ATOMIC

Chapter 32: Superman Wanted

Chapter 32: Superman Wanted

Palakad lakad si Leilani sa beach front dala ang isang twalya upang hanapin si Jay. Sa isang spot ng beach niya nahanap yung binata nakaupo kaharap yung papalubog na araw. Bago makalapit pinagmasdan ng dalaga yung maliliit na peklat ng binata sa likod niya at yung isa pa sa kanyang tagiliran.

Dahan dahan lumapit si Leilani, napalingon si Jay at napatingala kaya nginitian siya ng dalaga. Naupo si Leilani sa tabi ni Jay, pareho silang humarap sa palubog na araw sabay tinignan ang mga paa nilang naabot ng tubig ng dagat.

“Is he okay?” tanong ni Jay. “I don’t know, I didn’t bother to go check on him” sagot ng dalaga. “I am so sorry” bulong ni Jay. “Don’t be, kasalanan ko naman yon” sabi ng dalaga. “Hindi mo kasalanan yon, bastos lang talaga siya. I am really sorry you had to see that” sabi ni Jay.

“It was my fault, hindi sa nag iinarte ako pero I didn’t want to take my shirt off because of this” sabi ni Leilani kaya napatingin si Jay. Tinaas ng dalaga shirt niya sa bandang kaliwang tagiliran, nagulat ang binata nang makita ang bakas ng saksak.

Hinaplos ni Jay yung peklat kaya napapikit ang dalaga at naluluha na. “What happened to you?” tanong ni Jay. Tumulo na ang luha ng dalaga kaya agad siya inakbayan ng binata sabay pinunasan mga luha nito gamit thumb niya. “Hey, Lei, its okay, you don’t need to tell me” sabi ni Jay.

“I could have taken my shirt off, kaya lang ayaw ko na makita nila ito ulit. When they see this they remember, when I see their faces remembering I too remember…something from my past that I want to forget” bulong ni Leilani.

“Sshhhhh its okay, hayaan mo na” sabi ni Jay. “No kailangan mo malaman ito” sabi ni Leilani. “Leilani, kung sakit lang idudulot ng pagkwento mo wag nalang, I don’t want to see you crying, di ko naman kaya gulpihin yung bad memories mo to drive them away. All I can do is make happy memories with you and hope those bad memories get forgotten or buried deep” lambing ng binata kaya napangiti ang dalaga.

“Jay, nung sinabi mo you went to get my schedule when I was sick…inaantay ko nalang na magtanong ka. Pero it never came, then when you told me you saw me three years ago I knew that you already were going to ask. I stopped school for a reason…” bulong ni Leilani.

“Kaya pala ang tagal na kitang hindi nakita” bulong ni Jay. “First year college Jay, niligawan ako ni Dennis. He was this super gwapo guy…but a lot knew he was a playboy. I really didn’t like him but he became so good to me. He was a gentleman and…he was really nice”

“My daddy is strict, even my mom, I never accepted suitors honestly. So I told him he should stop, I can only be friends with him. He stuck around, he was so sweet, he told me he will stop courting me and remain as my friend..he was really nice…”

“I trusted him, we would go places just like what we are doing but with him I kept my guard up…always kept my guard up because unlike you I sensed that there was something wrong in the way he looked at me and there were several times he tried getting a feel…of course he says it was all accidental”

“End of sem, he suddenly showed up sa house. Wala mama at papa ko non, his offer was to go on a short trip to Batangas. Kilala mo na ako, I love traveling so I said yes right away without thinking. He already had snacks in the car so everything seemed so perfect. On the road I suddenly felt dizzy. Nakatulog ako…pag gising ko nasa loob na ako ng isang kwarto. I felt so weak, as in I could not move and talk. My vision was blurry, I saw him totally naked coming towards me” kwento ni Leilani sabay tumigil siya at naiyak na.