Nevermore

Chapter 24: Downpour

"Ganun kasimple?" Hindi parin ako makapaniwala sa plano ni Stephanie

"I'm the expert at eluding guards remember? Just trust me on this, Achila."

I rolled my shoulders and tightened my grip on the steering wheel "Okay."

Kasalukuyan akong nagmamaneho papunta sa salon ng tita ni Steph. The guards are still tailing us.

"Hindi ko pa nasusubukang mag pa-firm ng buhok but I'll do it as long as I get my prize." Steph said dreamily bago sumandal sa leather seat.

According to her plan, ipapa-firm nya ang buhok nya para maging pareho kami na kulot in order to trick the guards, and since Stephanie will be staying inside the Salon under guise, the hounds would not be aware that I'm not there anymore. The plan doesn't sound fool proof but if it works I'd be able to do what I want.

"The Blackburn cousins are nothing but trouble." I glanced at her out of the corner of my eyes. She shrugged

"Trouble never looked so good." Sagot nya bago lumingon sa bintana ng sasakyan

"Sino bang gusto mo sa dalawa, si Eros ba o si Domeric?" I asked

"Kahit sino, bakit may pinag-kaiba ba sila? They almost look the same to me." A sudden feeling of protectiveness came over me. I suddenly want to defend them. People like them for their faces too much that they fail to see their real worth, pero dahil handa naman akong tulungan ni Stephanie, I decided to reserve my edict for another time

"Eros have darker eyes, mas lighter na brown ang mata ni Dom and he is also taller by two inches." At this point I got Stephanie's full attention

"Magaan kasama si Dom, palabiro tska honest..." Bigla akong nakonsensya ng maisip ko si Dom. I ditched him today.

"Si Eros grumpy tsaka hindi mahilig ngumiti."

"Well, who do you recommend?"

"They're both playing the field, Steph. I won't recommend any of them."

She grinned "That's a problem, but I still want my prize."

"Domeric has my vote." I reluctantly said.  I know I'll pay dearly for my decisions later.

"Do you think he'll like me?"

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot kaya I just settled for a shrug.

"Nandito na tayo." I announced as I parked the car in front of Horae spa and lounge

Tinanggal ni Steph ang seat belt nya at pumihit paharap sakin.

"I'll take it from here, pumasok kana sa loob tapos dumaan ka sa fire exit, but you can't take your car, that would be too suspicious." Tumango ako at lumabas na ng sasakyan, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Steph but instead of following me inside Horae she intercepted the guards.

I left her to it and made a mad dash towards my freedom.

***

Mabilis lang akong naka puslit mula sa fire exit ng Horae pero nahirapan akong mag commute kaya naman hindi na ako nagulat na wala na si Colton pati na rin ang sasakyan nya sa parking lot ng school at kahit na pakiramdam ko na hindi na sya babalik, pinili ko paring mag hintay. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa dahil nandoon na ako and coming home will just mean defeat.

Halos ilang minuto palang akong naroroon ng biglang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan and within minutes under the rain I got so drenched kaya hindi na ako sumilong. I suddenly felt so lonely as I walked out on the streets. Lahat ng efforts ko nasayang lang.

"Bwisit!" I gritted my teeth as I kicked a stray rock into a puddle.

I looked up to show my anguish to heaven "Bwisit!"

But instead of receding, the clouds just got darker and the down pour heavier. Medyo maaga pa pero mabilis na dumilim dahil sa sama ng panahon.

"Bwisit! Bwisit! Bwisit!" I angrily gestured at the sky kahit na masakit na ang leeg ko sa pag tingala at kahit na nararamdaman ko na ang lamig.
I would have continued doing that kung hindi dahil sa busina ng sasakyan sa may gilid.

I retrieved my bearings at the sound at narealize ko na napakalapit ko sa kalsada kaya umusog ako ng konti. I averted my gaze from the clouds at nakita ng maigi ang sasakyan.

Isa iyong pamilyar na silver gray porsche.

I felt a sudden rush of emotions lalo na ng mag roll down ang isang bintana...and there in front of the wheel sat, Colton.

Colton Fūckìng Cross looking cooler than the weather inside his shiny sports car. How am I supposed to react to that impassive face? Pray tell me!

"What are you smiling at?" He asked with an arched brow

Biglang lumipad ang kamay ko papunta sa labi ko and there I felt the evidence. Why the hell am I smiling?

"I've been standing in the rain for too long, my facial muscles froze!" I improvised

His mouth quirked upwards at my reply but the smile is gone before I could point it out to him.

"I wonder why you're not doing anything to get out of it, then." Itinuro nya ang passenger seat ng sasakyan nya

He revved the engine "Don't wait for me to open the door for you."

Mabilis kong hinawakan ang handle ng pintuan at pumasok sa loob bago pa mag bago ang isip nya.

Mag papasalamat na dapat ako ng bigla nya akong inunahan sa pag sasalita

"Don't move too much, you're mucking up the upholstery."  I changed my mind about thanking him in that instant at para lalo pa syang inisin piniga ko ang dulo ng buhok ko sa loob ng sasakyan nya.

"What the hell!"

"That is for making me wait..."

He looked so shell shocked at medyo naka-awang ang bibig nya, I don't know what possessed me because I pulled him by the shirt without thinking and...kissed him

"And that...is because I'm cold."