Will You Ever Notice? (Bad Girls Series #2)

Chapter 20

While I was writing this chapter, this song was on repeat. :DD https://spoti.fi/33cBCCV 

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Chapter 20

Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang braso ni Lael bilang suporta para sa sarili ko. 

"I feel..." I cleared my throat. "I feel upset," I mumbled.

Uminit ang mga pisngi ko. What the freaking hell, Zen?

Lael stared at me and I stared back at him awkwardly. 

I think I saw his lips twitch for a smile pero hindi ko na 'yon napagmasdan pa nang mas malinaw dahil hinila ako ni Lael sa isang yakap nang dahan-dahan. Agad na naipatong ko sa dibdib n'ya ang mga kamay ko.

"This?" He mumbled as he wrapped his arm around me.

Tumango ako at naramdaman ang pamilyar na pakiramdam ng yakap ni Lael. 

Yes, something much more addicting than the things I was fond of before.

Napansin kong may ilang mga napapalingon sa aming dalawa ni Lael pero hindi ko na lang pinansin ang mga 'yon. I grabbed on Lael's clothes and my mind wandered back the conversations we had before.

I want to spend time with him and Caleb. To rest from all the things that are chaining me.

"You said, you'll escape with me..." I mumbled.

"Anytime," halos ibulong ni Lael, walang pag-aalinlangan sa boses.

"Kahit ngayon?"

Agad na natigilan si Lael. He moved back so he can look at me. Nakita ko ang pagkalito sa mga mata n'ya na may halo ring pag-aalala.

I smiled at him. Nag-isip ako at agad na nagsalita para sa naisip na plano.

Pagkatapos ng weekend na 'to, magkakaro'n ang St. Agatha University ng semestral break kaya walang problema kung aalis kami ngayon. 

"It's the weekend. Two days... puwedeng bumalik agad tayo kung gusto mo," I said. "Or extend our stay since it's almost our semestral break."

"Okay," he answered without hesitation, nakatitig pa rin sa akin na parang hindi n'ya inaasahan na papayag ako sa usapan naming 'yon pero handa rin s'yang sumama kahit ano'ng mangyari.

"Ihatid mo muna ako... at si Caleb, then pick me up after I prepare my things so we can leave?" I smiled at him.

"Okay," Lael said, again, without hesitation.

I'm used to unplanned getaways. But this feels more thrilling because it's the first time that it's Lael and Caleb who's coming with me.

"Pack everything you need," I said because I have nothing else to say. 

Lael smiled and nodded at me. 

"Wait here," malambing na sabi ni Lael. "I'll find Caleb."

Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kan'ya bago pinagmasdan s'yang naglakad paalis para hanapin si Caleb. Napahinga ako nang malalim nang makalayo na nang tuluyan si Lael sa akin. I raised my hand ang placed it above my raging heart.

What's this? 

Why is there a small smile forming on my lips? Why is my heart beating slowly with excitement? 

Have I ever felt this way before? Dati... was I ever like this? Kahit kanino? Kahit sa kaibigan?

Or maybe this is because this is the first time I met someone like Lael. Maybe because this is the first time that I found a real friend. Is this how finding a real friend feels like?