me, his expression raw and vulnerable. “Ang mahalaga sa akin, ikaw. I love you, Drakon. I’ve loved you for a long time, and I can’t just let you go.”

His words left me stunned, my heart racing. I wanted to let my guard down, to believe that things could be that simple, pero natatakot pa rin ako. “You’re drunk,” I muttered, turning my head.

“Maybe,” he admitted, his eyes locking with mine. “But it doesn’t change how I feel. Alam kong gulo lahat ngayon, but I can’t lose you without a fight.”

I bit my lip, torn between the fear gnawing at me and the warmth of his confession. “Renz…”

Before I could say more, he closed the distance between us. His hands gently gripped my arms, his touch warm and familiar. His eyes searched mine, pleading silently, and then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed me.

The world blurred as his lips met mine—soft, desperate, full of longing. My heart raced, and despite the storm inside me, I found myself kissing him back, wrapping my arms around him as the weight of everything else melted away.

But then, reality snapped back, and I pulled away, breathless. “We can’t,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Not like this.”

Renz’s face fell, his eyes filled with confusion and hurt. “Drakon, please. Just listen—”

“No.” I stepped back, the fear creeping in again. “I can’t do this, Renz. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto ko. I’m scared… scared of what this means for us, scared of what people will think.”

“You think it’s easy for me too?” he asked, his voice breaking. “It’s not. But what matters is how we feel. What we have. I’m willing to fight for that, kahit ano pa ang sabihin nila.”

I shook my head, my voice trembling. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Then I’ll be strong for both of us.”

I stood there, watching as he turned and walked away, the weight of my decision crashing down on me. As the door closed behind him, I felt my heart crumble, leaving me alone with nothing but the echo of his kiss lingering on my lips.