Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

Dream

Nang makarating sa tapat ng Summer House ay padabog kong binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan. Nagsimula akong magmartsa palayo roon. I was wearing my dainty stiletto heels with a silky ribbon strap, making it difficult for me to walk. Sa inis ay kinalas ko ang pagkakatali nito at saka hinubad iyon.

"Sunny!" Ico's baritone voice echoed.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Alam kong imposibleng makahanap ako ng sasakyan sa ganitong oras. Walang taxi sa bandang ito ng La Fortuna at private property pa ang kinaroroonan ng Summer House.

Narinig ko ang pagtakbo niya papunta sa akin. Dahil malalaki ang mga hakbang niya, agad niya akong naabutan. He held my arm gently and made me face him. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tinignan siya. I wanted to curse at him. 

"Bitiwan mo ako," malamig kong utos. 

Sinunod niya iyon. His eyes looked pleading. Natataranta siya at mukhang hindi alam ang gagawin. While staring at him, I could not help but secretly admire his features. Ayoko sanang gawin iyon, pero kung ganito ba naman kami kalapit sa isa't-isa, imposibleng hindi ako mapatitig sa kaniya.

His body matured in a good way. Sa isang tingin ay mapapansin mo ang katigasan ng kaniyang pang-itaas na katawan. Malinis ang gupit ng kaniyang buhok, natural na mapula ang kaniyang labi, at nanatiling bagay sa kaniya ang maliit na nunal sa ilalim ng kaniyang kanang mata. He looked sharp and intelligent.

Dati pa naman talaga siyang guwapo. I don't know what it is that changed, though. There's this certain depth in his features now. Kumpara dati, mas mukha siyang seryoso at suplado ngayon.

"Where are you going? Alam mo namang walang masasakyan dito 'di ba?"

"Gusto ko nang umuwi," tanging nasabi ko.

"Then I'll take you home. Just tell me your address. I'll take you home right now."

"Ayoko nga sabing sabihin sa 'yo kung sa'n ako nakatira! It's too personal! Just drop me somewhere kung sa'n may masasakyan ako."

He sighed. Kumunot ang noo niya nang may mapagtanto. "But you don't have your stuff. Paano ang pamasahe mo? Besides, I don't want to drop you off anywhere at this hour. It's not safe. And how sure am I that you won't go to the hotel and meet that sketchy client of yours?"

"Why do you care so much about what happens to me?!" I said because it's true. 

Ngayon lang kami nagkita matapos ang limang taon. Yes, we have history. Pero hindi naman maganda ang nangyari sa nakaraan namin para mag-alala siya sa akin ng ganito. Imposible rin namang gusto niya pa rin ako. That's too far-fetched. He has a family now, and even if he doesn't, I'm sure he wouldn't waste his time on me. 

"It's not like I specifically care about you, okay?" he argued. "I care about everyone in general. I'm just trying to be a gentleman here. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay ang maiuwi ka ng maayos at maialis do'n sa bidding room na 'yon."

Kumurap-kurap ako. "Tang ina seryoso ka ba diyan?" 'Di ko na napigilang mapairap sa kawalan. "Marami rin naman akong kilalang gentleman pero ni isa sa kanila, hindi nagwaldas ng isang milyong dolyar para lang sa isang babae!"

Naitikom niya ang kaniyang bibig. I couldn't believe him. Hindi ko alam ang plano niya sa buhay at wala na akong pakialam kung ano man 'yon. Let's say this really is just another charity case for him. But that only makes me angrier kasi pinapamukha niya sa 'king kailangan ko ng tulong. He makes it seem like I did not grow at all, like I am still doing wrong life decisions after another. 

It may be true, but that really is none of his fucking business, is it?

Napaiwas siya ng tingin. "You are paying me back, anyway. And didn't you say this isn't about the money? Well, I also think the same. It's the initiative that matters most."