The Devil's Trap

Chapter 21: Missing

Chapter 21: Missing

It's been days. Two freakin days since I woke up in Landon's bed, with a hangover, and wearing one of his t-shirt. Imagine how freaked out I was that morning.

Pero hanggang ngayon hindi parin malinaw sa akin ang mga nangyari. My memories of the night in the resort was hazy. At hindi nakatulong na agad akong umalis sa kwarto pag-gising ko bago pa magising si Landon sa aking tabi.

I remember bits of it. Crying in the hallway, throwing up on Landon's shirt, laughing and crying at the same time. His rough kisses. The burning sensation of his hands as it roamed my body. God, I was crazy.

Naiuntog ko ang aking ulo sa mesa habang umiinom ng kape. Liquor is my greatest enemy. I hate being reckless and out of control, specially in front of Landon.

Nagmadali akong kumain ng breakfast which consist of a single slice of bread and a coffee with too much water. Today is the 24th. I need to get my grading card from the university.

Mangilan'ngilan ang makikitang estudyante sa campus. Some are still on their vacations. Others paused their luxurious travels to get their grades.

Nakita ko sina Clomil pagpasok ko sa department building ng Fine Arts. Daniela looks like she had a tan. Mukhang kagagaling lang nila sa beach trip.

Nakita ako ni Clomil. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking pala-pulsuan. Maayos na ito matapos ng nangyari gulo sa gym a week ago. Lumapit siya sa akin nang hindi napapansin nina Daniela at Justin.

"Okay na ba ang wrist mo?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako at pinakita ito sa kanya bilang patunay. "It's healed."

"I'm sorry about what happened, and thank you for saving me, Denise." She does resembles Elyse.

I smiled. "It's fine, Clomil."

Napansin ko na hinahanap na nina Daniela si Clomil.

"Bumalik ka na. Hinahanap ka na nila."

Nagdalawang isip si Clomil. She frowned as if trying to sort out what she has to say. Ngunit kalaunan wala siyang nagawa kundi ang bumalik sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

I prefer to distant myself with their crowd. Yes, I sort of miss their noise that collides with my eerily silent life. But once they realized how messed up my life is, sila na mismo ang lalayo. To be avoided is more painful than pushing some one else away.

Matapos kong kunin ang aking card ay agad akong lumabas ng building. Ilan sa mga blockmates ko ay hindi mapigilang mapa-tingin sa akin. Yes, I was the girl who fainted at the gym. Big deal. But it was indeed a big deal specially if there's a Landon Monaghan atached to the incident. Every woman linked to him somehow develops an image of a slut. At hindi ko gusto ang mga tingin na nakukuha ko lalo na mula sa mga blockmates kong lalake.

Paalis na ako sa campus nang isang familiar na itim na sasakyan ang dumaan sa aking harapan. My heart skipped a beat. Landon's been occupying my mind these past few days, and it made me developed a strange reaction towards him. Gusto kong umiwas. But I also wanted to know what happened that night.

Bumaba si Landon matapos huminto ng sasakyan sa parking lot. Balak ko siyang puntahan. I was about to take a step towards him, when a woman, wearing a pretty yellow sun dress greeted him with a kiss. I stared at my own shabby pants and t-shirt. And that's when I realized something. Nothing happened that night. He... must have been disgusted in the first place.

I was quite relieved with the realization. But the fact that Landon continues with his favorite past time as if that night hadn't messed me up for how many days made me hate him... no, I loathed myself more for allowing him to occupy my mind.