“I’m here. I’ll protect you.” He told her.
Upon hearing his voice, she immediately knew who he was. He clung to him dearly “Thank you for coming back” she whispered to him.
Gerald still wearing his helmet tightened his embrace when he felt her hug him back; he didn’t want to let her go. They stayed in that position, holding into each other tightly, for a while. Everybody taking photos of them and throwing them questions they couldn’t even hear.
It took a while before her guards could step in, careful not to hurt anybody in the process. She freed herself from his embrace and walked towards the clear path her guards made leading to her house. He stood there motionless unable to grasp what was happening, all he knew was that she needed him there and now she’s gone. He was still lost in his thoughts when a hand grabbed him “Akala ko sumusunod ka!” he heard her say. He followed her inside her home, when sure no one can see him, Sarah took off his helmet and smiled at him sweetly. Before she could say anything, a man approached her and hugged her from behind “Thank God you’re safe. I’ll die if anything bad happens to you” he whispered in her ears but Gerald heard him, clearly.
Sarah was shocked; she knew who the guy behind her is. She tried to take his hands off but they were too strong for her. Anna pulled Gerald who was still staring at the two. “Gerald right?” she asked but he wasn’t responding.
“We have to talk, you can’t run from me this time.” Sam said gripping her right hand and dragging her with him. Sarah was pulling back but failed to get away from him. She then turned her sight to Gerald who was fuming with anger, she signaled him to wait using her left hand and helplessly followed Sam to their garden.
“Gerald?” Anna repeated herself for the nth time trying to catch his attention. He then stared at her “Hahayaan mong mag-usap sila pagkatapos nang nangyari?! Alam mo ba kung paano iniyak ni Sarah sama ng loob niya sa lalaking yun?! Nakita mo ba kung paano niya sabihin na nasasaktan siya non?! Tapos hahayaan mo silang mag-usap ng ganun ganun lang?!” he said with control over his voice, he was furious.
“Hindi dahil may alam ka, may karapatan ka na.” She answered him firmly. Before losing her temper she took a deep inhale of air and calmed herself “Upo ka muna, baka matagalan siya. Marami pa akong kailangan asikasuhin. Sana wala na lang makakaalam kung sino ka, at kung ano ang nangyari.” And she left.
Gerald sat down “Hindi dahil may alam ka, may karapatan ka na.” he repeated to himself. He closed his eyes and buried his face on his hands, he knew she was right.
(Geralds POV: Tama siya. Bakit nga ba ko nakikielam? Ano nga ba ako sa kanya?)
It was nearly 1am and there were no signs of Sarah and Sam yet. No one was talking to him and Anna was busy doing damage control. He stood up and saw no one outside. He took this as his chance of leaving, he glanced one last time in the direction they went but still, no one was there. He took his helmet and left without saying a word to anybody. He didn’t felt welcome in her home; yes it was big, enormous even. But the aura is dull and lonely, he thought to himself.
In Sarah’s life…
Sarah woke up still in a daze. A motorbike, a mud fight, the heavy rain, a wall, and her cycling shorts appeared on her mind. All were here firsts. “I feel free when I’m with him.” she said to herself, a smile formed on her lips as one last thing appeared on her mind “a stranger.”
A knock on the door woke her up from her thoughts, her Yaya went in “Si mama niyo po” and handed her the phone. She took it and nodded to her as a sign that she can leave. She prepared herself for a long and tiring conversation with her mom, it was inevitable. She took a deep breath before answering “Ma. Sorry”
It really did take her hours to apologize to her parents. “One down!” she shouted cheerfully to herself. She then went downstairs and found Anna lying on their sofa still holding her phone. She was guilty, she knew she did this to her. Because of her, Anna needed to call her management, her TV station and everyone else important connected to her. She made a cup of coffee and sticks a note on it saying “sorry”, also she ordered food so she can say sorry to everyone in her household too.
She texted all her close friends saying that she’s fine and apologized for worrying them. She was thinking of a way to apologize to her fans also, her inactive twitter account crossed her mind “I’m sorry for my reckless actions. Sorry for worrying you guys. I love you :)” she posted, but before she could read anything else, she logged out.
“Ok. That leaves Gerald. I hope this works.” She said to herself while signing a delivery sheet.
In Gerald’s life..
He woke up way before his alarm sounded. He still needed to go to work, but his mind says otherwise. He just wants to lie in bed all day, he felt tired. He wanted to call her to make sure she’s fine. But he can’t. He didn’t like this feeling; he didn’t like not being able to reach her “She’s way out of my league.” He told himself. It’s his first time feeling helpless towards a woman, he felt so little compared to her. He stared at his ceiling, remembering every detail of her. The way she laughs, her sweet innocent smile, her sad longing eyes, the constant biting of her lips, her smooth skin and the way she hits him like his mom. He smiled at himself, he held onto his left chest, feeling his heartbeat, he remembered the way she makes him feel. He sighed heavily “what did you do to me?” he asked “Bakit ikaw pa?”
It took him all his strength just to stand up. He felt drained. He took his towel and took a bath.
After dressing up, he saw his mom all smiles at their dining table “kain tayo Ge” she invited him. He gave a kiss on his mom’s forehead “Good morning” he greeted. Ken was at school and it was just the two of them, his mom offered him the hotdog she cooked “Ano na nga palang nangyari nung hinatid mo si Sarah?” she asked.
Gerald felt his heart skip a beat with the sound of her name. He shrugged it off and answered her “Gulo ma. Ang gulo sa kanila. Kung pwede daw sana, walang makakaalam kung sino ako at kung anong nangyari. Si Ken pala ma! Baka ikalat niya!” he suddenly felt worried.
“Pinagusapan na namin yun kagabi pag alis niyo. Siya pa nga nag sabi sa akin na wag ko daw ipagkalat sa mga amiga ko eh.” She assured him.
He nodded as response and continued eating. He was about to leave when their door bell rang. It was a delivery guy looking for him, he signed the form and was handed a box. He wanted to open it, but he was already running late for work. He placed the box in his room and bid farewell to his mom.
Sarah was at a studio having her photo shoot for a commercial. It was her break and she kept looking at her watch. Anna noticed and seated right next to her “May hinihintay ka ba? Ayun siya oh.” While pointing to someone walking towards them.
“Hi Sarah. Coffee?” Sam handing her a cup of coffee.
Anna was feeling giddy and was hitting Sarah with her elbow as if telling her “uuuuuuyyyyy” with a teasing smile
Sarah rolled her eyes “I’m good. Thank you. Ate Anna, why don’t you have it? Sabi mo inaantok ka diba? Sam kay ate na lang yan.” She said and still checked her watch.
“Fine” Anna said taking away the coffee Sam was handing. She gazed at Sarah who was still glancing at her watch and left. Sam took the seat beside Sarah “I thought we’re good Hon?” he asked her. Sarah laughed “Hon ka jan. As if! We’re good nga, back to where we were diba? Friends. Wag mo nang ipilit, tatagal nanaman tong usapan na to.” She replied. Sam scratched his head and just when he was about to take Sarah’s hands, she stood up. “Sam, just go. I have work to do.” She said then the photographer called her.
“I’ll get you back Sarah, I won’t stop till I do.” Sam said to himself while staring at her.
