Covenant in the Wilderness

Chapter 31: Who Died?

I got curious. I found myself walking again in the middle of the night, there will be no Yandiel who will drastically come into my way to forbid me or give me a little favor. I know I am no longer their member, that's a big relief for me.

Kinapa kong muli ang aking bulsa para tingnan kung naroon ba talaga ang cutter ko. Hindi ko alam kung madilim ba o maliwanag ang aking dinadanaan, matinong kalsada naman ito na may mga puno sa magkabilang gilid, 'di kalayuan ay may mga kabahayan pagkatapos ng mga puno.

Yumuko lang ako habang naglalakad. Hindi ako natatakot, hindi talaga.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang matanaw ko na ang ilaw na nagmumula sa park ng fraternity na iyon. Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakarating dito. Maraming nagbago, kahit hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakalapit ay nararamdaman ko na ang mga nagbago.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at pumikit. I hear something, steps on the dried leaves that are scattered everywhere. That person doesn't seem to mind me, his steps were too loud, and fast.

Why I didn't feel this person, seems like he's not following me.

I gasped when someone suddenly grabbed my hand, it made me fall back into that person until he wrapped his arms around my neck, locking me not to run away. Bumilis ang aking paghinga at nakaramdam ng kaba. This... was Yandiel's gesture, even on the second time we met.

But this isn't him.

"What are you up again? Hindi ka pa ba nakuntento noong nasa malapit lang kami, sumunod pa rito, umalis tapos biglang patagong babalik?"

I knew it. It was Ryker.

"What a scaredy cat," he whispered without making a single move. "Coward."

Hindi ako nagsalita at mabagal na ginalaw ang aking kamay na nasa aking bulsa, hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa aking cutter. Si Ryker, ibang usapan ang taong ito. I once saw him hurting a girl as if that was a man that could fight him back.

"What do you need now, Deborah Yuenne? What are you up to?" muli niyang bulong sa aking tainga, pinilit kong magpumiglas pero mas malakas siya, hindi na ako nagsayang ng pagod. Hindi na rin ako sumagot, bahala siyang magtanong nang magtanong.

"That dagger won't protect you, I'm just asking what do you want here again. Have you accomplished what you need to do here? You're not done yet?"

This wasn't a dagger. Binitawan ko na ang cutter kong kinakalawang naman sabi nga ni Yandiel at buong lakas na kumawala sa kanya. Inayos ko ang suot kong jacket at binaling kay Ryker ang aking tingin. He just licked his lips and grinned.

Mabilis pa rin ang aking paghinga dahil sa gulat. Tiningnan ko lang siya gamit ang malamig kong mga mata at nilagpasan siya para bumalik na sa aking dorm. I just wasted another night of walking here. Why did I even go here?

"Rinig ko nililigawan ka raw ni Yandiel."

"Syempre, tsismoso ka, eh," bulong ko, he scoffed because of it.

"Siguro mapera ka, kaibigan ako ng taong 'yon kung hindi mo alam, kasi mapera din ako."

I found myself staring at the edge of my roof. What is he even saying? Ryker literally means that Yandiel just befriended him just because of his money, his wealth. Is he even wealthy?

Siguro ganoon ang dating sa kanya, o iyon nga ang totoo. But I don't think he courts me because he sees wealth in me. We live in a province full of mountains, our church is just a terrace of a house. He could see that I take XLT every week to go home instead of a car like some rich student here.

I don't think he court me because of money, ganda lang talaga ang nakita niya sa akin, wala akong magagawa doon.

.