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

KABANATA 31

Kabanata 31

The thirty-first tick

Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa'kin. His eyes were widening a bit, like he was so shocked and didn't expect that I was still here.

I tapped the space beside me. "Let's talk, hmm?" My lips pouted as I asked that.

Wala akong narinig na kahit anong sagot mula sakanya. He's just there, lost and unable to move.

"I know you, Zach..." I smiled at him. "I now know you." Mahinang bulong ko, pero sapat na para umabot sakanya ang mga salitang 'yon.

His brows furrowed together a little, but they were replaced again by his soft eyes. Papalit-palit ang mga reaksyon at emosyon sa mukha niya: magdududa, magiging malumanay, hanggang sa mawala na nang tuluyan, at muling uulit at babalik sa kaguluhan. What I said made a huge impact on him, but it's not enough... For him to be with me. It will never be, I guess..? If it's himself that he's fighting with.

He took a step closer to where I was, but immediately stopped before he could take another one. He gulped and shook his head. Umiwas siya ng tingin sa'kin, at mariing pinikit ang mga mata niya.

My eyes blinked when he harshly rubbed his hair in frustration. I was about to stand up when he took a glance at me, but he made his way to the door before I could even do that.

Mabilis ko siyang nilingon nang marinig ang pagbukas ng pinto. "Wait!" What I said made him halt.

Isang hakbang nalang, at tuluyan na siyang makakalabas; isang hakbang nalang din, at mapagsasaraduhan niya nanaman ako ng pintuan.

Once he closed that door, it would definitely crush me to the bone. Pakiramdam ko, babalik nanaman kami sa umpisa, kapag hindi ko siya pinigilan. Kapag tuluyan siyang umalis, pakiramdam ko mawawala nanaman kung anong meron kami.

It was I who turned my back on him, and now that I'm in the same position as he was back then, it does hurt a lot. I could never imagine how painful it was for him when I did that.

I bit my lip, "Zach..." pabulong kong tawag sakanya.

He cracked his neck, like he was suffering from delusions, hallucinations, or anything else that could make him feel that way.

I gripped the edge of the couch before standing up. "There are no dragons anymore... Why would you leave me? Your princess? All alone?" I asked, remembering what he said, about the night when the both of us first got close to each other, without someone hindering the inches between us.

Dumaan ang ilang segundo: ako, na pinagdadasal na huwag siyang umalis, at siya, na natigilan ulit.

My lips parted when he slowly glanced sideways. Because of that, I could see his chiseled jaw, which became more shaped because of him, restraining himself too, like he was arrested for some false accusations.

I gulped when he faced me. Mabibigat ang yabag ng mga paa niya papunta sa'kin. Tuloy, ay kusang gumalaw ang mga paa ko, papalayo sa pigura niyang para akong lalamunin nang buo.

My eyes widened a bit when I bumped into his bed. Hindi ko inaasahan 'yon kaya nawalan ako ng balanse at napaupo sa dulo ng higaan niya.

My breath hitched when he leaned down, with both of his hands on each of my sides. Napahawak ang kanang kamay ko sa kwelyo ng damit na suot niya, at ang kabila naman ay sa kaniyang balikat nang mas lumapit pa siya. Our faces are only a few centimeters apart. I could even feel his hot breath coming from his parted lips, which made my throat dry up.

"Hindi ako ang prinsipe mo sa kwentong 'to..." His eyes went down on my lips. "Princess."

My lips parted when he called me by that name again. I could feel my cheeks burning red in both anticipation and happiness, but I also sulked because of what he had said before that.