Venomous Cure (Katipunan Series #1)

26

"Pasok ka na," mahinang sumbat ni Jade sa lalaki.

Caden was still outside my apartment, hesitant to step inside. He looked at his shoes first before staring into my eyes as if asking me if it was okay. Tinarayan ko nalang ito at tumango para matapos na 'to.

"Apartment mo 'to?" Binatukan ko si Jade. "Kung sino-sino niyayaya, ah. Baka mamaya pati si Xavier sinama mo, gago."

She grinned, "Muntik na nga kaso out of the country siya, girl. Reunion sana natin 'to kung pati si Yasmine at Irene nasa Pilipinas."

Pabiro kong sinampal ang braso nito at gumanti naman ang babae. Napatigil lang kami nang mapansin si Caden na nakatayo roon sa gitna na mukhang batang inagawan ng candy. Iniikot-ikot niya pa ang tingin sa buong apartment ko! Wow, ano 'to, contest? Kailangan i-judge kung saan ako nakatira, ganoon?!

Tumikhim nalang ako at tahimik na umupo muli sa sahig kung nasaan ang mga inumin namin. I sat in front of the table, not even acknowledging the guy's presence. Niyaya lang itong umupo ni Jade roon ngunit hindi naman kami magkatabi kaya pinagpasalamat ko nalang iyon.

We were silent for a few minutes until Jade finally started talking. She was asking about Caden's life when he was away. "Tagal mong nawala, ah! Hindi din kita nakikita sa campus noon. What happened?"

Caden sipped on his can of beer before answering, "I transferred to ADDU. Sa Davao ko na pinagpatuloy pag-aaral ko, Jade. I graduated and completed my flying hours there."

Jade nodded, "Ah, bakit?"

Gago talaga, e! Sinasadya na 'ata niya mga tanong! Gusto pa 'atang ipalahad kay Caden buong kwento namin.

"Just because," Caden said it so calmly but I immediately noticed how he gulped a few times.

We continued drinking after that and there was nothing much I could really say. Naiilang ako sa usapan ng dalawa dahil hindi ko naman ginusto ang presensya ng lalaki rito. Nag-uusap lang sila roon at nakikisama naman ako kahit kaunti ngunit kung hindi nila ako tatanungin, ay hindi ako nagsasalita.

Before I even go crazy with the thoughts of Caden inside my apartment, the doorbell rang again. I panicked when I heard my password being typed in from the outside. Whoever was outside my door knew my passcode!

Sisigaw na sana ako nang makitang si Adler lang pala iyon. Mayroon itong mga dalang papel at tatlong bag kaya halata mong hirap na hirap siya makarating rito. He probably had tons of workload again. It was most likely of him to stay over the night whenever he looked so tired. Lagi ko naman napapansin kung pagod talaga siya o gusto lang tumambay rito.

"Ate, may pagkain ka ba dito?" tanong niya sabay diretso sa refrigerator. "Pinagod ako ng prof namin! Panay recit ba naman kasi kanina, tangina."

"May pasta 'ata dyan sa baba, Ad," I called him by his nickname.

Nilabas nito ang nakitang container ng carbonara at kakain na sana nang mapansin ang dalawang tao sa sala ko. He finally realized I wasn't alone! Bulag ba 'to kaya hindi niya nakita kanina pagpasok niya palang?