Veiled Echoes

Chapter 6

I stood frozen in place, my eyes locked on Kainus, whose eyes were still piercing on the woman. When I got into my senses, agad kong hinawakan siyang hinawakan sa braso. The music stopped and everyone inside the club was watching us.

"Kainus, it's alright... I'm okay," bulong ko sa'kanya. His expression softened as he turned towards me, and I gently stroked his arms. "Let's go." Tumalikod na ako at nag lakad papalayo.

I was just hoping that he'd let it go and follow me. Pero nang marinig ko ang yabag niya ay napahinga ako nang maluwag. My heart is racing every time I remember what he said. I actually expected him to stand back and watch, but he said those words as if he meant it.

"Go home, Alexandria. Your brother is looking for you." Nilingon ko siya. I locked gazes with his dark eyes, which seemed capable of drawing in anyone's soul with just a lingering stare. Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil sa konti nalang ay babagsak na ang tuhod ko kung makikipag titigan pa ako sa'kanya.

I sighed. "Uuwi ako kung kailan ko gusto."

He inhaled a sharp breath. "Stop being so hard-headed, Alexandria," he said sternly. My name effortlessly rolled off his tongue. Ibinaling ko ang atensyon ko sa dumadaang mga sasakyan.

I don't want to meet his gaze.

Parang nababaliw ang mga bubuyog sa tyan ko.

"Fine," labag sa loob kong saad. Tumayo ako sa gilid ng kalsada at humalukipkip habang nagabang ng taxi. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita kong nag lakad papalapit si Kainus.

"What are you doing?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.

Nagkibit balikat ako. "You told me to go home, so I'm waiting for a taxi." Akmang tatawagin ko ang taxi na paparating pero hinuli ni Kainus ang pulso ko at hinila ako.

Nang nasa harap na kami ng sasakyan niya ay binuksan niya ang pinto sa passenger seat at seryosong tumitig sa'kin.

"Sakay," he commanded. Walang salita akong sumakay at nanahimik nang pabagsak niyang sinarado ang pinto. "Seatbealt," ani niya nang makasakay siya sa loob.

I did what he wanted me to do. Para akong aso na umamo at sumusunod lang sa kung anong sabihin ng amo niya. He's really scary when he looks mad.

"Next time you'll go into places like that, make sure that you can handle yourself. Hindi yung puro sorry lang lumalabas sa bibig mo," he said without even glancing at me.

Deretso lang ang mga mata niya sa kalsada. Nakikita ko ang madiin na paghawak niya sa manibela dahil halos mamuti na ang kamao niya.

Is he still pissed?

I cleared my throat. Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at pinanood ang nadadaanan namin.

I don't have the guts to talk to him right now. Being in a closed space with him is suffocating enough for me. Paano pa kaya kung maguusap pa kami?

Napahinga ako ng malalim.

Narinig ko ang pagtikhim niya kaya napatingin ako sa'kanya. I caught him staring at me pero agad niyang nilihis ang mata. The car halted. Tumingin ako sa harap at nakitang naabutan kami ng stop light. I saw him shifted on his seat while unbuttoning the first three buttons of his shirt as if he's feeling uncomfortable.

"What?" Tanong niya nang mahuling nakatitig ako sa'kanya. Umiling lang ako at nagbuntong hininga. "Pangalawa mo na 'yan."

Nangunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"

"You already sighed twice. What's the problem?"

I hesitated before asking him a question.

"How do you know if you like someone?" Pinaandar niya na ulit ang sasakyan bago ako sinagot.