Solace Escape

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Kisses was never special to me. I had experienced this tons of times with boys, suitors, boyfriends but this particular kiss is something I did not expect. It felt like the ground beneath me melted away and the time stops for a moment.

It was just a kiss but my mind was frozen in it, focused. Like I could never think of anything else but the image of his black eyes staring at me and our lips pressed together.

Marahan siyang lumayo, nakatitig pa rin sa mga mata ko. My heart jumped while staring back at him with my parting lips at unti-unti, ang ingay ay nagbalik sa pandinig ko.

The crowd is loud that my head felt like exploding. Flashes from the camera almost blinded me, making me closed my eyes.

Hindi na ako nakagalaw sa siksikan ng tao. I was frozen in my place, panicking and stunned ngunit sa bilis ng galaw ni Sol ay napasubsob ako sa kanyang dibdib sa biglaang hapit niya at tago sa akin mula sa camera.

"H'wag ninyo siyang kuhaan." Istriktong at baritone niyang turan pero mas nag-ingay lang ang mga tao na ginagawang tanghalian ang buhay ko.

"Ikaw ba ang boyfriend ni Miss Sibyl? Totoo ba ang rumor na naging kayo habang sila ni James—"

"Ano?" Sol asked coldly, "anong pinagsasabi ninyo?"

"Kaya raw may iba si James kasi nauna si Sibyl?" tanong nila. "Malandi raw talaga 'yan, eh. Anong masasabi mo?

"Ano?" mas dumiin ang boses niya, "gago ka ba—" I suddenly gripped his shirt, stopping him.

Nakahawak siya sa baywang ko roon kaya nang nag-angat ako ng tingin ay siya ring pagbaba niya ng kanyang malalim na tingin sa akin.

"Don't," bulong ko at umiling.

"Ano?" mas lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. "Sib, sinisiraan ka nila—"

"You don't have to save me," bulong ko at ipinikit ang mata para kalmahin ang sarili.

You don't have to panic with people around, Sibyl. You should get used to it! You should. You should.

Mas gumulo sila, naghalo-halo ang boses sa ulo ko.

"Sibyl—" I caught how startled he is when I reached for his hand and gripped it. Kumunot ang noo niya at mula sa kamay niyang hinawakan ko ay ipinaling niya ang ulo sa akin.

"Let's run away," I whispered and his eyes flickered.

Tumikhim siya at umayos ng tayo, tumingin pa sa paligid. I was thinking he'd say no to me but just as my hopes started crumbling, he held my hand tightly, intertwined our fingers together and pulled me away.

Hinawi niya ang mga taong nagsusumiksik. While he's doing that, he is looking out for me. If I'd be hurt at pilit na prinotektahan sa mga tao sa paligid hanggang sa medyo mabawasan sila habang naglalakad.

He then looked at me and slowly, he smiled.

"Run." Isang salita lang 'yon pero mabilis akong tumango, humawak ng mahigpit sa kamay niya at sabay kaming mabilis na tumakbo papaalis.

People got on our way but it doesn't scare me. Sol's grip on my hand made me calm that I didn't panic while they're trying to chase us. Kung saan-saan pa kami nagtagong dalawa, nakikihalo sa mga namamasyal na tao at dumagdag na rin na may mga security na pumigil sa mga humahabol sa amin.

"Wala na? Wala na ba?" I asked Sol while running out of breath. Nandito kami ngayon malapit sa likod ng bench sa gitna ng mall at nagtatago sa mga sumusunod.

He's huffing a breath too when he rose a bit and tried to take a peak bago biglang tumungo.

"Nandito pa!" he told me in a panicking yet quiet voice kaya suminghap ako at tinakpan ang bibig.