Tamed [GL-Sapphics]

Chapter 23 - Cold

TAMED XXIII - COLD

IN the months since I arrived at Cambridge, my life has been like a complex puzzle. The quest for answers has been difficult to fit all the pieces together, and even now, I am still in the process of doing so. But things became a crushing blow when she came into the picture. It was tough, but I stuck with it and eventually started to make some progress in piecing things together. Unfortunately, just when I thought I was making headway, everything got thrown into disarray again.

Nakabalik na kaming lahat sa hotel ay hindi pa rin ako nilulubayan ng boses at mga salita niya.

"Miss Rhio, do you like me?"

"It's like you're asking me if you are beautiful tonight."

It was only in that moment that I realized how much I had been fooling myself. I really thought she had a thing for me. In the end, I was left with nothing but my own misguided hopes and dreams. I forced a small chuckle, struggling to believe what was happening, and looked up at the ceiling. I tightly gripped my hands and closed my eyes.

"Ate Ti Moune, why are you crying?"

"Kasi feeling ko magmumukha akong artista," walang kwenta kong sagot.

"I'm giving you a back hug, Ate Ti Moune, but you have to pay back! Piggyback me!" Niyakap niya ako mula sa likod ng two seconds saka siya sumampay sa 'kin. Nauna na pala si Professor Sandoval dala iyong mga pinamili naming gamit ng bata na tulog kanina at kailangan ko pang buhatin tapos ngayon humihirit na naman ng piggyback.

"Are you tired?"

"Yeah, I'm exhausted pero hindi dahil binuhat kita."

We closed our eyes and counted while doing deep breathing exercises. Pagmulat naming pareho nasa harapan na pala namin iyong propesora, tahimik at pinapanood kami.

"Ma'am Rhio!" masiglang bigkas ng bata, maingat ko siyang ibinaba mula sa pagkakapasan saka ito lumapit na kanya.

"What are you doing?"

"Exercising because my Ate Ti Moune is stressed!"

Sa loob ng sandali, ako ay binalingan ng aking propesor, at wari'y walang anumang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha. Marahil ay naobserbahan ni Kiana ang bigat ng aming dalawang diwaan kaya nagtanong siya.

"Did you two fight again?"

"We didn't have a fight, did we, Miss Abvelino?"

Sometimes, I really tend to overassume things. I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe I was truly ugly, and she had only been pretending otherwise.

***

ONCE I had finished my bath, I stood in front of the mirror and closely examined my appearance, allowing my uncertainties to temporarily dominate my thoughts. I got lost in my reflection, unable to tear my gaze away until my insecurities had subsided.

The striking features of dark, cascading hair, dimpled cheeks, and well-shaped eyebrows framing long, luscious lashes. Higit sa lahat, ang aking mga mata ang siyang binibigyang pansin dahil sa kanilang kulay-ambre, na kayumanggi na may pumipintig na mga tintsik kapag natatamaan ng liwanag o ilaw.

I whisper to myself and let out a sigh, feeling down in the dumps. "Typical beauty, bulag ang nagsasabing maganda ka. . ."

Natigil ako nang sumambulat sa tawa si Richelle na kanina pa pala ako pinapanood. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, humarap ako sa salamin. "Siguro oras na para baguhin fashion style ko, try ko na ring mag-gym to define my abdominal muscles, just anything para magpaganda pa. What do you think?"