Star-Crossed Melodies (Echoes #1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Great

"Ano? Tuloy ba? Papunta na kami ni Yael sa courtyard." si Reon sa aking cellphone.

Tinawagan niya ako habang nasa library pa ako at ginagawa ang drawing ni Leyla. Mag iisang oras na kami rito pero hindi ko pa tapos.

Puro kasi sulyap ang ginagawa ko sa aking katabi.

"Tuloy. I'm just finishing something," I replied, looking at the two people sitting with me at the table.

Leyla's eyes were curious as she watched me, while Ellis had a blank expression on his face.

"Bilisan mo! Siguraduhin mong sisipot ka, ah? Susunuguin ko ang mga collection mo ng hubad na anime figures!" sigaw niya at humalakhak pa.

"Fucker!" natatawang kong sabi habang nag dradrawing.

"Hintay, Yazid Leroy!" he shouted on the other line, Yael must have left him.

I ended the call and put my cell phone back in my pocket. When I looked back at the two of them, their expressions were the same.

"He's just a friend who called," I found myself explaining, my eyes on Ellis.

He avoided my gaze and didn't respond. I shrugged and went back to my drawing. Leyla sighed and moved closer to me. She bent over the table, her chest almost touching me.

I moved away and looked at her.

Damn it.

"Is it going to take much longer?" she asked, her eyes on the bond paper. I pursed my lips.

"Just a few more details. Why? Are you guys leaving?"

"Sana, pero kung hindi 'yan matapos punta ka nalang sa condo ko?"

This girl....

I heard Ellis coughing behind Leyla, so I glanced at him. Leyla and I both looked at him, he was wiping his lips.

"Are you okay, Ell?" Leyla asked him.

He nodded but didn't even glance at me. Leyla turned her attention back to me and bent down even more. I averted my eyes from her chest.

I wanted to make the sign of the cross.

"Ano?" ulit ni Leyla sa kanina n'yang tanong.

"I don't think it would look good if I went to your condo," I replied. She rolled her eyes.

"What's wrong with that? You're going there to draw, to help me out. Walang malisya! Unless, kung hahalikan mo ako? Baka talagang may mangyari?" nakangiwi niyang sabi.

My jaw dropped. What the fuck?

Ellis coughed again, drawing our attention to him. He wasn't eating anything, but he kept coughing. He must be choking on his own saliva.

"Ano? Willing naman ako mag pahalik-"

"Whoa! Calm down! I haven't even courted you yet..." I said, trying to look at Ellis, but Leyla was blocking him.

"Then court me!" she blurted out quickly.

I took a deep breath. I had a strong feeling that this wasn't Leyla. She's not usually like this, right? What happened?

I shook my head. "I'm going to finish this now. I'm not going to your condo."

"You seem to be leaving."

"I can finish this. I'm not used to going to a woman's condo," I said, glancing at Ellis who was staring blankly at his laptop screen. He wasn't typing, just staring at it.