The Death of Gabriel

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Naroon si Leon sa loob nang restaurant kanina, may kasamang ibang babae. I can't believe na wala man lang three month rule, ni wala pa ngang one week simula noong naghiwalay sila ni Misy.

Ganoon lang ba kadali para sa kanya na itapon lahat nang pinagsamahan nila.

Nakakatakot pala talaga mag-mahal.

Nang makarating sa bahay ay dumiretso na ako sa kwarto, I busied myself into my studies, at nag-advance reading na din ako. Matapos at natulog na ako at nagpahinga.

Maaga ako gumising kinabukasan. Gusto kong mag-lakad papasok, para naman makapag-isip isip ako. I left a note on the table, para hinde mag-alala sila Prim.

"Good morning, Ma'am. Ang aga mo ngayon ah." bati sa akin ni manong guard.

"Good morning din po." sambit ko at nagpatuloy na ako palabas nang gate.

Medyo madilim pa. Bibit ko ang aking backpack, habang hawak-hawak ko naman ang isang makapal na libro sa aking kabilang kamay.

Naglakad na ako, medyo malamig ngayon at hinde pa gaanong matao sa daan. Kakaunti lang rin ang mga dumaraan na sasakyan.

Tahimik lamang akong naglalakad, when I saw a tall dark hooded figure on my peripheral vision. Kaya't binilisan ko mag-lakad. Totoo pala na delikado talaga rito sa Maynila.

I held the book on my hand tightly, huwag niya lang talaga ma-try na lumapit dahil ihahampas ko talaga ito sa kanya.

Wala rin namang mananakaw sa akin.

I looked down on my feet at mas lalo ko pang binilisan ang lakad. Until tumama ang ulo ko kung anong matigas.

"Aray ", I mumbled in pain. As I saw the figure made its way to me, pumikit ako at hinampas ito ng hinampas gamit ang librong hawak ko.

Minulat ko ang mga ko as I saw him blocked his arms to stop me from hitting him.

"Stop" he mumbled huskily, more like he commanded kaya't medyo hininaan ko ang panghahampas, but I didn't stop.

He instantly grabbed the book away from my hands. Nakita ko ang dahan dahan niyang pagtanggal sa hood niya.

"G-gabriel?" pag-aalalang tanong ko. Dumudugo ang labi niya. He looked at me sternly. His eyes are hard, and it looks vicious at the moment.

"I'm so sorry, akala ko kasi holdaper eh." I muttered, agad na uminit ang pisngi ko.

"Last time you thought I was a kidnapper and now a holdaper." he mumbled under his breath, sobrang seryoso nang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Gabriel, dumudugo ang labi mo. I'm so sorry. Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo doon?! Are you... perhaps stalking me?" wala sa loob na sambit ko, mas nakafocus kasi ang pagiisip ko sa kanyang  mapupulang mga labi. I felt guilty.

I saw him raised his eyebrows. Doon nag-sink in sa akin ang tanong ko, I bit my tongue, at agad akong ginapangan nang hiya.

"I'll be fine. I was out for a jog, and then I saw you walking alone this early in the morning." he said as his lips twitched, and his hand went on the pockets of his hoodie.

"Your forehead." sambit niya I saw him clenched his jaw, his expression turned serious again. Hinawakan ko ang noo ko, medyo masakit, baka magkabukol ito mamaya.

He took away my backpack and held me hand. Sumunod lamang ako sa kanya. I saw his car nearby. Pinagbuksan niya ako nang pinto.

"Hop in, I'll just get the first aid kit." sambit niya.

Dahan dahan akong sumakay, his scent filled my nose, and its intoxicatingly addicting.

Naisip ko na Beaury was here yesterday. She sat where I am sitting right now and it feels so uncomfortable.

Maya maya pa ay dumating na si Gabriel at sumakay siya sa driver's seat, I saw the ice pack he has on his hands. His hair looks messy, and some strands of it fall loosely dahilan para bahagyang matabunan ang kanyang nakaka-hipnotismong mga mata.

He looked at me, he held my face so I could face him. Hinde ko siya matingnan, may kung ano dito sa dibdib ko na masakit, may kung ano sa akin na nagsasabing it's a sin to be around with someone who's already taken.

He held my chin firmly as he slowly pat the ice pack on my forehead. Medyo masakit ito.

My breathing hitched, sobrang bilis nang tibok nang puso ko, para bang anytime aatakihin na ako sa puso. Sobrang lapit nang mukha namin sa isa't isa.

"Tell me if it hurts, stop me if I'm going too rough." seryosong sambit niya. I bit my lips, I can't believe na ganito ako kabilis matunaw when he's around.

"Ako na Gabriel. I can do it." sambit ko as I move my face away from him.

"Do we have a problem Francisca?" tanong niya, this is the first time he ever called me by my first name.

Umiling ako, we don't have a problem. Ako lang ang may problema, me and my own feelings and emotions.

"Wala, naiilang lang ako. I'm not really used to being around guys." giit ko.

"And you want me to believe that?" he muttered as his cold dark eyes bore into mine.

I looked away at ibinaling ang aking atensiyon sa ice pack na hawak niya. I tried to reach it, but mas lalo niya itong inilayo sa akin.

He held my cheeks this time, at I shivered from his touches, animoy parang may elektrisidad na dumaloy sa aking katawan.

"Gabriel, please." I mumbled na halos may halong pagmamaka-awa. I saw him gritted his teeth as he let go of my face, and handed me the ice-pack.

Ako na ang nagpatuloy sa pagdampi nito sa noo ko. Tahimik niya lamang akong pinagmasdan, until I am done.

"Wala ka bang pasok ngayon?" kuriosong tanong ko.

"Meron, around nine." tipid na sagot niya, as he looked at his wrist watch.

"I'll drop you off."  sambit niya.

"Ha? Huwag na nakakahiya. I'll be fine." giit ko.

Nakakahiya, baka nakaka-abala na ako.

I saw him smile lightly, hinde ko alam kung namalikmata lang ba ako, kasi mabilis din itong naglaho.

"You won't get there in time." he said surely, ni wala man lang bakas nang uncertainty sa boses niya.

Tama siya. I'm not athletic. Kahit tumakbo ako papasok sa school ay hinde ako aabot. Kaya hinde na ako nagprotesta pa when he reached in para maikabit ang seatbelt ko. His manly scent engulfed my nose. Tahimik ko lamang na pinaglaruan ang aking mga daliri as I felt the car stop.

Maya maya pa at pumarada na ang kanyang sasakyan sa school. Umamba na siyang bababa, but I held his arm. Nagtama ang mga mata namin. Umiling ako.

"Huwag mo na ako pag-buksan. Thank you, pasensiya na rin sa abala." agap ko, his eyes looked at me cautiously, nakita ko kung paano niya ako mariin na tinignan as I let go of his arm. 

Umamba na akong baba, but with just one click as nilock niya ang pinto, dahilan nang pagkagulat ko kaya't nilingon ko siya at nagtama ang paningin namin. His eyes  stared at me with full of intensity.

"You're not leaving, until you tell me what's the problem."