I Wouldn't Mind

Chapter 25

{David's}

"Stop being an asshole David" nabigla ako sa seryosong tono ni Ian. He barely does that, unless he's REALLY serious.

"Psh" pagmamatigas ko. 

Mula sa likod ni Ian ay nakita ko si Gaby. She's wearing a yellow dress that emphasized her natural beauty. I suddenly remembered what she mouthed to me before the start of the 3rd round,  she said "I love you". Sobrang nabuhayan ako ng dugo nun! Though I wasn't sure if I read it correctly. Kahit na! Sobra talaga akong nabuhayan nun. *dreamy* 

She was looking at Ian then at me, totally clueless of what's going on.  Damn, I still have to explain everything to her. Ian noticed that I wasn't paying attention to him, he looked back and saw Gaby just a few steps behind him. Laking gulat ko naman ng bigla niyang hinila si Gaby, at inilapit sa akin. Gabriella was not looking directly at me. Nginitian ko siya nung tumingin siya sa akin at bigla siyang namula. Damn it, I want to-

"PUCHA, WAIT LANG AH. Pwede bang mamaya na kayo maglabing-labing" Ian cried while waving his hand on my face to wake me up. Gaby looked at Ian with a death glare, and I caught myself chuckling with her reaction. Ian sighed, "Gaby, bago ka magalit sa akin. SIYA MUNA PAGALITAN MO!" sabay turo sa akin. Kwinento niya ng mabilisan kay Gaby na nangangati na nga ang paa ko na umalis na agad sa arena na 'to. Ang dami kasing tao, nakakairita, hindi ako sanay sa ganito. Tsaka, hindi ko na kailangang award-an. Tsaka ayaw ko nang makita pa ulit yung pagmumukha nung Kevin na yun. 

Nagulat ako ng may dumampi sa akin na isang malutong-na malutong na palo sa braso. "Gaby!" sigaw ko. Ang sakit, argh. Ito yung nasipa ni Kevin eh. 

"David, sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, you will go to that stage and shake Kevin's hand!" sabay turo niya sa stage. 

"Huh?" I cried, I can still feel her slap on my arm, it stings. 

"Kung hindi naging sport si Kevin, you should be a humble winner. Wag kang magmayabang, kahit sabihin mong hindi ka nagmamayabang, iba ang dating niyan sa ibang tao. Accept your award, moron." I stared at Gaby as a smile started to form on her lips. She moved closer, held my hand tightly while she was wearing her pleading smile at me, "You understand?" her eyes were glistening making it harder for me to resist her commands.

But what distracted me the most and what ruined the moment were the squeals of the ladies and the loud cheers of the people in the arena.

I looked around. Yung side ng arena na malapit sa amin ay yung pinakamaingay, nakikitingin naman ang iba. Some were giggling, at parang mas kinikilig pa kaysa sakin.

"Oops, mukhang nakalimutan niyong madaming tao ang nandito ngayon" sabay tawa ni Ian. "Mukhang madaming nawalan ng pag-asa kay Gaby ah tapos madami na ding babaeng broken-hearted ngayon, ahaha!" natatawa pa rin si Ian, at tumawa din ako ng mahina. I looked at Gaby and she looked startled when I caught her eye, her face flushed red, and she looked away. Tinanggal  na din niya ang kanyang kamay sa pagkakahawak sa akin.  

"Ehhhh? Ba't mo tinanggal?" ungol ko sa kanya. I made a face intended to tease her more.

Mas lalong namula ang mukha niya at tinulak ako papunta sa stage,

"Bibigay na kasi yung award mo! You moron!" she looks pissed, which was very cute. I flashed a teasing smile, and she looked away with a smile slowly forming on her lips. 

Award. Award. Award. Binigay na yung award. Bla. Bla. Bla. 

Kevin and I faced each other and bowed. Kevin positioned his hands for a shake, "It was a good fight" sabi nito. "The best fight I had, thank you" dagdag niya pa.

"Mine too, my pleasure" I said as I shaked his hand. Sabay kaming bumaba ng stage, "I thought you weren't gonna come up the stage again. Just like what you did last time" Kevin chuckled.

His aura suddenly changed, na para bang nawala lahat ng kayabangan at kagaguhan sa kanya.

"Someone just made me realize something" I answered.

"Hm, I see. Sorry nga pala sa mga pinagsasabi ko tungkol sa girlfriend mo, I just wanted a little push" he chuckled.

Siraulo pala 'to eh.

"Tss, just stay away from her." I said coldly.

"Yea, yea okay. Hands off ako sa kanya" he raised his hands in surrender. "But she really is a keeper, I'm telling you"

"Alam ko" hindi niya na kailangang ipaalala sa akin. I am definitely keeping her, and she's not for share.

Nagpaalam na kami sa isa't-isa at agad kong hinanap si Gaby. Sinalubong ako ni Joan na mukhang nag-aaalala at pilit akong kinukulit tungkol sa braso ko at sa mga sugat ko.

"Okay lang ako" pagpupumilit ko.

"Mukha mo!" inis na sagot ni Joan. Kumapit ito kay Ian, si Ian naman ay nakangiti lang sa kanya.

Hm, may naaalala siguro si Joan at Ian kaya ganyan sila. 

Tama! Naaalala ko na, "Hindi naman si Ian ang nakipagbugbugan Joan kaya wag ka nang mag-alala" ngumisi ako at kumunot naman ang noo ni Joan at bumulong, "Kahit na"

"Hindi na iyon mauulit Joan, I promise okay?" Ian gave his girlfriend an assuring smile. "Thank you" Joan whispered.

"At ikaw naman! Hanapin mo na si Gaby! Biglang nawala yun eh!" dagdag ni Joan habang nakaturo sa labas.

"Ah bakit bigla siyang nawala?" pag-aalala ko. Tumingin ako sa paligid, andito pa din si Kevin kaya't nabawasan ang kaba ko. They just shrugged their shoulder.

Narinig kong tinawag ako ng instructor ko, kailangan kasing ma-check na kung may seryosong damage bang nangyari sa amin. Parang wala naman, masakit lang yung braso ko, tsaka may sugat ako sa labi. Yun lang naman.

Sinabihan ko na sina Ian na mauuna na ako at ako na ang tatawag kay Gaby. On my way to the hospital, I immediately grabbed my phone and dialled her number,

"Hello Gaby?"

"Hey" matamlay nitong sagot

"Nasan ka? Bigla kang nawala"

"Nasa unit ko, ewan ko. Bigla kong naisipang umuwi eh. Er, there's a LOT of people awhile ago... I was kinda-"

"I know." I cut her off "It's okay, I understand"and laughed softly. What can I say? Parehas kami ng ugali pagdating sa matataong lugar.

"Can I stop by later?" I asked.

"Yes. Of course. please?"

"Please?" I chuckled.

"Yes, please." I heard her giggle weakly.

"I will. Miss na kita..."

"Miss na din kaya kita! Kainis! Pumunta ka na nga dito dali" she giggled.

"I will! Magpapacheck-up lang ako. Darating ako dyan. Ok?" bumaba na ako ng kotse.

"Okay. Buh-bye."

"Bye"

"Ay David!"

"Yes?"

"Er. Nothing. Wala. Ah bye bye." bigla niyang binaba yung phone. Ano yun? Nabitin ako dun ah. 

Kailangan ko pa palang dumaan sa unit ko mamaya. May kukunin pa ako. I need to give her something.

Sana magustuhan niya.