Page 5 of Under The Twilight Rainfall
Bossy fucker.
“Youknowwecanrent a car right? This is a major city.”
“Yup, but this is more fun.”
I sigh into my palm to resist the urge to scream.
“Being packed into a Jeepney like a can of sardines is not my idea of fun.”
Valen nudges me with his shoulder like we’re old buddies, but I’ve spent the last several years trying to forget he ever existed, so it only makes me shuffle away and almost tumble off my seat.
“Live a little, Dex. You’re here for an experience, right?”
“Listen. I rode the Tricycle last time, and all I got was a headache and motion sickness. I’ll stick with the fully enclosed car.”
For a second, I think I see concern in his eyes, but then he shrugs and taps his hand on my thigh. What is with him and being all touchy?
“It’s mostly enclosed here. It’s not far. We live pretty close to Cebu.”
My brows shoot up. “We?”
His confident mask slips as his eyes fall and he pulls his lip between his teeth. He almost appears… bashful.
“Well… Me, Ma, Pa, Pop-Pop, Lola, and Theo.”
Record scratch.
I don’t know if I’m more hung up on what sounds like Valen’s boyfriend staying with him or the fact that he’s taking me back to hiswhole family.
The air in the Jeepney suddenly feels a little too tight. My legs are an extension of the rapid pounding of my heart, and it’s compulsive the way I clench and unclench my fists over and over.
“Woah, hey.” There’s an arm around my shoulders and a mouth close to my ear, but it’s all background noise to the rush of blood and panic in my veins. “Breathe, Dex. Slowly for me. Deep. There you go.”
I don’t know when I start listening, when my body decides to take Valen’s words as gospel, but the world slowly starts falling back into place, and as soon as I’m even again, Valen puts space between us.
Our only point of contact is his hand on my back, but it’s a barely there pressure that I know he’ll take away if I show any signs of discomfort.
I don’t have the energy to push it; I lean into his hand.
“I have—youknowwhat I do for a living—I can’t—how am I supposed to—”
The hand on my back slides up my neck, creating a grounding pressure as Valen leans in but keeps our contact minimal.
“I’ve thought about it. It’s okay. I’ve got you covered. Trust me.”
Trust him.Because trust has gotten me so far, hasn’t it?
“How did this even happen?”
He’s chewing his lip again and shrugging. His default.
“Does it matter?”
I gather the strength to straighten, knocking his hand away as I fold my arms and face him as best I can in the cramped space.
“Since Spinny deals with all my accommodations, absolutely. You can’t be fucking with his job. I swear he’s the only decent travel agent out there.”
Valen blinks at me with a blank stare, then his mouth drops into an ‘O’ and his eyes widen as he nods. “You mean Spencer? He won’t get in trouble, I promise.”
