Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 35

"You two are such academic achievers," dad proudly said. "If it's okay for the both of you..." Dad slowly averted his gaze to me. "I invited all your cousins and your aunts and uncles for the celebration."
 
"P-Po? Celebration?" I couldn't believe it! Is it for real? Are we going to celebrate Ryder and my success?
 
"They're coming over, Carolina," my dad informed me. "We'll celebrate the success of the both of you."
 
"That's a great idea, daddy!" I exclaimed.
 
Kaya nga, dumating ang mga pinsan ko, kasama iyong parents nila. Carrie is also with them. Si Carrie talaga ang malapit sa pamilya namin na girlfiend ni Euro. Iyong girlfriend ni Jin ay malayo ang loob sa amin. I waved my hand to them when they saw me. Ngumiti si Carrie sa akin habang naka-hook ang kanyang braso sa braso ni Euro. They're really such a sweet and good couple. Bagay na bagay talaga sila, I can say that.

Eujin is with a different girl; she looks unfamiliar to me. I heard from daddy last time that Eujin broke up with his girlfriend. Ang bilis naman ng isang 'to at nakahanap kaagad ng pamalit? Ilang taon niyang naging girlfriend ang babae, ah? Grade seven pa yata sila no'n, aywan.
 
"You're in the top three, congratulations," bati sa akin ni Euan.
 
Eyo hugged me so tight. "Ang talino mo talaga! Sabi na nga ba at nasa lahi natin ito! With highest honors din kaya kaming lahat bago kami grumaduate riyan sa Jones University!"
 
They all congratulated me and Ryder. Magkasama at magkatabi kami ni Ryder palagi. They prepared foods for us and anything else. There are also some gifts from my aunts and uncles. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga pinsan ko at pinalibutan pa nila kami ni Ryder. We're currently on the long list. Our parents separated from us to give us time to bond, I think. Hindi ako lumayo kay Ryder kahit nariyan ang presensya ng mga pinsan ko.
 
"Totohanan na ba talaga ito, Yuna?" Euan asked. "I thought you weren't up to serious relationships?" He cocked his brow.
 
Ngumuso ako. "Did I say that?"
 
"I should've recorded it," he muttered.
 
"Kayo na ba, Yuna?" si Eion.
 
I chuckled and glanced at Ryder. "He's my fiancé, Eyo, I'm going to marry him," I said without taking my eyes off him.
 
I heard Eyo laugh, so he caught my attention. "Last time I checked, you don't believe in marriage. Look at you now, Yuna..."
 
I was about to open my mouth to speak up, pero inunahan ako ni Euro. "Are you okay, bro?" I heard him asking Jin.
 
Tipid itong tumango. "Oo, naman."
 
"Hindi ka umiimik, eh, nakakapanibago lang," ani Euro. "Is it because of Tita Arianna?"
 
"What?" I suddenly got curious about their conversation. "What's with Tita Arianna?" I asked curiously.
 
Jin shook his head. "Nothing, Yuna, trivial."
 
I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, I heard that you and your girlfriend broke up last year. Noong nakaraan ko lang narinig sa kina daddy. Was it true?"
 
Nagkatinginan ang mga pinsan ko, hindi ko alam kung bakit. I didn't see anything wrong with my question. In fact, I am just curious, and I don't know about the story. I looked at the unfamiliar girl beside Jin. She looks simple, but I don't like her sense of fashion. Is she wearing a dress covered by a coat? Isn't that weird? I don't like that.
 
"Oo, Yuna, wala na kami niyon," he said in a lower voice.
 
"Hindi ba apat na taon na kayo niyon? Ang tagal n'yo na kaya no'n," I argued. "Why did you choose to break up with her?"
 
He shrugged. "She was the one who broke up with me."
 
"What?!" My voice suddenly raised. "Where did she get the audacity to do that to you, Jin? She's fucking serious about having you as her boyfriend, and then she suddenly lets you go?"
 
He smiled. "I can't blame her, Yuna, it's my fault that she chose to break up with me."
 
