Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

Barely

I tried my very best to not engage with his presence. But since magkakatabi kami nina Dim at Nat, nasaktuhan naman na kaharap ko si Lorenzo.

He's unusually quiet, maybe he's really this quiet. I know nothing about him.

Saka lang s'ya umiimik kapag tinatanong. Dim on the other hand is watching all of my gestures. S'ya lang kasi ang pinagsabihan ko tungkol sa nangyari dati. I remembered how he cried so hard when I told him my story.

Every second, I could feel Lorenzo stealing glances from me. Ako naman ay titingin sa ibang direksyon o kaya lilingunin si Dim at kunwari ay kakausapin.

His simple advances makes me want to jump off a cliff, do a dive and never survive.

May lumapit na sa amin at kinuha ang order. Pagkakataon ko na 'to para gumanti kay Ade kaya dadamihan ko na. Hindi pa ako nakakapagsalita ay napatigil na ako sa nakita. Gulat ding napatingin sa akin ang kumukuha ng order.

"Priya?" she was wearing a major sophisticated attire with her black dress with see through sleeves making me wonder why a woman like her is wearing an apron.

"You know each other?" takang tanong sa akin ni Ade. From the side of my eyes, I saw Lorenzo observing me.

It's Melissa. She still wears that 'to-die-for' look putting me in awe and wonder if she ever experiences looking like a potato. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang hawig nila ni Lorenzo.

"We... uhm... we've kinda met before," si Melissa ang nagsalita nang mapagtantong wala akong balak sumagot. Nahihiya s'yang tumingin sa akin and I deleted all the adjectives I used to describe her earlier.

I painted a blank expression on my face. My attention is too precious for her to have it.

S'ya pala ang may-ari nitong restaurant and I know nothing since I chose to not hear anything from them.

"How are you, Melissa?" and Ade being the socialite that she is, also invited Melissa to sit with us.

"Dim, please order for me. I'll just use the restroom," pagpapaalam ko sa kanila. They all looked at me with concerned eyes, except for Ade who must be thinking that this is just an ordinary event. She got the slightest idea about the incident before.

"Samahan na kita," pinigilan ako ni Dim. I felt my heart trying to escape my ribs.

"No. I'm fine," with that, I sashayed to the bathroom. I locked it before placing my hands on the sink for support.

It's been years but I'm still under trauma from what happened. I needed to go to a therapist and even consult a doctor. Si Lala ang nag-suggest sa akin ng doctor and he's very effective. Pinaalalahanan n'ya ako na kahit anong mangyari, 'wag akong gagawa ng bagay na makakaapekto sa'kin lalo na kung hindi pa ako handa.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I became more confident knowing that I have three angels watching my back. I let out a huge amount of breath and fixed myself afterwards.

I shouldn't cage myself and live previously. I must learn how to fly and in order to do that I need wings, I need courage.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago lumabas. Pagpihit ko ng pinto ay nagulat na naman ako dahil nakatayo doon si Lorenzo. How many times do they intend to drop my weak heart?

"Kalabaw ka!" napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Sumakit na naman iyon, hindi ko alam kung dahil sa gulat o sa takot.

"Sorry," he gulped. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern visible in his eyes.