Dare Me To Love You (ITL Series #1) |COMPLETE

Dare 13

CHAPTER 13
GABRIEL
"THANK YOU." Ibinaba ko ang telepono at napangiti. Kalauna’y umiling ako at lumabas sa sasakyan. I've never thought being serious is this hard.

I searched for Monica but I can't see her around. Maybe she already got home. Pwede ko namang i-move bukas ang date namin.

Pagpasok ko sa kotse ay nakarinig ako ng mga hikbi. Natakot ako syempre wala naman akong sakay na babae, eh. Agad akong napatingin sa katabi.

Nagkatinginan kami at sabay na sumigaw. Nagkagulatan kami. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib at huminga ng malalim. “Damn it, woman. You almost killed me.” sabay-sabay ang paghinga ko ng malalim.

"Monica?" Magulo ang buhok niya at basa ang kanyang pisngi ng luha. Namumugto na ang kanyang mga mata at suminghot singhot pa.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" I asked and gave her my handkerchief from my pocket. She’s trembling and I can see her lips shaking from where I sit.

Hindi siya kumibo, instead she looked at her palms and continued sobbing. Napabuntong hininga ako at kinulong siya sa yakap ko.

"Hey, it's okay I'm here. It's okay, hindi kita papabayaan." I kissed her forehead and combed her messy hair carefully.

"Anong nangyari? Hmm?” I kept my voice as soft as I could.

Sinuklay ko ang buhok niya gamit ang mga daliri ko. Kumuha ako ng pinggol sa isang compartment ng sasakyan ko. Mommy's scrunchies are always in the compartment in case she forgot to get some in the house.

"You can tell me everything kapag komportable ka na." Sabi ko habang hinahaplos ang balikat niya. Tumango siya but how she breathes was not yet normal.

Maya-maya pa ay may inabot siyang isang sachet na kulay puti ang laman. The moment I saw the white powder, I already knew it was drugs. I saw one in a party in the US back when I was very young.

"M-may nagbigay… ng inumin sa akin kanina. I-I thought you gave that to me," she awkwardly let out a chuckie from her bag and gave it to me.

"I gave you one earlier." I said with my creased eyebrows.

"Kaya nga, k-kay Aron pala galing ‘yan. Then he—he waited me at the front gate. Tapos sabi ng isang student na--na..." Tumulo ulit ang luha sa kanyang mata, I saw how her lips quivered and how her eyes cry. F*ck whoever that Aron is.

"Shh--it's okay. It’s okay, you can tell me anytime." I wiped her tears with my thumb and held her face. Her nose starts to redden and her lips almost bled for she was biting it harshly.

"S-sabi nung isang lalaki hindi daw ito na—na-ilagay sa inumin." Tinutukoy niya ang sachet na iniabot niya sa akin kanina. I clenched my jaw and tried to calm down.

"Pupunta tayo kay tito David." I emphasized. I was planning on taking care of her, making her my queen… I was ready to give everything once she becomes mine, and that includes security and protection.

"H-ha? Sino ‘yun? Please, huwag mong sasabihin kina mommy." Natataranta naman niyang sabi at hinawakan ang kamay kong nakahawak sa manibela. She looked at me worriedly.

"I won’t do anything without your permission. Tito David is Ian’s father, he’s a chemist. He keeps secrets, don’t worry." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at hinalikan ang likod ng palad. I leaned closer to her and put her seatbelt on.

Hindi na muli siyang nagsalita ngunit naririnig ko parin ang pagsinghot niya. It breaks my heart seeing and hearing her like this. I won’t let this happen again.

Pinipigilan kong hindi mapangiwi dahil nagdadrive ako. Mas pinabilis ko pa ang pagmamaneho para makapunta agad sa main building ng Bautista Pharmaceutical.

Halos masira ko na ang accelerator at breaks para mabilis kaming makapunta roon. Kaya wala pang ten minutes ay nakarating na kami sa building.

Hinila ko si Monica papuntang office ni tito. I was mad and even if I don’t know who’s that Aron, I already killed him in my mind. "S-sandali lang--Aray!" Napatuhod siya na ikinagulat ko. Sh*t.

Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga nagtatrabaho roon. Nakita kong namula ang kanyang tenga at sinamaan ako ng tingin kahit na namumula pa ang mga mata.

Wala na ako sa sarili ko dahil nagpa-panic ang loob ko ng malamang uminom siya sa inumin na galing sa hindi niya kilala.

I knelt and carried her in my arms, I didn’t care if we we’re on our uniforms, I didn’t care about the heavy stares. I talked to Tito through his assistant's telephone and told him it was important.

"Hijo, may kailangan ka ba?" Inupo ko si Monica sa isang sofa roon at pumunta sa harap ni tito.

"Can you check this drug for me, tito?"  Inilapag ko ang drug sa desk niya.

"Who is she? Girlfriend?" May nakakalokong ngiti siya at nang bumaling ako ng tingin kay Monica ay sobrang pula ng magkabila niyang pisngi.

"No. Future girlfriend, yes." I smiled nervously and slightly chuckled. I’m still nervous about the drug.

"Okay. I’m a bit busy, ite-text ko na lang sa’yo kung ano ‘to. Say hi to your father for me." He bid goodbye and lead his way out. I faced Monica, my hands placed on my hips.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at umupo sa tabi niya. I sighed and placed my hands on her shoulder carefully. “Everything will be fine.” We smiled at each other, we were both scared. But I need to be strong for her. I am the only person whom she can rely with.

“Can you walk?” I asked. She nodded and stood up. We both walked awkwardly in my car and I helped her with her seatbelt.

I was about to head her home when I remembered something. I stopped on a 24 hours convenient store and took my wallet. I texted someone before I got out from the car.

Binuksan ko ang pinto sa passenger seat at ni-lock ang sasakyan ko. “What are we doing here?” she looked at me.

“Basta.” We both entered the convenient store and I picked some snacks. “Just pick some snacks.” I grabbed a basket and bought some foods.

“Bakit kailangan sobrang dami?” Tanong niya habang pina-punch ng cashier ang mga binili namin. “Do you trust me?” I looked at her while I pay.

“Anong klaseng tanong ‘yan?”

Kinuha ko ang mga pinamili namin at sabay kaming bumalik sa sasakyan. “Do you trust me, Monica? I want to hear the answer.” Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto at bago ko pa isara ‘yon ay sumagot siya, “Of course, I trust you, G-Gabriel.”

“Good.” Nang makapasok ako ng sasakyan ay tumingin uli siya sa akin. “Where are we going?” Whenever I see those eyes, I can’t control myself but to look onto it. That orbs always showed emotions like she was never scared of being transparent. And I fell for it even more.

“Somewhere.” I said before starting the engine.

W A N D E R