Responsibilities That Ties Us

Chapter 22: He don't Chase, He attack

I'm a good swimmer, so swimming up and floating over the water surface was a breeze to do. But a drunk Nathan might not have noticed that. Pagkataranta sa muka niyang namumula; it's almost laughable that I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

"A-ayos kalang? Milo?" nag-alalang tanong niya.

My vision was not clear, since my glasses decided to sink down the pool and I'm too bothered to fetch it. Ang basa-basa ko na, and all the things I brought ay nasabulsa ko lang. Gusto ko nang umahon, but seeing Nathan's face makes it bearable na magpalutang lutang dito.

"I'm fine," I told him, "I can swim."

Inabot niya ang kamay saakin at hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na tanggapin 'yon. He pulls me to the side at hinila until I'm out of the water and sitting on the edge of the pool. Hindi ko matiis ang pakiramdam ng lamig at basa ng aking damit.

"T-teka, kunan kita ng twalya." halos tumakbo si Nathan nung umalis na siya, at naiwan lang akong naka-upo sa kilid ng pool, water dripping from my clothes at balik sa pool. I can't see properly but I could feel eyes, many of them, just observing me na nakatulala lang sa gumagalaw na tubig. Whispers here and there, but ni-isa'y hindi na ako nilapitan.

Nathan was back with the towel and he quickly wrapped me with it, asking me repeated question that I had to glare para lang matahimik siya.

"Saan yung glasses mo?"

I motioned sa pool, not exactly knowing but alam kong sa ilalim 'yon. I can't see for godness sakes.

"Just leave it," bulong ko sa kan'ya. I don't know I'll get it though, but that would be a problem for later. He helped me stand on my feet, and feeling the dampness of my clothes makes me want to pull my hair from my head.

"Patay ka..."

"Hintayin mo, lawyer na haharap sayo."

"'Yan kasi, sinabihan na, ipaglalaban pa."

"Deserving ni ate girl..."

"Si Garza ba naman kalabanin."

"Sinong... sinong tumulak sayo?" nangibabaw iyong boses ni Nathan sa tenga ko. Ang lapit ba naman ng muka nisa saakin, realising this, parang nawala bigla ang lamig.

"Don't bother, petty misunderstanding."

Hindi nga siya nacombinsi, at talagang hahanapin iyong salarin natumulak saakin; it was irrelevant, and I did try to tell him off.

"Sinong tumulak sa kan'ya?" he asked, loudly at may galit sa kan'yang boses. I saw how the girl cowered pagtaas ng boses niya, parang tatakbo pa nga. "Nagtatanong ako—"