Game Over

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

I thought I was going to die.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang humatak sa akin. I used to think that I have survivor's instinct at alam ko ang gagawin ko kung sakaling may masamang mangyari sa akin... but at that point? Nung biglang may humatak sa akin? I froze... at ang tanging nasa isip ko lang ay katapusan ko na at sana ay burahin ni Alisha lahat ng laman ng cellphone at laptop ko bago mapunta iyon sa pamilya ko.

"What the fuck, Lui?!" galit na sabi ko sa kanya habang hawak-hawak ko iyong dibdib ko dahil rinig na rinig at ramdam na ramdam ko iyong bilis ng ng pagtibok ng puso ko. I felt like I ran a fucking marathon dahil sa bilis non.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, seemingly more annoyed at me kahit na ako iyong biglaan niya na lang na hinatak papunta sa isang gilid.

Naka-kunot iyong noo ko. Hindi ako makapagsalita dahil hindi pa gumagana iyong utak ko dahil sa mga nangyari.

Instead of answering, I saw him with his jaw clenched and him running his fingers through his hair. He looked very visibly annoyed... mad, even.

"What are you doing?" balik tanong ko sa kanya. Habol-habol ko pa rin iyong paghinga ko.

Hindi agad siya naka-sagot. Naka-tayo lang ako habang naghihintay sa sasabihin niya. I held his gaze. Who the hell did he think he is para bigla na lang akong hatakin dito tapos ay hindi niya sasabihin sa akin kung ano ang kailangan niya?

"I told you," sabi niya habang kita ko iyong malalim na paghinga niya na para bang kino-kontrol niya iyong sarili niya. "I told you to stay away from these people."

I briefly closed my eyes and drew a deep breath. Right. He did tell me that. I knew that he was coming from a good place. I knew that as little as it was, he gave a shit about me. But still, he didn't know what was going on in my life. Hindi niya naman alam iyong problema ko kay Lance at kung bakit ko 'to ginagawa.

"I appreciate the concern, but I'll be fine," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Why are you being stubborn?"

Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa reaction niya. Lumalim iyong pagkunot ng noo niya. Diretso akong tumingin sa mga mata niya.

"I am not being stubborn, Lui. I told you, I appreciate the concern, but I can manage," sagot ko sa kanya.

Once again, I saw how his jaw clenched. Ilang beses ko na ring nakasama si Lui, pero ngayon ko lang siya nakita na nagka-ganito. Even when I was being a pest to him by clinging onto him, hindi ko siya nakita na magka-ganito. He was always... patient with me. To a degree.

So, why was he being like this?

"Can't you just listen to me?" he asked.

"No," I replied.

"Tali—"

"Look, I'm fine. Nasa party tayo. Maraming tao. I appreciate your worry and concern, but I don't think they'll do anything to harm me. We're in a public place. And in no way bragging, but top 1 ako sa BAR. I don't think they can do anything to me unless gusto nila ng malaking gulo."

His lips were pressed into a thin line and his stares felt unfamiliar. It was like I could feel him controlling his breathing as he was staring at me with much restraint.

"You're deluded if you think they can't do anything to you dahil Top 1 ka sa BAR exam."

Napaawang iyong labi ko. "What—"

"Tali, these people have done worse things—worse than you can possibly imagine," sabi niya sa akin. "I was serious when I told you to stay away," dugtong niya tapos ay tumingin sa akin. I felt as his eyes dragged from my face down to my feet. His jaw clenched once again at napa-hugot siya ng malalim na hininga. "And then you came here... looking like that..."