Guard the Heart

Kabanata 34

KABANATA 34

Happy

Binitawan ni Lourd ang kamay ko nang nasa labas na kami. My eyes stray from the bar to him. Hinubad niya ang suot na bomber jacket at sinuot sa akin.

"Can you drive?"

Iba ang naging sagot ko. "H-Hindi pa kami tapos mag-usap, Lourd."

"Go home now, Santi, don't stoop that low."

I gape.

The muscle on his jaw move. Tumalikod siya at marahas na binuksan ang sasakyan sa tabi niya.

"Ihahatid na kita."

"Pero—"

"This is for your own good. Now, will get in?"

His voice sounded so commanding. Naupo ako sa passenger seat. He closed the door and moved to the driver's seat. Walang salita niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan niya.

We were just silent. Diretso sa daan ang tingin niya habang hindi ko mapigilang mapasulyap sa kanya maya't maya.

He stopped the car in front of the tower. I heard the door on my side unlocked.

"L-Lourd, please tell me what happened during your tour?" I asked desperately.

Bumaling siya sa akin at tinitigan ako nang mariin.

"Bakit lahat kayo ayaw akong sagutin? W-what's really going on?"

I heard him sighed heavily. Tumiim ang kanyang bagang. He shook his head. Wala siyang naging sagot. He stepped out and turned to my side. He opened the door for me. Napabuntonghininga na lang ako at bumaba na.

"T-Thank you."

Tumango lang siya.

Again, I never had a good sleep that night. I am holding my phone while scanning our pictures together, kasabay noon ang pagsikip ng dibdib ko. We were so happy... and thinking that it was just a play-pretend for him, crumples my heart. So, all this time he was just playing?... But I felt his true care and his love! In my heart, it was all real.

O masyado lang talaga ako nabulag sa ilusyon ko?

I wiped my tears. I won't give up. Maybe he just got bored kaya nga ginagawa ko ang lahat para ipakitang hindi ako boring. Hindi ako titigil until I prove to him that I can be fun, too.

I look at my clock and it's already four in the morning. Tumayo na ako at naligo. Then, I changed into my shirt and jeans.

Dahil wala ang kotse nag-taxi na lang ako papunta sa condo niya. I was a bit taken aback when I saw how messy his whole unit. I checked his room pero wala naman siya roon. Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa, at nagsimulang pulutin ang mga kalat. Pagkatapos, kinuha ko ang vacuum. I cleaned his whole place kaya pagkatapos ko ay naliligo na ako sa pawis.

Ano ba'ng ginagawa niya rito? Hindi naman siya makalat.

I cooked breakfast for him pagkatapos makapagpahinga saglit. Lalabhan ko mamaya ang mga pinagpalitang beddings are comforter.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto kaya mula sa hallway tumakbo ako para salubungin siya. Ganoon pa rin ang suot niya, iyong kagabi. Natigilan siya nang makita ako.

"Saan ka natulog? Kumain ka na ba? May niluto akong pagkain."

He raked his hair with his fingers while looking at me, frustrated with bloodshot eyes.

"Bakit pala ang kalat ng condo mo? Hindi na ba nagpupunta rito ang housekeeping? Don't worry, I cleaned up everything. Ayaw mo bang kumain? Pwede ka ng magpahinga, maayos na rin ang kwarto mo," sunod-sunod kong sabi.