DANDELION (Completed)

KABANATA 6

"Watch out!"

I stepped on the brakes and almost shrieked in shock with his sudden scream. Muntik na rin akong napasubsob sa manibela kung hindi niya lang naagapan ang lapat ng braso niya sa taas ng dibdib ko at hinapit ako. Ramdam ko ang paghingal niya sa likod ko at kalaunan ay sumabog rin sa galit.

"Dandelion, you're so reckless! Nakita mong may asong dumaan pero hindi mo man lang binagalan! You could've killed-"

"So? Aso lang naman 'yon!" Asik ko at pilit na kumawala sa pagkakayakap niya. He scoffed a breath and gripped on my arms and let me stay still seated on his lap.

"What? So are you going to kill him, Dandelion?"

"O-Of course not! Eh, hindi ko naman sinasadya kung masasagasaan ko man sakali!" I protested even more and hardly bit my lip. I feel annoyed thinking that it feels like the same with what happened before with my sister too.

"You're unbelievable, Dandelion! You're so mean-"

"Shut up! Now, you talk like my sister!"

"Because it's true. May buhay din ang aso lang na sinasabi mo. You don't have the right to kill him and you'll be punished if ever you killed him. Do you understand me?"

"Pakalat-kalat naman kasi..." mahinang sambit ko pa habang nakayuko at pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri ko. Naiinis talaga ako dahil pakiramdam ko ay pinamumukha niya sa aking ang sama-sama ko!

"Dandelion."

"What? Do you want me to apologize to your brother, huh?" Kalag ko sa pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko at itinagilid ang katawan para harapin siya. He looked clueless and confused to what I said.

"What? Brother?"

Napatango ako at dinuro-duro ang dibdib niya. "Oh yes! You doggy Raffy! Go on! Bark on me now for almost killing your brother out there!"

I saw his lips parted and eyes widened a bit just like what reactions he used to give whenever I called him like that. But I was shocked when he slowly chuckled as if amused now. He held on my chin and pinched while closing my parted lips.

"Damn it. Let's go out of here and eat first then. Maybe you're just starving now or might the dog here will eat you alive, Dandelion..."

Kahit na naghuhuramentado ang puso ko sa lapit ng mukha niya sa akin at hindi pa tuluyang naka-move on sa naging reaksyon niya kanina ay nangibabaw ang kaba at takot ko sa sinabi. Naalala ko na naman kung paano ako noon kinagat ng aso nina Kuya Nate nang bumibisita kami roon nina Kuya Chase. Naapakan ko kasi ang buntot kaya kinagat ako bigla. I still couldn't moved on from that until now! Kaya takot na ako sa nga aso ngayon!

"Y-You're kidding!" Panlalaki ng mata ko.

He shrugged it off and began starting the engine. Napaawang ang labi ko nang makita pa ang ngisi sa labi niya kaya sinapak ko ang dibdib.

"Halseth!"

"What?" Natatawang aniya at sinulyapan ako na masama pa rin ang titig sa kanya. "Okay, I was just kidding. No one's gonna eat you here, Dandelion. Not that dog you almost hit." He grinned and licked his lip still with a ghost of smile plastered on it.

"I hate you!"

Nagtuloy-tuloy ang araw na ganoon ang scenario naming dalawa. I always complains and whining about things. Sa mga sumunod na araw din niyon ay hindi na niya ako hinayaang umupo sa kandungan para mas magabayan ako ng maayos. Kotse pa rin niya ang gamit at hindi na ako ulit nagpunta sa bahay nila para sunduin siya. I don't have the face to meet his mother again and smile on her face. I just can't after finding out what she thinks about me. Nah. I doubt it we'll go along together.