When The Flower Withers (Fleur Series #1)

Chapter 8

Nagulat kami nang biglang pumasok si Ara kaya naitulak ako nang malakas ni Ash.

"What are you two doing?" tanong niya habang nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin sa 'ming dalawa.

Pinapatay ko na si Ash sa isip ko dahil sa ginawa niyang pagtulak sa akin. He looked at me as if nothing happened and he even smiled!

"We were playing," sagot ko matapos ng ilang minuto. Nakatingin pa rin ako nang masama kay Ash.

Ash stood up and went near Ara. "You must be Ara. I'm Ash, your best friend's future husband." He extended his right hand for a handshake.

Ara's innocent eyes landed on me. "Husband?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

Sasagot pa sana si Ash kaso hinila ko na si Ara palayo sa kaniya. "Bakit ang aga mo ngayon?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

"Sumasakit puson ko," sagot niya habang nakanguso. "Why were you on top of him earlier?"

"Naglalaro nga lang kami!" sagot ko sa kaniya.

"Ng?" Tanong ulit ni Ara.

Umupo si Ash sa one-seater na sofa at ngumisi. Everytime he smirks like that, I knew he was planning to say something I wouldn't obviously like.

"Putukan..." Sagot ni Ash.

"Dashiall Zane!" Sigaw ko. Tiningnan ako ni Ash nang seryoso pero inosente, I didn't even know it was possible until today. "What were you saying?!"

"Putukan ng lobo," sagot ni Ash. "Are you familiar with that game?" Tanong niya kay Ara.

Ara's lips parted and shook her head slowly. Tumayo na siya dala-dala si Mocha. "I'm gonna rest for awhile now." She looked at Ash. "Nice to meet you, my best friend's future husband."

"Ara!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya.

Bumelat pa siya sa 'kin bago tuluyang makapasok sa kwarto niya kasama si Mocha. Tiningnan ko si Ash nang masama.

"Bakit na naman, Primrose?" natatawang tanong niya sa akin.

"Ash, sinasabi ko sa 'yo 'wag mo 'kong gagalitin. Nananapak talaga ako," sabi ko sa kaniya.

Tumabi siya sa akin at inakbayan ako. "Inaano ba kita, huh?" Inosenteng tanong niya pa.

I tried to remove his arm around my shoulder but he did not let me, he even tightened his arm across my shoulder. My nose was resting above his chest. He really smells good! Pinakiramdaman ko rin 'yong tibok ng puso niya and it was beating fast!

I pinched his left nipple so he could let me go. I hate the feeling he was giving to me. In fact, this shouldn't be happening. Ash is a good friend and I didn't want to see him more than that.

I was silent the whole time we were watching the episode 1 of Reply 1988, I couldn't even understand what was happening in the scene.

I really tried my best to ignore what he had said earlier. I tried my best as if I wasn't taking it seriously. I tried my best to show to him I wasn't affected by it.

Damn. Of course I was more than affected. I did not want to fathom the feeling that grew inside me the moment he said he likes me.

I didn't deserve it.

"You alright?" he asked. "You seemed preoccupied," he added.

"I'm alright, Ash," I answered without looking at him.

"Why were you so quiet all of a sudden, then?" he queried again. I felt his intense gaze at me.

I heaved a sigh and looked back at him. "Wala. May iniisip lang," sagot ko at sumandal sa couch, he did the same.