When I Escaped

Chapter 19

"San ba yung bakulaw na yon?"
ngumunot ang aking noo habang kumukuha ang ng juice.

The program is starting. I noticed wala rin si Ella pero si Connor namalayan ko na pumunta sa backstage.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our 2017 Prom Night. Tonight is all about celebrating! Tonight let's dance like no-one's watching!"

Everyone applauded. Natapos na iyong dinner at picture taking pero wala pa rin si Trav.

"Gerl, wala pa ba si boylets mo?"
tanong ni Dynah.

Umiling ako at umupo. He's already an hour late. I buried my face in hands. The music is already starting and the people are dancing.

Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else

I drove for miles and miles and wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow I want more.

Tumingin ako sa stage at si Connor ang kumakanta. I think he saw me looking at him.

I don't mind spending every day
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved.

Bumaba siya sa stage at and direksyon niya patungo sa akin.

I don't know why I bit my lip and felt a bit nervous.

He reached for my hand at tinanggap ko yon. He stared at me while singing. And we swayed. Then I close my eyes.

I began on remembering Trav. The dance, the kiss and his plan. I just realized everything, kung bakit niya plinano yung gabi na yon.

Humikbi ako at binuksan ko ang mga mata ko nang matapos si Connor sa pagkanta.

"Hey gorgeous, why are you crying?" pinahidan niya ang aking mga luha.

"Sorry" tinalikudan ko siya and lumakad papalayo.

Pumunta ako nang cr at inilock yung pinto.

"Bakit mo ba ginawa to sakin Trav?" iyak ko. "Kasalanan mo nasisipon na ako." I smiled but still crying. I looked up the ceiling. "I don't want to loose you too, I love you so much but why are you killing me." I was literally crying all over the place.

It hurts so bad parang minamartilyo yung puso ko. I should really told him that I love him too, but it was too late.

Umiyak pa ako lalo. "Sobrang manhid ko ba? Ako ba yung tinutukoy niyang iiwan niya?"
I stopped crying. "Hindi niya yon magagawa, mahal niya ako alam ko yon." I said to myself.

"Julie, it's Connor. Are you there? Let me help you please." he knocked.

Inayos ko yung sarili ko. "Sandali, naiihi lang ako kanina, e."

When I unlocked the door he hugged me and I pushed him back.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"taray kong tanong pero yumuko lang siya. "Magiging katulad ka rin ni Travis ha!?"
sigaw ko. "You're gonna make me fall in love with you tapos iiwan mo lang, ha!?" I pushed him. "Yon ba trip niyong dalawa!?"

His jaw tightened and he looked at me. "Tomorrow is his flight pero alam ko kung nasaan siya ngayon."

My eyes widened and no tear came out. Gusto ko siyang kalbuhin at sapakin pero gusto ko rin siyang yakapin buong buhay ko.

I fastened my seatbelt as Connor turned the car engine on.

"You really love him don't you?"
he asked but he is looking away.

"Yes" mabilis kong sagot.

He nodded.

"I'm sorry, nabigla lang ako kanina." I said.

He smiled. "That's what love can do."

I shrugged and he brought me sa isang bar. Sa labas pa lang maririnig mo na yung tunog. Namalayan ko rin na halos lahat nang pumunta rito mayayaman.

"Connor Martinez" sabi niua sa bouncer na napakalaki parang dinosaur.

"Yes, sir. You're cousin is here." sabi nung dinosaur na bouncer.

"Fuck" he muttered.

He grabbed my hand and went inside.

"Where's Trav?" sigaw ko pero mukhang hindi ako narinig ni Connor.

"Sit here first, I'll find Trav." he looked so pissed.

Lahat ng mga sexy ladies nagsasayawan at naghahalikan, yung iba kulang nalang maghuhubad.

"Tequila, miss?" the bartender offered.

"Ah, tubig lang po please."

Humalahakhak siya. "A little bit won't kill you."

Umiling ako. I waited there for 30 minutes already and every minute kinakabahan ako. I wanted to see Trav. Tears started to fall again.

Ang mga alaala ay natatandaan ko ngayon. The first time he asked me if he could sit down with me and I told myself I will never like him and never be friends with him but everything went unexpectedly. Hindi ko inaasahan na siya yung kauna unang lalaki na mamahalin ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagsimula o paano.

Nakita ko si Connor mula sa malayo at hinawakan niya ang kanyang labi.

"Anong nangyari sa labi mo at dumudugo? He did that to you?"

"He said you must leave." lumakad siya papalayo. "C'mon hahatid na kita."

Anger mixed with my sadness. "The fuck is wrong with him!?"

Padabog akong hinanap siya at wala talaga pero sa kabila ng bar may lounge para sa VIP pero may naguguard na malalaking bouncers.

"Umm.. hi" ngumisi ako.

"Name?"

"Ehh, cousin ako ni Connor Martinez." kumakalbog yung dibdib ko.

They nodded at pinapasok ako.
The air is much more cooler at amoy sigarilyo. Mas kaunti yung tao dito at halos ang mga lalaki at babae dito magaganda at gugwapo. But there's no Travis. I went upstairs and saw them, it physically hurts inside.

No words came out I just hang in there and watch them kiss. Travis and Ella were strangled in each others arms. I blinked then Travis looked at me with his bloodshot eyes.

"Sorry sa disturbo." sabi ko at yung boses ko ay nanginginig dahil pinipigilan ko ang mga luha ko. "I was just gonna leave."

So ito pala yung feeling na iniwan, masakit.

Tumayo siya at lumakad ako ng mabilis. He grabbed my wrist.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he said in a drunk voice.

I stared at him straight in the eyes but he looked away, it hurts.

"I just wanted you to know I love you too." I cried.

"Forget everything, go home."

Umilimg ako at tumutulo parin yung mga luha ko. "You don't mean that. You're drunk, let's go." hinawakan ko yung kamay niya.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "I don't love you, okay?"

"Why are you doing this, all of this?" humikbi ako.

He breathed heavily.

"Please don't leave. Kung ano man yung problema mo tutulungan kita."

He nodded and his eyes were red. "Good bye Julie"

"Stay" I pleaded.

Umiling lang siya at tinalikuran ako.

Sinigawan ko siya. "Fuck you for leaving me!"

It's sad when the person who makes you happy is also the reason why you cry.

So, that was it. He left me.