Defiant Youth Series #1: Abiding Dismay (COMPLETED)

Chapter 9

"Thank you," I spoke and he just nodded at me. Nagsimula naman kaming kumain nang tahimik hanggang sa matapos kami. I took a sipped from my lemonade as I browse my Facebook's News Feed. 

My brows furrowed as the Facebook notification informed me that Joaquin had sent me a friend request.

I took a short break from savoring my lemonade to glance at Joaquin, who had been staring at me attentively, waiting for me to confirm his friend request.

I furrowed my brow, but all he did was beam at me charmingly. 

"Accept my friend request," he said all of a sudden, staring directly into my eyes, causing his friends to choke on their drinks. Patago akong ngumiti at tumikhim. 

"Okay," I simply replied and click the 'confirm' button. Kapagkuwa'y binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Joaquin. His smile was like a sudden beam of sunlight adding the cozy corners of the cafeteria. 

"Thank you," tugon niya na ikinatango ko. Sumipsip ulit ako sa lemonade ko at pasimpleng mahinang kinurot si Didi sa tagiliran niya nang tumikhim ito na para bang nag-aasar. 

Maya-maya pa ay napagdesisyonan naming umuwi na. Nakakapit si Didi sa akin hanggang sa makalabas kami ng Hearthstone University. Nang makarating kami sa parking lot ay humarap kami ni Didi sa isa't isa.

"O paano? Sasabay ako kay Cyprus, susunduin ka ba ng sundo mo?" Didi inquired, and I simply smiled.

"Yeah, tatawagan ko na lang," tugon ko na ikinatango niya. Kapagkuwa'y naramdaman ko naman ang mainit na yakap ni Didi at niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. 

"Sige, mag-iingat ka," she whispered in between of our hugs. Siya na rin ang unang humiwalay sa yakap namin. Bumitaw na kami sa isa't isa at tiningnan ko lang siya habang pumapasok sa kotse ni Cyprus. 

Bago pumasok si Cyprus ay ngumiti siya sa amin. Nasulyap ako kay Didi at kumaway siya sa akin kaya kumaway rin ako pabalik.

Pagkaalis nila ay sunod na ring nagpaalam sila Inigo at Cedric. Ngayon ay kami na lang ni Joaquin ang natira rito sa parking lot.

Huminga ako ng malalim at sumulyap sa kaniya. Nakapamulsa lang ito habang nakatingin sa akin. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napalunok.

I was about to dial my personal driver's number when Joaquin broke the silence. 

"If you don't mind, let me send you home," my heart started to pound as the excitement had ignited a slow and steady match deeply in the pit of my stomach, and I felt like I was on fire and may explode at any moment.  I gulped and turn my gaze into him. 

"It's fine, I don't want to bother you, Joaquin," I insisted, curling my lower lip and making a 'no' gesture using my hands. I heard him sigh.

"You're not a bother, Venice," makulit niyang turan. My lips flashed a smile as I nodded. Sino ba naman ako para tumanggi 'di ba?

"Alright, I'll just call my personal driver. Excuse me," I replied and he just nodded his head. I turn my gaze on my phone and dialed my personal driver's number. 

Nang mag-ring iyon ay tinapat ko na ito sa kanan kong tenga at napangiti ako nang sumagot siya.

"Hello po, huwag ninyo na po ako sunduin ngayon... Opo... Salamat po," with that, I disconnected the call and returned my sight to Joaquin, who had been staring at me intently since earlier. 

He then opened the door of the shotgun seat of his car. Lumapit ako sa kotse niya at napansin ko ang kaliwa niyang kamay na nasa may taas ng bintana.

I can say that he's securing me so that I can enter safely without bumping my head on it and I found that sweet, he's really a gentleman. 

He also checked me if I was safely settled inside before closing the car door. As he sat in the driver's seat, I followed him with my eyes.