Renegade

Chapter 7

HECTOR'S P.O.V.

***

"Miss Marquez!"

Hinawi niya ang mga kamay ko na nakahawak sa magkabila niyang mga braso para sana alalayan siya. She forced herself to walk— but she was really really drunk. Pasuray-suray 'yung lakad niya.

I sighed in frustration when she fell. Sa sobrang lasing niya, hindi siya nasaktan sa pagkatumba niya. Instead, she giggled.

"Why am I here anyway?" I asked myself, looking at the hopeless young woman who drunk an amount of alcohol that was more than what she could handle. "Miss Marquez, please get up."

"No! No! Huwag kang lalapit!"

I was halted when she started kicking her legs. Para siyang batang nagmumukmok.

Hindi ko maiwasang takpan ang mukha ko bago siya nilapitan dahil pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga taong dumadaan sa parking lot. "Miss Marquez! Stop making a scene," I hissed, covering my face with my left hand while trying to help her to get up using my other hand.

"S-Sabi ko... S-Sabi ko... 'Wag l-lalapit!" She whined, her arm started struggling from my hold.

I stared at her, irritatedly. "Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo?" I massaged my temple. "And why are you drunk anyway? Why do you have to get drunk in Blast of all places?!"

Halos nag-init ang dalawang tenga ko sa inis nang muli kong maalala 'yung eksena kanina sa pagitan nila ni Don Bermudez. His hand was touching her on that part that he should not.

Natigilan ako at kaagad kumuyom ang mga kamao ko. I sighed, feeling conscience and guilt. At some point, I felt responsible. Miss Marquez is still my student.

"Get up, Miss Marquez. Don't make me repeat my word." I leaned down to help her from getting up. But she's... She's too stubborn. "Miss Marquez! Ano ba!"

"Why?! W-Why do you have to be here?" Tiningala niya ako. Her face was so red and beads of sweat were flowing from her forehead and her neck. I was stunned when I saw tears pooling in her eyes. "W-Why do you have to ruin e-everything? Ikaw! N-Nawala 'yung chance ko... K-Kay Alex."

My head cocked to the right with what her drunk talking revealed. So, this was all about that guy— Alexander Lao. The same guy who put her in sisterzone.

Napabuntong hininga ako bago binitawan ang braso niya. Hinayaan ko siyang nakaupo sa maduming sahig ng parking lot na parang nawawalang bata. Look at this young lady. "Alam mo na namolestya ka na kanina?" I asked with gritted teeth. "Of course, you didn't know because you're goddamn drunk. Alam mo ba na kung hindi kita nakita kanina, baka nadala ka na sa taas ng Blast at pinagpyestahan ng mga kaibigan ni Don Bermudez?"

She bowed her head and her shoulders suddenly shook. Kalaunan, narinig ko ang mga hikbi niya. Mas tumindi ang panginginig ng katawan niya. Moments later, she folded up her legs and then she hugged her knees closed to her chest.

"Alam mo ba kung ano'ng lugar ang Blast? You should not be there. That place is not for you, Miss Marquez." My jaw clenched as my brain gave me awful scenarios that she could've ended up if I didn't see her on that stage. "Alam mo ba na kinakain ako ngayon ng konsensya dahil nangyari sa 'yo 'yung kanina?"

She cried even more and that's when I reached for her arm and assisted her to stand up. Sa pagkakataon na 'to, hindi na siya nagmatigas. Mukhang naiintindihan niya pa rin naman pala ang sinasabi ko kahit lasing na lasing siya.

Nang makatayo siya, hinubad ko ang coat ko at saka inilagay 'yon sa mga balikat niya. But being the stubborn that she was, she removed the coat and when she raised her head again, she met my eyes, directly. Her face was puffy and wet because of tears. Her eyes were red and swollen.