Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"Dito ka nga," he said. I looked at him with a confused face. Ano na naman ba kasi ang sinasabi niya? Half the time, ayoko na lang makinig sa kanya kasi I was like certain na maiinis lang ako sa kung anuman ang sasabihin niya sa akin.

And in true Finley fashion, instead of answering my question, he just rolled his eyes and then pulled me until I was walking beside him.

"What the—"

He just put back his hands inside his pockets and walked like he didn't just grab me! Nakaka-stress talaga siya minsan!

We were walking—scratch that, I was half-running dahil isang hakbang yata ni Finley ay dalawa sa akin. Why was he so freaking tall?! Like I have tall classmates, but Finley's still taller than them. Ano ba ang pinakain dito nung bata pa siya? Nakaka-tangkad ba 'yon? Side effect din ba nun 'yung attitude niya?

I tried to catch a breath. Finley looked back and saw me just standing in the middle of Time Square. He was looking at me with a confused look like he didn't understand that while he's been walking all this time, kanina pa ako tumatakbo alongside him.

"Pagod ka na agad?" he asked like he was taunting me.

I glared at him. "Well, sorry my legs aren't as long as yours."

Umirap na naman siya. "Masakit talaga paa mo?"

Hindi naman masakit iyong paa ko... but for some reason, I wanted to tell him na masakit iyong paa ko. I just wanted to see kung ano ang gagawin niya—if iiwan niya ba ako sa gitna ng Time Square or if he'd be gentleman enough to wait for me until I feel a bit better.

I looked at him and nodded—I even batted my lashes! After I did, I felt cringe because what the heck, Maia?! Why did you do that?! I was bracing myself na for Finley to tease me and to tell me na ang pangit ko or something like hindi bagay sa akin magpa-cute kasi hindi naman ako cute.

"What... are you doing?" I asked when I saw him kneeling with his back turned on me... like he was offering to give me a piggyback ride.

"Bilis na," he replied, still holding that position.

"No."

Lumingon siya. Why is his nose so perfect?! Nagpa-rhino ba siya?! Why was everything about his, at least physically, perfect?

"We're in New York. No one gives a shit," he said like ang concern ko ay may makaka-kita sa aming dalawa. "Come on. My knee will freeze."

Napa-tingin ako sa isang knee niya na nasa sahig. Ugh. Why was he being like this?! So confusing! I was torn na sabihin sa kanya na hindi naman talaga masakit iyong paa ko, but I felt like my lie was too deep na. I drew a deep breath as I got on his back.

"Ouch—" he said when I pulled his hair. He adjusted my position on his back kasi kanina tapos hindi siya nagsabi kaya nagulat ako. Knowing him, the possibility of him just casually dropping me on the ground, while low, was never zero!

"Don't do that kasi—" I said and the I was cut off half-way and my words were replaced with me shrieking because he acted like he's gonna drop me again. "Finley!" I shouted and he was just laughing. He was laughing so hard that I could feel his laughter.

Natigilan ako.

This... was the first time I heard him laughing.

Like... possible pala na tumawa siya?!

Finley probably felt my surprise. He quickly stopped laughing, cleared his throat, and then continued walking.

What the heck was that?!