The Heart of a Soul

Chapter 14

Bumaba ako sa sakayan namin at nilakad ang distansya patungo sa bahay. It was dark now but there were few people walking. Kadalasan ay mga estudyante na marahil kauuwi lang din mula sa paaralan.

Nasa malapit pa lang ako nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na tumatawag sa akin.

"Georgina!"

I looked back and saw Noah. He was sweaty. Mukhang galing lamang sa pagtakbo dahil hinahabol ang paghinga. I don't know what to do. Should I wait for him or should I just run!? I panicked and decided to pretend that I didn't see him!

Tumalikod kaagad ako at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad na parang wala lang. I walked faster but not to the point that I looked like I was running away from him. Sinisigurado ko lang na hindi niya ako mahahabol!

"Georgina!" he called again. Hindi na ako lumingon dahil alam kong naroon nga siya!

I walked with the same pace. Hanggang sa unti-unti kong binibilisan. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang tumingin sa nilalakaran at diretso lamang ang titig. My steps only halted when I felt something on my shoes. Nang magbaba ako ng tingin ay napagtanto kong nakaapal ako ng tae!

I looked again behind me. Noah was still following me. Medyo kalmado na siya ngayon dahil huminto na ako. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa sapatos at gusto na lang maiyak. This was so embarrassing!

So I continued walking, afraid that Noah will see my shoes with dog's poop. Para akong pilay sa ginawang paglakad. I don't want to make it worse. Nasa paanan ko lang naman ang dumi kaya hindi ko masyadong inaapak. Sa bawat paglakad ko naman ay minsan sinasadsad ko ang dumi sa semento para mawala ito.

Naabutan ako ni Noah dahil sa bagal ko, o sadyang mabilis pang talaga siya. He grabbed my wrist. Ayaw kong lumingon dahil sa kahihiyan na baka mapansin niyang naiiyak na ako.

"I told you to wait. Why did you run off?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Nakatingin lang ako sa paanan.

"And why are you walking like that? Did you hurt your feet?"

Napabitaw siya sa palapulsuhan ko. Napatingin kaagad ako sa kaniya dahil sa ginawa niya. He crouched to inspect my feet. I immediately held his shoulders to stop him.

"No, I'm fine!"

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"I don't believe you."

Umiling-iling ako nang paulit-ulit. Trying to convince him just for him to stop inspecting my feet.

"I'm really fine. It's just that..." I sighed. "I stepped on a poop," I said in a small voice.

I really felt like crying now that I admitted why I was walking like that! I don't know what's embarrassing: admitting that you like him or having your crush witness you step on a poop!

"Y-You should go first. I'm already fine. I'll wash this off when I'm home."

"So you're gonna walk like that until you're home?" Natahimik ako. Noah sighed dreadfully. "Remove your shoes."

"Huh?"

"Stop being stubborn and remove it. Give it to me."

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi sundin siya. Hindi naman na masyadong marumi dahil natanggal na at kaunti na lang ang natira. Still, who wants to have poop on their shoes? I carefully removed my shoes. He took it and went to the side of the road. May kung anong pinaggagawa siya roon. I saw him grabbing stones, leaves and whatever before he took wipes and alcohol from his bag. Nilagyan niya ang sapatos ko bago siya nagpunas ng wipes sa kamay at naglagay ng alcohol.