Just This Once (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 18

#JustThisOnce

Kabanata 18 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Parker. Hindi ko alam kung nagkaroon na ba ako ng nervous breakdown dahil sa dami ng inaaral ko kaya nagkakaroon na ako ng delusions. But if this was just a product of my imagination, this felt too freaking vivid! And really cruel, too! Nahihirapan na nga akong magmove on kahit wala namang kami, tapos ganito?

"Back off," Parker said, sounding livid.

Maven cocked his head to the side. "You're just making me want her more, Palma."

Parker pulled me closer. Ramdam ko iyong balat niya sa balat ko. Pasimple kong kinurot iyong sarili ko para mapatunayan ko na hindi ako delusional. Na hindi ako nababaliw sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

"Fuck off."

Maven shrugged. "You know I always love a healthy competition," Maven said and then turned at me. "See you later, Abby," he said and then winked at me. Ramdam ko iyong paghigpit ng hawak sa akin ni Parker nung kinindatan ako ni Maven. God. Ako lang ba ang nape-pressure sa mga nangyayari?

Nang makaalis si Maven, naiwan ako na hindi maka-galaw sa kinatatayuan ko. I knew I was wasting my time standing here when I could be reviewing, but this was a pressing matter, too! Mas lalo akong madi-distract sa pag-aaral kung hindi ko itatanong kay Parker kung ano ang ginagawa niya. He's one confusing guy! Iba ang ginagawa sa sinasabi! And just this once, sana naman ay magtugma na ang mga sinasabi niya sa ginagawa niya.

Gusto kong magsalita pero hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula. There were millions of things running inside my head, but I couldn't find a decent way to verbalize any of them. I was on the edge of madness dahil sa mga ginagawa ni Parker!

"Genesis."

Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang marinig ko ang boses niya. He slowly removed his arm on my shoulder and faced me. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang makita ko kung gaano siya ka-seryoso.

"W-what?" nauutal na sabi ko. His eyes were so intense kaya naman mas naging intense ang tibok ng puso ko. I wanted to castigate my heart and tell it to calm down, but it was hard to! Para akong tinutunaw ng titig niya.

"You're not a thing to own," he said, staring intently. "And this is not a game."

I pressed my lips together, trying to hide the fact that I was slowly losing it by the way he's speaking and looking at me.

"H-ha?" Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko.

"I'm sorry if I ignored you. I was just taking my time."

"For what?" nagawa kong itanong.

The wind was chilly, but it wasn't enough to dull the intensity of Parker's stares. Para akong natutunaw sa bawat segundo na nasa akin ang mga mata niya. His eyes spoke thousands of words... and I didn't mind waiting just as long as I get to listen to those words. Because Parker had always been my own kind of mystery. And I'd do anything just to unearth one of his secrets.

I was fucking drawn. Kahit na alam ko na masama siya para sa akin.

"To move on."

Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso.

Parang may rumaragasang tren sa loob ng dibdib ko.

"I just want to completely remove Imo from my system before I let you in."

"And did you succeed?"

A small smile appeared on his face. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't succeed."