Every Tick of Serendipity ( Ruler of Fate Series #3 )

KABANATA 14

Kabanata 14

The fourteenth tick

I pursed my lips, thinking deeply about his proposal.

Proposal... No way! It sounds like this is real, which isn't naman! Erase... Erase... Erase! About his suggestion nalang.

"What's with your face?" He asked, which made me wake up from my thoughts.

I cleared my throat. "Isn't that cliché already?"

He glanced at me while taking another slice of burger. "Alin?"

"Your propo—" I licked my lips. "Your offer? I've seen this in many movies, already." I raised my right hand. "Example: This is the guy who's the female lead is crushing on." Tinaas ko naman ang kabila. "And this is the other guy... Who wanted to do what you said." I pouted and did a hum. "And..." Ngumiwi ako.

"Ah..." He nodded his head repeatedly. "Tapos mafa-fall yung babae doon sa nag-offer?" Tinuro niya ang kanang kamay ko. "Tapos mare-realize nung unang guy na huli na siya kasi nga..." He pursed his lips. "Na-fall?"

I clasped my hands, making a single clap sound. "Exactly!" We're in what era na, oh? Do you think the pretend thingy will actually work?" I rolled my eyes and took a piece of burger again.

He munched his food first, with his head still nodding, before answering me. "Hindi ka naman mahuhulog sa'kin, diba?"

My lips parted. "Of course! Why would I? You're not even pasok in my standards." Mabilis at malakas kong sagot nang makabawi sa gulat.

He pursed his lips. "Edi... Hindi rin mangyayari yung sinasabi mo."

I raised my brow at him, "Will you handle my two kuya's? Hmm?" nanghahamon kong tanong. "They're super-duper protective pa naman."

He chuckled. "Ayon lang ba panakot mo sa'kin, Amber? Mga kuya mo?" He scoffed. "Ikaw nga... Naaya kong kumain, eh." He shook his head this time and did a tsk repeatedly to me. "Sa maldita mong 'yan?" Mahinang bulong niya, pero hindi nakatakas sa pandinig ko 'yon.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Excuse me?! You're so kulit kasi! I was thinking about something a while ago when I went out of my class, and you suddenly talked to me and asked me out."

He poked his inner cheek. "Oh? Bakit parang kasalanan ko? Pinilit ka ba?"

Inirapan ko siya. "Geez, you should say thank you nalang, kasi if hindi ako naawa sa'yo..." I shrugged. "Then, wala kang kasama mag-eat dito."

"Wow..." Suminghap siya ng hangin, at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa'kin. "Salamat, ah?"

I rolled my eyes. "As you should."

He licked his lips and squinted his eyes at me. "Grabe talaga apog mo, no?"

My forehead creased. "What's apog?"

"Wala..." Ngumiti siya sa'kin na mas lalong ikinakunot ng noo ko. "Kumain ka nalang diyan. Mas maganda siguro kapag hindi ka nalang nagsasalita."

I gasped. "How dare you?!"

His lips formed an 'o'. "How dare you?!" He mumbled, mimicking my voice.

Kinagat ko nang marahas ang burger na hawak ko. I felt my cheeks puffing because of how big the piece of food in my mouth is. That made him chuckle and imitate me nanaman! Kumagat din siya ng malaki sa burger niya, inaasar ako na mas lalong ikinasama ng tingin ko sakanya.

"What an epal..." I mumbled, even with my full mouth.

Natawa ulit siya, hindi dahil sa sinabi ko, kundi dahil hindi niya rin naman naintindihan 'yon. I just made a weird sound, when I said that.