Amour Rouge (Red Love)

Chapter 22

Awkward.

Charles and I are awkward since the kiss.

May experience naman ako sa paghahalik pero bakit hindi ko ma-explain ang sa amin ni Charles.

Bugso ng damdamin? Sobrang kasihayan? Nadala sa emosyon? Ewan.

I don't like him just yet, maybe crush?

Tama, crush lang 'tong nararamdaman ko sa kaniya.

"Do you want to go home?" Before I noticed, nandiyan na pala siya sa tabi ko. May hawak hawak siya na champagne glass habang tinitingnan ako ng maigi.

I don't drink, as in. I have tried several times pero I don't like the burning sensation when I drink. Hindi ko nga gets kung bakit anong nagugustuhan ng mga tao sa alak.

I raised my glass filled with fruit shake before answering him, "I'm still having fun."

He gave me a small smile before he sipped from his glass.

"About what happened earlier," He started.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," He said bitterly. Something burned inside me when he said that.

Is it pain? I doubt it, bakit naman ako masasaktan?

"It was quite embarrassing, no?"

Yes, it's pain.

Kahit sino naman ay masasaktan sa sitwasyon ko. Does he regret sharing a kiss with me? To the point na kinahihiya niya ito?

"Do you hate kissing me that much?" I asked him while trying my best not to sound bitter.

"Not that," He dropped his glass on the table before facing me.

"I'm embarrassed because I forced you into doing it. I hate myself for forcing you to kiss me, in front of cameras."

"Who's forcing who? Charles, I kissed you because I wanted to."

I felt him froze.

"What?"

"I said, I did it because I wanted to. You didn't force me. I wasn't pressured by the people or by the cameras. I--"

I couldn't finish my sentence when I felt his lips on mine. My eyes widened, I wandered at his face in full surprise.

It was short, just a peck.

Pero his lips is already forming a huge smile. No, an arrogant smile. He looks so proud!

Akala ko ba ay kinahihiya niya? Ngayon proud pa siya na PDA kami dito! His team is having a celebration party in one of the bars inside the circuit.

"Hey!" Sinuway ko siya. Inis ko siya na inirapan dahil tawa lang siya ng tawa.

"Is this how you flirt, Mr. Leclerc?"

He shook his head, showing disagreement.

I raised my eyebrow, hinahamon siya.

"I flirt by winning the race, dedicating it to the person I'm flirting with."

Tumango ako while humming approvingly. "Yeah? What else?"

"I flirt by upgrading her tickets to paddock pass so that I have an excuse to meet her."

"What?!"

"I flirt by dming her using my private account."

"Sneaky," I commented. He gave me a hearty laugh, fully satisfied by the reaction he got from me.

"Walang ganiyanan, pokpok pa naman ako." I said to him with a teasing tone. Bahala siya mag translate.

He sighed, raising both of his arms to surrender. "I should learn your language. I really should."

"Bonne chance avec ça," (*Good luck with that.)

He grabbed my hand, pulling me to the door. Aalis na ba kami?

We were about to leave when I heard a commotion. I glanced back to figure out what was going on. Nakita ko na maraming tao ang nagkukumpulan. May pinapalibutan sila na kung ano.

"Help us! Help!"

"He's not breathing!"

Dali dali ko na binitiwan ang kamay ni Charles at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Can you take off your coat?" I hastily asked him. I can see confusion in his eyes pero hindi naman siya nag reklamo at binigay na lamang ang,suit coat niya sa akin.

Hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat sa kaniya dahil dumiretso na kaagad ako sa mga tao.

"Excuse me, please let me through."

Mabilis naman na bumigay ng space ang mga tao para may daanan ako.

I saw a man, probably in his 40s, collapsed on the floor.

Using Charles' coat, dahan dahan ko na inilagay iyon sa likod ng ulo ng pasyente while fixing him to lay down on his back.

"Sir, sir, are you okay?" I shook his shoulders, looking for any response. I immediately called the person in front of me.

"Hey, you in the red dress. Can you call the ambulance?" I made sure na na intindihan niya ang sinabi ko. I saw her typing something on her phone bago niya ito nilagay sa tenga niya para tumawag.

When I assessed that the environment is safe, I began giving him chest compressions. The patient is not breathing.

Habang nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagbigay ng chest compressions, I looked around and saw Charles, right beside me. "Charles, there's a medical tent around this area. Can you ask them to give us an AED?" He nodded tsaka mabilis na tumakbo palabas.

After giving rescue breaths and one cycle of CPR, hindi pa din bumabalik ang paghinga niya.

I continued giving him compressions and breaths hanggang sa dumating si Charles dala dala ang AED.

"Tell the people to give us space," I instructed Charles as soon as I got the device from him.

"The ambulance?" I asked while giving continuous compressions.

I can feel myself getting tired, I need the ambulance to arrive asap.

"Please," I muttered while giving a shock to the patient using the device.

No response. Pinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagbigay ng chest compressions, "Please, please."

The patient finally jerked while gasping for air. I gave a deep sigh of relief. Thank God.

I heard the ambulance coming while re-assessing the patient. I can finally feel his pulse.

"He collapsed and I started chest compressions right away. Defibrillation via AED and he started breathing again." I also reported the patient's name and age to the paramedic. After I ensured that he could breathe again, I checked his wallet for his identity.

"No guardian, he's all by himself. Should I come with you?" The paramedic nodded kaya ay sumabay na ako sa kanila kasama ang patient na nasa stretcher na.

"Charles, I'll call you later." He gave me a smile and mouthed 'okay'.