If Only I Hadn't *ON GOING* (formerly I'm in love with a stripper)

Strip 10

Chapter 10

Ethan's POV

Ano na naman bang topak nung babaeng 'yun? I was talking to a bunch of flirts when I saw her walking towards the seaside. At first, I didn't even bother looking back at her cause those girls are getting very hot and making me even hotter. But when I saw her approaching the sea, I became worried. I don't know, but damn. Is it my instinct that made me follow her? Whatever it is, I still followed her. I tried calling her name, but she kept on ignoring me. Not until I grabbed her hand. But that girl is so stubborn and continued walking. That's when I hugged her. The water is cold but her eyes were colder. She's looking beyond me.

Like I don't exist at that moment.

I even saw her cry.

I felt something inside my stomach. Is it because our bodies were too close? Or because I saw her cried?

Para kong nabato sa aking kinatatayuan nang mabilis siyang naglakad palayo.

"What the hell?" Ano bang nangyayari sa kanya? Baka hindi na naman nakakain ng maayos kaya ganun. Hanggang ngayon, iniisip ko pa rin kung anong pwedeng dahilan ng inakto nya kanina. 6 hours na syang hindi lumalabas ng kwarto nya. 6 freaking hours. At dinner na. Sandwich lang ang kinain namin kanina. And that was like 10 hours ago. This girl. Pinasasakit ang ulo ko. Ang pagkakaalam ko, sya ang nagsisilbi sakin. Not the other way around. I shouldn't be the one worrying about her.

Wait..

I'm not worried. It's just that, baka kung anong mangyari sa kanya, e hindi nya pa magawa ng maayos ang trabaho nya sakin. Aba. Hindi biro ang 50k isang buwan para sa isang fake girlfriend.

"Hi hottie. Need some company?" Before I could even answer, a pair of red lips crashed into mine. "I'm willing to be yours all night."

"You're invitation is very tempting, but I'm sorry woman. I'm waiting for my girlfriend."

"Well, okay," again, she leaned down and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'll just see you around."

For the nth time, napatingin ako sa relo ko. It's 30 minutes past 8. Wala ba talagang balak kumain ang babaeng yun?

Nagdesisyon akong umakyat para tingnan sya. Kakatukin ko na sana ang pinto ng kwarto nya ng makarinig ako ng mga sigaw at iyak.

"Ahh! Tama na!"

"Kendra! Anong nangyayari dyan? Kendra!"

She kept on screaming at the top of her lungs. "Huwag. Tama na po! Para nyo ng awa! Tama na."

I quickly fished for my duplicate key. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at humingi ako ng duplicate nito nung nagpareserve ako ng kwarto. Pero mukhang may silbi naman.

"Kend---"

"Aahh! Tama na! Hindi!! Please!!"

"Kendra, wake up, honey. It's just a bad dream." Inalog-alog ko ang balikat nya just to wake her up.

"E-Ethan?" I can still hear her sobs. Her face is full of sweat and and tears. Her hair is a mess. I pity her. I can't imagine what kind of dream caused her to be this miserable.

"Shhh. Hush now, baby. It's okay, panaginip lang iyon."

"P-parang totoo sya. So real na akala ko—akala ko kukunin nila ko. A-Ayoko na dun, Ethan. Ayoko na." Halos hindi ko na marinig ang huling mga salitang sinabi nya. Mahigpit nya akong niyakap at saka umiyak. Nakaramdam ako ng sakit at lungkot para sa kanya. Hindi ko man alam ang buong nangyari, pero sa mga iyak at sigaw pa lang nya, alam kong hindi ito maganda.