Trapped with the Cactus-Lover

Chapter 22

Samantha

"What's wrong?" Nag aalalang tanong samin ni Leigh nang makabalik kami ng sasakyan. Pareho kaming basang basa ng ulan ni Van. Yung tipong pwede mo ng pigaan yung damit namin.

Hindi tuloy kami makapasok sa sasakyan. Mababasa namin yung customized seat cover at car carpet ng Lotus nito pag pumasok kami ng basa. Napakaarte pa naman nitong si Leigh.

"C'mon guys, hop in." Sabi pa nito. "Don't mind the cover."

Sabay naman kaming pumasok ni Van ng sasakyan. Pagkapasok pa lang ay talagang ramdam namin yung lamig. Van started sneezing.

Naghalungkat ng face towels sa bag nito si Leigh bago binigyan kami ng tig-isa. But I just put it to cover my face. Kahit pa damang dama ko yung panginginig ng katawan ko dulot ng lamig lalo pa at napakalakas ng aircon dito sa sasakyan ni Leigh.

Marahil napansin nito iyon kaya pinatay nito yung aircon.

"What's wrong, Van?" dinig ko na tanong nito kay Van.

Si Van naman ay hindi sumasagot. Tahimik lang din ito.

"Pag hindi kayo sumagot na dalawa dyan talagang susugurin ko yung Terry na yan!"

"Oh, Kaya mo?" Hamon dito ni Van.

"Why don't you just speak up? That will save our time, you know."

I am enjoying my silence. And I'm sure Van won't talk as well. Or so I thought.

"Just shut the fuck up, Leigh. Drive away from here." Kalmadong sabi ni Van na nasa tabi ko.

Gusto kong matawa nang marinig ko na nagmura din si Leigh ng mahina. Sa aming lahat, she's the nicest one. Being the daughter of one of the wealthiest family, Leigh is living with her image. Kahit naiinis ito o naiirita ay ngingiti pa din ito. She's good at it. Lahat aral at kalkulado.

See Terry? You're really making all of us nuts. Hope you're okay there. Is that guy your Hercules? Because if it is, I really pity you. My hairstrand is even thousand times appealing than that guy's face. Binabawi ko na din. You're no longer appealing than my toenails. Ingrown ka na lang. Letse ka!

"Leigh, put your AC on. It's too hot in here." mahinang sabi ko nang magsimula na ulit umandar yung sasakyan nito.

Umiinit kasi yung ulo ko at kumukulo yung dugo ko pag naaalala ko na umiyak ako dahil lang sa pangit na Hercules na yun. Goodness! I'm Samantha Callaghan.

But how dare him to taste Terry's lips! That dwarf is just mine.

"Nakaka balat kalabaw ba pag nabobroken hearted?" Van sneezed once more. "Sheesh. It's too cold."

"You'll catch colds, Sammie. Besides Van is already shivering." Sagot ni Leigh.

Tila natauhan naman ako doon. Bakit ba sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko? I have friends with me.

Tinanggal ko yung towel na nasa mukha ko saka inabot yung duffle bag ko. Hinanap ko yung medkit ko at naglabas doon ng gamot. Inabot ko iyon kay Van.

"Drink this. Baka magkasakit ka."

Van is the one who can easily catch coughs and colds.

Kinuha iyon ni Van matapos itong abutan ng bottled water ni Leigh.

"Change your clothes, guys. Do you still have spare?" I saw Leigh's eyes peeping in the rearview mirror.

Matapos maibalik yung bag ko sa gilid ay sumandal ako ulit. Itinakip kong muli yung towel sa mukha ko.

Samantalang si Van ay nagsimula ng magpalit ng tops nito. Out of vanity, pinatay ni Leigh yung ilaw sa side namin dito sa likod. Though, kung tutuusin, it's normal. We've seen each other's bodies. We've all shared showers together. That's how close the eight of us are.