Teenager's Quiet War (YOUNG ADULT SERIES #2)

Chapter 7

"Gutom na gutom, a."

Tinignan ko lang ng masama si Khai dahil nang-aasar naman ito. We stopped by some convenient store to eat some snacks. Dinner talaga yung gusto ni Khai pero I told him to stop by here first kasi nauuhaw na ako pero ang ending, I have some sandwich, yogurt, donuts, and siopao in front of me and Khai that who's more hungry than me had only siopao.

"'Wag mo 'kong tignan ng masama," he laughed at my reaction. Binalik niya ang atensyon niya siya sa siopao niya at kinuha ang papel sa ilalim nito. "Baka maka-develop tayo ng love to hate relationship."

I snorted and chuckled. "Landi mo."

Napailing ito habang natatawa din pero ang mga mata niya ay ansa siopao pa rin. "I don't flirt, " he said while smiling.

"So this is how you treat your friends then?" I asked him.

His eyes never left to his food. "You're an exception, Cellin," he replied, almost whispering.

I cleared my throat. "Of course, I'm different."

He look at me. "Yes, because you're special... to me."

My lips parted, surprised by his words. Hindi ko alam pero parang ang gaan sa pakiramdam ng pagkasabi niya. He sound... genuine and pure...

I like it.

And there he is, on his smile again. I love seeing those all the time, he looks good in it. He should smile more. His sight stayed on mine, not wasting any second to sight back on my eyes.

"You're obviously flirting with me, Nevlom Khalil Venturo," I said.

"As I said, I don't flirt," he replied. "I'm showing my love language to you, Marcellina Airamel Garche."

I cleared my throat and avoid his gaze. The stares started to get deep, I can't help but to look away! He was so good at it, he was so good to me feel at ease.

"Gutom ka pa ba?"

Napatingin ako sa kaniya ulit. "Seriously? Do you see this? Hindi ko nga mauubos ata ito," I told him after pointing the food he brought— yes, he paid for it, I didn't even notice that he already handed cash on the cashier.

Napatawa siya at napailing. "Sige, nauuhaw pala. Ubusin mo 'yan, Cellin."

"Hala ha, parang kanina sweet sweet mo tapos inaaway mo 'ko ngayon. Ang plastik mo," Sabi ko at inirapan siya mas lalo siyang natawa dahil sa sinagot ko sa kaniya.

"Joke lang, Pika, tutulungan naman kitang ubusin 'yan, pikon agad, e," He replied.

"No need. Napilitan ka pa, e," biro ko. Tinignan ko siya para makita ang reaksyon niya, his hand was on his chin while staring at me. Mukha siyang bata. "What?" I asked him and forced him to look the other way using my palm, natawa siya sa ginawa ko.

Kinuha niya ang isang donut at kinain ito, I just let him kasi hindi ko naman ito mauubos, at isa pa he paid for these. Later on he brought up some new topic and we talked about it, I just let him talk so he wouldn't notice that I'm not eating anymore and he'll get those foods and ate them.

Naubos na ang pagkain pero tuloy pa rin ang pag-uusap namin but suddenly he stopped talking. Umisip ako bigla ng topic.

"Gusto ko maglakad," sabi ko at tumingin sa kaniya. Tumingin din siya pabalik sa 'kin.

He stood up from his seat, he hide his hands on his pocket. "Let's go." He slowly smiles at me.

Tumayo ako at lumabas kami ng convenience store. Maglalakad na sana ako pero hinawakan niya ako sa braso kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya. He took my stuff on my hand and bend over.