Unforgotten [Baguio Series #5]

16

16:

"Sigurado ka bang kaya mong maglakad?" he asked.

Kinuha ko ang sandals ko at iniamba sa kan'ya. "Oo nga, ang kulit mo!"

I tried to walk straight pero shet, hindi ko kaya! Lagi na lang akong gumegewang kaya kailangan niyang alalayan ako paminsan-minsan. I don't know what time it is now but there's no jeep and tricycle that's passing by.

Damn, it's fucking cold!

"You should've come with your friend's car. Nagpahatid ka na sana," he said while holding my arms.

Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa braso ko at hinarap siya. I am dizzy so it's already given that my vision is blurry.

"Huwag mo nga akong hawakan! I hate everyone in your school! Sana noon ka pa nangulit, eh! Who knows, baka pinatulan pa kita at naging isa ka sa mga lalaking nakalaro ko for a short period of time para hindi mo na ako kinukulit-kulit nang gan'yan!"

I tried to walk again on my own but my own feet failed me! Natumba ako sa sahig! Naibato ko ang dalawang sandals na hawak ko kasabay ng pagsigaw ko.

"Argh!"

I heard him laughed behind me. Ilang sandali pa, nakita ko na siyang hawak ang paa ko at bahagyang minamasahe 'to.

"That's why I didn't bug you for the past years. I don't want to be your playmate."

Umirap ako sa kan'ya. "So, bakit mo ako kinukulit ngayon? Isn't that your intention? To get me under your sheets?" I didn't know why my tears started falling and I couldn't stop it now. "Pare-pareho lang naman kayo ng intensiyon, hindi ba? Sa dami ng lalaking sinubukan kong makita ang good side, in the end, all of them asked me the same thing!"

I pushed him away but he didn't even move a bit. Sinubukan ko ulit tumayo at maglakad palayo sa kan'ya habang umiiyak nang malakas na parang bata.

I still remember how Austin called me whore . . . a slut. After that night, he tried fixing things with me by saying sorry. Of course, I blocked him.

"Ang kakapal ng mukha niyo!"

"Casey."

I turned around to face him. He's walking behind me while holding my sandals.

"Ano? Isa ka pa! Kinukulit mo lang naman ako for the same thing, 'di ba?"

I harshly wiped my tears away before walking towards him. Humawak ako sa shirt niya at tumingkad para mailapit ang mukha ko sa kan'ya. He didn't move forward—kahit nga kaonting galaw, wala.

His brown eyes bore into me, looking at me like I'm a painting in a museum—a masterpiece that he couldn't afford. I don't know what's with him but every time he's close to me, I always had goose bumps . . . tulad ngayon.

"This is what you want, right?" my tears fell again as I looked back at him. "If I'll give you this, will you stop bothering me?"

His head shake slightly, responding to my question. I pursed my lips before moving forward to kiss him, since this is what he wanted from me, I know. But he held my shoulders and stopped me. Itinayo niya ako nang maayos bago naupo sa harap ko at isinuot sa mga paa ko ang sandals.

I was caught off-guard. My heart feels like it wanted to come out of my chest. Gusto ko na rin masuka sa sobrang dami ng nararamdaman ko ngayon—hindi ko na alam kung anong uunahin ko.

After he put the sandals on my feet, he stood up and took my hands. Tumalikod siya at inilagay ang dalawang braso ko sa balikat niya, tsaka ako kinarga.