Denying Affinity (Affinity #1)

Epilogue

"Avis, sister code." Les dangled the two words in my face because she knows I can't say no to that reasoning.

I couldn't break our sister code. It's helping each other out when in need. Na lagi kaming magkakampi sa lahat ng sitwasyon. It'll always be us against everything.

Mariin na napapikit ako. Kung hindi ko lang mahal ang kapatid ko ay baka matagal ko na siyang itinulak sa Philippine Ocean.

"Fine." I muttered under my breath and it made Maria Celestine shriek. Ibinaba niya ang tawag matapos sabihin na ite-text niya na lang kung nasaang mall at restaurant nagaganap ang date.

Tumayo ako mula sa kama at dumeretso sa harap ng full body mirror ni Savion. "Oh, saan ka punta?"

I fixed myself first, my long hair that I curled this morning and my clothes that are slightly wrinkled. Mabuti na lang at laid-back casual ako ngayon at hindi ang typical na work clothes ang suot ko. "Si... Les, she called in a favor."

"Okay? Pero bakit nagpapaganda pa?" nakataas ang isang kilay ni Savion. Napatigil ako sa pag-ayos sa sarili at napaisip. Oo nga naman. Why am I trying so hard to look presentable?

Tinalikuran ko ang malaking salamin at lumapit ulit sa kama para kunin ang shoulder bag ko. Hindi ko na sinagot ang tanong niya. I just shortly said goodbye and left in a haste.

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa steering wheel habang nagda-drive patungo sa mall. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang aasahan ko doon. Kung anong mararamdaman ko sa oras na makita ko siya. Kung anong mararamdaman ko kapag nakita ko siya kasama ang isang babae na posible niyang mahalin kung hahayaan lang niya.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko nang maramdaman ang kurot sa puso ko. Hanggang ngayon ay nandoon pa rin iyon. It's been three years but it's still there. I just hope it won't be like that for him. I pray that I had hurt him enough to move on. That I'd burned him so bad he doesn't want the same flame to burn him again.

I'm trying so hard to keep my heart from spilling out of my chest as I walked my way to the restaurant. I'm damn petrified. Acknowledging Luke Dashiel after a very long time of pretending that he doesn't exist was terrifying to me. Kailangan ko bang kausapin siya? Kung oo, ano naman ang sasabihin ko? Kakausapin niya ba ako? Ano naman ang sasabihin niya?

I shouldn't think hard about this, alright. He's probably mad at me. Even after three years, it's possible that he'd grown a vendetta towards me. And I wish he's angry. I wish he hates me, because it'd be easier for me to stay away if he does.

My eyes were immediately set on them the moment I stepped inside the establishment. The girl was talking about something while he listened, placing all of his attention on her. She must have said something funny because he laughed and displayed his dimple. I saw how the girl's eyes twinkled at the sight of that adorable dimple.

I was the outsider, the one who only gets to watch from a far. The one who silently hurts at the background because it would be wrong to make a sound.

I had half a mind of backing out. Mukha namang masaya na siya at hindi niya na kailangan pa ng excuse para makatakas mula sa date na iyon. My rational side wants me to bolt and run away from the scene, but the rationality in me vanished into thin air the moment the girl reached for Luke Dashiel's lips and swiped it with her thumb.

I rushed my way towards their table and prayed that my acting skills are convincing enough.

"Luke!" masiglang bati ko. Halos mabanat ang mukha ko sa laki ng ngiti ko ngayon. I don't think I've ever smiled like this for years.