Never an Ever After (Never Series #1 | COMPLETED)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Getting there

"I can't leave my car here, babe," sabi ko kay Pierce nang biglang mag-cancel si Miss Eliana at sabihin na sa mga kaibigan nila siya sasabay. Dala kasi nila ay SUV at kasya naman daw sila roon.

Balak sana namin ni Pierce ay Ate niya iyong magdadala ng kotse niya tapos sakay kami sa kotse ko. Pero dahil nagbago last minute ay hindi kami makapag-decide nang ayos.

"Why?"

"Because..." I pursed my lips. Should I tell him? It won't hurt to tell him bits of the truth naman So I think, I should. Para na rin mabawasan ang dinadala ko. Isa pa, Pierce deserved to know. He's my boyfriend now. Hindi ko na ipapaliguy-ligoy pa.

"Because it would be safer," sabi ko. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili dahil sabi ko, didiretsuhin ko na...

Tiningnan niya lang ako. He's probably waiting sa susunod kong sasabihin. Mamayang alas otso pa naman iyong simula ng byahe namin. Convoy kami nina Miss Eliana. May oras pa para sabihin sa kaniya.

Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at umayos ng upo sa kama niya.

"My car's bulletproof," mahinang sabi ko. "Ever since I got shot in the arm, I've had it bulletproof..."

I watched as his lips divided. "George also did the same as well as my friend, Lewis. Sabay kaming tatlo na nabaril that time..." Tahimik lang siya sa harap ko at nakasandal sa headboard ng kama niya.

"Pare-pareho kaming sa braso ang tama kahit hindi kami magkakasama no'ng araw na 'yon. So, we had a strong belief na iisa lang din ang nasa likod no'n. Kasi bakit hindi pa kami tinuluyan, 'di ba? Halatang tinakot kami," mapakla akong natawa.

"But why did you agree with me driving you before?" Maingat na tanong niya. I gave him a warm smile.

"Kasi ikaw 'yon. I feel safe when I'm with you and I want to watch you drive every chance I get," pag-amin ko at medyo natawa. His expression didn't falter. In fact, the distress in his eyes was more perceptible.

"So, ayos lang kung mabaril ka basta magkasama tayo?" Tanong niya na may diin sa boses. I've never heard him use this tone on me. Napaawang ang labi ko. Galit ba siya?

"Parang gano'n na nga... Wait. Are you mad?"

"No. I'm worried, Guia. What if magkasama tayo tapos wala akong alam, bigla ka nalang mabaril? What do you think will happen?"

Hindi ako nagsalita.

He scooted close to me and held me in his arms. Ipinatong niya iyong ulo niya sa ulo ko at hinigpitan ang yakap sa akin. "What if I lose you? I can't lose you."

Niyakap ko siya pabalik at ibinaon ang mukha sa dibdib niya.

Hindi naman talaga ako takot mamatay basta nagawa ko ang tungkulin ko. But now that I have Pierce... I don't know. Change of plans... So, I can't die.

"You won't," I assured him. Hindi ko hahayaang mamatay ako sa laban. I would make sure the enemy's dead first.

"We'll take your car," desididong sabi niya.

***

Pierce and I were jamming to Zack Tabudlo's songs. Sobrang bagay talaga sa boses niya iyong mga kanta ni Zack. Parehas gwapo ang boses nila.

"Can you sing them for me some time?" Request ko. He was busy driving with his left arm steering the wheel and his right hand holding mine on my lap. On the road na kami at nasa likuran namin iyong red SUV ng kaibigan ni Miss Eliana.