Treacherous Haven [Under Revision]

CHAPTER EIGHT

"I don't accept any currency but kiss currency. A kiss on cheek would be fine." I knew he'll say it.

"Sure, no problem." I said using a disinterested tone. I saw his face lights up and a wide smile appeared on his face after. Look at this dumbass.

"Are you serious?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito. Kung hindi lang ako kumakain baka nabatukan ko na 'to. Lagi na lang akong pinagtitripan ng lalaking 'to.

"Yeah, I'm serious. I'll give you an earth-shattering kiss using the rubber outsole of my shoe if you didn't stop pulling jokes on me." Mabilis na napawi ang ngiti sa labi nito kasabay ng pagbagsak ng dalawa niyang balikat.

"Oh right. I can't wait for it." He sarcastically replied. I just smirked and finished my food.

Halos kalahating minuto na ang nakakalipas mula nang matapos ako sa pagkain but Laude is still nowhere to be found. Tiningnan ko ang backpack nito sa tabi at tila napapaisip kung nasa saan na ito ngayon. Una si Criden, ngayon naman si Laude ang nawawala. What's wrong with these two?

"Hindi ka naman nakikinig sa kinukwento ko eh!" Napalingon ako kay Trace at nakita ko itong nakapangalumbaba habang nakanguso.

"I'm sorry. What are you saying again?"

"Tsk. Lagi na lang sorry, nakakatampo na ha." I rolled my eyes heavenward. This guy thinks that I don't know him enough para mahulog sa mga kalokohan niya. "Nagtatampo na ako, Vaughan. Kailangan mo 'kong lambingin para mawala 'yung tampo ko."

"Edi magtampo ka. Pakialam ko naman?" His eyes went wide and his mouth made an "O" shape. He feigned a shock from the feedback that he got as if there's something unexpected about it.

"Iyan talaga sasabihin mo sa'kin?"

I gave him a bored look then nodded my head. "Oo, bakit?"

He made a small gasp sound. "How dare you?" He whispered before pouting again. Pouting doesn't make him cute or attractive. He's hopeless. "Pareho kayo ni Laude. Hindi nakikinig sa akin tapos kung saan saan pa nakatingin. Ganyan ba talaga kayong mga babae? Ang hilig n'yong manakit ng feelings ha!"

"Speaking of tinitingnan, ano ba ang nakita ni Laude kaya siya umalis?" I asked before sipping on my melon juice. I saw Trace shrugged his shoulders again. Bakit ba parang wala manlang kaalam-alam ang lalaking ito?

"I tried to look around earlier to see what is she looking at, but I failed to catch it. Tapos ayon, bigla na lang siyang umalis." That's weird. Now I'm curious too kung ano ba ang nakita ni Laude.

"Hindi pa rin nag-ri-ring, Vaughan." For the 9th time of trying to call Laude, ni ring ay wala kaming naririnig. Tatawagan sana ulit ni Trace sa cellphone niya si Laude but I stopped his fingers from typing her number. Trace looked at me at nakuha agad nito ang nasa isip ko. Nilinisan na kami ng table ng cleaner kanina pa pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa bumabalik si Laude.

"Dumidilim na." Wika ko habang nakatingin sa babasaging bahagi ng cafeteria's wall. Naramdaman kong napatingin din sa labas si Trace bago ito bumuntong hininga.