The Art of War

[9] Fourth Year (Part III)

FOURTH YEAR - PART III

Is this a date? This couldn't be a fucking date.

Paulit-ulit na binagabag si Laurie ng mga katagang ito habang nakatayo siya sa may counter. Annoyed, his gaze passed sideways over the muffins, the cookies, the pastries, the other meager food offerings on display, and finally, to Aria. Geezus, it was crazy and so very pathetic, but he couldn't fucking help it.

He ogled the young woman as she flipped through her book and took a sip of her coffee, almost gracefully, in her seat. Mahigit isang oras na rin silang nandito, bukod pa 'yan sa oras na pinagsamahan nila kanina sa museum.

This kind of feels like a date.

Fuck.

There was a strange sort of pull in his chest as he watched her. Bakit niya ginawa 'yun? Why the sudden tightening in his throat at the mere sight of her? Bakit siya nagkakaganito?

It's just the hormones, he reassured himself. It's just the moment. Nahihibang lang siya't nadala ng lecheng atmosphere ng museum, ng café, at ng isang magandang babae. Because that was all Aria was, really. Just a pretty girl. Huh, ang dami pa kayang nagkalat na mas magagandang mga babae d'yan! Fine, she was also insanely smart, yes, but there were other smart girls!

Except...

"Shut up," Laurie voiced out loud in his attempt to banish his stupid, useless, teenage, hormonal thoughts. Naisip niya na kung sasabihin niya ito ng malakas ay magiging mas mabisa ito para lunurin ang bwisit niyang mga —

"Ano po 'yun, Sir?"

Niliko ni Laurie ang tingin niya at natagpuan ang medyo-litong itsura ng barista sa kabilang bahagi ng counter, nakakunot-noo't nakatitig ito sa kanya. He also noticed the growing pile of impatient-looking people next to him. He'd been holding up the line.

Fucking hormones.

---

Lawrence reappeared at the side of their table, placing a cup of coffee in front of her. Kanina bago tumayo ang binata ay tinanong niya siya kung meron ba siyang gustong orderin.

"Another coffee would be nice," she'd answered, and it wasn't until he'd already risen out of his chair and moved to the counter that she'd realized she hadn't given him any money for it.

Kaya naman bago pa bumalik si Laurie sa puwesto nila ay abangers na si Aria't nakalabas na ang kanyang wallet mula sa bag niya, ready to fight.

"Heto pala —"

Mabilis na sinara ng isang kamay ni Laurie ang wallet niya, and the snap button's click seemed to echo in Aria's head. Lumanding ang kamay ng binata sa taas ng kanya, hindi niya maintindihan, pero may 'di maipaliwanag na pakiramdam sa parte ng balat niya na nahawakan ni Laurie... she was also caught off guard by the sudden heat rising to her face.

"Don't worry about it." His voice sent a shiver through her body, amplified by their slight contact. Madaling hinatak ni Aria ang kanyang wallet pabalik sa kanya saka siya nagpaka-busy sa pagsusuksok nito papasok sa bag niya.

"Salamat," wika niya, halos mapangiwi pa siya dahil sa medyo pabebe-levels na tono ng sarili niyang boses.

"It's nothing," Umayos si Laurie pabalik sa upuan niya, sa tapat ng dalaga. "So... Wuthering Heights?"

"Huh?"

Tinanguan ng lalaki ang libro sa mga kamay ni Aria. "May project ba tayo na hindi ko alam? Kailangan ba nating gawan ng book report 'yan?"