Freezing His Pain (Japan Series #3)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I tend to mess things up whenever I'm in the midst of battling against my own emotional distress. Iyong tipong gagawa ako ng bagay na mas ikasisira ng ulo ko. Aggravating instead of alleviating.

I never hated this proclivity of mine that much until I asked this man standing in front me the dumbest question that ever existed in this world.

Umabante si Dan, na siyang mas ikinatuod ko. 

"Paano, Viene? Kung sabihin kong oo?"

Hinuli ko ang pang-ilalim na labi at saka kinunot ang noo. So Dan... he really likes me?

Does it even make sense? He's 20 and I'm 16. Isn't that illegal?

Well, not that we're in a relationship. But what if we are...?

What the hell, Viene? You are seriously asking that? 

Pinitik ko paharap ang buhok upang itago ang magkabilang pisngi na nagliliyab sa init. 

"Bakit ka namumula d'yan?" 

Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang lalaking pantay ang tingin sa mga mata ko. I moisted my lips and then looked away as I witnessed the emergence of his satirical smirk.

"W-Well! Isn't it normal to blush when someone admits his feelings for you?" Mahina ang bigkas ko sa huling mga kataga. 

I suddenly recalled the time when Kiko confessed to me, also the other guys who dared to. I can't really remember being flattered like this. 

Natigilan ako nang humalakhak nang pagkalakas-lakas si Dan. Mystified, I let him drag me to the counter, clothed shoulders being snaked by his veiny arm. 

"A-Anong tinatawa-tawa mo r'yan? And can you fucking stop?! People are looking..." 

Binitawan niya ako at hinarap, mapakla na ang ekspresyon. My heart drummed.

"Are you falling for me?" 

"H-Huh?" 

"Please don't," he sincerely pleaded.

"What the hell are you saying?"

He flashed an apologetic smile. "Kapatid ka ng kaibigan ko, Viene. Masiyado ka ring bata kung ikukumpara sa akin. Kumbaga, bulilit ka pa."

My lips parted. 

"I know where you're coming from. But please don't mistake my brotherly acts toward you, hmm? More so, we are best friends. Wouldn't it be so weird if one of us falls for the other?" 

Tuluyang bumagsak ang panga ko nang kaniya akong ngiwian at talikuran. Nahuli pa ng pandinig ko ang nanunukso niyang tawa habang papalayo sa akin. In utter annoyance, I threw the packed buns right at the back of his head. 

"Hoy, assuming mo! Please know that I'm so infuriated at you! You're so bigheaded! We're not best friends and I don't like you, 'no! Duh! I was just kidding when I asked you! Hey!" 

He faced me and chuckled more. He even scrunched his nose and pointed his finger at me to emphasize his hilarity. Mas nanggalaiti ako roon.

"Kuya, hinagis yung mga monay, oh! Hindi pa bayad 'yan!"

Namilog ang mga mata ko nang isumbong niya ako sa dumadaang crew. Halos magtitili ako sa inis nang iwan niya ako roon at hayaang pagalitan mag-isa.

My resentment toward him extended and had evolved each day. Lalo na't sa sumunod na mga araw ay naroroon siya sa clubhouse, nakikinuod sa practice namin! His reason, according to him, is he's more comfortable doing his reports outdoor, specifically in the clubhouse.