The Lies That We Tell (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Huminga ako nang malalim nang makatanggap ako ng tawag mula sa lobby at sinasabi na nandon si Zion. I really wanted to send him away. I felt like it had been a long day and I was ready to call it a day. Pero ayoko naman na isali pa sila ate roon. I felt like they already knew too much about my business—more than I'd want them to know.

Muli akong huminga nang malalim nang makarinig ako ng katok sa pinto. I opened the door and I expected to see Zion... but he was holding a paper bag.

"Sorry?" he said as he held on the bag close to his face. "I would've come here sooner, but I remembered that you haven't eaten yet, so I got food first."

Oh, fuck.

Seriously, Arielle?

He probably could murder someone and he'd just hand me a rose and I'd be like 'awwww.'

Ang lala ko.

When did this even start?!

"Fine..." I said as I opened the door wider.

He got in my condo, placed the paperbag on the counter, and removed his shoes. I didn't need to tell him what to do. It's like he's already used to this. Sabagay, ilang beses na rin naman siyang nakapunta dito dati.

"What?" I asked dahil nakatayo na lang siya roon at nakatingin sa akin.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"For?" I asked, my brow arched.

"Making you mad?"

"Because?"

"I talked to a girl?" parang hindi sigurado na sabi niya.

Umirap ako. "Did you seriously think that I'm mad because you talked to a girl? I am not that shallow, Zion."

"Okay..." he replied. "But... why are you so mad at me?" he asked.

"I already said why."

He slightly nodded his head. "Because I did not introduce you to the girl earlier," he said in a way that he was asking for my confirmation. I just stared at him. "Alright. I will introduce you to whoever I was talking to next time."

I gave out an exasperated sigh at saka tumalikod sa kanya.

"What?" he asked habang naramdaman ko na nakasunod siya sa akin.

"Nothing."

"Come on... I'm trying here."

"I know, but it's not like I was asking for the impossible here, Zion. What I was asking for are pretty normal things."

"I know."

"It just makes me think—" I said and then paused for a bit.

"Think of what?"

Umiling ako. "Nothing," I replied because I didn't want to say something that I knew I would regret at hindi ko na pwedeng bawiin pa once na nasabi ko na. "Let's just eat."

Kinuha ko iyong maliit na table ko sa kwarto at saka inilapag iyon sa may carpet. Zion was just standing there and looking at me. Ang awkward tuloy.

"Don't just stare at me," I told him. "Bring the food here and let's eat."

Akala ko ay may sasabihin pa siya, but he complied—silently at that, though. He was seating across me. He was just a meter away and his eyes were on my face. I felt conscious but I didn't want to point it out dahil alam ko na itatanong niya ulit iyong gusto kong sabihin kanina.

"What was it?" he asked.

"What was what?" I asked back, trying to feign innocence.

"What you were thinking," he said. "And don't say nothing," he added. "Come on now. I thought that at this stage, you could pretty much tell me anything."