Stuck in the Illusion Called Us [Siegfrid & Eleanour]

Kabanata 22

Siegfrid did nothing but watch me the whole time we were on the boat. Bawat kilos at galaw ko ay nakatingin siya, kahit nga yata ‘yong paghinga ko ay nakabantay din siya. He did not even join them dive because according to him, wala raw akong kasama. Naiwan tuloy kaming dalawa na parang tanga.

“Ano pa ang ginagawa mo rito? Sumunod ka na sa kanila!” sabi ko at saka itinuro ‘yong kalulubog lang na si Davis. Nalaman kong licenced and professional divers silang lahat kaya hindi na kailangan pa ng ibang kasama.

“Okay lang ako na mag-isa rito. Hindi ko kailangan ng kasama,” giit ko.

But the truth was, I wanted him away from me. Now that we were alone here, hindi kumakalma itong dibdib ko.

“I am not in the mood for diving,” tanging sagot niya sabay kibit ng balikat.

“But it’s your birthday! Go have fun,” I insisted.

“I am already having fun,” he replied.

Nangunot ang noo ko sa tugon niya.

Masaya na siya sa lagay na ‘yan?

Sabagay, siya nga pala ‘yong tipo na ipinaglihi sa sama ng loob, isang bato na nagkatawan lang na tao, bihira pa sa bihira kung ngumiti.

Siegfrid took a deep sigh and confronted me while folding his arms across his chest. However, that action accentuated the muscles in his arms, particularly noticeable because he was just wearing a muscle t-shirt.

I swallowed nervously and averted my gaze. I opened my mouth to speak but clamped it shut again at the next words he said.

“With you, beside you, is where fun is, Eleanour,” he stated.

Natigilan ako saglit sa mga sinabi niya. For a moment, I nearly believed him, about to be swayed because that was such a smooth pick-up line, hanggang sa maalala ko na nagpapanggap lang siya.

“Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin ‘yan. Wala naman ang mga magulang mo rito para magpanggap tayo,” sabi ko.

Naalala ko bigla ‘yong ginawa niyang paghalik sa akin kagabi. And in the first place, I should not be doing this pretend thing. Dinala lang niya ako sa sitwasyong ito at dapat ay hindi ako ang nahihirapan sa pag-iisip ng kung papaano ako tatakas dito.

“The kiss last night should not happen again,” sabi ko habang muling humaharap sa kaniya. “Siegfrid, let us stop lying to your parents!”

Muling inalis ko ang tingin sa kaniya at saka ibinalik sa dagat, habang naaalala ‘yong first love niyang si Senna.

Nasaan na ba talaga siya ngayon? Why would someone had to pretend to be his girlfriend? The last I checked, they were madly in love with each other!

Ang sabi sa akin ni Johanna noon ay mahal na mahal ni Siegfrid si Senna. I believed her. I had seen and heard him himself confessing his love to her.