cнιcнarong ғlower [ ɴejιтeɴ ғαɴғιcтιoɴ ] ✔

Chapter 25

Her sense of reality slowly returned. "W-What? Do you think I'm some kind of disease? A temporary obstacle to the normal functioning of your system?"

"I didn't say anything like that."

"It's the same thing!" she snapped, eyes crinkling in anger. "I'm a menace to your life, is that it?"

Frustration is now clearly painted on his face. "Stop putting words into my mouth!"

"Because you can't be man enough to tell me the truth!" She whirled around, but he, as usual, had anticipated her move. His hand roughly grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him.

"Ok, you want to hear the truth?" His eyes also crinkling. "I'm irritated at myself for ever kissing you. From then on, I couldn't seem to forget about it!"

"Why? Was it because I said you kiss like a jellyfish and got your ego bruised?" she hissed. "You're really bad at accepting the truth."

You're lying," he said through gritted teeth. "I can see it in your eyes every time. You want my kiss. You ache for it, damn it!"

Her chest wanted to explode from being too upset. Was she really like that? Did she really want him too?

"Tenten..." She nearly jumped when she felt the gentleness that replaced his voice, and the feathery touch of his fingertips on her cheeks. His husky voice was murmuring softly. "Sorry...so sorry...I didn't...I didn't mean to..."

"H-Huh?" She was taken by the words of her companion that she forgot the situation they're in.

"I didn't mean to make you cry." His eyes were troubled, that was for sure. How many times has she seen emotions change from his eyes? Laughter and annoyance were the only ones she always see. Apparently, she was wrong, He could look so soulful when he was looking like this.

"T-Tears?" She absent-mindedly touched her cheeks and yes, indeed she was crying. "H-Ha... ahahaha... w-why am I crying? It's just dirt caught on my eye... why would I cry because of you? You're my beloved." The last phrase she meant as a light-hearted statement broke into rough sobs.

The next thing she felt was, his arms wrapping around her, rocking her gently as she wailed loudly the streams of incoherent words of her stupid, stupid heart. Mostly his name, and profanities in between.

And he only hugged her more, whispering apologies. There and then she knew he was lovable...very, very lovable. He was, in fact, capable of making her fall in love with a mere snap of his finger.

Which he already did.

And God she was so stupid. She was no different from the heroines of pocketbooks and soap operas she used to laugh at before. She was downright pathetic.

And she wasn't sure if she would still have the guts to look at him in the eye ever again.

"Tenten?" She nearly punched him for breaking the silence, but really couldn't do anything. She wiped her eyes and forced a cheerful smile.

"I-I'll go in now. I'll be watching the news...maybe my favorite reporter hunk will be there."

"Wait..."

"Tell Hinata to cook tonight ok? I'll be busy watching until the late-night documentaries." With that, she left without turning back.

Never look back. She didn't want to get hit on the head again.

To be continued...

SIDE NOTES

1) Fafable - in Pinoy gay lingo, "boyfriend material"; corrupted word for "papa".

2) bilao - a round container usually used for tossing uncooked rice to remove the little stones.

3) Referral to Ragnarok: The Animation Show

4) Kogure - the eyeglass boy from the anime, Slam Dunk.

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