The Dare

[29] Red Box

[29] Red Box

Hiroto's POV

"Goodbye Lians!" pasigaw na sabi ni Eliana kay Liana na nasa tabi ko habang nakadungaw sa labas ng bintana ng aking sasakyan.

Ngumiti naman si Liana. "Bye din Elly!"

Kumaway sila sa isa't-isa at pagkatapos nun, isinara na agad ni Eliana ang bintana.

I looked at her. "Ready to go, Cutie?"

I saw her smiled. "Opo, Siopao."

The moment na papatakbuhin ko na sana yung sasakyan, nandun na pala sa tabi ng bintana ng driver's seat si Liana.

She's knocking on the window. "Hiroto! Wait lang!"

I immediately opened the window as I said, "Bakit? May naiwan ka ba?"

She shooked her head as an answer. Tumingin siya kay Eliana saglit then she looked at me directly.

Parang there is something that she wants to say but she can't.

Fear.

She spoke to me, more like a whisper that is enough for me to hear what it is. "Hiroto, huwag mo pabayaan si Eliana, okay? The two of you, please be careful and be safe. Mag-ingat kayo ah."

She patted my back as she suddenly ran pabalik sa house niya.

Okay, that was weird.

Pero kinutuban ako.

Sht.

"Ano sabi ni Lians? Is there any problem?" Eliana asked, bewildered.

I smiled at her, unsurely. "That was just nothing Cutie. Let me take you home now."

-*-*-*-*-*-

Monday came.

Another school day starts again.

And it's a bit, cold.

Not because of the people around here in school or something but it's because it's already December.

Decorations can be seen everywhere around the campus as I went my way to the locker area between the wash room and the stairs.

'Gift. Ano kayang gustong gift na matanggap ni Eliana this Christmas? It should be heartwarming and memorable and the one she would really love and appreciate.' I mumbled to myself.

Binuksan ko na yung locker ko to get some things para sa first subject ko but my eyes widened.

And I'm really surprised.

I know it's December and all, but there's this box - a box that is red.

There's no design or anything but probably this box should be a gift, right?

But heck, why am I feeling there is something wrong inside this freaking box.

An early Christmas present, I guess.

"Hiroto!" My heart palpitated so fast like it could almost went outside of my chest when I heard Eliana's voice.

The 'bang' sound of my locker almost stretched across the entire hallway because of the result that I've closed it before she could see it.

Fck, what is wrong with me?

What is wrong with you Hiroto?!

"Anong ginagawa mo dyan? And ba't parang gulat na gulat ka, as if you've seen a ghost? The month is already December and hindi ka pa rin ata naka-move on."