Pursued (BS#2)

L-Leaving

"AURA."

Lumingon siya sa ma-awtoridad na boses ni Leo. Masama ang tingin nito sa batang lalakeng kausap niya. That boy was her partner in their art class, but not for long. Lalo pa't narito na ang hari ng kagubatan upang bantayan siya.

"Go." Matigas na utos nito sa lalake na agad namang lumayo. Kasama nitong dinampot ang mga gamit. Sumali ito sa ibang estudyanteng abala sa pagdo-drawing. Lumingon naman kaagad ang iba nilang kaklase sa kanila. Namaywang siya kay Leo at sinimangutan ito.

"Why did you do that? Partner ko siya. Papagalitan ako ni teacher!" Magkasalubong ang kilay na wika niya. Nagkibit lang ito ng balikat at umupo sa tabi niya. Tinulak niya ito palayo but it was no use. He insisted to sit beside her.

"I'll be your partner, then." He casually said before he took out his coloring materials and lots of pencils.

"You are not from this class! Isusumbong kita kay teacher." Banta niya rito ngunit hindi man lang siya nito pinakinggan. Nagsimula na itong magdrawing ng araw sa malaking white cardboard. Leo was two years older than her. Nasa mas mataas na baitang na ito kaya hindi ito maaaring magprisintang partner niya kung kailan nito gusto. Not because his father owns the school, he can do whatever he wants.

He was a self-centered brat. Parang lahat nalang ng gusto nito ay siyang dapat masunod. He doesn't take no for an answer and he has his way to change it into 'yes'. People are always trying to give him their favor because they know who they shouldn't mess with.

He has means to make things go the way he wants. Sometimes, he would let her win the arguments, maybe because they have been friends since she was a baby. Yes, he was her friend. Wala siyang choice dahil wala namang gustong makipagkaibigan sa kaniya. He was so fond of her that almost nobody can get close to her. Maliban nalang sa mga pinsan nito.

Their parents are close friends and both Filipinos. Kaya naman lalo silang napalapit lalo pa't naninirahan sila sa isang banyagang bansa. Tinuruan siya ng kanyang ina kung paanong magtagalog na siyang itinuro din niya kay Leo. Sa pagkakaalam niya kasi ay hindi ito natuturuan ng Mommy nito niyon lalo pa't busy ito bilang isang doctor. And he was just few steps away from her house. Araw-araw silang nagkikita. At araw-araw itong bumibisita sa kanila. Her mom once told her that he has always been coming to their house since she was a year old. Palagi itong nagpapasama sa Yaya nito upang magpunta sa bahay nila.

At kahit ngayong sampung taong gulang na siya ay hindi pa rin ito umaalis sa tabi niya. And it gets her into trouble everytime. Marami kasi sa mga kaklase niyang babae ay may crush dito. At dahil sa kanya ay hindi ito pinapansin ng lalake. Imbes na magkaroon siya ng kaibigan ay kaaway ang nakukuha niya.

"Didn't you have class?" tanong niya habang pinapanood itong nagdo-drawing ng dagat.

"Yeah."

"And? You're skipping class? Go back, Simba." She ordered, using the name she has gotten from a Disney movie, they both watched. Hindi ito nagsalita bagkus ay kinuha ang coloring materials at nagsimula nang magkulay. Ni hindi man lang siya nito tiningnan na para bang bumulong lang siya sa hangin. Sa inis niya niya ay padabog na hinawakan niya ang kamay nito. She took the coloring materials away from his hand. When she looked up to him, he was just watching her with this odd look of wonder in his eyes.

"Go back." She insisted. Pinanlakihan pa niya ito ng mga mata upang i-emphasize ritong seryoso siya sa iniuutos. Hindi ito pwedeng hindi sumunod sa kanya ngayon.

Ngumiti ito sandali bago tumango.

"Okay. I'll see you later, then." He said as he tapped her head.

"SAMA AKO."

Umiling-iling siya. "Di pwede." Sa pangatlong beses ay sagot niya. They were going back to the Philippines and will be staying there for good. Her parents never really wanted for them to live here for good. They prefer to settle in their homeland. They were just working here to earn then, they will go back to the Philippines. Kaya naman ng malaman ni Leo na aalis na sila ng States ay bigla nalang itong nagdideklarang sasama ito. Kanina pa ito paulit-ulit na ipinipilit iyon sa kanya, as if it was possible for her to put him in her luggage and take him with her in the plane.

He pursed his lips as his eyebrows met.

"Sasama ako." He insisted with a different kind of accent from her. It wasn't a question nor a request, but rather an unbreakable law. He wasn't asking for her permission but rather declaring it in front of her.

"We can't just bring you there!"

"Why not? I'll be good."

"Simba, I'm serious. You can't just go with me whenever you like it."

"No, Aura. I want to be there with you."

Napakamot siya sa ulo sa kakulitan nito. Natanaw niya si Crocif na pansamantalang nagbabakasyon sa bahay nila Leo. Pinsan ito ni Leo at isa lang ito sa mga hinahayaan ng lalaki na lumapit at makipag-usap sa kanya.

"Crocif!" Tawag niya rito. Mula sa pagpapatalbog ng bola ay nilingon siya nito. Sinenyasan niya itong lumapit na ginawa rin nito.

"What is it?"

"Your cousin is being a brat again. Convince him that he can't go with us."

"I will!" Singit ni Leo na nakasimangot na.

Tumawa lamang si Crocif at inakbayan si Leo. "You heard him, right? He will follow you anywhere. Why can't you just stay here?"

Napasimangot siya. As much as she wanted to, it's not for her to decide. Doon na sila sa Pilipinas, titira. And maybe she can find friends there as well.

"You know that I can't."

"You're not coming back?" Crocif asked. Umiling-iling lang siya. Natahimik din ito at napatingin kay Leo. Bago pa sila makapagsalita pareho, nag-walk out na ito. He went straight to his house without looking back.

"That would be bad for him, then." Crocif pointed out while watching his cousin go.

Bago pa man siya nakapagsalita ay narinig na niya ang boses ng kanyang mommy na tumatawag sa kanya. She turned around to look at her Mom who was holding her five years old little sister's hand.

"You have to pack up na, sweety." She reminded her.

"Okay, Mom! Coming!" She shouted back. Tumingin siya kay Crocif at nagpaalam na.

**

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