THE GODDESS' KRYPTONITE

CHAPTER 11: Break Out

"Carl ano ba? Mahuhubaran na ako sa ginagawa mo!" Puna ni Drake sa kanya dahil paulit-ulit nitong hinihila ang jogger pants niya.

Melissa was on Drake's arms while Carl was like a kid following him. Panay ang hila nito sa damit niya na para bang may gustong sabihin.

"What?" Iritableng tanong ni Drake kay Carl nang muli na naman nitong hilain ang damit niya. Pero gaya ng paulit-ulit na ginagawa nito, wala itong nasasabi. Tila blangko ang isip nito sa dami ng alak na nainom nila ni Missy.

"You want to carry her?" Hinulaan na lang ni Drake ang gusto sabihin ni Carl.

He hesitantly nodded to Drake. Parang batang nahihiya sa gusto niya. Pero di siya pwede pagbigyan nito. Baka sa ospital pa ang bagsak nilang dalawa kung si Carl ang magbubuhat kay Missy.

"No, ni hindi ka na nga makapaglakad ng diretso." Tanggi nito kay Carl saka binilisan ang lakad.

Haynaku! Kunwari ka pa eh. You are the same Carl who is jealous to every man who'll touch Melissa. Don't worry bro, I don't like her anymore like I used to.

Tawang-tawa si Drake sa itsura ni Carl habang humahabol. Halos matumba na siya kakamadali niya.

"Come on, put her seat belt on." Utos ni Drake sa kanya nang mailagay niya si Melissa sa backseat. Mabilis ding umupo doon si Carl.

He obeyed Drake like a little kid. Maingat niya inilagay ang seat belt ni Missy. He also put her head on his shoulder when he saw it falling on the other side. He held her head in one hand.

"Watch your baby sister, okay?" Drake is throwing a joke but Carl nodded and removed Melissa's seat belt. Umurong siya sa dulo saka pinahiga ang dalaga.

Tang-ina Carl! Masisiraan na ata ako ng bait sa mga pinagagawa mo. Seriously, you will let her go to Michigan? Are you having a suicide or what?

Hindi alam ni Drake kung matatawa ba siya o maaawa kay Carl. His friend was obviously in love to his ex-girlfriend. He may not say it out loud, but his actions are more than enough.

"Drive slowly ha..." Sabi ni Carl habang hinahaplos ang noo ni Missy. Iniharang niya ang braso sa may tapat ng tiyan ng dalaga para hindi ito mahulog sakaling bilisan ni Drake ang pagmamaneho.

Hay...okay lang yan Carl. I know where you're coming from. Love is really silly. It will make you stupid at times but most of all, it will make you the man you least expect.

Drake bite his lower lip remembering Samantha. He knew how it feels. To be crazily in love. To be stupid. To be silly. He had experienced a lot of things. Far from Carl and Melissa's lovestory. Mula noon, he tried not to fall for someone again. Love may be a wonderful feeling, yet it can destruct who you are if you let it overpower you. Iyon ang isang bagay na natutunan niya.

Magtira ka ng para sa sarili mo Melissa. Don't give everything you have. Kahit si Carl pa yan, you have to give yourself a respect. If he really loves you, hayaan mo siyang ma-realize yun. Don't be settled with what he can give you now. You deserve more, every woman deserves it.

Drake silently said to himself while watching the two of them. Gian and him were aware what happened that day in the office of Carl's father. Hindi na lang nila iyon binanggit pa sa kanya. They were aware that he's protecting Melissa. Isang bagay na nasa sistema na ni Carl noon pa. Like what he's doing now. He's pushing her away to protect Melissa.

Nang makarating sila sa building kung nasaan ang loft condo ni Carl, inabot na sila ng isang oras kakahula sa password sa pinto. Nakailang combination na sila ay wala pa rin. Naramdaman na nga ni Carl ang hilo niya kakapindot doon. Si Missy naman ay nakahiga na sa sahig at nagpapagulong-gulong na. Mabuti na lang ay wala ng mga tao na dumadaan.