Conceding Affinity (Affinity #2)

He Won't

I quietly excused myself and told them that I was going to check on something. My parents both nodded while Savion gave me a weird look. Her eyes searched for someone before looking back at me with a very suggestive smirk. She wiggled her eyebrows before mouthing the word 'quickie'. I rolled my eyes and just left.

Malapit lang dito ang ball room two. Siguradong walang tao doon kaya iyon ang lugar na pinili ni Luke Dashiel. It was such a mindless thing but the thought of dancing with him makes me feel a bit giddy. Ang una at huling beses na nakasayaw ko siya ay noong gabi pa ng prom nila. I remember it very clearly.

I took a shaky breath and calmed my insides before pushing the door open. I entered the room and everything happened so fast that I didn't see it coming. A loud gasp escaped my lips when cold liquid splashed directly in my face. I breathed in which made me cough. I felt what tasted like a wine burn the inside of my nose as I continued trying to respire some air. Pati ang damit ko ay nabasa dahil sa tumapon na wine.

"I knew it." I heard a clipped voice. Pumikit-pikit ako at pinipilit na makita kung sino ang nagsalita. Mahapdi ang mga mata ko dahil napasukan iyon ng wine. "I knew it!!!"

Napasinghap ako. Bumagsak ang lahat ng dugo patungo sa mga paa ko nang maisip kung sino iyon. Nawala na ang sakit sa mga mata ko at kinain ako ng takot nang makita ang taong nasa harap ko ngayon. Her whole face was red, her eyes were angry as she shoot daggers with me through it.

Sunod kong nakita ang dalawang phone na hawak-hawak niya sa isang kamay. The text registered in my brain and I immediately knew that it wasn't Luke Dashiel who sent it. It was her.

We've been caught. Again.

"T-Tita Nova..." I whimpered.

"Wag mo akong matawag-tawag na Tita! You are not my niece. We are not blood related!" she shrieked and I flinched at how loud her voice was.

"Tita, please... Mahal ko po si Luke." I can hear the desperate plea in my voice. Pagkasabi na pagkasabi ko 'non ay naramdaman ko ang matinding hapdi sa pisngi ko nang sampalin niya ako ng napakalakas sa pisngi.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo!" sigaw nito sa akin at hindi ko magawang igalaw ang katawan ko. Hindi ko magawang humakbang man lang o iangat man lang ang sarili braso. All of my muscles were locked up and useless.

Mariin na ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. Now is not the time to be scared Avis. You've had your time. You've prepared yourself for this. You've expected this to happen. This isn't the time to be the coward. No. I'm not going to just stand here and be helpless. Huminga ako ng malalim. I took control of my body again and raised my head to look at her in the eyes with absolution.

"Mahal ko po ang anak niyo." sinabi ko ulit. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay matigas na ang boses ko.

"No!" she screamed and threw the glass on the ground. I stood my ground, trying hard not to flinch. "Stop spewing crap from your mouth! Luke is with Wendy! You know, you know that they are in relationship and yet you're still flirting with my son! May boyfriend ka na pero nakuhang mo pang lumandi sa iba!"

"Hindi sila ni Wendy, Tita. He's just pretending. So you won't know. And I don't have a boyfriend. Si Luke lang ang-"

"Shut up! You shut up!" dinuro niya ako gamit ang daliri niya. Halos sumabog na ito sa kakasigaw. Suminghap ako at nanahimik kagaya ng gusto niyang mangyari. Umiling-iling siya habang matatalim ang titig na binibigay sa akin. Kumuyom ang panga nito. "I'm going to tell your father. I'm going to tell them the truth!"

Ang tapang na nabuo ko kanina ay biglang nawarak. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I stared at her, completely horrified. My eyes blurred as I exerted an effort to catch some air because I was having a hard time breathing. I could already visualize my whole world melting down tonight.