It was just a simple celebration until the party's over. It didn't last long. Matapos din ang celebration ay maaga akong natulog dahil sa pagod. We don't have classes for two weeks, dahil sem break namin iyon. I am really mentally and emotionally exhausted, it was a good thing that I could finally rest my mind from everything. Isa pa, ayaw ko rin munang makipagkita o makipag-usap sa mga kaibigan ko dahil pakiramdam ko ay naa-out of place na ako sa kanila.. parang.. ang dami na kasing nagbago.
 
"Hey!" Ryder greeted me when I woke up early in the morning.
 
I already fixed myself. Kung maaga akong nagising, paniguradong mas maagang nagising si Ryder. He smiled and pulled a chair for me. I chuckled and sat on the seat. Akmang sesenyas ako sa isang katulong na lumapit sa akin nang hawakan ni Ryder ang kamay ko para pigilan ako. I looked at him, confused. He shook his head and pinched my cheek before bending over to level my face. Nakatayo siya ngayon kaya kailangan niya pang yumuko upang magpantay ang mukha namin.
 
Ngumuso ako. "What?"
 
"Wala ka munang uutusan na katulong sa ngayon," he commanded.
 
Kumunot ang noo ko. "What? No way!"
 
He laughed at my reaction. "Come on, baby, just for today. Wala kang ibang uutusan, maliban sa akin."
 
"Bakit?"
 
"I wanted to be a good husband to you in the future," he murmured. "Like, it was only the two of us—you and me—living together. Isipin mo munang ganoon iyon na tayong dalawa lang muna kunwari at walang katulong kaya ako muna ang uutos-utusan mo."
 
"Baka mapagod ka lang," mahinang sabi ko. "Dami ko pa namang inuutos, eh."
 
Natatawang umiling siya. "Kailan ba ako napagod sa 'yo, Scarlet?"
 
Napakagat-labi ako. Damn, his words are cutting my tongue. Lumabi ako at tumango na lang sa kanya. He settled down on the seat beside me. Pinagmasdan ko lang siya na nilalagyan ng pagkain ang plato sa harapan ko.
 
"Ano pala ang gusto mong iutos sa katulong?" he asked without glancing at me.
 
"Kasi..." Kinagat ko muli ang labi ko. "My room is such a mess. Papalinisan ko lang sana at ipaayos ang bed ko."
 
"Okay, I can do that later," he said.
 
"But.. you don't have to do that, Ryder. Hindi mo obligasyon iyon," I refused.
 
"But I insist, Scarlet, just let me. Madali lang naman iyon at mabilis lang," aniya.
 
Kaya matapos naming kumain ay ginawa niya iyong dapat kong iutos sa katulong. I just followed him in my room. I was just watching him while he was cleaning my room and fixing all the mess. Bumuntonghininga ako habang pinagmamasdan siya. He's such a husband material. Hindi pa kami mag-asawa nito, pero ganito na kaagad siya? Handang gawin ang lahat ng gusto ko?
 
"If I turned 18," I started, which caught his attention. "I'm of legal age.. I'm going to be a debutant, and yet, if that time comes, you're turning nineteen, right? Kung ganoon hindi ka pa nakakapag-debut kapag ikasal tayo..."
 
He shook his head. "Ayos lang naman sa akin. What about you? Ayos lang ba sa 'yo na ikakasal tayo sa eighteenth birthday mo?"
 
Tumikhim ako. "Oo naman, Ry! Ayos lang sa akin. Baka sa 'yo hindi? You're young, smart, and handsome. Maraming babae sa mundo. Baka may magustuhan ka."
 
He looked at me. "Sa tingin mo may iba pa akong magugustuhan maliban sa 'yo, Scarlet?"
 
Kumibit-balikat ako. "Aba.. malay ko, hindi naman ako ang nakakaramdam niyang nararamdaman mo."
 
"You're incredible." He shook his head and motioned for me to come near him. "Come here..."
 
