Dark Side

CHAPTER SIX

INIIWAS ni Cyan ang tingin dito.

Everytime he looked at her like that, as if he wanted so badly to jump on her, made her knees tremble in both anticipation and excitement. Hindi rin niya mapigil ang awtomatikong pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya. Pinilit niyang inilunok ang steak na para bang gustong bumara sa lalamunan niya dahil sa kaba. They are alone in this room, and something might happen between them. Either good or not, she doesn't want it to occur, afraid that she would give in to him so easily.

She grabbed the glass of water and drunk it. Patuloy pa rin siyang tahimik na pinapanood ni Lawrence, kaya naman hindi na siya nakatiis at sinita na ito.

"Don't you know that staring is rude?" iritang anas niya rito.

"I'm just admiring you," he said softly.

Natameme siya. She didn't expect him to say something like that. Her face began to feel warm. Para ba kasing may munting kiliti siyang naramdaman nang marinig iyon. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot.

Nagka-boyfriend na siya rati. Na-experience na niyang masabihan ng matatamis at korning mga linya. Ilang beses na rin siyang naloko. Pero hindi naman siya nagpaka-bitter nang dahil doon. Sa naisip ay na-curious siya tungkol sa edad nito. He still looks young, must be in his middle twenties. At siya? Twenty pa lang. Ilang linggo na lang at twenty-one na siya. Kunwari ay tumingin siya sa kaniyang wristwatch, iniiwasang sumagot sa sinabi nito.

"I think we need to go. My next class will start within an hour and I haven't done any of my homeworks yet," she lied again.

Lawrence nodded. Hindi tuloy niya alam kung naniniwala ito sa kasinungalingan niya o sumasakay na lang.

After Lawrence paid the bill, they immediately left the restaurant. Napaismid na naman si Cyan nang makita ang waitress na sinusundan ng tingin ang bawat galaw ni Lawrence. Sa inis ay lumapit siya sa lalaki at dumikit dito saka isinara ang magkahiwalay na butones sa polo nito, dahilan para magulat si Lawrence at panoorin siya.

Agad din namang naka-recover ang lalaki at hinawakan ang kaniyang baywang. Cyan's mind screamed in ecstasy, and her pulse throbbed wildly against her veins. Pinigil niya ang ngumiti nang makita ang disappointment sa mga mata ng waitress hanggang sa makalabas sila ng restaurant.

Lawrence held her securely against him, as if savoring this once in a lifetime moment, just like her. Nasasanay na rin si Cyan sa mainit na temperatura ng katawan nito. She could not help but snuggle closer to him, even sighing in satisfaction. She fits so perfectly against him.

He gently opened the door for her again and even helped her get inside the car by holding her on the waist. She blushed when their eyes met. She could see the amusement in his eyes as if he knew why she was letting him do this. Cyan shook her head as if forcing herself to wake up from her world of fantasy. Hindi dapat siya masanay. Hindi dapat siya matuwa.

She put on her seatbelt and sat properly, looking straight ahead.

Pagkasakay ni Lawrence ay agad din nitong pinaandar ang kotse. He even glanced at her but she did not look back at him. She needed to control her emotions. She needed to get rid of her feelings for him.

The drive back to the university was very quiet. Maging nang makarating sila ay hindi na niya inantay na ipagbukas muli siya ng pinto ni Lawrence.

"Thanks for the lunch," she said, not looking at him. Ayaw niya na baka kapag tiningnan niya ito ay magbago ang desisyon niya.

"I'll pick you up at five," he told her.

Tumango lang siya at bumaba na ng kotse. Hindi na niya pinansin ang mga estudyanteng nakatingin na naman sa kaniya, kaya hindi niya rin nakita ang isang grupo na pinapanood ang bawat galaw niya.