Stuck With You

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

Better

Katahimikan. Yun ang nanaig sa loob ng silid na kinaroroonan namin ni Ashton pagkatapos umalis nina Dad. The silence is killing me, and this is the reason why I hated this fucking idea from the very beginning. Alam ko kasing ganito rin ang mangyayari. Hindi ko alam pero sa tanang buhay ko ngayon lang din ako naawkward, nabaliwala, at naintimidate sa isang lalaki. It somehow hurts my fucking ego. This is not me. I'm far better than this.

Napabuntong hininga ako at wala sa loob na napatingin sa couch kung saan prenteng nakaupo si Ashton habang seryoso sa pagbubuklat at pagbabasa ng magazine.

I get it. He's not interested in me. Ako lang naman ata ang attracted sa kanya, and that's fine with me. That thing does not bother me at all since that's what I really wanted from the very start. Hindi ako pumayag sa set up na ito para magwork ang relasyong meron kami kundi para pagbigyan lang si Dad at the same time pigilan siya sa mga kahibangan niya. Ramdam ko rin na ganun din ang ginagawa ni Ashton. Baka nga inutusan lang din itong magvolunteer na samahan ako ngayon e. Who knows, right?

"May kailangan ka?" he suddenly asked without even looking at me. Maybe he noticed my stare at him this time.

Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita.

"Uh... T-Thank you..."

What the heck? Why am I stuttering all of a sudden?

"For what?" he asked in a formal voice without a hint of humor in it. Pansin ko rin ang bahagyang pagsalubong ng mga kilay niya habang nasa hawak na magazine pa rin ang buong atensyon.

And as usual, I couldn't resist the urge to check him out. Yes! He really looked arrogant, stiff, and snobby, and all of him was screaming of force and dominance. It is not my ideal type, yet I find it really hot and attractive. Isa pa sa napansin ko, habang tumatagal talaga mas lalo yata siyang gumagwapo sa paningin ko.

"I heard what you did at Lexi's from Atticus. Thank you and sorry for the trouble. I mean, we just met and this happened. Nakakahiya sa'yo at sa family mo," I said in a low voice. "Sana if maging okay na ang lahat, hayaan mo akong makabawi man lang sa'yo. If it's okay with you."

God! I'm sounding like a weak girl. A damsel in distress who always needs a man's help. Damn it.

Now I get his full attention. He suddenly turned his gaze at me. His lips pursed. He looks amused by something. Pero kapag tinitingnan naman ang mga mata niya'y wala ka talagang mababakas ni katiting na emosyon.

Napatuwid tuloy ako ng upo. He's now staring at me while slightly touching his lower lip. Bigla na naman akong naconscious sa hitsura ko, and for some unknown reason, hindi talaga makatagal ang titig ko sa kanya.

"Don't mind it. It's not a big deal anyway," he told me.

Umiling ako ng bahagya sa kanya.

"For me, it is. As you can see, I hate this feeling that I'm indebted to someone. So I owe you one," I insisted while meeting his gaze. Shit! Ang ganda talaga ng mga mata niya. Now, I'm praising him in silence again. Damn you, Ella! Malala ka na.

He sighed.

"Okay, if you insist..."

"Thank you. Just feel free to contact me if and when you need that favor. I will be happy to return it to the best of my ability," I added, assuring him.

"Well, since you offered it, can I use that now to ask a little favor from you, Ms. Delaverga?" he suddenly asked, his eyes still fixed on me.

I gave him a small smile.