I immediately followed what he said. Nakangusong lumapit ako sa kanya. We're just five feet away from each other. He's currently sitting on my bed when I finally get in front of him. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay, at hinila ako paupo sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. Nakatalikod ako sa kanya, kaya hindi ko kita ang reaksyon niya. He just rested his chin on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around me.
 
"I can't see myself being in love with someone else, Scarlet," malambing niyang sinabi. "Hindi ko alam.. na kahit anong tulak na gawin mo.. hindi ko pa rin kayang sumuko sa 'yo.. hindi pa rin kita kayang bitiwan."
 
We stayed in that position for a moment. If I didn't hear the ring of my phone on the table of my vanity mirror, I wouldn't move from my position. I sighed and immediately stood up from my seat. Tumungo ako sa vanity mirror ko at kinuha ang cellphone kong nakapatong doon. Miley is calling, and I am hesitant to answer her call. Ano naman kaya ang kailangan niya?
 
"Sino'ng tumatawag?" I heard Ryder. "Kaibigan mo?" he guessed.
 
I swallowed hard. "Uhm, yeah. If you don't mind, I will answer this call," I pardoned myself and immediately answered the call from my friend. "Miley," I whispered as I went out of my room.
 
"Mabuti at sumagot ka, Yuna!" she exclaimed on the other line. "I am sure you are free today since we don't have a class! It's Saturday! Gala tayo? Let's have some fun!"
 
I sighed. "I'm quite busy, Miley. Mom and dad are not around."
 
"That's it!" She snapped. "Your parents are not around! You can just lie to your driver that you'll go shopping! You have your cards with you, right? Come on!"
 
I shook my head, as if she could see me. "I really can't, Miley. I really have a lot of things to do."
 
"Ano ba 'yan! Ang KJ mo!" she hissed. "Minsan nga lang ako mag-aya, eh! Sige na, Yuna! Ikaw na nga lang ang source ng income namin, eh! Wala na kasi kaming pera!"
 
"I can just send you guys money," I said. "But I can't really come with you."
 
"Talaga?" I can hear excitement in her voice.
 
"Yeah, I'll send the money to your number," I said. "Just message me if you accept the money, Mile."
 
"Hay, mabuti na lang talaga! Sabi na nga ba, eh, at hindi mo kami matiis!"
 
Like I told her, I sent money to her number. Nag-text siya sa 'kin mayamaya na natanggap na niya raw ang pera. Mabuti na magbigay na lang ako ng pera sa kanila, kaysa sumama ako. I don't want to hear another insult from them about Ryder. I wanted to confront them, but I was too scared because I was sure I might lose them. Sila lang naman ang natatanging kaibigan na mayroon ako.
 
"Are you bored?" Ryder asked when he saw me watching video on my laptop.
 
Nilingon ko siya. "Halata ba?"
 
He grinned. "Hindi naman. Do you want to go outside? Let's buy something—anything you want."
 
"Talaga?" I immediately closed my laptop when I heard his invitation. "What about we buy some clothes?"
 
Tumango siya. "If that's what you want, Scarlet."
 
"Where are we going to buy clothes anyway?" I asked. If we're going to the mall, there's a possibility that we can meet my friends there.
 
"What about in Divisoria? Let's buy clothes there, mas mura roon," he suggested.
 
I sighed in relief. "O-Okay, then."
 
Ryder really brought me to Divisoria. Hindi ko inaasahan na puno ng sisikan iyon. Manong just dropped us off at the place and went back home. We can just text him to fetch us later. I looked around the place, and I could see foreign faces. Napakagat-labi ako dahil nakaramdam ako ng tuwa. Happiness filled me because I have the freedom to do anything I want because people around me don't even know me. Ryder held my hand and intertwined our fingers. I smiled shyly and stuck myself to him. Hawak niya ang kamay ko ay nakipagsisikan kami sa mga tao hanggang sa may nabangga ako, kaya pati si Ryder ay natigil din nang tumigil ako. The girl looked at me irritatedly.
 
"Apologize, Scarlet, you are at fault," Ryder whispered in my ear in a gentle voice.
 
