Alkia Kingdom: Beyond the Ranking Quest

Chapter 32: The Truth

UNEDITED...

DENISE

Nasa loob ng silid ko si Prius. Tapos na rin kaming mag-dinner. It was already midnight and this was the time to talk. Bumalik kami kanina para maglaro ng couple quests namin pero nag-log out din kami. Nakaupo ako sa gilid ng kama at nakahalukipkip. Marami akong gustong itanong sa kanya. Nakatingin lang siya sa 'kin at nakaupo sa sofa. He was wearing a white hoodie. Medyo magulo ang buhok niya. His lips were pressed into a tight line and he was looking at me intently. It seems that he was suppressing his smile. Pero kitang-kita sa mga mata niya ang pagkaaliw habang nakatingin sa 'kin. Naghihintay siya na magtanong ako. Nakakatunaw ang tingin niya. I managed to not look away and avoid his gaze. Ayokong isipin niya na naaapektuhan ako ng mga tingin niya.

Damn his bright eyes for taking my breath away! I heaved a deep sigh to control my breathing. To control my heart that was beating so fast. If only I could stop my heart from beating, for sure I'd be dead by now.

"My brother know you? Bakit hindi kita matandaan? Nagkita na ba tayo dati?" tanong ko sa kanya. Marami kaming dapat pag-usapan pero ito muna ang gusto kong linawin. He smirked. I hate to admit it but he's gorgeous when he do that. As if he was trying to put me under his spell. A very dangerous at the same time wonderful spell. Maybe a sinful one too.

"You saw me when you were eight. It was summer. I was in the neighborhood. Adik kayo ng kuya mo sa paglalaro ng computer games. Lagi kayong naglalaban. Hindi ka tumitigil hangga't hindi mo siya natatalo. You can't easily accept defeat. You always want to be the best," he said and laughed. Namula ang mukha ko. I was really stubborn when I was a kid. And he's right. Hindi ko pinapaalis si kuya sa harap ng computer niya hangga't hindi ko siya natatalo. Hindi ko pa rin siya natatalo hanggang ngayon. I'm no match for him.

"Naging magkaibigan kami ni Darren. Madalas niyayaya niya akong maglaro ng basketball and some computer games too. He always tells me that you suck in computer games. He wants a new rival. Inimbitahan niya ako sa bahay ninyo. Nasa harap ka lang ng computer. You're solving a puzzle game. You were so cute back then. Your cheeks were fluffy and you're always pouting in front of your computer. You're not losing your focus. Nakakunot ang noo mo at magkasalubong ang kilay mo. Hindi mo nga pinansin ang pagdating namin. Ipinapakilala ka na sa 'kin ni Darren pero hindi mo pa rin ako tinitingnan. Sinabi mo pa sa kanya na huwag siyang maingay dahil busy ka at hindi mo ma-solve ang puzzle. Sinabi niya sa 'yo na wala ka ng pag-asa at hindi mo siya pinansin," he said. He was smiling big as if he could still remember the little me and the past clearly. I blushed. Parang gusto ko na siyang patigilin sa pagkukwento. It was a blur in my mind. Hindi ko maalala nang malinaw. But I felt that it really did happen.

"Tapos umalis muna si Darren dahil kukuha raw siya ng meryenda. Hindi mo pa rin ako tinitingnan. Napansin ko na parang hirap na hirap ka sa puzzle. Lumapit na ako at tinulungan kita. Saka mo pa lang ako pinansin nung na-solve ko ang puzzle. Hindi ka natuwa. Nagalit ka pa dahil tinulungan kita at sumimangot ka sa 'kin," he grinned.

"Hinamon mo pa ako na maglaro ng computer games. And Darren was right nang sabihin niya na hindi mo pinapatayo ang mga kalaban mo hangga't hindi mo natatalo. Hindi mo ko tinatawag sa pangalan ko dahil hindi mo natatandaan o ayaw mo lang talaga. You're calling me with different names. Tapos natatawa na lang ako kapag nakakatulog ka na sa harap ng computer mo habang naglalaro tayo. Binubuhat ka na lang ng kuya mo para dalhin ka sa kwarto mo," sabi niya at hindi na niya napigilan ang tumawa. Mas lalo akong namula. I wanted to stop him but I remained silent. Surprisingly, I want to hear it all from his perspective. I want to know what he was thinking about me back then.