The Intertwined Fate (Serendipity Series #1) COMPLETED

10 - Dinner

March 2019

He called me Ciandra which means it's a serious matter. Idagdag mo pa ang seryoso at walang bahid na kalokohan niyang boses. I clenched my jaw before speaking.

"I'm guessing it concerns our family," sabi ko at idiniin ang salitang nagdugtong sa amin parehas. Tumango siya doon at kinagat ang labi. He knew how difficult this is for me, he witnessed it first hand. "When?"

"Later tonight," he said. "We'll travel for a few hours since it's in our rest house. They were staying there for the meantime kaya doon din ang dinner."

Tinignan ko ang phone ko at nakita na may paper ako na due kinabukasan. It was urgent paper kaya kanina lang din ibinigay. I... wanted to decline. Hindi naman mahirap iyon dahil may mga pagkakataon talaga na tinatakasan ko ang family dinner nung mga panahon na wala siya dito sa bansa.

But now that he's here... that makes my excuses void. And I could hear in his voice that... he wanted us to go. It was subtle but there's still hope in his voice. It was the reason why I couldn't immediately say no.

"Alright," sagot ko sa kaniya bago binaba ang phone at tumingin sa mga mata niya. "I'll just finish something in library and we'll go around four o' clock. Is that okay with you? Or you still have class?"

Umiling siya sa akin. "I could ditch for today." Sumama agad ang expression ko sa naring sa kaniya. He will ditch his class? I know he doesn't care much about his class standing but... I guess he is that kind of person, huh.

"Just for today, Celestine," biglang sabi niya. "It's only for today..."

Tumango ako sa kaniya. "Then you are just going to wait for me?"

"Yes." Matapos ay namulsa siya sa harap ko. He gave me a small smile and leaned his side to the side. Is he... Is he trying to be cute? Nailing na lang ako at tumalikod sa kaniya. Malamang ay susunod siya sa akin.

Pumunta ako sa library at kinuha ang materials na kailangan ko. I was looking for a vacant table when someone took the book that I was holding. Nakita ko na lang ang likod ni Luke na naglalakad kaya sinundan ko na.

He placed it on a vacant table on the farthest area of library. Nanliit ang mata ko sa kaniya pero tinaas niya lang kamay niya sa akin. "There's no available table, alam ko naman na ayaw mo may ibang tao na kasama. And this is the only vacant table so..."

My lips thinned and I shook my head at him bago umupo. Mabilis kong binuksan ang libro na malapit sa akin at hinanap ang mga context na kailangan ko. Because I am rushing, wala na akong time para mag-seond reading kaya direkta ang ginagawa ko.

When I finished the book, naabutan ko si Luke na nakapalumbaba sa harap ko. He was intently staring at me. I didn't notice it while I was working but he was just really looking at me the whole time. "Aren't you bored?" Tanong ko habang inaabot ang panibagong libro.

"No, I like watching you."

Napatigil ako at napatingin sa kaniya. He really has flowery tongue, no wonder I was enticed with him. Umiling na lang ako sa kaniya at tinuloy ko na lang ginagawa. "How do you read so fast?" Rinig kong bulong ni Luke.

Nang matapos ko ang mga libro ay ininat ko ang leeg ko. I was looking down for so long that it hurts when I move it around. Habang nakapikit ako ay narinig ko ang galaw ni Luke. I was busy massaging my neck kaya hindi ko na siya pinansin.

Not until I felt a presence behind me.

"Let me," Luke said. Tinanggal niya ang kamay ko doon at siya na mismo nagmasahe ng leeg ko. It was relaxing and I could feel his carefulness. Just when I was about to stop him, I felt his lips on my neck making me stiffened.