Blind Love

Kabanata 22

Kabanata 22

"SEE you around, Reah!" My groupmates waved at me and I smiled while waving back at them. We were almost done doing our thesis so I have to stay in school late.

Trevor's also my groupmate, wala nga lang siya ngayon dahil sa kinailangan niyang manatili muna sa bahay nila dahil daw sa bisita nilang dadating.

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko patungo sa likod ng aking tainga. Mas niyakap ko ang librong hawak dahil sa malamig na hangin na dala ng mga puno sa paligid.

May sasakyan pa kaya ngayon? Ngayon lang ako uuwi nang ganitong kagabi kaya nakakakabang umuwi mag-isa, kadalasan kasi ay alas otso ay nasa mansyon na ako pero alas diez na ng gabi ngayon.

Sumulyap akong muli sa orasan at naglakad patungong gate pero kaagad akong napahinto nang makita ang isang pamilyar na pulang sasakyan sa may parking. My forehead creased, bahagya akong lumapit roon at nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita si Dash na nakasandal roon sa kanyang sasakyan.

He looks handsome leaning on his red Mazda. His hands are placed on his pockets, sinisipa niya ang bato roon habang nakatulala kung saan na tila may malalim na iniisip. I saw him lick his lips and glanced at his watch before sighing.

What is he doing here?

Bigla siyang lumingon sa pwesto ko at agad ang panlalaki ng mata ko nang magsalubong ang tingin namin. Napaayos siya ng tayo, ako nama'y nag-iwas ng tingin at naglakad palayo doon, nagkukunwaring hindi siya nakita.

What are you doing, Reah? Bakit ka nagpahuli?

"Fleureah!" I heard his baritone voice when he called me. Hindi ako umimik, diretso akong naglakad, desididong makaalis doon pero naabutan niya ako at mabilis na naabot ang pulsuhan ko.

"Reah..." Kaagad akong lumingon at alanganing ngumiti nang maharap siya.

"Sir!" Kunwaring gulat kong bati. "Napadaan ka?"

"Uh..." His eyes widened briefly. He bit his lower lip and placed his hand on his nape. "Sinundo kita."

"Oh, really?" I was genuinely shocked. "Bakit? Kaya ko namang umuwi mag-isa."

"You weren't home so, I was worried. Ano..." Pilit niyang hinanap ang mata ko at napatingin sa hawak kong libro.

When I saw him moving to try and collect it from my arms, I took a step back. He tensed and lowered his arm, tucking his palms inside his pockets.

"You really don't have to do this, Sir," I breathed. "I'm fine..."

"I just have to make sure, kadalasan kasi ay nasa bahay ka na pagkauwi ko kaya nanibago ako and uhm... kumain ka na ba?" marahang sabi niya at pilit na nagbibigay ng topic.

"Uh, yes," I lied, looking at his uniform, mukhang kagagaling lang talaga sa trabaho.

"Gano'n ba..." I saw his disappointment but smiled at me. "Tara, uwi na tayo." Pagyaya niya pero muli lang akong umiling.

"Mamamasahe ako pauwi–"

"Please?" the desperation in his voice made my heart throb painfully. "Let me just make sure you're home safe."

"I will," I insisted. "Doon din naman ang daan ng sasakyan."

"But I'll go home, too. Sabay na lang tayo?"

I swallowed then shook my head.

"No–"

"Then the fare?" agap niya, "you have a part-time, right? Sabay ka na, para makatipid sa pamasahe?"

Natigilan ako roon. He has a point but...

Tinitigan ko siya at nakita ang pag-aasam sa mga malalim at magandang mga mata niya. Right now, it was dark. Maybe because it was dim in here but the light post gave his shadow a light.