The Madrigal Series 1: Stronger Than Before

Chapter 9.

#TTBWBMH9

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LYNDON'S GRIPPING MY hand tighter than it should be. I'm aware of the sets of eyes that were following our every step but care no more about it. I have no idea how mad Lyndon at the moment. Maybe going to meet him is not a good decision at all.

"I'll send you home." His voice was hard and cold as he opens the door to the passenger seats.

Walang kibo akong sumakay doon at pinanood ang pag-ikot niya papuntang driver's seat. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba dahil ngayon ko lang nakitang ganito si Lyndon. He is not really the Lyndon I used to know. The person sitting next to me right now is someone I didn't know at all.

He revved the engine of his car. Is this a Cadillac escalade? Ito nga yata iyong gusting bilhin ni Draco dahil bagay sa kanila ni Mitchie. Si Mitchie kasi, ang dami laging dala kapag nag-a-out of town sila.

I got distracted for seconds while admiring the interior of his car kaya nagulat ako nang biglang nasa harap ko na si Lyndon. Napigil ko ang paghinga ko sa sobrang lapit niya at naamoy ko na ang mamahaling pabangong gamit niya.

"Seatbelt." He said after the click sound then start maneuvering his car.

The deafening silence between us is killing me. I wanted to say sorry to him but he looks like he is ready to kill anytime at ayoko pang mamatay! I kept my silence by biting my lower lips. I really want us to talk but Lyndon looks like he already shut himself up from me. Nakakainis pero anong magagawa ko? I'm the one that at fault here.

"Stop that."

"Stop what?" I asked as I took a quick glance at him.

"Biting your lips. It'll bleed if you'll continue biting it that hard."

"Why do you care?" God Herrica! Stop putting gasoline into the fire! Huwag mo ng sabayan ang init ng ulo ni Lyndon. Piping kastigo ko sa sarili ko. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to –"

"If you have plans on keeping doing that, I might pull the car over and ravage your lips by myself, Herrica. So stop that already."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. I didn't know he has something like that in his mind! Feeling ko ay nalunok ko ang dila ko. I wanted to laugh at him kasi obvious na gusto lang niya akong sindakin pero pinigil ko ang sarili ko kasi bakit naman niya ako sisindakin gayong ngayon palang na hindi siya ngumingiti at nagsasalita ay kinakabahan na ako.

I kept my silence and faced the window as I bit my lip again. Hindi naman niya makikita dahil naka-focus siya sa kalsada. Besides, kung hindi ko kakagatin ang labi ko ay baka kung ano pa ang masabi ko na pagsisisihan ko rin sa bandang huli.

Then suddenly, Lyndon pulled the car over. When I turned to him to ask what happened, I was welcomed by his warm lips, crashing on mine that it took me seconds before I finally manage to realize that he was kissing me completely!

"Lyndon!" I protested after pushing him. His eyes were hooded while staring at my lips.

"I warned you already." Aniya habang dahan-dahang lumalapit ang mukha sa akin. He's not looking at me; he's looking at my lips! "For a week, I have dreamed of kissing your lips, Herrica. You fucking made me worried when you suddenly disappear from the pizza parlor last week. I really thought na sumama ka na sa Scott na iyon."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Nabibingi ako sa lakas ng tibok ng puso ko na parang sinasabi sa akin na tumahimik muna ako at kayaan siyang tumibok ng tumibok.

"I invaded your privacy because I thought, by doing so; you will be able to slowly forget your past. But I was wrong because it was you, right?" His hazel eyes were boring into mine and it was beautiful.

I nodded without knowing what's he's really talking about. "Pero hindi pwede, Lyndon." I said, almost a whisper while slowly shaking my head.

I've been confessed before but I swear, Lyndon's confession is the most heart aching seeing how it made him this hard. Para bang ang pagkakagusto niya sa akin ang pinakapangit na nangyari sa buhay niya; na parang napakalaking problema ang magkagusto sa isang tulad ko; na parang ang hirap-hirap kong mahalin.

"Then try me." Saka niya muling sinakop ang mga labi ko.

I didn't protests nor pushed him away even though his kiss was harsh. I just let him kissed me the way he wanted to ravish my lips but never returned his kisses until he stops.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" mura niya kasabay ng sunod sunod na malakas na paghampas sa manibela. "Bakit hindi pwede? Kasi mahal mo pa siya? Pero iniwan ka na nga, hindi ba? He's moving on, Herrica! He has Carla. Kaya bakit ikaw, hindi pwedeng magkaron ng isang Lyndon Madrigal?" mariin niyang sabi.

"Tama ka. Mahal ko pa si Twain. Mahal ko siya kahit na masakit sa akin iyong ginawa niya. He left me during those times na siya lang ang pwede kong kapitan but I can't blame him for that. Ako lagi ang problema. Ako ang may diperensya sa aming dalawa. Ako ang palaging mali. It was like I'm a piece of broken glass he was holding and at the same time, hurting him without me noticing it. Kaya hindi ko siya sinisisi kung bumitaw man siya."

I paused for a minute a blankly stared at my hands. It was shaking and cold but a warm big hands held mine, giving my hands warmth.

"Gusto ko na maging masaya si Twain kasi sa bawat ngiti niya, doon ako humuhugot ng lakas ng loob na mag-move on. Kasi kung magiging masaya na siya sa piling ng iba, hindi na ako makokonsensya sa mga nagawa kong pagkakamali noong kami pa. I wanted him to be happy even if it means being happy with another woman. Kasi kung ako, hindi ko na kaya. Susugatan ko lang siya ng paulit-ulit at ayokong mangyari iyon."

Lyndon pulled me for a hug. "He's really broken your heart."

I smiled and tap his back. "I'm fine besides, I broke his heart first. And I'm moving on."

"Then move on with me, Herrica." His arms tighten around my small frame. "Move on while you're with me."

"You don't know me too much, Lyndon." Hindi ko mapigil ang pag-alpas ng lungkot sa tinig ko. Kung malalaman niya na marumi na akong babae, siguro kahit sulyap ay hindi niya ako tatapunan.

"Please. I'm just asking for a chance." He pleaded as he looked into my eyes.

Umiling ako. "You don't know what you're asking, Lyndon." I cupped his face and traced his cheekbone using my thumb. "Naaawa ka lang sa akin kaya ka ganyan. And we've only known each other for quite some time."

"Iyon na nga Herrica! I don't know you that much and yet, you made me feel so much. Take a chance on me, Herrica. Hmmn?"