The (Un)Forgotten Half

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 27

I opened my eyes when the car stopped. I lifted my head and almost choked on my saliva.

I'm leaning on Lean, and his head is leaning on mine. His left hand is holding my head so that it won't fall as I sleep.

I looked around and found that Lean and Vaugh switched places, because Vaughn is now sitting at the back, beside Coco. Brent is also sleeping beside me but we are separated by a stack of bags. Why the hell are there bags here?

"He kept on leaning on you, so I put those bags," I heard Lean's low voice. I looked up at him and saw that he's just woken up.

"W-Why are you here?"

"Oh.. Ah.." he averted his gaze.

"Lean asked to switch because you keep on swaying towards me."

I looked around to see Vaughn stretching.

"That's because you looked uncomfortable, so I had to rescue you from her!" Lean answered quickly.

"Whatever, dude," Vaughn murmured.

I closed my eyes tightly at the memory of our travel back from Batangas that night and allowed the tears to just fall freely. Lean always acted as if he cared.

Habang ipinapakita nya sa akin na apektado sya, unti-unti akong nakakaramdam ng takot. Akala ko matibay na ang nabuo kong pader sa paligid ko, pero bakit pakiramdam ko, isang kanti nya lang, guguho ito?

"L-Lean.. Let's stop pretending, shall we? Wala na akong planong makipaglaro muli sayo."

Naramdaman ko ang paninigas ng mga muscle niya sa ilalim ng palad ko. Ilang saglit siyang tahimik lang.

Maya-maya, narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa. Matapos iyon ay inilayo niya ang katawan sa akin at niyuko ako.

"Wala ka ng planong makipaglaro sa akin?" nakakaloko niya akong tinitigan. "Sorry, sweetheart. Hindi pa ako sawang makipaglaro. You should know I came back to continue our little game, right? Life was no fun without you. It's boring."

Naikuyom ko ng mahigpit ang kamao at bago ko pa napigilan ang sarili, dumapo na iyon sa mukha niya. Bumalandra si Lean sa mga upuang nasa bandang likuran niya at napaling ang kanyang mukha sa lakas ng aking suntok. Nagdugo ang gilid ng kanyang labi kaya naman agad akong nakaramdam ng pagsisisi sa ginawa ko.

He chuckled and looked at me again. His eyes menacing. Napalunok ako at bahagyang napaatras ng umabante sya palapit sa akin. I changed the direction of my retreat dahil alam kong dingding ang nasa likuran ko at ayokong masukol muli katulad kanina.

But luck does not seem to favor me today, mesa naman ang nasa likuran ko.

Lean smirked at me.

"Scared, sweetheart?"

"S-Stay away!" pinatatag ko ang boses ko pero ipinagkakanulo ng panginginig niyon ang kabang nararamdaman ko. What causes the nervousness is something I cannot ponder on right now.

My eyes darted to the door and I lunged for it but Lean is far quicker and far stronger than me. Natagpuan ko ang sariling nababakuran ng magkabila niyang braso. Bahagya akong napasandal sa mesa.

"Lahat ay may kabayaran, Shanine. Sinuntok mo ako. Do you really believe I will let you off without extracting payment?" his eyes glinted with mischief as he bit the corner of his lower lip while eyeing mine.

"Hindi ka nakakatuwa Lean!"

"I'm not trying to impress you, sweetie. I'm here to have fun for myself, in the first place. Hmm.." he inched closer kaya naman napigil ko ang paghinga. Nararamdaman ko na ang mainit niyang hininga sa mukha ko at tila nais nang mamigat ng talukap ng aking mga mata.