Hugo stared at me as I sat on his lap.
Hindi mawalay ang tingin niya sa akin. Parang isang anak na matagal na nangungulila sa pagmamahal galing sa ina. His hands were all over my waist, couldn't get enough of me. Sinandal niya ang ulo sa dibdib ko. He sniffed my chest.
I closed my eyes and kissed his head.
"I really missed you," I voiced.
"I do, too."
"Talaga?"
Tumango siya habang ang ulo ay nasa boobs ko. "Sobra, mahal..."
Hugo felt like home to me now.
I guess if there is one thing bigger than love, it's home. It's something that I want to be with at the end of the day. It is where all my worries and thoughts are tossed away.
"I was worried, Hugo. You didn't text, you didn't call. I am overthinking a lot."
Tumingala siya sa akin, namumungay ang mga mata. My eyebrows moved, longing for something.
"I'm sorry, there's just a lot of things in my way right now," he whispered. "Will you be patient with me? Please..."
I gritted my teeth.
I wanted to tell him everything that is happening between me and my mother but I couldn't. Ayaw kong madagdagan ang stress niya. He's struggling with his family and their company. Ayaw kong sumali pa.
I nodded. "I love you."
Nagtagal ang tingin niya sa akin. Bumagal ang pagpikit ng mga mata niya. "Hmm?"
"I love you..." nahiya ako kaagad. I buried my face on his cheek.
He chuckled. "Again?"
"Ayaw ko na."
"Please, baby..."
I giggled softly. "I love you."
Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga.
"I will fix this immediately..." he murmured.
Hugo explained about the problem with his family. His father was sent to the hospital because of heart problems. He was okay at first but then it got critical that his mother needed a lot of funds for the rising hospital bills. That's where everything started, he said.
His brother and him are fixing everything but the investors kept on pulling out their investments. For the whole week, they've been arranging meetings to win back the company but all were disappointed. Some already sued them.
Napupunit ang puso ko habang pinapakinggan siya sabihin iyon lahat sa akin.
He slept saying those while hugging me. Hindi ako makatulog. Tulala ako habang iniisip ang maraming bagay.
I woke up without Hugo beside me. Blangko ang kama at nakabalot sa akin ang dalawang patong na comforter. Pinalibutan niya ako ng unan sa dalawang gilid ko.
I just opened my phone and saw three messages from him.
Hugo : I'm sorry, I had to head out early. Kuya was calling me already.
Hugo : I cooked pancakes.
Hugo : I love you.
Bumuntong hininga ako.
Me : When are you coming back?
Me : Please, just text me... kahit isang beses. I just want to know if you're okay.
Pinatay ko ang cellphone ko at tumayo na.
I ate his pancakes and changed for school. Mom was still bugging me on my phone. Hindi ko pinansin ang mga mensahe niya. She's not even asking if I was okay. Ang pinupunto niya sa mga mensahe ay ang date namin ni Atlas!
Bumaba ako sa kotse ko at laking gulat ko ang mukhan bumabalandra sa gate. Atlas Añonuevo is in front of my school gate, wearing a tight ripped jeans and a black loosed t-shirt.
Galit akong nag martsa patungo sa kaniya.
"What are you doing here?"
He smirked. "Good morning, sunshine. You ditched me last time."
Umirap ako. "May boyfriend ako."
"Saan?"
Nanlilisik ang mata ko sa kaniya. At this point, I want to punch his face.
Humalukipkip ako. "Anong sadya mo rito, Atlas?"
Ginaya niya ang halukipkip ko. "Sunduin kita mamaya."
"What?"
"Your mother wants us to dine together. Who am I to refuse?"
This jerk.
"Ayoko."
He shrugged. "You think I like it, too?"
"E'di h'wag na!"
Lumabas ang ngisi niya habang pinagmamasdan ako.
He tapped my shoulder. "I'll see you later, grumpy sunshine. Aral ka ng mabuti."
Matalim ang tingin ko sa likod ni Atlas habang naglalakad palayo. I rolled my eyes.
The talk about Hugo and Jasmine didn't end up until now. May mga naririnig ako tungkol sa kanila. I am afraid to ask Hugo about it. I don't want him to think that I am a jealous girlfriend. Isa pa, it's not important. It maybe just and issue. Dahil kung totoo man ay matagal nang binanggit sa akin ni Hugo iyon.
Tumigil ako sa pakikinig sa earphones ko nang makita kong dumaan si Jasmine mula sa bintana ng classroom ko. Her long straight hair danced as she walked. Maputi at payat ang katawan. She doesn't show her teeth a lot when she smiles, probably because she used to wear braces before. She stopped to greet a friend. Sakto'y pinalabas na din kami ng professor.
I grabbed my bag and walked out. I immediately caught her attention. Napawi kaagad ang ngiti niya. I smiled, though. And she didn't.
Humalukipkip ako nang makita ko ang sasakyan ni Atlas sa labas. He's standing beside her nasty car. He's even wearing sunglasses to show off. May pandidiri ko siyang tinignan ngunit kaagad iyong napawi nang makitang wala na ang sasakyan ko. My eyes widened.
"Where the hell is my car?" halos pasigaw iyon.
He innocently shrugged. "I guess you'll have to ride with me."
Matalim ko siyang tinignan. Nagpupuyos ako sa inis. How did he even get my car out of here? What the heck.
I dialed my mother's number. Pumaymewang ako. Atlas is watching me while plastering a smirk on his lips. Pinapanood niya din ang bawat babaeng dumadaan, kulang na lamang ay paswitan niya ang mga iyon.
"Mom!" I said soon as she answered the call.
"God, Nichoella, your tone!"
"You took my car?"
"Well, hija, nakakahiya sa mga Añonuevo. You ditched him last time."
Matalim kong tinignan si Atlas. He removed his sunglasses and played with his eyebrows.
"Mom, Hugo's-"
"How many times do I have to tell you? Forget him, Nichoella. He's not even seeing you now. Nagtatago na iyon kasama ang pamilya niya!"
I gritted my teeth. "That's not true."
"Am I? He's going to leave the country soon, hija. Together with Gomez'. To what? To run away from their debts and let our town forget about their bankrupt reputation."
"That's not true," nanginig ang boses ko.
"I am telling you. Dungisan mo na lahat, h'wag lang ang pangalan ng pamilya natin. Don't make me even more disappointed with you-"
I didn't talk. Pumikit ako ng mariin at pinatay ang cellphone ko kahit na narinig ko ang mga banta niya sa akin.
Atlas raised his eyebrow. I'm guessing he knows what's happening.
Nagtiim-bagang ako at dumiretso sa sasakyan niya. I opened the door and went inside without a word. Sumunod din naman siya.
He looked at me. "Are you sure?"
"Fucking drive, Añonuevo."
