A Promise on the Sand (Isla de Negros Series #2)

Chapter 38

CHAPTER 38
Test

Everyone was staring at her in the jeepney. She looked like a mess. Her face was wet with tears, and her uniform was stained with coffee.

Tila wala sa sariling bumaba si Ayla ng jeep nang makarating sa kanilang eskwelahan. Pinagtitinginan siya ng karamihan nang dahil sa kanyang itsura. She couldn't stop herself from tearing up. Masyado pa ring sariwa ang mga nangyari. Parang kanina lang. Kung literal lang na dumudugo ang kanyang puso sa sobrang sakit, siguro'y punong-puno na siya ng dugo nang dahil dito.

She didn't mind the stares and looks. Tahimik lang siyang umiiyak habang naglalakad. Her mind was so blank that she couldn't even think straight. Nakayuko lang siyang naglalakad at tila hindi alam kung saan patungo.

Tumigil lamang siya nang makitang may tumigil din sa harap niya. Dahan-dahan siyang napaangat ng tingin mula paa hanggang ulo nito. Umangat ang kanyang tingin hanggang sa mukha nito at nang mapagtanto niya kung sino 'yon ay unti-unti siyang napahagulgol.

The looks in his eyes asked her what happened. She didn't speak a word, and just let all her baggage of emotions out by crying.

Calvin gently pressed her head on his chest, and she cried even more. She gripped tight on his uniform as she cried. He caressed her hair without saying anything, comforting her until her last tear.

"I'm sorry," she said as she pull herself away from him. Napatingin naman siya sa paligid at pinagtitinginan pa rin siya.

Calvin sighed and removed his jacket.

"May extra kang uniform?" 'yon ang unang beses na nagsalita ito mula kanina.

Sumagot naman siya ng iling. "I didn't bring anything."

Tumango lang ito at ibinigay sa kanya ang suot nitong jacket.

"Suotin mo muna."

She stared at it and shook her head. "I'm fine. Uuwi na rin naman mamaya."

"Bilis na."

Nang hindi pa rin niya tinanggap 'yon ay ito na mismo ang nagsuot n'on sa kanya.

"Sa susunod, kapag may mangyari sa 'yo o may problema, tawagan mo agad ako. Hindi 'yung bigla na lang kitang makikitang ganito tapos wala man lang akong nagawa," seryosong anito na kulang na lang ay kumunot na ang noo.

"I'm fine. At saka hindi mo ako responsibilidad, okay?"

"Oo na. Hindi kita girlfriend. Pero dahil gusto kita at..."

Napaangat siya ng tingin dito at napaiwas naman ito.

"...at mahal kita."

Sa pagkakataong 'yon ay nagkatinginan silang dalawa.

"Ayokong nakikita kang ganyan. Apektado na rin kasi ako. Hindi mo man ako bigyan ng responsibilidad dahil wala naman tayong relasyon pero ako mismo ang nagsabi sa sarili ko na kailangan kitang alagaan kahit hindi mo man sabihin. Ako mismo nagbigay ng responsibilidad ko sa 'yo sa sarili ko."

She had no idea what to feel about Calvin doing these things to her. She only knew one thing. This man didn't deserve her.

"Sabay ka sa 'king umuwi maya, ha? Para masigurado kong makauuwi ka nang safe. Okay?"

Ilang sandali pa bago siya sumagot ng tango. Doon naman sumilay ang ngiti sa mukha nito. He tapped her head and pressed it to him.

"Kung 'di lang kita love, eh."

She showed a weak smile at him. Sabay naman silang bumalik sa kanilang silid.

It was dismissal when she and Nolan went out from their room together.