Trailing Deep Waters (University Royalties #3) - Chapter 15

HIS POV

"Hinahanap ka nila Andrea, why are you here?" A fair-skinned girl with pinkish lips and straight coal-colored hair was walking towards me.

"Okay ka lang ba, Isaac?" Nadia asked.

Now this is why she became my love interest when we were freshmen. Hindi ko na gusto ngayon si Nadia, alam ko naman sa sarili kong ayaw kong mawala ang friendship namin. But now, I'm really confused with my sexuality, do I like Nadia or Joaquin? Do I like women... or men?

I didn't know what to do. Bakit bigla akong naapektuhan sa pakikipag-usap ko sa isang lalaki? I felt attraction. Pero baka naman, nahihiya lang ako dahil natapunan ko siya  ng inumin. Baka hiya lang ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya dahil sa nagawa kong aksidente sa party. Hindi ko na talaga alam.

"Okay lang, kinakabag lang," I chuckled. I couldn't stare into her eyes because I was busy laughing everything off even if I wasn't okay... even if I was really lost.

She tucked strands of her hair flying off because of wind at the back of her ear. "Are you sure? You seem... to be not okay."

"I'm not doing good," I answered honestly.

"Why?" She sat beside me, and it did not affect me. Napalunok ako. I wanted to force myself to like Nadia again, hindi p'wedeng magkagusto ako sa lalaki... my dad will be disappointed. He might even hate me more than he hates my brother, Rev.

We were at the small cabana of our school which was the waiting area of students for their school bus and services when it's dismissal. I stayed here, staring at blank space. Even if it was our class break, I didn't have the appetite to eat. 

"Isaac? I asked, why aren't you doing good?" Niyugyog ako nang kaunti ni Nadia. "Did you hear me? Are you okay with telling me about it? You're worrying me, Isaac."

"Ah, gutom kasi ako," palusot ko.

Napakamot siya sa ulo niya, not believing it. "Then, should we eat? Do you want me to bring you food? Here, I have Stick-O." Natawa ako dahil nag-labas siya ng plastic na nasa bulsa niya na may lamang Stick-O.

"Salamat, Nads," I sincerely told her. I was biting the food she gave me, staring at somewhere else. "I'm just scared of my feelings that I have no control of."

"Allow yourself to feel those, you're human who's entitled to his or her emotions. May karapatan lahat ng may nararamdaman," she says. "I read this line somewhere... and I want you to know that whatever you're feeling is valid."

Instead of remembering how lost I am, I instead thought of Nadia's assuring words to me throughout the whole day.

Someone knocked at my door, making me stand up, turning the knob to open it.

"Isaac, mag-bihis ka," Mom commanded. "We're going somewhere."

"Mom, may home works ako," I said with slight irritation. "We also have a quiz tomorrow. I'd have to take a rain check."

My mom gave me a meaningful look. "Isaac, you need to come."

"Is anything more important than my studies? Where are we even going?" My eyebrows furrowed, not being able to control my irritation.

"Rivero Residences," sagot niya. Biglang nabuhayan ang loob ko pero hindi ko pinahalata. My furrowed eyebrows were also calmed. My dad is a mayor that's why he has strong connections, maybe he's sticking to a senator for negotiations. We're going to Senator Rivero's residence, that means his son Joaquin is there. The thought made me thrilled.

I bit my lip. "Okay, I'll be downstairs in a minute."

"That's my boy." Mom messed my hair up. "You never disappoint." 

I just avoided her gaze, shaking my head. I locked the door immediately after my mom left to go downstairs and I change clothes in my walking closet. I didn't know what we'll do at their residences, so I just chose a safe and casual outfit. A white polo shirt, Nike rubber shoes, trousers, and a beige jacket. 

Believe me, I was in my walk-in closet for so many minutes because I kept on switching outfits. I wasn't confident. I stared at myself in the mirror, not believing why I'm dressing up and worrying about a guy.

I walked down our grand staircase and went to my mom and dad who was waiting at the car. A black Bugatti. It was also the car that the driver uses when I go to school.

"Why are we going to the Senator?" I asked in the middle of the silent car, aircon na nga lang ang naririnig ko sa sobrang tahimik. I was in the middle seating between my mom and dad, yet they're both busy with their phones.

"Don't stick your nose to adults' business, son. It's better not to know," Dad replied.

"How's school, by the way?" Napatingin ako sa tanong ni mom. 

I massaged the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. I didn't like where this conversation is going. "It's okay. I guess."

Si Dad naman ang nag-salita. "Have you gotten the chance to defeat Chandra? Hindi ba't sabi ko sa'yo that it's beneficial to graduate as valedictorian in high school. Find her weakness, and use it against her."

As if I could do that. Chandra is one of my most trusted friends, I could never do that to her. I never saw her as my competition. Well, I always compare my scores with her but I don't find the need of defeating her. Our final exams is coming, after that will only be a few days before Graduation. I'm the Top 2 of our batch, and I'm already satisfied with that.

Nang makarating kami sa isang malaking gate, I already knew that we're already walking into the senator's residence.

They had a big lot with a few guards. Their walk-way towards the main door were made of expensive bricks. They even had a water fountain at the small parking lot facing the front door. I could already identify how prominent they are just basing from outside.

Bumukas ang malaking pintuan nila nang makalabas kami ng sasakyan, sumalubong sa amin ang mag-asawa. I'm guessing that this is the senator and his wife.

My eyes roamed around their house after greeting the couple. Pinapasok kami sa bahay nila, pero hindi ko makita ang hinahanap ko. Hindi ko mahanap ang lalaking ipinunta ko rito.

Nang maka-daan kami sa carpeted staircase, bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Hey, son. Isaac is here, entertain him for me." The Senator patted his son's back.

A man with a wet hazel-colored hair wearing a plain gray sweater and white sweat pants walked down the stairs with a little girl wearing ponytails.

"Kuya, is he gay?" I heard a whisper from the little girl that did not escape my ear. I pretended that I didn't hear it because her brother immediately hushed her.

Joaquin looked straight into my eyes and gave me a smile. 

"Hi," he said.

I gulped. I didn't know why a simple "hi" could make my heart race so much.

I guess... I really do like him, huh?

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