Kabanata 29

For a split second, akala ko guni-guni ko lang. Parang multo lang siya na lumitaw sa gitna ng bangungot ko. Dahil sa lahat ng tao, siya ang huling aasahan kong makita roon.

But no—he was there. Real. His broad frame filled the doorway, the dim light catching the sharp angles of his face. His eyes narrowed the moment they landed on me, then his lips curled in frustration.

“D*mn it, Kleer,” he muttered under his breath, voice rough, parang pinipigilan ang mas malakas pang mura.

I didn’t know if it was anger, exhaustion, or something else buried beneath his tone, pero ramdam ko ang tensyon. He stepped inside, shoulders stiff, his gaze heavy on me, at kasabay no’n, unti-unting nagsara ang pinto, sealing us inside the cramped metal box.

My chest constricted. Hindi ako makapagsalita. Ang takot at panic ko ay napalitan ng gulat dahil sa kaniya. Mas rumahas pa lalo ang tibok ng puso ko pero hindi ko na alam kung dahil pa ba 'yon sa trauma ko o dahil na sa kaniya. Every thud echoed painfully