Attain The Sky (Engineer Series #2)

▪ thirty-nine

I look like an idiot who's staring at my glass for too long. Paulit-ulit akong humuhugot ng isang malalim na hininga upang makahinga nang maayos. I can't breathe properly. I can't forget what happened a while ago because until now... I could say that I'm still affected.

"What happened to her?" Keith's loud voice made me jump a bit. "What did you do to her, Aziel?!"

Napaayos ako sa pag-upo at agad na inayos ang aking sarili. Pinanlakihan ko ng mata si Aziel, senyas na h'wag siyang magsasalita tungkol sa nangyari kanina. Napalunok ako, lalo na nang titigan ako ni Keith. Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin upang hindi niya mabasa kung ano ang nakapaloob sa aking mga mata.

"Akala ko ba bukas pa ang bisita mo rito?" I asked him to change the topic. "Hindi na ako nagluto ng pagkain. Wala kasi akong kasama rito. Sinamahan lang ako ngayon ni Aziel."

"That's the answer for your question." He plainly said. "Wala kang kasama rito kaya napaaga rin ang uwi ko."

I looked away. I'm not great at hiding my emotions. I know that he's already concluding in his mind because of his gestures. Aziel is watching us, not opening his mouth, because he knows what will next if he reveals about it.

"I'm asking you, Aziel, what happened to her? Alam kong ikaw ang kasama niya kanina. Pumunta kayo sa mall, tama ba?"

Hindi ko pinahalata na nagulat ako sa kan'yang sinabi. Mariin kong nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi at ramdam ko ang panginginig ng aking mga kamay dahil sa kaba. Ayaw kong malaman niya dahil nangako siya sa akin noon, na kapag iniyakan ko na naman ulit 'yong lalaking 'yon, hindi na siya magdadalawang-isip na bugbogin 'yon at hindi niya sasantuhin kahit ano raw ang mangyari.

Keith is so overprotective when it comes to me. He's always serious and suplado but when he's with me, he's a joker and he's always laughing over petty things. Cleve and him were like a best of friends kahit na madalas silang mag-away. Lagi silang nagkakasundo kapag ako na ang usapan.

"May binili lang kami kanina, Keith," kalmadong tugon ni Aziel. He looked at me and raised a brow.

"Hm," he hummed, nodding his head slowly. He licked his lower lip as he walked closer to me. "I know my Lily more than you know him, Aziel. You can't lie to me." He muttered.

"Can't you see those paper bags? Ayan ang pinamili namin. Take a look if you're still doubting." Aziel answered. Napanguso siya upang mapigilan ang ngiti. Magaling talagang magsinungaling 'tong lalaki na 'to.

"Choose, Aziel," baritonong sambit ni Keith. "Sulsulan ko 'yong babaeng nagugustuhan mo ngayon na h'wag kang pansinin o sabihin na lang sa akin 'yong totoo?"

Napatingin ako kay Keith dahil sa sinabi niya. Bahagya akong nagulat dahil alam niyang may nagugustuhan si Aziel at mukhang kilala pa niya. I mentally shook my head. I took a deep breath, then I drank my water.

Aziel swallowed hard. Napayuko na ako. I don't want to be a selfish person. I don't want to drag Aziel into my mess. This is my own problem kaya dapat ako ang gumawa ng paraan dito. I looked at him, he's looking at me, too, and then I smiled genuinely to assure him that it's fine.

"I saw Sky in the mall," ako na ang nagsalita. "Sila pa rin pala ni Euty," umiwas ako ng tingin. "Wala lang naman 'yon, pero kasi ngayon ko na lang siya ulit nakita pagkatapos naming maghiwalay noon."

"You cried?" He asked.

"No," I simply answered. "I'm just sad.."

"That's good. Feeling sadness is normal," he strokes my hair. "You are beautiful, Lily. You must be treated like a queen. You deserve that." Malambing niyang dugtong.