One Step Ahead

18

"Eos!" he called her name as she went out of the shop. Her shift had already ended.

She wanted to avoid Dominick. She is ashamed, she didn't properly thanked him and worst, she cried again. It feels like he is just there to make her cry, not because of him, but because of how low she is being treated. She knows she doesn't deserve it, no one deserves it.

She looked at him with no expressions while Dominick stayed positive, with smiling face and adoring eyes. "I thought pumasok ka, I waited for your schedule to end pero you skipped class pala," he scratched his nape and chuckled.

"Are you feeling well na ba? What about your hand?" he asked while grabbing her wrist.

"Where did it came from?" He asked as he noticed a deep cut on her palm.

It was the cut from the cake that her classmates gave to her. "It still looked fresh. Did someone hurt you again?"

Tinabig nito ang kamay niya at umiwas ng tingin. "Wala lang ito. Nakahawak ako ng stick sa storage room. Hindi sadya,"

"Okay, be careful next time," he said, still not convinced with her excuse.

"Bakit ka nandito? Sarado na kami," she asked.

"I have my guitar with me. It just reminded me of you kasi you want to learn how to play it," he said while smiling.

She raised her palms, "Puro sugat ang kamay ko, ayaw kong madaplisan ko ng dugo ang mga gamit mo, Dominick,"

"T-that's fine! You can have it with you nalang, then kapag completely healed ka na then we can do jamming," he told her, quite embarrassed for he stuttered.

She spaced out a bit. Since she has no one in her house tonight, she felt like not going home early. It still bothers her, she could hurt herself when she is alone. But she's afraid that people might be spying on her again, worst, she is with Dominick.

"May alam ka bang lugar na walang makakakita sa akin?" She asked. "Ayaw kong isipin nila na kinukulit kita o ano. Ayaw ko lang na mag-isip sila nang masama tungkol sa'yo," she added.

"Don't think like that, there's nothing wrong with you, Eos," he told Dawn.

"Sobrang baba ng tingin nila sa akin, Dominick. Ayaw ko lang na pati sayo ay bababa ang tingin nila. Sobrang taas mo kung ikukumpara sa akin, ang daming nay gusto at umiidilo sa'yo. Ayaw kong masaktan dahil pinili mong bumaba kasama ako,"

"They are hurting you because of me," he concluded.

"H-hindi,"

But it is too late, he already had a conclusion. Dawn is now getting bullied because Dominick chose to protect her. It seems like they are against his decision.

"Who put you in that situation? Just tell me their name and I will fix everything," he asked.

She chuckled, "Wala nang aayusin pa, Dominick. Sira na ako eh," she just laughed it off.

Again, he felt broken. It is a thing that he doesn't want to hear from her. He planned this night to be full of youthfulness from Dawn but knowing that she all experienced hell because of him, he felt embarrassed and guilty.

"I will drive. I know a place where we can be free," he smiled and dragged her inside his car.

While at the back seat, she tried to strum some chords. She had a little knowledge because of some rhythm games she plays. "Ouch," she reacted nang masanggi ng string ang sugat niya sa kamay.

"Be careful," he worriedly told her, she nodded.

Nang ihinto ni Dominick ang sasakyan ay napalibot nalang ng tingin si Dawn sa paligid. She recalled that they entered a large black gate and then stopped at the middle of a grass field. On the other side is a forest, and if they continue to drive they will might fall on the cliff, if there is. In clear sky, the stars are very visible because of the moonlight.