Chasing the Void (Magnates Series #3)

Kabanata 21

"You wouldn't do anything reckless because you always go with your rationality." pinanatili kong seryoso ang mukha ko kahit na gusto kong ngumisi. "So, why did you?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit natutuwa ako ngayon. I saw him pursed his lips but his expression remained serious.

"That's rational." he answered.

"Hmm, really?"

I leaned closer to him. I lifted his chin so that our eyes would meet. Nanatili pa rin siyang blangko na mukhang hindi man lang naapektuhan sa ginawa ko.

"Yeah, physical violence is rational." sarkastikong sabi ko. "In what sense?"

Tumayo siya pero nanatiling nakatingin sa'kin. I arched my brow, waiting for his reply. I'm sure as hell he'd throw some information with credible source like what he'd usually do.

"You're asking for an explanation yet you already have an answer in mind." he frankly said.

"What I'm thinking doesn't matter. It may differ to what you're going to say," sabi ko. "So, spill."

"What do you think I would say?"

"What are you thinking when you said I already have an answer in mind?"

"You did not answer my question."

"I asked first,"

Nagtagal ang titigan namin sa isa't isa, parehong ayaw magpatalo. Nauna naman talaga ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit iniilagan niya 'yong tanong. Ano bang mahirap do'n?

"You always have an answer," I told him. "Why can't you answer now?"

Napatayo na rin ako mula sa pagkakaupo. The cramp is gone now and I can stand up. Lumapit pa ako sa kanya at nag-iwan ng konting espasyo sa pagitan naming dalawa.

"What's so difficult about it, hmm?" I confidently asked. 

Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. I remained unfazed, trying so hard not to feel inferior from that gaze of him. I licked my lower lip while staring at him.

"I didn't like it," he finally spoke. 

I was amused by his response. "Why?"

"We're dating,"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtawa ko. Going for a safe answer again, I see. Mukhang wala talaga siyang balak sabihin kung ano talaga ang nararamdaman niya. At mukhang wala rin akong mapapala kahit ipilit ko.

"Alright," I sighed defeatedly but I couldn't suppress my smile. "I'm hungry. Should we eat breakfast?"

The following days felt different now after what happened in the fun run event. Alam kong may pagbabago sa pagitan namin kahit konti. We were behaving like we used to, like it was just normal since we're on this set-up. 

At sa hindi inaaasahang pagkakataon, maraming mata na ngayon ang palaging nakamasid sa'min. I was now known as the girl who was bridal carried by the CEO. Parang normal lang na inassume nila na magjowa kami dahil sa nangyari. 

"Hindi ko inakalang magkakatotoo!" tili ni Donna nang minsan ay pumunta ako sa maintenance. "Sabi na, e!"

Ngumiti lang ako habang nag-aayos ng gamit. She kept on saying how it was similar to the novels she was reading. 

"Noong nakita ko talagang binuhat ka niya tapos pinagtanggol, doon ko na nakumpirma, e!" kinikilig pa siya na halos hampasin na ako. "Bagay kayo! Masaya ako para sa'yo!"

"Salamat," I plastered a smile and tried so hard to not make it look forced. 

There will always be rumors and issues but I don't care. Kung ano man tingin nila sa'kin, wala akong pakialam. I don't know if it was a good thing but as long as it wouldn't ruin my plan then so be it. Mukhang nagamit ko rin ang pagiging suplado at malamig ni Draisen kaya walang nagtatangkang pag-usapan 'yong nangyari.