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XV - Understand
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Lumabas ako sa function hall para magpahangin sa veranda nito. The forum has a thirty-minute break before the next round of questions so everyone got up from their seats and went wherever they have or want to.
I just stared at nothing in particular. My eyes are on the garden below but my thoughts are in another scenario.
Narinig kong may lumabas rin. Sa salita pa lang ay nakilala ko na ang boses.
"They're just like us when we were in senior high," Celis said and chuckled.
"Maingay," si Jeroboam at tumawa rin.
Malawak naman ang veranda pero sa mga oras na ito mukhang masikip para sa akin.
I decided to just get inside again. I turned to face the entrance but also at the exact time that Deuel went to me.
Hinila niya ako papunta sa dating pwesto. Nakita niya sina Celis at Jeroboam na medyo malapit sa kinaroroonan namin.
"Nakakaistorbo tayo," bulong ko sa kanya pero hindi siya natinag.
"Ate Celis, pa-share ng spot ah," makapal na sabi ni Deuel.
"Oh hey!" si Celis. Napabaling ako sa kanya at nakitang nakatingin silang dalawa ni Jeroboam sa amin.
Lumapit si Celis sa amin at sinundan naman siya ni Jeroboam.
"I was actually looking for you kanina," sabi ni Celis. "I have something pressing to ask you about."
Napatingin tuloy ako kay Deuel. Magkakilala pala sila?
"What is it, Ate?"
Celis looked at me and smiled. Hindi ako makangiti pabalik. "Can I borrow your boyfriend for a while?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"We're not together."
Magkasabay kami ni Deuel sa pagsasalita. Natawa nalang si Celis. I made a quick glance at Jeroboam and he was only serious looking at us.
"If you say so," sabi ni Celis bago bumaling muli sa akin. "You can talk with future attorney while I talk with your friend then."
Bago pa ako makaangal ay lumayo sila sa amin ni Jeroboam.
I just sighed before turning my attention back at Jeroboam. His hands were placed on the veranda's railing, his eyes looking at the garden below.
I gulped. Hindi ko alam kung makikipag-usap ba ako sa kanya o aalis nalang.
Ayaw ko namang magmukhang bastos kung bigla nalang akong aalis. I sighed deeply and tried to calm myself down.
Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita.
"Papasok na – "
"How come?" he asked, cutting me off.
I bit my lower lip. Nakatuon pa rin ang pansin niya sa hardin.
"Uhm, what do you mean?" mahinang tanong ko pabalik dahil hindi ko naintindihan iyong tanong niya.
"I thought you moved to Italy," he said.
"Uh...Hindi ako natuloy," sagot ko.
"Obviously," I heard him mumble.
Napapikit ako. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba iyong tono niya o normal lang.
CITEȘTI
Athaliah's Redemption (Ortega Series 1)
Ficțiune generalăAthaliah Margruite has never been in love before. Multiple crushes, yes. But love? It's a different field she has yet to explore. Jeroboam Danius Mercado comes in the picture. It was not a one-time connection but a series of events that made her eve...
