Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 24

Contradicting Jaeden will give me a headache so I only followed what he likes.

He dropped me off to my dorm and left after making sure I am safe. Kahit na sigurado ako sa sariling hindi ako lasing, hindi niya pinakinggan ang pakiusap kong makausap siya.

I am still in my normal condition. Gusto kong maglabas ng sama ng loob, pero nang malamang walang kwenta lang din ang mapapala sa kanya, kusa na lang umurong iyon.

I slept with a heavy feeling and the next morning, I found myself opening the door for him widely, welcoming him for the talk he promised me.

Walang seremonya itong umupo sa upuan ko. I fixed my bed, arranged my stuffs and then managed to be serious right after he finished roaming his eyes inside. Humalukipkip ito habang nakaupo ako sa kama.

"Feeling okay now?" he asks, concern to me. Tumango ako.

Unang gising ko sa umaga, siya kaagad ang naging bungad ko. Hindi pa ako nakakapaghanda. Ako iyong nangangailangan ng kasagutan pero siya pa ang may ganang magmadali ngayon.

He's only wearing a white shirt and a black short that compliments his dashing yet simple look now. I can see from his eyes that he is really giving me the answer.

"Nakatulog ka ba ng maayos?" I scratched my nose.

My boyfriend is like scolding me in a calmest way. Parang anak niya na ako sa ganitong lagay. Still, I don't have a problem with him.

"Oo. Hindi naman ako lasing kagabi," pagtatanggol ko sa sarili dahil iyon ang katotohanan.

He only smelled my breath last night and he concluded that I am indeed drunk. Hindi pwedeng iyon lang ang maging basehan.

Mula sa pagkakaupo, gumalaw ang kanyang mga paa. He felt my will to defend myself in front of him. Licking his reddish lips, his other hand ran through his hair and cleared his throat.

"What do you want to know?"

"Ano bang kaya mong sabihin sa akin?" I fired back.

He's not looking angry. Only his insides are giving me the vibes of it. Pinipigilan niya lang yata ang sariling magalit dahil sa nasabi ko sa kanya kagabi. I even felt the regret last night while sleeping. Sa epekto nga yata iyon ng alak sa akin.

Ipinagkrus ko rin ang mga braso. Nagugutom pa ako dahil hindi pa nakakain sa biglaan niyang pagdating. Ni hindi niya man lang ako hinayaang maghanda ng sarili sa ganito kaagang oras.

"You're not cheating to me, right? You don't date people not the same age as you are." Kitang-kita ko ang pag-igting ng kanyang panga. I caught him at that point. Tandang-tanda ko ang sinabi niya sa akin noon. There's no way I won't remember that.

"Of course. For sure, you know why I chose to date you."

"Kasi college na ako at hindi na high school pa. Tama ba?" mahinahon kong tanong na siyang ikinailing niya.

He's intimidating. Ilang sandali na lang, nakikita ko na ang sariling nasisindak sa mga tinging iginagawad niya.

I happened to be his girlfriend but there's this slight feeling in me that I am still scared from the other side of his aura. Like he will eat me alive even for an unexpected moment.

Taliwas sa kagandahan ng kanyang mukha, iyong ugali na mayroon siya sa kanyang loob ay hindi mahinahon.

"No. I dated you because you're different. I don't like pretty girls but your beauty is an exception. You changed my mind."

I scoffed, still not being fascinated by that answer.

"Hindi ako maganda. If beauty is your basis why you dated me, then what's the purpose of still being with me? Beauty fades, Jaed. Iiwan mo rin ako kapag hindi na ako kagandahan," saad ko saka iniwas ang tingin.