Heated Deceptions

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"What is it you're doing in here this time?"

A whisper in my ear made me jump. Immediately, I took a step forward, tilting my head, only to see a familiar pair of eyes looking at me.

"North ko..." I said, almost in a whisper. Napalunok ako nang marahas habang pinagmamasdan siya at doon din natantong magkalapit ang mukha naming dalawa.

"Kuya North," he corrected. Napapikit ako nang pitikin niya ang noo ko at lumayo.

"No, North lang!" I stomped my feet, glancing up at him while watching him with his brows furrowed.

"I'm older than you, Rylee—"

"Age doesn't matter in love," I explained, raising my finger as if I were lecturing him.

He just shook his head, brushed his black hair with his fingers, and licked his lower lip kaya mas namula iyon. "How can you say that? You're too young to even think that way." He shook his head again. "You still don't know a thing about love."

I stared at him standing in front of me. He looked athletic—hapit sa kanyang katawan ang suot na puting uniporme, malinis ang gupit ng buhok, at seryoso ang mga mata.

"What? Sige nga, what's love for you?" I challenged him at nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

"What?"

"I said, what is love for you?" I repeated at biglang tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya.

"What is this, huh? A slambook? Bata ka pa talaga, tanungan mo pang-elementary."

"Excuse me? Do I look like a kid to you?!" Hinawi ko ang buhok at humalukipkip. "Look at me, do I look like a kid? I'm a grownup, you see. I was asking you about love kasi 'di ba adult ka na? Mukhang maalam ka na sa love, sige nga, what is love—"

"Love is blind," aniyang seryoso kaya bigla akong natawa.

"Love is like a rosary full of mysteries?" ngisi ko. "Ikaw nga itong pang-elementary ang sagot! Feeling ko talaga mahilig ka sumagot ng slambook—"

"You should go, may klase pa ako," he said dismissively. Mabilis siyang tumalikod pero nahila ko siya.

"Wait lang kasi!" I pouted, softly pulling his arm kaya napaharap siya sa akin.

"What do you need?" aniyang seryoso.

"Usap muna tayo, break mo ngayon, 'di ba?" I smiled while saying that at mas kumunot ang noo niya at umawang ang labi. "And yes, I have kuya's schedule, 'di ba same kayo?"

"You..." His mouth parted unbelievably. Halos mapangiwi na ako nang pitikin niya ang noo ko. "Are you a creep? Anong ginagawa mo rito sa college department?"

"I am not a creep, ah!" I pouted. "Atsaka naligaw nga kasi ako—"

"Yeah? It's your fourth time getting lost here. Naligaw, my ass. Wala kang maloloko rito, Rylee." Halos itaboy na niya ako. "Go back to your department, the guard will take you to the guidance if he sees you."

"Hindi naman niya ako makikita, e." I smiled.

"Hindi?" He scoffed. "Then I should call your brother—"

"No!" I exclaimed, pouting. "Please don't! Come on, gusto ko lang naman makipagkwentuhan sa 'yo, bawal ba?"

"Wala ka bang kaibigan?" aniyang mukhang naiirita na. "You have that girl. What's her name?"

"Andrea," I answered. "Kaso busy siya, may ginagawa siyang activity kasi absent siya yesterday kaya 'yon, alone ako. Hindi ka ba naaawa? Nag-ikot nga lang ako kasi wala akong kasama, malay ko bang maliligaw ako rito."