Holding on to His Promises

Chapter 27: Against the Law

"Where are we going?" I asked Dylan. Iba kasi ang daan na tinatahak ng sasakyan namin. Pauwi na dapat kami galing sa school.

"We're going to Pastor Rick's burial. He's Christy's father, and I met him last time."

My brows furrowed. "Christy's father is a pastor?"

"Yes."

"How about her mother?"

"Her mother passed away after giving birth of Christy's younger sister."

Kahit na naiinis ako kay Christy, nakaramdam pa rin ako ng awa sa kalagayan niya. Ako nga na buhay pa ang mga magulang ngunit once a year ko lang nakakasama, mahirap na. Paano pa kaya kung wala ka na talagang magulang na aasahan?

Ilang sandali lang ay pinasok namin ang isang subdivision at huminto kami sa harapan ng isang bahay na maraming tao. Christy approached us. I noticed the tiredness and sadness in her eyes.

"Condolence," Dylan told her with sympathy.

Christy just gave him a simple smile and said, "Hindi mo siya naabutan." So, they were really that close, huh?

"Yeah," he said and heaved a sigh. Nailipat ang tingin ko sa isang lalaki na paparating. "Pastor Alvin," bati ni Dylan dito at nagmano, kaya naman nagmano rin ako kahit hindi ko ito kakilala.

"Oh, Storm. How are you?" nakangiting bati pabalik ng tinawag ni Dylan na Pastor Alvin at saka siya tinapik sa balikat.

"I'm doing good po. By the way, this is Demi, my girlfriend," pakilala sa akin ni Dylan dito.

Ngumiti ito sa akin. "You have a beautiful girlfriend. Kung may pagkakataon, isama mo siya sa church." Tila natigilan si Storm sa sinabi ni Tito Alvin. Nag-iba naman ang timpla ng mood ko.

"Yes, pastor. I think so," sabi ni Dylan at nginitian ako pero nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

We just had an argument about that, but Dylan did not mention about it anymore after that. I really blew a fuse that time. I didn't talk to him within a few days.

Naupo kami sa sofa at pawang nakamasid lamang sa isa't isa.

"What time we will go home?" I asked Dylan. "I'll cook your favorite," I said. I actually told him that earlier. I'd missed cooking something for him because we were not okay in these past few days.

"Until nine," he replied. He held my hand and kissed it. "You don't have to cook for me. You should rest."

"Nah, let me do that for you. You promised me that we'll watch a movie later," I persisted. He told me that.

"Yes, we will, but we'll sleep before midnight comes."

Dylan and Christy had a light conversation. Christy was kind, actually. Maybe that was the reason why Dylan befriended her even though Dylan wasn't that friendly.

It was exact nine when we went home.

We watched a movie, but Dylan just fell asleep. Maybe he was just tired. I finished the movie alone.

***

I received a text message from Dylan that he was in the garden. Binulsa ko ang cellphone ko at dirediretsong lumabas ng classroom. Devon and Kendra said goodbye to me before we parted our ways. Pagkarating ko sa garden, nakita ko si Dylan na na may kausap na babaeng kulot ang buhok.

"Dylan!" tawag ko sa kanya.

Humarap silang dalawa sa akin. Nangunot ang noo ko nang malaman kong tama ang hinala ko na si Christy ang babae. Makulit din pala siya. I told her to stay away from Dylan. I talked to her last time...