FORBIDDEN #3: Searching for Love (b×b)

CHAPTER 23: Care

REECE'S POV

It's already 1 AM.  I caress the back of my neck as I lean against the leather chair. Nasa sasakyan na ako at pabalik na kami sa mansion. Pinanood ko ang patak ng ulan sa bintana  Saglit kong pinikit ang mga mata  at pilit na inalala ang kung anong nakalimutan ko na kanina pa bumabagabag sakin.

I'm not the type of person that easily forgets things unless it's not important.

Talking with the Alverez and putting up a small smile is more exhausting than working for the whole day. I was also uncomfortable about Natasha being touchy and all. Hindi ko naman siya magawang sitahin dahil nasa harap kami ng pamilya niya.

I don't really like that girl but I don't hate her either. Just somewhere in between.

"We're here, sir." Binuksan ng tauhan ang pinto. Lumabas ako mula sa sasakyan at diretso ang paningin sa water fountain. I'm expecting to see Caden but there's no one there except the empty bench.

It's already late, Sebastian. He must've gone to sleep already. He won't wait for you this long and it's also raining.

"Good evening, sir." Bati ni Bea sakin. Inabot ko sakanya ang coat na suot ko.

"Did Caden eat dinner, already?" tanong ko habang naglalakad papunta sa living area.

"Ahmm... hindi niyo po ba kasama si Caden, sir?" Nagdugtong ang kilay ko sabay harap sakanya.

"He's not with me, Bea." hindi naging matagumpay ang balak kong umupo sa couch.

"A-Akala ko sir kasama niyo.." I can hear from her stuttering that she's starting to get nervous. "Hindi p-pa po kasi siya umuuwi."

"What do you mean? He has classes I can't bring him with me-" I stopped in my tracks when realization hit me.

Fuck! I forgot to fetch him at school!

I didn't waste any second and immediately walk towards the front door.

"Give me the keys." mabilisang utos ko sa aking tauha . Kahit naguguluhan sa nangyayari ay agaran niyang binigay sakin ang susi ng sasakyan. Sakto namang nakapark pa din 'yon hanggang ngayon sa harap ng mansion at hindi pa naka park sa garage  kaya mabilis akong nakapasok saka 'yon pinatakbo. 

It's raining hard. Sumasabay din ang malakas na ihip ng hangin at ang sunod sunod na pagdagundong ng kalangitan.

Why did I fucking forget about what I told him earlier? That I'm gonna be fetching him and he'll wait for me. I know that it's already late and he must've gone somewhere or he's with his friends already but I have this kind of feeling telling me that he's still there. Waiting for me.

Caden is stubborn. Sinusunod niya lahat ng sinasabi ko kaya lubos akong nag-aalala dahil kahit sa gitna ng unos na'to ay alam kong maghihintay siya.

'Maghihintay ako Channie ah?'

"Fuck!" malakas kong hinampas ang manubela habang iniisip na possible nga siyang nagpaulan. I told him to wait for me at the bench and I'm worried thinking that until now he might be still there.

Malakas ang pagpapatakbo ko at halos paliparin ko na ang sasakyan.
The rain is blurring the windshield together with the wiper but it didn't slow me down. The beating of my heart is racing. Puno ako ng pag-alala para kay Caden at galit sa sarili. Ngayon ko lang ito muli naramdaman pagkatapos ng ilang taon.

Ito ang unang beses na nag-alala ako para sa isang tao. Sa taong wala akong alam kundi pangalan lang. Sa taong isang estranghero sakin.

This is the first time that I became really worried. Worried for the person who is a complete stranger to me. Worried for someome I don't  even trust. This feeling is very frustrating.