Master of my Inferno

SEVENTEEN RIGHT HERE 💎

SEVENTEEN RIGHT HERE 💎

DINNER AT LEANDRO'S PARENTS' HOUSE. Dinner? Again? I think my heart is jumping out of my chest. To be with them again, eating dinner together makes me nervous. They are kind specially Leandro's mom, but I'm still nervous. They are intimidating. Lalo na iyong daddy niyang tatakbong Mayor!

"Still nervous?" Leandro is being Leandro. He's teasing me every time he knows I'm nervous when I'm around his family.

"Super." Labas sa ilong na anas ko na ikinatawa niya.

He put his hand on top of my hand that is resting on my lap. His other hand is still on the steering wheel. "They are just my family, and we're just going to eat dinner with them. We can bail out after that if you want."

"Nah. You should spend time with your parents and siblings." I smiled. Marahan ko ring hinaplos ang kamay niya na nakapatong pa rin sa kamay ko. "They are your family."

"Is it bad to say that I want to spend time with you more?"

Tumawa ako at pilit na tinatakpan ang kilig na nararamdaman. Butterflies. Butterflies. "Are you being cheesy or something?"

"Or something." He smirked, making me fall for his kissable lips.

Gosh, Leandro. Muli siyang ngumisi, "Gosh, Veronica."

"Did I say that out loud?" Thought it was just in my head. He even sounded like me.

"Yeah. What is it, a mannerism?" I don't know, did he smirk, or smile? Maybe an upside-down smile, and he doesn't have any idea how hot he is!

Nang makababa kami sa kotse ay nakasalubong pa namin ang isang lalaking ngayon ko lang nakita. He's wearing a suit, he greeted Leandro and went straight to his car.

"Who's that?" Anas ko, hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Leandro at sa tingin ko ay nagustuhan niya iyon.

"Our financial analyst. My father hired countless finance people, he wants to manage everything wisely. Especially when he's running for mayor."

"I'm happy that you're supporting your father, Leandro. All of your siblings are supporting him too. You have a perfect family." Kaylan kaya mangyayari ito sa pamilya ko? Mapapatawad pa ba nila ako sa kasalanang hindi ko naman ginawa?

"Veronica," tumigil siya sa paglalakad kaya tumigil din ako. He gripped my hand. "My family is far from being perfect. It has flaws and holes and all."

"But—"

"Let's not talk about it, not right now. Let's finish this dinner then bail out." I can't recognize his voice. Or is it just his tone? He's still holding my hand but is not looking at me.

I don't speak much, so does Leandro. Like he said, we ate dinner and left. Buong byahe ay hindi nagsasalita si Leandro, gusto kong magtanong pero hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin. Pakiramdam ko ay galit siya pero wala akong ideya kung bakit.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa apartment ko ay hindi siya nagsalita. He kissed my forehead and then he left.

What happened? Did I do something wrong?

It was hard for me to sleep that night. I'm still thinking about Leandro, about us, about everything. We were okay and then it felt like we're not.

-*-

KINABUKASAN, literal na bumungad sa patingin ko ay mukha ni Leandro nang magmulat ako ng mata. Agad ko siya niyakap, at hindi ko alam kung bakit pero umiyak ako agad.

"Hey, dolce mia, why are you crying? What happened? Were you hurt? Where?" Dahil sa pag-aalala sa boses niya ay mas lalo akong naiyak.

"Akala ko ay galit ka sa'kin." Humihikbing anas ko.