An Oath To Take (Imperfect Girls Series #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Locked Lips

"Nica, we're going out for a smoke. Mauna na kayo sa couch," paalam ko kay Nica. Tumaas ang kaniyang mga kilay sabay tingin kay Andre. Agad din naman itong tumango at tumingin sa gawi nina Jaydee at Kurt.

Dumapo ang aking tingin kay Kurt na hindi natatanggal ang tingin sa aming dalawa ni Andre. He was giving us a weird look, the kind of look that you won't be able to read. Nauna nang maglakad sina Jaydee at Nica bago lamang kami tinalikuran ni Kurt. My brows furrowed as I looked back at the man in front of me.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng bar at dumiretso sa gilid ng building. The side of the bar was just a bare wall, where not much people go. It was dim-lit, only the single light on the streets far away, lit the place a little bit.  "You look like something is bothering you," paninimula ni Andre.

Agad akong napatingin dito sabay tawa nang mahina. He opened the packet of cigarettes and gave me one stick. I grabbed it away from his fingers and placed it in between my lips. Dinukot niya ang kaniyang lighter mula sa kaniyang bulsa at inilapit sa akin. I leaned in while my right hand was supporting the stick of cigarette in my mouth. Sinindihan niya ang lighter at nilagyan ng sindi ang sigarilyong nasa akin.

Agad akong lumayo mula sa lighter. I grabbed the stick in between my index finger and middle finger and blew out the smoke. Napapikit pa ako nang maramdaman ang usok na gumuguhit sa aking lalamunan sabay ubo. I clenched my hand into a fist as I coughed.

"Oh, first time mo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Andre. Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata ay nakita ko itong malapit sa akin. I waved my hand at him as I shook my head as response.

"No. It's just, it's been a while since I last smoked, so I'm not used to it anymore," sagot ko.

The last time that I remembered smoking was when I was twenty-one. I was never really the type who gets addicted, so it was easy for me to remove the habit of smoking. I think, I smoked cigarettes for just two months then I stopped. It never really did anything good to me, so I decided to stop.

"Really? For how long?" curious nitong tanong. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nadatnan itong sinisindihan ang kaniyang sigarilyo. He placed the stick of cigarette in between his long slender fingers as he placed the fire just at the tip of it.

"It's been three years already, since I stopped," maiksi kong sagot.

Naglakad ito palayo sa akin, palapit sa pader ng building. He leaned his back on the gray walls as he continued to look at me. "Why are you smoking then?" muli nitong tanong at nagpakawala ng usok mula sa kaniyang bibig.

I laughed at his question. I, myself, do not know why I'm smoking right now. He offered me a smoke then I just immediately said yes. I didn't even think for a second there, huh? "I don't know. It was just a sudden decision," sagot ko.

"You know, you should stop smoking. Hangga't kaya mo pa," dagdag nito at muling humithit mula sa kaniyang sigarilyo. "It's hard for me to quit smoking since it is my way of relieving my stress. And, I've been doing it for years already. It's really hard to quit."

I raised my brow at him as I decided to walk next towards him. Lumapit ako sa tabi nito at sumandal din sa pader ng building. Itinaas ko ang aking paa at inilapat ang talampakan sa pader. I leaned my body at the hard solid surface of the wall as it hit the entirety of my back. "Hmm... Coming from you? Who invited me for a smoke?" natatawa kong tanong at binigyan ito ng masamang tingin.

He let out a laugh. "It was never my intention to make you go back to smoking. I was actually surprised that you said yes to my invitation," pag-amin nito.