Whispers of Avarice (Casa de Castillo 1)

Chapter 17

Our eyes connected, but I had to shift my gaze as I felt my heart quicken its pace. Rising to my feet, I found myself taking the lead in our walk, with him following closely behind as if keeping a watchful eye on me. There was an unspoken tension in the air, and the rhythmic echo of our footsteps seemed to dance to the uncharted beats of anticipation.

Pagdating namin sa tapat ng bahay, pareho kaming huminto. Tinignan ko ito at magpapaalam na sana dito, ngunit napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko at nawalang ng boses nang ilagay nito ang kanyang palad sa ibabaw ng aking ulo.

"Good night, Taylah," he uttered and strolled away, not allowing me a chance to reciprocate the farewell.

I took a deep breath. "Good night!"

Tinaas nito ang kanang kamay niya at kumaway. The warmth of happiness enveloped me as I reflected on the moments spent with him. It was a delicate blend of contentment, a gentle flutter in the heart, and a genuine smile that lingered on my lips.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin. Natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko na nakatingin sa kisame at nakangiti. Dapat ay matulog na ako dahil may pasok pa bukas pero ito ako at parang baliw na nakatingin sa kisame. Despite the rational part of me urging to rest for tomorrow's responsibilities, the residual glow of our time together seemed to anchor me in a moment of blissful reverie.

Inilapat ko ang aking kanang kamay sa aking dibdib, sa mismong lugar kung saan nakalagay ang aking puso. Lintik na yan. Ano bang nangyayari sa akin? Ang nararamdaman ko ay hindi kapani-paniwala. Kinuha ko ang isang unan at nilagay sa mukha ko.

"Baliw na ata ako," bulong ko.

Nakalagay sa tabi ko ang aking cellphone at biglang tumunog. Nagulat ako dahil sa biglang pagtunog nito. Kinuha ko ito at binuksan para tignan kung tungkol saan ang notification.

Keanu Super Pogi:
good night sa baby abunjing ko 💖
matulog ka ng mahimbing at sana mapaginipan mo ako

A small smile formed on my lips as I typed my reply. Nakakainis naman si Keanu, nilagyan pa talaga ng heart ang "good night." Tumitibok nanaman tuloy ng mabilis ang puso ko.

Taylah Fabroa:
Thank you, Keanu. Good night.

Keanu Super Pogi:
hala omg!!!
nag good night sakin crush ko!!!
hoy kinikilig ako anueba 😫😫😫😫
pwede ka ba ikiss sa messenger? oo pwede
mwa 😚😚😚😚

Napangiti ako sa messages nito. Tinawanan ko na lang mga 'yon at hindi na nag-reply pa. Baka kasi matutulog na ito. Ayaw ko naman na makaabala. Ayaw ko na mapuyat ito dahil sa 'kin.

As I stared at my phone screen, the realization hit me that something had shifted tonight- something beyond the mundane. Our talk smoothly shifted from casual chit-chat to those quiet moments that spoke volumes without words. I couldn't ignore the warmth that stayed, creating a mysterious bond that didn't follow any logical explanation.

I closed my eyes, replaying the evening's events in my mind. The joyous moments of laughter, the exchange of personal stories, and even the unexpected compliments combined to form a rich array of emotions.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the swirling thoughts. But, like a melody, the memory of Keanu's compliment and the genuine concern in his eyes played on a loop in my mind. Tulad ng isang magandang panaginip, parang may pag-asa sa mga kakaibang tingin at ngiti. Hindi ko alam kung saan ito papunta, ngunit may kakaibang excitement na bumabalot sa akin.

As I closed my eyes, the gentle embrace of sleep began to wrap me, transporting me to a world where fantasy and reality danced in the moonlit shadows. The surreal symphony of my dreams unfolded, orchestrating a nocturnal journey where time seemed to lose its grip, and the boundaries between the known and the imagined blurred.