Zodiacs (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

It's 4 pm and the sun has already disappeared behind the tall trees we drove past earlier. Nakaupo kami ngayon ni Thea sa damuhan at parehong nakatingin sa ilog na nasa aming harapan. Lihim akong sumulyap sa kanya. Hanggang ngayon ay mabigat pa rin ang dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi niya kanina. I haven't experienced being betrayed by someone I trust but I understand where she is coming from. She sounded really hurt when she told me about it and it's like I felt her pain as well.

"Are you still thinking about what I said?"

What is she? A mind reader?

I gave her a nod. "I'm sorry about what happened to you." I said sincerely.

Tumayo siya at naglakad papalapit sa akin. Pagkaupo niya sa tabi ko ay mahina niyang pinitik ang aking ilong.

"Stop thinking about it. I'm fine." she pinched both of my cheeks like she was trying to make me smile. "Right now I'm genuinely happy, and I have you to thank for that."

"What did I do?" I tried not to stutter.

"You're here with me." malambing na sabi niya bago nagpakawala ng isang nakakatunaw na ngiti.

Here goes my heart again, beating like crazy. I'm not dense. I have an idea on what's been happening to me for a long time now especially when we went to Westania, but I'm in denial. Until now, I still am. I mean, this can't be happening. Same reasons why I don't want to think that she's starting to like me for real. I can't like her because she's a slut who makes people fall in love with her and then leave them when she's done with them. It hasn't been that long since we met and we still don't know each other that well. Lastly, I'm already in love with someone else. I have Liam and I feel like I'm cheating on him by just having these thoughts. I love him, I'm sure of that... before. But now, I'm so confused.

If I'm really starting to like Thea, the only explanation I can think of why this is happening is that she really did use a love potion on me. Her magical flower than can heal wounds faster is real so it's possible that a love potion is too. Damn, I sound crazy.

"It scares me when you're being so quiet." halakhak ni Thea. Para akong naestatwa sa kinauupuan ko nang bigla niyang isinandal sa balikat ko ang kanyang ulo. "See that mountain over there?" turo niya sa napakataas na bundok sa likod ng malaking talon na nakita ko kanina.

Parang nawala ng parang bula ang mga iniisip ko kanina at ang tanging laman ng utak ko ngayon ay ang ulo niyang nakasandal sa aking balikat. Naghuhuramentado na ang buong sistema ko ngayon pero pilit kong kinalma ang sarili ko. Hindi ko inasahan ang ginawa niya.

"Mmm." I hummed and nodded.

"That's where the water from Stella River is coming from. The water flows stronger at this time because the winter just ended. Melted water is pouring down." paliwanag niya.

Wait, what? I've been staring at the river for I don't know how long but it never occurred to me that it's part of the Stella River. I mean, it's narrower than the one in Berlint, I think half of its width. I was left in awe. Simula bata ako ay paborito kong naliligo sa ilog na ito. Mas mababaw lang ang parte ng ilog sa Fiorre at mas kalmado ang agos ng tubig kumpara dito sa Avlyrra.

"Wow." iyan lang ang tanging lumabas sa aking bibig.

"Why do I feel like you're mad at me?" pareklamong tanong niya bago tinanggal ang pagkakasandal sa akin. "Are you mad at me?" tanong niya ulit at pilit akong ipinaharap sa kanya.

"Of course not. Maybe I'm just tired." tipid akong ngumiti.

Hinding hindi ko aaminin na nababagabag ako sa kung ano man itong sa tingin ko ay nararamdaman ko para sa kanya. Should I start avoiding her? I don't think that's a good idea considering we still need to finish our project and we will need to spend even more time together. Maybe I'll just wait for this semester to end. I plan to fail all my exams in the finals so I can finally go home. After that, I'd forget about my stupid budding feelings for her. Everything will go back to normal. Yes that's it. That's the plan.