CDS 1: Blazing Desire

Prologue

I went inside the bus to find a seat. This is my first time riding a public vehicle. Napangiti ako nang may mahanap at umupo malapit sa may bintana

I would like to open the curtain but I'm afraid that one of my father's men might see me and that's the last thing I wanted to happen

I didn't put an effort to run away just to be caught. I need to pull this act and stand with my decision

Sumilip ako sa bandang unahan para makita kung bakit hindi pa kami umaalis. I know they have to load more passengers or to make it full if possible but I will not be at ease if we will stay here any longer. Bayaran ko na lang kaya ang mga vacant seats?

But no...I can't. I can't waste money now that I decided to live on my own. I withdrew money that I think will lasted only for three months but it really depends on the rent of the apartment if I found one, the foods, some stuffs for my new home and other necessities. Kailangan ko talaga magtipid, it wasn't in my vocabulary back then but right now, I have to until I found a job

Napayuko ako nang makitang may dalawang unipormadong lalake na umakyat ng bus. Kinausap ng mga ito ang driver at nagsimulang sipatin ang mga tao sa bus. Shit! This is what I'm talking about!

Napapikit ako ng mariin. Is this the end? Is this the moment that I should say I failed?

Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. Why running away is also a hard thing to do? I just want to be free!

"Miss pwedeng magtanong?"

Naramdaman ko ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I know that voice, he's one of my father's men. Shit, bakit ang bilis nilang nalaman na lumayas ako?

"I think she's sick. It is not a good idea to bother her" baritonong sagot ng isang lalake. Siguro ay yung lalakeng katabi ko

"Mabilis lang naman Sir. May hinahanap lang kami. Baka nakita nya" pilit nung tauhan ni Daddy

Mas lalo pa akong yumuko at isiniksik ang sarili sa bintana

"Don't you see that she's not feeling well? Just spare her and leave her alone"

"Pero Sir---"

"If you really that persistent, go on and ask her. She's sleeping because she was dizzy, I challenge you to wake her up and if she throws up then clean her mess"

Natahimik yung tauhan ni Daddy

"Boss! Nakita nyo na ba ang hinahanap nyo? Aalis na kami" rinig kong sigaw nung driver or nung may hawak ng tickets. I don't know but I guess it was one of them

"Sige Boss! Salamat" tauhan ni Daddy

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag ng umandar ang bus. I gently wiped my sweat on my forehead

Hinintay kong tuluyang makalayo ang bus bago sumilip sa bintana at umayos nang pagkakaupo

Nilingon ko ang katabi ko para sana magpasalamat pero nakita kong nakasuot ito ng shades at may suot na hoodie. Matangos ang ilong nito at mapupula ang mga labi

I shook my head. Why am I checking his face?

Tinignan ko ulit ito. With his parted lips and head leaning on the back rest, I think he's sleeping

"Thank you" bulong ko at ngumiti

Sigurado ako na sa kanya ko narinig ang pangalan ng probinsyang napili ko. Nakasabay ko kanina ito sa pagbili ng ticket

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa may bintana at pumikit

Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Nung bumibili ako ng ticket ay may narinig ako na pangalan ng probinsya kaya yun na lang ang ticket na binili ko