Escaped

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7: Sketch

"Nice..." I murmured.

Pinagmasdan ko ang lugar na sinasabi ni Ryde. Napatango na lang ako dahil malawak at tamang-tama para sa business na matagal na niyang binabalak.

Kalalabas lang namin sa school at dito agad kami pumunta para ipakita niya sa akin ang lugar na ito. I suddenly felt melancholic because I can't be with him anymore just like what I've promised. My future plans suddenly messed up.

"Yume..." he said.

"Stand for Yummy and Me," I grinned.

"Gago. Akala ko ba kasi business partner na tayo?" tanong niya. "Nang-iiwan ka bigla sa ere e."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. I looked again outside the window. Napansin ko ang pagkuyom ng kamao ko.

"May iba na kasi akong plano..." bulong ko. "And... I know you can do it alone."

"What's going on, bro? You seemed lost. You okay?"

I nodded my head without looking at him. I hate to admit that my plans had been ruined when she came in.

Inalis ko ang ilang butones sa itaas ng polo shirt ko nang maramdaman ang init. Tumingin ako kay Ryde na nakakunot ang kilay.

"Seriously, Judeus? I am all ears for that. Come on..."

I gulped hard as I grasped for words. Ibinaba ko ang bintana ng sasakyan para may pumasok na hangin. Nanatiling nakasunod ang tingin sa akin si Ryde.

"I hate waiting..." Tamad na sabi ni Ryde. "Spill it out."

Sumandal ako sa upuan bago nagpakawala ng isang mabigat na hininga.

"I don't know, Ryde. You are right. I am lost," I admitted.

"Is it about your fiancé?" He started to ask. "Are you pressured?"

I remained silent but I nodded my head gently. I hate to admit that! Pakiramdam ko ay nahihiya ako sa sarili ko.

"You are pressured?"

"Hindi naman ako ganito dati. I already accepted it. Planado ko na lahat."

"Irene..."

Napatingin ako sa kanya nang marinig ang pangalan na 'yon. Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin. Nanatiling diretso ang kanyang ulo.

"Irene?" I asked, confused.

"You've been escaping with her every night..." He grinned. "I know... Jude."

"Stalker!"

"Gago. Hindi ka babae para i-stalk ko!" singhal niya.

"Paano mo nalaman?"

"Nakita ko lang kayo minsan sa night market. I was there... I saw how worried you were when she got suffocated. I saw how frustrated you were. I saw how much you cared for her..." He looked straight into my eyes "I saw it all, Jude." Then, he gave me a smile.

Natahimik ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Naalala ko na naman ang gabing naging pabaya ako sa kanya. I didn't know he was there but it was not surprising at all.

"Then?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you made a promise to her. Are you doing her a favor?"

Tumango ako. "She is my sister, Ryde. I want her to be happy. I want her to experience things she never felt before."

"And that's what made you confused..." Tumawa siya nang mahina. "Alam mo kung ano ang mali mo?"