where the wind rises

04

I don't know how I ended up with this guy again... Kanina lamang ay nasa shelter pa kami.

"I know a shop where you can buy the things you'll be needing." Doc Niko said after getting out of his car.

Kabababa ko lang din sa kotse matapos pagbuksan ng driver. I met with him here at the mall once he finished checking up on Max. Bukas ko pa raw maiuuwi ito dahil tatanggalan pa niya ng bandages.

"Lead the way, please." I told him.

"Dito lang ho ba ako, Madam?" Habol ng driver sa akin.

"If you want, you can roam around. Here." I handed him money to spend so he can do whatever he wants.

"A-ayos lang ho." I shake my head at him so he didn't have any choice but to shut up and take it. It's not nice to leave him here under the hot weather. He should buy himself something cold and delicious.

"Let's go." Binalingan ko na si doc Niko at naabutan ko ang mariin ngunit mapangmasid niyang mga mata sa driver ko.

Pinauna niya ako maglakad papasok sa mall. My brows furrowed and harshly went closer to a guy.

"Hey, cat calling is bad." I told the guy who was whistling at a poor girl who's walking alone. Sinasabayan niya ito at halatang bothered na bothered na iyong babae.

"Ano?" Sinamaan ako ng tingin ni kuya pero 'di ako nagpatinag.

"I said, cat calling is bad. Hindi mo kailangang mag-aral para malaman na mali iyon. Or did your parents not teach you good manners?" Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay napansin kong marami na pala ang nanunuod sa amin. Napalakas siguro ang boses ko. I saw how embarrassed the guy was. Parang aatakihin ako nito sa galit. Agad akong hinatak ni doc Nikolas papunta sa likod niya.

"Ayon siya! He was cat calling a girl, now he's about to attack the people who stopped him." Sumbong ng mga tao sa mga paparating na guards. Agad kaming umatras at hinayaan sila roon. Mabilis silang rumesponde. Siguro ay napansin na rin ng iba bago pa ako makarating dito.

Masama rin ang tingin ko sa lalaki bago ito dinilaan. Magsasalita pa sana ito pabalik sa akin nang hawakan ni doc Niko ang magkabilang balikat ko para patalikurin.

Kunot noo akong huminga ng malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili. I looked up and saw doc Niko glaring at the guy and showed him his middle finger. My eyes widened at his vulgarity, but I couldn't help chuckling at him.

"You're more war freak than me." I shake my head.

"He deserves more than that." He silently said before putting his hands inside his pockets. Nauna na siyang maglakad kaya sumunod ako roon.

Nakarating naman na kami agad sa pet shop na ni-recommend niya. This place is huge! I think they might just have all that I listed on my phone...

I saw cute birds in cages, fishes in tanks, and cute doggies and kittens walking around on leashes.

Hiningi ni Doc Wyatt ang listahan kaya inabot ko ang phone sa kanya. We started searching for the things as soon as we got inside. Maaga naman kami natapos dahil naroon halos lahat ang kailangan ko. May iilan na wala kaya naisip ko na sa iba na lang humanap. He also said he'll come with me again. I'm thankful but also embarrassed to have him help me again, but I have no knowledge about these things.

"I'll treat you lunch. It's a token of appreciation. Come on." I smiled at him before walking out of the store. Ipinasok muna namin sa kotse ang mga binili ko para hindi sagabal at hassle.

"I don't think treating me is necessary, I was just helping you out, but thank you." He said while looking around the restaurant I picked.

"Kung ganoon, isipin mo na lang na kaya kita ililibre dahil ako ang nag-aya sa 'yo sa lugar na ito. I want you to try the food here. So ako na ang bahala, okay!" Wala na siyang nagawa at tumango na lamang. We ordered food and ate in silence.