Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 9

"Czarina..."

I immediately turned and found Rigor looking at me with amusement in his eyes. Kumunot ang noo ko lalo pero hindi maipagkakaila na nagulat ako sa biglang paghawak niya sa baywang ko.

"Tara?"

I nodded and followed him. He's tall and automatically have long strides. I'm petite and could barely keep up with him, plus the sea of students who are desperate to get out of the gym as soon as possible made it harder to keep up with him. Napansin kaagad ni Rigor ang paghihirap ko dahil huminto siya at inalok ang kamay. I hesitated for a bit but eventually accepted his hand as he guided me outside of the gym swiftly.

Puno ang cafeteria sa dami ng mga gutom na estyudante. Mukhang hindi rin naman iyon ang pakay ni Rigor dahil dire-diretso ang lakad niya papalabas ng gate. Hindi rin niya pinuntahan ang nakaparadang kotse sa parking lot so I'm guessing we're eating somewhere near.

Dinala niya ako sa isang surf café. Surf-themed restaurants and bars are everywhere in La Union because of our beaches. But I was never interested in surfing or spending so much time in the beach. Nagagandahan lang ako sa mga nakasabit na surfboards nang makapasok kami. Maaliwalas at presko, hindi katulad sa cafeteria namin na naghalo-halo ang pawis ng estyudante, luto ng staff, at kung anu-ano pa dahil sa liit ng space at dami ng mga estyudante.

We sat by the glass wall. Medyo nahihiya ako kasi mamahalin pala dito. Sorcha often buys her iced coffee here. Hindi ko naman alam na ganito pala kamahal, kaya din pala walang masyadong tao.

"Order anything you want. My treat." Napansin ata ni Rigor na matagal akong nakatitig sa menu. I smiled awkwardly at him at itinuro ang pinakamurang aglio e olio tapos tubig nalang ang panulak. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. "Don't you want to try garlic shrimp? It's really great."

"Uhm.. allergic ako sa shrimp!" pagdadahilan ko nalang.

He nodded in understanding and ordered the food for us. I smiled politely at him, before appreciating such a great view in front of me. His hair is in a mess, once again. A delightful mess that tempts me to run my fingers through it. It looked so soft and inviting. Nakasuot siya ng kulay abong t-shirt at black jeans ngayon, saka converse. He looked so casual... yet sensual.

I discreetly took a picture of him in my phone while he's busy talking to the waitress. Muntik nang malaglag ang puso ko. Good gaia! He looks so hot even in stolen shots.

"Czarina, about last night-"

"Rigor! Czarina!"

Napapikit ng mata si Rigor dahil sa inis at mayamaya pa ay lumitaw ang nakangising Thyron. Kaagad siyang lumapit sa amin at naupo sa tabi ng kapatid.

"Tamang-tama, gutom na ako!"

"What are you doing here?"

"Kakain." He nonchalantly reached for the menu and winked at me. "Is it okay if I gatecrash? Pwede mo namang solohin si Rigor mamaya."

My cheeks burned. "Ayos lang, Thyron."

Matalim ang tingin sa kaniya ni Rigor habang nago-order ang kapatid. When the waitress left, the two of us were silent.

"What? Are you always this silent?" he complained.

"Not when you're around, asshole." Rigor said, completely pissed.

"Hindi kita nakita sa senior's ball, Thyron." Ani ko. Nabaling ang tingin niya sa akin.

"Ah, hindi ako hilig sa mga ganiyan. Besides, I was doing something more interesting than a senior's ball." He grinned.

Sinapak siya ng kapatid. "Napakagago mo talaga. Can't you show a little decorum?"

He just grinned at me widely and the conversation went on until our food arrive. Panakaw-nakaw nalang ako ng tingin kay Rigor.