Fourth of July

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

HER POV

Yakap-yakap ang sarili ko'y nanatili akong tahimik na nakaupo sa shotgun seat ng sasakyan ni Gab. It's been half an hour since we left the studio but still he hasn't talking or even asking me. We were quiet the whole time.

Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng mas malamig, 'yung simoy ba ng hangin ngayong gabi dahil open-roof ang sasakyan niya, o 'yung lamig ng atmospera naming dalawa.

One at a time, I would steal glances at him. Focused lang ang atensyon sa pagda-drive, ang isa niyang kamay ay nasa steering wheel at ang isa nama'y nakasampay sa may pintuan ng sasakyan niya.

I wonder why he's here and how he came back that fast. Akala ko matatagalan pa siya sa States for his therapy? I sighed. I badly wanted to ask him some questions but I couldn't speak. I don't know why but I'm starting to feel there's something wrong.

Napatingin ako sa dinadaanan namin at nakita kong puro nag-ta-taasang puno na 'yung nasa paligid namin. Gone were the view of huge gigantic buildings and city lights, mala-forest na 'tong tinatahak namin. Ito kasi ang daan pabalik sa mansyon nila. Although, malayo pa naman kami do'n.

Muli akong nakaramdam ng ginaw kaya pinag-kiskis ko ang dalawang palad ko at dinikit 'yon sa mukha ko at sa braso ko. I almost forgot, I'm still wearing this dress that I wore on that ramp show.

"Why'd you stop?" After a long minutes of silence, I finally get to asked him.

He parked his car on the side and remove his black leather jacket, leaving his white v-neck shirt.

"Wear this." He replied and handed me his jacket.

Hindi naman na 'ko nag-atubiling kuhanin 'yon at suotin. Giniginaw na rin naman ako. Baka manigas ako rito kung mag-i-inarte pa 'ko.

"Thank-" Magpapasalamat sana ako nang paandarin niya na ulit 'yung sasakyan. This time, he clicked something on the right side of his car. Sumara na 'yung bubong ng sasakyan niya.

"This is way less colder than a coldness of the night." He said then turn on the aircon but he lowered down its cool.

Tumango na lang ako at ngumiti sa kaniya. Nilabas ko 'yung phone ko mula sa hand bag ko at inabala ang sarili ko sa pag-tingin ng mga messages. Halos mag-lag ang phone ko dahil sa sunod-sunod na messages na dumadating. Ang ilan ay galing sa team ni Direk pati na rin sa kaniya mismo, they were asking me how am I and where I am. They're probably worried about me because of what happened. They were also apologizing for what happened.

Ang ilan ay galing kay Helwinn. He's worried. He even sent me multiple messages and called many times but I turned off my phone earlier as soon as Gabriel got me. I just sent him a message that I'm okay now and I'll call him once I got home. Pati na rin sa Director and the team, I sent them messages assuring them that they shouldn't have to worry that much.

"Are you hungry?"

Napalingon ako kay Gab nang mag-salita siya. Nakatingin na siya sa'kin ngayon.

"Hindi naman-" Hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko nang biglang kumulo ang tiyan ko. Napahawak ako roon at bahagyang natawa.

Nag-early dinner kasi kami ng mga tao sa studio an hour before the show started. Kaya nagugutom na 'ko ngayon.

"Alright. Let's eat first." Natatawa rin niyang sabi at pumasok sa isang liblib na lugar.

"Teka, sure kang may makakainan dito? Parang wala ngang naka-tira rito! Wait, don't tell me may binabalak kang masama sa'kin?"

"Trust me. I won't hurt you." He said as he parked the car. Huminto kami sa isang mala-kubo na bahay. Ito lang ang tanging bahay na nakita ko mula nang madaan kami sa lugar na 'to.