C34 Thirty four

"She hugged me with care and slowly tapped my back.

"Nice to meet you again, Tita and Tito," I said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you again too, Yoreh. Oh well, please have a seat," she said and pointed to the two empty chairs in front of them.

Tito Armando smiled at me, still with a mischievous glint in his eye as he glanced at his son and shook his head.

I glanced at Cyrus, who was now holding onto my arm and guiding me towards the chairs.

"Thank you,"

He nodded.

He also sat down beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist again. I let out a deep sigh. Can he not act normal in front of his parents?!

Tito Armando smirked, which made us both look at him.

"So? Are you two together?" he asked Cyrus before turning to me.

Cyrus chuckled, "Yes, Dad,"

Tito nodded, "Good to know because your friend asked me if I could set him up,"

The waitress handed us the menu.

"Thanks," Tita said to the waitress.

"Who?" Cyrus asked his father.

He lightly nudged my side, so I gave him a stern look, but his attention was on his father.

"Ben," Tito replied simply, looking at the menu.

"Ben? Benedict Francisco?" I interrupted.

Tito Armando looked up at me and smiled at his son before returning his gaze to me.

"Yeah, You know him?" Tito asked me.

I nodded, "Isn't he the one who had a birthday the first time we met? And because we're schoolmates and sometimes we hang out with Cyrus," I explained.

"Ah," Tita nodded.

"By the way, are you setting them up? Because I have a friend, I mean my friend Sadnie really likes Ben," I said with a laugh, referring to Sadnie.

"Really? Good to hear that next time let's talk about them," Tito said.

"Okay," I replied.

I glanced at Cyrus who was already done talking to the waitress.

He smiled at me and raised his brows, "Hmm?"

He looked at me with a sheepish smile but I could feel that with every gaze, I was burning. He smiled at me and licked his lips with his tongue before moving his chair closer to mine. I raised my eyebrows at him and he suddenly bit his lower lip. I looked at him in annoyance, why does it feel like he's seducing me? Why do I feel like I'm being seduced?

I felt like he wanted to say something but something was stopping him.

"What's that about?" I asked in surprise.

He held onto my waist tighter as if I would disappear at any moment.

He quickly averted his gaze, "Nothing," he answered without looking at me.

Looks like he really wants to say something!

So I just nodded. If he doesn't want to say it, then he shouldn't!

We ate quietly, sometimes Tito and Tita would ask me questions. I glanced at Cyrus who suddenly became quiet and seemed anxious.

He almost jumped when his cellphone suddenly rang.

Akia is calling.

That was enough to make me stop eating. Enough to slow down my breathing. Enough to make me stare into space.

For some reason, my chest tightened again and my breathing slowed down even more. The weight on my chest became heavier, accompanied by the threat of tears.

Because I'm his girlfriend but why does it feel like I'm the one always asking for time?

Because he's mine but why does it feel like he's not?

I sighed before turning to Cyrus. I could see the paleness on his face and the tears threatening to fall.

Why?

"I need to go," he said seriously and without hesitation, he turned away.

I couldn't help but whimper again because of his action. It's like he's choosing Akia again. It's like he's leaving me because she's his priority.

I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Why does it seem so easy for him to turn away from me?

Because when he leaves and comes back, he knows I'll accept him again?

Why does it feel like with every step he takes away from me, something sharp pierces my chest?

Why is it that as I tighten my grip on him, he loosens his grip on me?

He left me again.

He left me again with tears falling... with sobs... with difficulty breathing... with so much difficulty again.

He left me again... Just for her... Just for her again.