Ink in Our Fate

Chapter 9: Friendship

Chapter 9: Friendship.

Colton shifted on his sit. Tumigil siya sa kinakain at binigay sa akin ang kanyang buong atensyon. His cold, piercing brown eyes gives me goosebump. Pakiramdam ko, nagsitindigan ang balahibo ko sa katawan.

I swallowed hard. "I-I've read the book you allow me to borrow. I guess... that version is the worst."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa pagtataka.  "Worst?"

"Yes. May ilang binago na hindi ko nagustuhan. Some characters are nowhere to be read. Binago rin ang katauhan ni Prinsipe Zephyrus at ni Dahlia. From being the head servant's daughter to a nearby kingdom lost princess? I noticed some plotholes. Some cliche scenes. I mean. It was quite common. Hindi ko rin nabasa ang paborito kong storyline." I complained. Nag - iwas ako ng tingin at napatulala sa kawalan. "Besides... my father won't create a story just to make it sold out at the market." Huli na upang matanto ko ang aking sinabi.

"Your father?" Mas lalong natatakang tanong ni Colton. His thick brows wrinkled.

Umaawang ang bibig ko. Did I just revealed my identity? Dali - dali akong nangapa ng paliwanag. "I-I mean. The author. I know a little about Michael Suarez. He's my favourite writer. Kaya... alam kong hindi siya gagawa ng kwento para lang bumenta at magka - pera siya... He write... to express his love for literature."

I silently prayed that Colton would believe me. Darn it!

He look at me unconvinced. The way Colton stares at me makes my heart beats so fast. Darn. Ano ba ang meron sa Colton na'to para magkaganito ako? Nag - iwas ako ng tingin dahil sa tensyon ng kanyang mga titig.

"Well... Michael Angelo Suarez was also my favorite writer."

Muli akong napatingin kay Colton. This time, he was looking at his empty plate. Tila may malalim siyang iniisip. I even saw him smiled a bit. Pero agad ding 'yung nawala ng mag - angat siya ng tingin sa akin.

His brown eyes look at my soulful honey one. I felt like the moment our eyes locked... it feels the time has stop for me to savour this moment. How many times did I experienced this? Ngayon lang. And I am afraid... to make this deeper and end up wounded.

Colton take a deep breathe. "Mukhang pareho pala tayo... We both adore Michael Suarez. Sayang nga lang at hindi na natin siya makikita pa."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Fangs of pain was felt by my heart remembering my father's fate. Tama si Colton. Napakasayang dahil hindi na namin makakasama si Dad. His life was taken away so fast. That I couldn't able to stop it from happening.

"Maeve." Colton's soft voice, again, makes my heart flutters. "Are you... okay?" Bakas sa mukha niya ang pag - alala sa biglaan kong pagka - lungkot.

Napailing ako. Saglit akong may kinuha sa bag. It was an old book. Punit - punit na ang pabalat nito. Mistulang kulay kahel na rin ang mga pahina. At may ilang kagat ng anay ang bawat parte ng libro.

I put it on the table. Napatingin si Colton dun.

Dahlia

M. A. Suarez

"This... is the original version of Dahlia." I told him. Binuklat ko ang aklat sa unang pahina. "Namana ko ang libro 'to sa ama ko. I really adore this novel. It makes me believe that love... is somehow magicial." Napangiti ako ng bahagya.

Didn't know this dude is one of my father's fan.

"Sa unang kabanata ng nobela. Pinakita ang pait na nararanasan ni Diego dahil sa pagiging kuba niya. He always criticize as ugly. A beast." Muli kong binuklat ang libro sa susunod na mga pahina. "Sa ikalawang kabanata... nagkaroon ng pag - asa si Diego dahil kay Dahlia... From being the lonely prince. He became a poet. Araw - araw niyang sinusulatan si Dahlia ng mga tula. Dahil doon... slowly, Dahlia fall inlove with the random stranger who always sent her a poetry."