"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others."
-Veronica Roth, Divergent
Tahimik na pumasok si Blaise sa sasakyan. Sumunod naman si Cord nang masiguradong maayos na itong nakaupo.
"You still want to go to the pawnshop?" he asked her softly and she nodded. She looked at him and understanding was written all over his face. He never asked what happened to her in there. He never demanded an answer from her. He just took her in his arms and comforted her. She never felt so secured in her until life until Cord came along.
"Okay." Pinaandar na nito ang kotse at saka pinatakbo. They were very quite throughout the whole ride. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan na tila gusto na niya iyong basagin.
She was actually waiting for him to ask her about what happened to her sa cafe. Hindi niya alam kung anong isasagot niya kung saka sakali ay magtanong ito dahil siya mismo ay hindi alam kung saan nanggagaling ang panic attacks niya. She's been dealing her panic attacks all alone sa loob nang labing tatlong taon. No one was there sa tuwing inaatake siya. No one was there to comfort her during her darkest time. No one even begged her to come back from her nightmares until Cord.
Naputol ang pagmumuni muni niya ng maramdaman niyang huminto ang sasakyan. "We're here." untag sa kanya ni Cord. He turned off the engine, bubuksan na sana nito ang pinto nang bigla niya itong pinigilan. "Wait," tumingin si Cord sa kanya, naghihintay sa kung anuman ang sasabihin niya. Blaise took a deep breathe at saka nagsalita.
"H-hindi ka ba magtatanong kung anong nangyari sakin kanina?" Nanunukat niyang tanong. Cord heaved a sigh at saka kinuha ang mga kamay niya. Nakita niya kung paano lumambot ang mukha nito habang nakatingin sa kanya.
"I won't force you to speak Blaise. I won't even ask you to explain because I know you're not yet ready." he spoke softly while gently brushing his fingers on her knuckles. She really loves it when he does that. It's like his fingers brought a calming sensation to her core. "And if the time comes that you're ready to tell me, then I'm all ears." he brushed off the tear that fell from her eyes while giving her his kindest smile. It's like a huge weight was lifted from her heart. No one cared about what she's feeling. No one but Cord.
"You've made me cry." Pabiro niyang sabi kay Cord. Ngumiti lang ito hinawi ang buhok na tumatabing sa mukha niya. Ilang sandali pa silang nagkatitigan nang biglang bumaba ang tingin nito sa labi niya. Her face flushed in an instant. Napakagat labi siya. Nakita niya kung paano tumaas-baba ang Adam's apple nito dahil sa ginawa niya.
"Uhhh. Let's go?" She awkwardly said, breaking the tension between them. She saw him blinked at parang ngayon lang nito narealize kung gaano ka awkward ang sitwasyon nila.
"Ahh yeah." sang ayon nito at parang wala sa sariling tumatango. Narinig niya pang may binulong bulong ito pero hindi niya maintindihan kung anong sinasabi nito. His hand went up to the back of his neck, slightly massaging it. Her gaze went to his ears at napansin niyang sobrang pula nito. She giggled a little. Sobrang cute kasi tingnan ng tenga nito na parang gusto niya tuloy kurutin. Napatakip naman ng bibig si Blaise, surpressing her giggles nang mapansin niyang nakakunot ang noo ni Cord. He was throwing her a "what the fuck" look.
"Sorry." Hinging paumanhin niya na parang natatawa parin. She was still covering her mouth to suppress her laughter at dahil dun ay tiningnan siya ng masama ni Cord.
"What?" Iritableng tanong nito.
"Uhh. N-othing. Uhh I just remembered something funny." Pagkakaila niya. Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ni Cord dahil sa dahilan niya.
"Mabuti pa lumabas na tayo." Pag-iiba niya dahil baka hindi niya mapigilan ang matawa nang tuluyan. Matagal siya nitong tinitigan bago nito tuluyang binuksan ang pinto ng kotse. Nakakunot parin ang noo nito habang pinagbubuksan siya nito ng pinto. Inilahad nito ang kamay nito at tinanggap naman niya iyon at magkahawak kamay silang naglakad.
Kanina pa siya nakatitig sa papel na hawak niya. She was torn between asking someone's assistance or returning the payment slip. But she doesn't want to appear dumb so here she is, staring on the slip waiting for a miracle to happen. 'But you are dumb' kontra ng isip niya. She sighed in frustration. She tried to read a few words but she just can't pick it out. The words ended up being jumbled. She can't even writr her own name. 'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.'
Naramdaman niyang tumayo si Cord mula sa kinauupuan nito at tinungo siya. Gusto niyang maiyak sa frustration. Ayaw niyang makita pa nito ang isang kahinaan niya. He saw how closed she was losing her sanity kanina at ayaw niyang pati iyon ay makita nito. "Stupid little brain. So stupid."
"Problem?" Tanong sa kanya ni Cord nang makalapit ito sa kanya. She looked at him and concern was written all over his face. Wala na ang kunot sa noo nito. She held back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She really felt stupid. Why can't she do it?
"I- I can't." Hirap niyang sabi. A lump was clogging on her throat making it difficult for her to speak. She saw how his brows knitted in confusion.
"I don't think I can do it. God, I can't do it. Why did I think I can do it? I'm really stupid." She was closed to breaking down pero pinigilan niyang umiyak. Ayaw niyang ipahiya pa lalo ang sarili. Naramdaman niyang hinawakan siya ni Cord sa braso. He looked at her intently.
"May I?" he asked softly at saka inilahad ang palad nito. Napatingin siya sa nakabukang palad ni Cord. Ilang beses na ba siyang iniligtas ng mga kamay na yun? Sa loob ng maikling panahon ay hindi niya na mabilang. How many had tried to offer her a helping hand before? No one. No one until Cord.
Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga saka inabot ang papel at isang pares ng hikaw.
"Thank you." she earnestly said. He nodded in understanding. Somehow he knew. He knew that she wasn't just simply thanking him for filing the slip.
She made her way to where Cord was sitting kanina. Tahimik lang siyang nakamasid dito habang nagsusulat ito. Hini niya rin maiwasang mag-isip. Paano kung hindi siya nakatakas ng gabing yun? Paano kung hindi siya muntik mabangga ni Cord? Malamang ay nasa impyerno pa rin siya ngayon.
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So I'm adding a few of my favorite quotes from my favorites books written by my favorite authors on every chapters. I hope you don't mind though. And am I too greedy to ask for a vote and some comments? I really do hope you'll let me know your thoughts. Plus, a vote is just a click away. Thank you for reading. :))
-MM.
BINABASA MO ANG
Scarred
Romance" The scar imprinted on your body doesn't mean you're weak. It somehow signifies your strength. You're a strong woman Blaise, so strong that I'm afraid that one day, you'll realized that you don't even need me anymore." -Cord Kyland Gentry Some cont...
