Bruised Heart (Bad Girls Series #1)

Kabanata 36

Kabanata 36

I felt like the two days Dustin and I spent in China were the happiest I'd ever been. I was over the moon! I literally cried when I saw a bunch of baby pandas. And the fun part? I got to feed them!

But you know what made me cry more? Guess what? Siya ang nagbigay kay Kyla kay Mr. Cuddles Worth para ibigay sa akin! He confessed to me whilst we're in the middle of feeding the pandas some apples, after I'd asked him if he would cover for me if I steal one of the baby pandas to bring home, that he was the reason I was so obsessed with them now, kaya ini-i-spoil niya ang obsession ko! He drew the line at stealing, though.

"Baby, are you seriously crying?" natatawa niyang tanong at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko saka pinunasan ang aking mga luha.

Tumango ako at humikbi. "Bwisit ka! Edi kapag naghiwalay tayo, baka kamuhian ko rin ang mga panda dahil maiisip kita sa kanila!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "You don't want me to forget you, that's why you gave me something I'd always remember you from, 'no?"

Hinawi niya ang mga buhok na dumidikit sa mukha ko at isinupil sa likod ng aking tainga. "Kaya nga hindi tayo maghihiwalay. That's the point," mautak niyang wika.

"Damn right." Mariin akong tumango. "Dahil kapag nakipaghiwalay ka sa akin, ipapalapa kita sa oso," banta ko sa kaniya. 

"Bakit ako? Alam mong patay na patay ako sa 'yo. Sagad sa buto ang pagmamahal ko. Mula ulo hanggang sa dulo ng mga kuko mo sa paa, mahal ko 'yan. Baka ikaw nga ang makipaghiwalay sa akin, e. Subukan mo lang, itatapon kita sa kwartong puno ng mga ipis."

Gusto kong masuka sa kakornihan ng mga pinagsasabi niya, ngunit mas nangibabaw ang pagtawa ko dahil sa huling sinabi niya. Iyak-tawa na tuloy ako! Hinampas ko siya sa balikat. Tarantadong 'to kahit kailan! Alam niyang takot na takot ako sa mga ipis!

Ibinaon ko sa aking memorya ang mga sandaling iyon.

We were in a bubble. We were the happiest... away from everything that's making it so hard for me to breathe. I was free. I don't have to think about what's waiting for me when we go back.

However, bubbles don't stay in the air for too long; they popped quickly. And we had to come down eventually... to face our reality.

"Hey!"

I was rubbing my eyes—because I just woke up from my nap—as I walked into the living area. I saw my sister sitting on the stool whilst scrolling on her phone. She's wearing jeans, coral pink shirt, and her specs. Naka-messy bun ang kaniyang buhok at may iilang takas na hibla sa kaniyang magkabilang tainga, framing her small face. 

She smiled sweetly, and put her phone down on the countertop when she saw me. "Hey! I was told you guys were napping. Babalik na lang sana ako, but then he insisted. Don't get mad at him, though. It's my fault I came unannounced. Sorry!" she explained.

Iwinasiwas ko ang aking kamay, sinasabing ayos lang. Nandito na rin naman siya. Today's Monday, and Dustin and I just got back from our trip last night, so we were pretty exhausted, the jet lag has caught on. May plano sana kaming hindi na pumasok ngayong araw, but luckily for us, we don't have to skip anymore, because classes got suspended due to the storm coming.

I guess we're lucky that the storm came later rather than sooner. It was perfect timing.

"You two need anything?" Dustin asked thoughtfully even when he's tired, his chinky eyes from sleep bouncing back from me to my sister, back and forth.

"No, matulog ka na lang ulit," I said softly, reaching up to him.

He held my hand and bended to kiss the side of my head. "Okay. Wake me up when you need something. I'll just be in your room." Tumango siya kay Sachi bago bumalik sa aking kwarto.