Meet me in the golden scenery

07

"KAILAN lang ha!?" I followed him to wherever he's going. My voice echoed here at the parking lot just outside the club.

"Kheanne, can you please wait 'till we get to my car? I will explain until we get in. " His patience is now wearing off. Patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad habang ako naman ay nakasunod sa kaniya na parang tuta. Guess the tables turned.

"Ba't tinago mo pa sa'kin na alam mo pala?! Nag-iisip ka ba!?" I gave his back a smack because he just won't stop to talk to me. Pero patuloy pa rin siya sa paglalakad.

"Kheanne, calm down first, okay?" His tone was soft and patient. But that didn't stop my anger from erupting.

"Anong calm down! Ikakasal na tayo, Zaffre!" My voice screeched.

And finally he stopped. Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at hinay-hinay na humarap sa'kin. Hinihingal pa siya, so was I. We were both catching our breaths until he looked down at me. Down straight at my eye.

"It was—" Bumuntong hininga siya. "It was just a  stupid idea that our parents thought to merge each of our family's power."

"It wasn't just a stupid idea, Zaffre! This engagement is ruining my dreams for my future!" Naiiyak na ako sa puntong 'toh. To think that this may stop me from reaching my dreams is crushing my heart.

"I have a name, Kheanne. Stop calling me by my surname." He still hasn't break eye-contact.

"Pake mo ba! Hindi mo nga ako sinabihan na ikakasal na pala tayo edi hindi rin kita tatawaging "Kian"!" I breathe in. Gusto ko nalang siyang sampalin at kaladkarin ngayon pero hindi ko magawa. I'm sure he could just easily pick me and throw me off.

"Wow," Sarkasto siyang tumawa. "okay! Sorry Adelstein, ha!" The sarcasm in his tone and laugh is too visible. Mas lalo pa akong nag-init.

Driven with my frustration, I screamed and threw my bag at him. I felt my head spinning and my heart twisting like crazy!

"May plano ako sa buhay, Zaffre! I have dreams—BIG dreams that I've been wanting to achieve since I was a kid! For sure hindi mo maintindihan dahil alam kong wala ka namang mga pangarap! Ang alam mo lang ay ang mambwisit sa mga taong nakapaligid sayo!" Hinihingal pa ako habang sinisigawan siya. I lost my mind and said all those things at him.

He looked at me with hurt in his eyes. But honestly, anger blinded me.

"Wala ka ngang pangarap, pero ako meron! Palibhasa kase, you get things you want. You get good grades, good friends, and a good family!" Tinulak ko siya dahilan sa pag-atras niya. "I'm fucked up and I'm trying to fix that! So please—PLEASE!" I stopped for a while to catch my breath.

"I have dreams," I stopped again as I looked at him with teary eyes. "don't ruin them for me.." Piyok kong sabe. I was so reckless right now. I think I drank too much.

He stood in-front of me in silence. He took my words so well that I'm afraid I hurted him. Nakatitig lang siya sa'kin at walang sinasabi. Hanggang sa kumurap siya ng dalawang beses at humakbang palapit sa'kin.

"Kheanne, I-"

We were interrupted with my phone ringing. Napakurap ako at pinigilang umiyak. Tinignan ko ang bag ko na nasa sahig dahil sa pagtapon ko ito sa kaniya kanina. It was ringing like crazy. Napatingin na rin si Kian sa bag ko na nasa harap lang ng paa niya. Bigla niya itong kinuha at ibinigay sa'kin.

We locked eyes again. Inilipat ko kaagad ang tingin ko sa bag na nasa kamay niya. I grabbed it aggressively with my hand. Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa loob na kanina pa ring nang ring.

"Starting from now on, we're strangers. Don't act like we're close." I gave him a glare.

He closed his eyes in frustration at bumuntong hininga. "Kheanne-"