Kumunot ang noo ko at mabilis akong umiling sa kanya. "What? No way! Why would I do that?"
 
"Scarlet, you should apologize, stop being stubborn," he said in a low voice.
 
"I am not stubborn!" I hissed and pulled my hand from his hold, but he didn't let me; instead, he held it tighter. "Bakit ba? Sinadya ko bang mabangga siya? Hindi, 'di ba? Nabangga ko lang naman siya! I did not do it on purpose! Kita naman na nagsisikan dito, eh! Natural na magkakabanggaan!"
 
Umiling siya. "Kahit na, Scarlet, you still need to apologize even if you did not intentionally do it. Wala namang mawawala sa 'yo kapag humingi ka ng paumanhin."
 
"Bakit kailangan pa ng sorry ko? Gosh, Ryder, I can't do that, and I will never do that!" I groaned. "Nakakainis ka! Bakit pinipilit mo 'kong mag-sorry?"
 
"Because you are at fault," he answered. "Don't be rude, Scarlet, you should apologize."
 
"Ayaw ko nga, hindi ba? Talagang pinipilit mo 'ko? What's the purpose of my sorry then if it is not even sincere?" I arched a brow. "Kaya ayaw kong mag-sorry dahil hindi rin naman ako sincere."
 
"Kahit na, Scarlet, you should apologize for your wrongdoing even if you didn't do it on purpose," he explained briefly. "Now, please apologize to her, Euxine Carolina Scarlet."
 
I pouted, slowly averting my eyes to the girl I got bumped into earlier. Sinuri ko siya ng tingin, she's wearing a floral dress and paired it with white stilettos. I sighed and rolled my eyes. She's arching her brow, expecting a sorry from me. Really? Ako magso-sorry? Gosh!
 
"I apologize," I said under my breath and returned my eyes to Ryder. "Ano? Nag-sorry na ako, okay na ba 'yon?"
 
He shook his head and let go of my hand. Hindi siya nagsalita, sa halip ay hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko. He went to my back. Sinubukan ko siyang tingnan sa likuran ko, pero hinawakan niya ang aking baba at pinaharap ako muli sa babae. Lumabi ako at tinabig ang kamay niya. Don't tell me that it wasn't enough? I have already apologized to the girl. She's lucky! It was my first time apologizing to a person in this way. Nakakainis!
 
"Apologize, Scarlet," he whispered in my ear. "I won't tolerate your wrongdoing," he added.
 
"Nag-sorry na ako, ah?" reklamo ko. "Hindi pa rin ba sapat iyon?"
 
"Apologize one more time," he commanded.
 
Pinagtitinginan na rin kami ng iba pang tao dahil sa eksena na nangyari, pero wala pa rin akong pakialam. I can't just apologize for the thing that I did not do on purpose!
 
"Hindi ako utusan para utusan mo nang ganyan, Ry!" singhal ko sa kanya. "Ayaw ko nga, eh!"
 
"Just a simple sorry, Scarlet," aniya. "Mag-sorry ka na."
 
"Fine!" I surrendered and faced the girl again. "I am sorry, alright? Hindi ka naman sana mababangga kung hindi ka nakikipagsisikan dito."
 
"God, Scarlet..." I heard Ryder behind me.
 
When I drifted my eyes back to him, I caught him shaking his head. He faced the girl and put me behind him. Hindi ko kita ang reaksyon ng babae dahil natatakpan ito ni Ryder. Nasa kanyang likuran niya ako at tanging likod niya lang ang nakikita ko ngayon dahil hinarangan niya ang tingin ko sa babae.
 
"I am sorry about my fiancèe." I bit my lips when I heard the last thing he said. "Ako na ang magso-sorry sa 'yo sa ginawa niya."
 
"It's okay..."

Hindi ko alam kung sa akin lang ba, pero may halong lambing ang tinig ng babae. Is she fucking flirting with my fiancé? I immediately went in between them and eyed her from head to foot again.
 
"Fuck you," I mouthed to the girl, raising my middle finger to her before pulling Ryder out of the scene.