Against the wild fire (Castillo series #3)

Chapter 16:

"Hey.."

Mabilis kong ipinikit muli ang mga mata sa liwanag na bumungad sa akin, I grunted as I try to sit down habang sapo ang noo, pumipintig ang ulo ko sa sakit habang unti unting minulat ang mata at nilibot ng tingin ang paligid. Nasa bahay nga ako at talagang tinupad niya ang 'let's go home baby' eme niya kanina, akala ko joke lang kasi?

"Daniella."

Napatingin ako sa may ari ng boses ngunit agad din na nag iwas ng tingin nang makita kung gaano ito kaseryosong nakatitig sa akin, I do not even know what to say nor act in front of him now. At paanong ni hindi man lang ako nagising nang ipasok ako nito sa mismong bahay 'KO'?

I heard his footsteps coming near me then squatted in front of me while I was sitting on the couch. Malikot ang mga matang hindi ako makatingin ng maayos gayong tutok na tutok ito sa mukha ko.

I almost jump out of my seat when I felt his warm hand touched my cheek, his jaw clenched, ang makapal na kilay ay malapit ng magdugtong sa pagkakunot ng mga 'yon. "Does it hurt?"

I blinked my eyes a few times as the scene he made earlier crossed my mind, I almost forgot I got slapped kung hindi lang rumehistro ang hapdi nang dumampi ang kamay nito sa pisngi ko pero hindi ito ang point ngayon!

"What about  you? Why did you do that?"

Hindi ito sumagot, but instead he stood up then quickly walk away from the living room. "Baka magkapasa 'yan, let's ice that."

Frustrated with everything happened, mabilis ko itong sinundan sa kusina na ngayon ay walang paalam nangingialam ng ref!

"Zandro, alam kong hindi ka bingi."

He got a few ice cubes then got his handkerchief out of his pocket. He glanced at me bago ibalik ang tingin sa ginagawa.

Huminga ako ng malalim, the heck with this guy? Hindi ba niya alam kung gaano kalala ng ginawa niya kanina? I don't mind what I did dahil wala naman mawawala sa akin pero sa kaniya? President siya ng student council!

Then everything hits me. Him being the student council's leader, his dad's running for election, his reputation that he took care for the longest time.. that he even agreed to "date" me just for the sake of his family's reputation.

At dahil sa akin masisira lahat ng 'yon? Nanlalaki ang mata kong tinignan siya, worry etched in every damn fiber of mine, is this also my fault?

As soon as he finished with what he's doing, dala ang panyong may laman na yelo ay lumingon ito sa akin.

Limang hakbang lang ang pagitan namin but as soon as he took his first step to come near me, I took a step back. Natigilan siya, I tried to read what the hell is running on his mind but all I can see is that intense stare he is giving me na parang hinuhukay ang kung ano mang nasa tiyan ko. Ni hindi ko siya nakitaan ng ni katiting na pagsisisi at mas lalo akong natakot para rito.

"Nagiisip ka ba? Alam mo ba kung gaano kalala yung eskandalo kanina? You.. you hit that man! Not just once! In front of those students Zandro! Paano na yang lintik na iniingatan mong pangalan? You are the USC President for pete's sake! Nasaan na yung follow the rules eme mo?!"

He tried to take another step, umiling ako pinipigilan ang nagbabadyang luha kahit na parang sasabog ang dibdib ko sa takot.

"Diyan ka lang! Pakinggan mo muna ako pwede at magexplain ka na din? Kasi parang hindi yata pumapasok sa utak mo lahat ng ginawa mo at bakit mo ginawa 'yon? You could've just sent us both in the Dean's office! You could've just do the right and rational thing!"

"He slapped you! Do you think I can be rational about that Daniella?!" He said raising his voice, I could see him breathing heavily as his stare became darker, na parang konting kembot pa ay mapuputol ko na ang pasensya niyang kasing nipis lang ng sinulid.