Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 07

Chapter 07

Never in my life did I think na pupunta ako sa police station! I didn't think that Finley was serious until we really did stop in front of the station. I thought maybe he just wanted to cut classes tapos dahil bored siya ay sinama niya ako. But we're really here! Gosh, he's stressing me out!

He unbuckled his seatbelt and then tumingin siya sa akin because I wasn't moving.

"Tara na," he said.

I looked at him. "Balik na tayong school."

His forehead creased. "What?"

"Please? I don't want to press any charges," I told him. Naka-tingin pa rin siya sa akin na para bang I grew two extra heads and hindi niya maintindihan why I was acting this way. "Please?" I pleaded again. "Kahit sa condo mo na ako idaan. Wala na ako sa mood pumasok sa school."

Finley's stares were starving to unnerve me kaya naka-tingin na lang ako sa labas ng sasakyan kahit na feel na feel ko na naka-titig siya sa akin. He's really shameless when he wanted to!

"Can we go—"

"Fine," he said. "Tell me why first."

Napa-tingin ako sa kanya and napa-kunot iyong noo ko. "What?"

"Tell me why you don't want to press charges," he replied. "We're already here. There's evidence right there on your arm. I don't understand why you're resisting."

Hindi agad ako nagsalita. He just kept on staring at me.

"You really won't let this go," I said.

He shrugged. "You think?"

I drew another deep breath. Tumingin ulit ako sa labas. I hated talking about 'serious' conversation. It makes me feel so uncomfortable that I was seriously debating on just going out of his car and maglakad na lang ako pauwi. But I also knew that Finley would just drag me back to his car.

"Because," I said and then paused for a while. Wala akong narinig na salita from his end. He's really waiting for some semblance of explanation on my end. "Because it's my fault," I continued. I could barely hear my voice.

The silence from his end was making things feel real for me. Parang bumalik na naman ako sa kagabi na paulit-ulit kong iniisip iyong mga bagay na possibleng nangyari kung hindi ako naka-alis agad doon.

Na what if mas malala iyong nangyari?

What if—

No. I shouldn't think about that anymore kasi mas lalala lang.

"Why do you think it's your fault?" he asked after minutes of nothing but silence from me.

"Basta."

Hindi siya nagsalita. Napa-tingin ako sa side niya. Wrong move. He was staring intently at me kahit kakatama pa lang ng mga mata namin.

"Are you seriously making excuses for that creep?" he asked.

I drew another deep breath. I held on to my bag tighter na para bang doon ako kumukuha ng emotional support.

"It's just easier that way, okay? Because if I blame him, then I can as easily blame you because you were late kaya nangyari 'yon. But then again I can just blame my parents for putting me in this frustrating situation," I continuously said. "Ang dami kong pwedeng sisihin, okay? But I just choose to blame myself because it's easier."

I looked at Finley, expecting him to roll his eyes at my messy explanation... instead, he just nodded at me and started the ignition of the car.

"Aalis na tayo?" I asked, a bit shocked.