I Love You First (PUBLISHED)

Chapter 22

"Fuck! What are you doing?!"

Nagulat ako nang mawala sa harapan ko ang lalaking sumasamantala sa akin. The next thing I knew, some guy is punching that man who almost rape me. No, it wasn't just some guy, it was Enzo.

"Who the hell gave you the right to do that?" Sinipa niya ito na naging dahilan para mapatama ang likod sa pader at masubsob sa sahig. Umubo 'yon ng dugo. I never thought that Enzo could be that strong when he's angry.

Napansin kong dumarami na rin ang tao sa paligid at may mga nakikiusyoso na rin. Some women are approaching me and fixing my hair and dress, asking me how I am. Hindi agad ako nakasagot at patuloy na umiiyak. My fear heighten because of what almost happened and the past are slowly invading my mind. I can't seem to move.

My hands are trembling. At kahit anong tanong sa akin ng mga babae ay parang hindi ko sila naiintindihan lalo na't ang mga mata ko'y naroon lang sa lalaking hindi ko inaasahang makikita kong muli.

Enzo is just steps away from me. He's here in front of my eyes, mad.

He glanced at me when he realized he had already knocked out that man. Hindi ko alam paano niya nagawa 'yon. But the moment our eyes met, I knew it wasn't different from how he looked at me before.

Hindi agad ako nakahinga nang lumapit siya sa akin. He bit his lip and observed me. Those worried eyes of his, it's been a long time since I saw those but still showed how he cares about me. It never changed.

He cupped my face. Sinusuri niya kung ayos lang ba ako pero hindi ko pa rin naibabalik ang sarili ko sa reyalidad. I was so shocked. "Let's get out of this place," sambit niya bago hinawakan ang braso ko at inilayo ako sa lugar na 'yon. Bago kami nakaalis ay nakita kong dumating ang mga pulis at hinuli ang lalaking muntikan nang may gawin sa akin nang masama. Ang mga babae namang naiwan doon ang silang nagpaliwanag ng mga nangyari.

Napalingon ako sa lalaking nagligtas sa akin. My heart is beating like crazy again. I can't seem to think straight. What the hell happened? Why am I here with him? Why am I letting him hold my arm?

"S-sandali, E-Enzo," buong lakas kong salita sa kaniya. I felt the chill through my spine when that name came out from my lips.

Tumigil siya sa paglakad bago lumingon sa akin. Napalunok ako. Para bang may tumusok sa puso ko nang muling magtagpo ang mga mata namin. Nakakapanglambot. Hindi ako makahinga.

Binigyan niya ako ng oras upang buuin sa utak ko ang nais kong sabihin. What should I tell him? I am never ready for this.

"T-thank you for saving me from that man but I need to go now," sambit ko at buong lakas na tumalikod sa kaniya. No, why am I turning my back away from him when my heart wants to stay? Muling bumubukas sa utak ko ang lugar ng mga tanong na gusto kong itanong sa kaniya noon pa. Ako pa rin ba? Mahal niya pa rin ba ako? Akmang hahakbang ako palayo nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.

"Sunny..."

I gulped. It's been a long time since I heard him call my name like that again. His warm deep voice can make my heart melts. Maraming taon na ang lumipas pero tila ba kilala pa rin siya ng puso ko. Ang pangalan pa rin niya ang sinisigaw nito.

"I'm sorry," dagdag pa niya. Naramdaman kong naglakad siya palapit sa akin. "Sorry, kung hindi ko nagawa sa 'yo noon ang ginawa ko ngayon. Sorry kung hindi kita naprotektahan kay Nathan."

Napapikit ako at hindi ko na napigilan ang luha ko. That day was my fault, not his, but here he is apologizing because he couldn't protect me before. I suddenly felt the itch in my heart and a couple of thoughts occurred to me. How hurt he was seeing the girl he loves let another man fuck her? I was so dumb and stupid. I was so hurt that I wanted him to feel the same pain I had. I was so immature.