SABOTAGING MY WALKOUT QUEEN

MEETING HER 04

RUNNING AWAY

Athena's P.O.V.

Nagulat ako when this time, hinawakan naman niya 'yong kabila kong kamay. Hindi na 'yon kasing sakit tulad nang ginawa niyang panghihila sa akin kanina. It became gentle now, na para bang nag-iingat siya na baka muli niya akong masaktan. But I guessed, mas nagulat ako sa sinabi niyang...

"H-Helena... s-samahan mo naman ako, kahit ngayon lang."

Nakatalikod pa rin ako sa kanya. Why does it feel like the wall I built between the two of us... suddenly collapsed?

Would it be much better if he called me Athena? Would the feeling be much better if he uttered my real name?

Napapikit ako kasabay nang pagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga.

Wait! What's wrong with me? What was I thinking and why was I even affected? Remember, Athena... you are Helena and you are here because of her! No other things should matter. I reminded myself.

Speaking of what happened, if not for the sake of Helena's name, I would have killed him the moment he dragged me out of the garden! I would have even crashed his skull with his bawd ex-girlfriend's! Ang sarap lang nilang pag-umpuging dalawa! 'Yong isa, malandi at siya naman... tanga!

He should be thankful enough that I was still able to control my temper. If not? I didn't know what would happen next, that he might end up... cursing me to the fullest. The moment na sinigawan niya ako ng 'Shut up?', gustong-gusto ko na siyang sapakin eh. Baka hindi 'yong lalaki ng ex niya ang maging duguan ang mukha in the end.

Lumingon ako sa kanya kasabay nang pagtaas ko ng isang kilay. "And what makes you think that I'll stay here with you, Rivera? After what you did to me? For your information, no one had ever laid their fingers on me and dragged me out like the way you did! And now, you still have the guts to ask me a favor? You've got to be kidding me! For the second time, I'll tell you this... you'll never worth my time!" pagtataray ko sa kanya sabay hila ng kanan kong kamay.

I lied. How many times did my own father laid his hands on my face and drag me before? I already lost count.

Akala ko ay maaapektuhan siya sa mga sinabi ko pero lalo lamang akong nainis sa naging reaksyon niya — bigla na lang kasi siyang tumawa.

"What's funny?" I glared at him.

"Haha, wala lang. Ngayon ko lang na-realize na hindi pala bagay sa personality mo 'yong pangalan mo. Ang taray mo kasi eh! The name Helena sounds more of an affectionate and thoughtful person... but you're the complete opposite," tumatawang sagot niya sa akin.

I was caught off-guard. I wanted to kick him so hard to the point that he wouldn't be able to stand up!

So you want to know a secret, huh? Yes, you're right! Helena doesn't suit me because that wasn't even a part of my name! My real name is Athena! You heard me? It's Athena Cari!

I wanted to shout those words at his face but I stopped myself. "Ang dami mong alam eh, 'no? I'll go now, I'm just wasting my time here!" I said as I walked towards the exit.

"Uy, teka lang... Ms. Walkout Queen! Ayaw mo niyon? Hindi ka pa nga pumapayag na samahan ako, napapatawa mo na ako. Ito naman, masyadong pikon! Ganyan ka ba talaga? But kidding aside... sorry talaga kanina, Helena ha? Kung nasaktan man kita. I want you to know na hindi ko sinasadyang higpitan 'yong pagkakahawak sa kamay mo. Hindi ko rin sinasadyang masigawan ka... I'm sorry." He slightly bowed at me.

Well, mukha namang sincere 'yong paghingi niya ng tawad sa'kin pero hindi ko na siya tiningnan pa. "Apology accepted but next time, you have to do these three things. First, do not let someone stab you in the back. Second, do not trust people so easily. And lastly, do not ever let love win over you. Kaya utak ang mas mataas kaysa sa puso, utak ang mas gamitin mo... utak ang mas pakinggan mo." Those were my last words before I left him all alone in the Music Room.