My Sin In His Past (The 3rd Book of "In His Past" Series)

Chapter 8

"Oh shit! Shit! Shit!" Louisa felt like she would be having a mental breakdown. "What did I just do?! I just fucking dig myself a fucking grave!" Nais niyang sabunutan at sampalin ang sarili dahil sa katangahang naisip. Nagsinungaling siya at sinabing may kakambal siya para lamang makaiwas sa mga tanong ni Zynder. Now, she has no choice but to go on a date with him today. She's been dreading this day to come all week long but she can't escape. Ngayon nga'y dumating na ang sabado at nakaharap siya sa salamin ng isang public cr kung saan siya nag-aayos. Nakapagbihis na siya at nakapag-make-up na rin ngunit tila ba ayaw ng mga paa niyang gumalaw.

She glanced back at her reflection in the mirror and saw the innocent-looking vibes that she chose for the theme of her outfit today. She was wearing a pastel-colored top with a cute bow and a striped mini-skirt. Ginawa rin niyang minimal ang suot na mga accessories, opting for a simple heart necklace and a pair of heart earrings. She finished the whole ensemble with platform shoes. Kahit nga ang make-up na pinili niya ngayon ay napaka-light lamang at hindi overly dramatic.

"You can do this, Louisa. You just need to tell him to stop with his delusions and to leave you alone. That's it!" She was trying to encourage herself but she ended up crying in despair.

Paano kung mahalata niya na si Louis at Louisa ay iisa lamang?

Paano kung malaman nito na bakla talaga siya at hindi ang babaeng pinapagpantasyahan nito?

"But he did consider me as Louisa . . ." bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatingin sa repleksyon niya sa salamin. Zynder did think of her as Louisa. He didn't shy away from the idea that she as Louis can be the woman that he had been kissing on the club.

Matatanggap kaya niya ako?

Pinilig na lamang niya ang ulo upang gisingin ang sarili sa kaniyang katangahan. A perfect guy like Zynder won't settle for someone like her. 

Why settle for a gay boy if he can have any woman that he could desire?

"Tama, Louisa. Itigil mo na ang katangahan na ito bago ka pa masaktan. Prevention is better than cure, right? Masaya ka na rin sa kung ano ang buhay mo ngayon. Huwag mo ng hayaang guluhin ng isang lalake ang peacefulness na iyon," she gave her reflection a weak smile before gathering her things and exiting the bathroom.

Nag-Uber na lamang siya sa rented locker niya at iniwan ang mga gamit doon bago muling nag-book ng ride papunta sa cafe na sinabi ni Zynder. Nang makarating doon ay kaagad nakuha ng kaniyang atensyon ang lalake na nakatayo sa labas ng cafe at mukhang hinihintay ang pagdating niya. 

He was wearing simple dark, straight jeans with a striped T-shirt and sneakers. Suot-suot na naman nito ang mamahalin nitong relo na mukhang paborito nito. From where she was standing, she saw him look down at his watch before tapping his foot on the pavement. He looked worried, not gonna lie. Baka akala nito ay i-indianin niya ito.

"Go lang, Louisa," ika niya bago malakas na bumuntung-hininga. Agad siyang naglakad papalapit sa lalake at nang malapit-lapit na siya dito ay para bang naramdaman nito ang presensya niya sapagkat napalingon ito sa direksyon niya. 

His face immediately lit up as if all the burdens that he had was just lifted instantly. Hindi na nito hinintay siya bagkus ay ito pa nga ang kusang lumapit sa kaniya. "Hi!" he cheekily greeted her with a warm smile. "I thought you would leave me hanging here." dagdag nito.

"Ni-request ng kambal ko na kausapin kita dahil ginugulo mo daw siya kaya wala akong choice kundi sumunod," pagsisinungaling niya bago ito inirapan. Nauna na siyang maglakad papunta sa cafe at hindi na ito hinintay. 

"All right, we're back to square one, I guess," he muttered under his breath but she pay him no heed. Pagpasok nila sa establishment ay kaagad silang binati ng aroma ng kape at masayang kwentuhan ng mga parokyano doon. Lumapit siya sa may counter at tinignan ang mga choices sa menu. Ramdam niya ang presensya ni Zynder na nakasunod sa kaniya sa kaniyang likuran. "What do you want?" he asked while holding on to her waist.

"Tanggalin mo 'yan," strikta niyang saad habang tinataasan itong muli ng kilay.

"Geez . . . Nanlalambing lang," protesta nito ngunit sinunod pa rin ang sinabi niya.

"May I take your order, Ma'am?" Natanggal ang atensyon niya kay Zynder nang marinig ang babae na nasa counter. Nginitian niya rin ito bago nagsimulang mag-order. 

"Hi! One Iced Latte and an egg sandwich." Nilingon niya si Zynder at tinanong, "Sa iyo?"

"Oh! One Hot Coffee and a bagel for me." Akma na sanang dudukutin ni Zynder ang wallet ngunit mas mabilis siya at nailapag na niya ang exact amount ng order nilang dalawa.

"It's on me," ika niya bago tinanggap ang kanilang receipt at naghanap ng mauupuan nila.

"But I want to pay for it, I'm taking you out on a date," maktol nito na parang bata.

Umupo muna siya sa isang comfy chair doon bago ito tiningala at pinagsabihan. "First thing first, this is not a date. May pag-uusapan lang tayo. Huwag kang masyadong feelingero. Secondly, let's make this meeting a brief one. Busy ako at marami pa akong kailangang gawin."

"I was so excited all throughout the week for this date, but here you are, dumping all my hopes with a few sentences," saad nito bago naupo sa katapat niyang upuan.

Hindi na niya pinansin ang sinabi nito bagkus ay dumiretso na siya kaagad sa rason kung bakit nandito sila in the first place. "Stop with your bullshit and leave my twin brother alone. It's enough that you've been terrorizing me." 

"I didn't mean to bother him. You looked and smelled exactly the same so I thought he was you," pagtatanggol ni Zynder sa sarili. 

"Well then, simula ngayon ay huwag mo ng guluhin ang kapatid ko. Marami siyang pinoproblema tungkol sa uni niya at dagdag distraction ka lamang!"

"I would if you promise to meet up and talk to me."

"I can't!"

"And why?" Ang sarap sapakin ng lalakeng ito. Ang tigas-tigas ng ulo.

"Well . . . because . . . because I have a boyfriend already!" Heto na naman siya sa mga kasinungalingang hindi niya pinag-iisipan muna bago sabihin.

"I don't care. Mag-asawa na ba kayo? And besides, that kiss between us isn't the type of a kiss that would be given by someone who is in love with their partner. We have a thing going on between us and you know it," mariin at confident nitong ika. "Hindi mo ako maloloko, wala kang boyfriend."

"Why are you doing this to me?!" frustrated niyang tanong.

Ngumisi lamang ang lalake bago nag-lean papalapit sa kaniya. "I am feeling this really weird emotion with you and I can't fucking describe it nor understand it. But one thing I am sure . . . I fucking want it . . . I fucking want you. Kaya hindi mo ako mapipigilan kung obssess na obssess ako sa iyo ngayon." He caressed her left cheek so softly before saying, "So give in, hon. Give in to me and I promise that I would give you everything that a woman can desire."