The Boy Next Door (Completed)

Chapter 39

 Copyright © ScribblerMia, 2012

 "Let me go," I complained. Hila-hila kasi ako palabas ni KJ. Mahigpit ang kapit niya sa braso ko. Halatang galit na galit siya. Nanlilisik ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa daan.

"Pards." 

Lumingon ako at nakita ang humahabol na si Neiji bitbit ang mga gamit ko.

"What?!" Sigaw ni KJ. Hindi lumilingon.

"Whoa. Chill. I just want to give you Astrid's things, dude. Chillax." Natatawang sabi ni Neiji.

Tumigil si KJ sa pagkaladkad sa akin at walang imik na inabot ang mga gamit ko. Hawak ng kaliwang kamay niya ang bag at ilang libro ko. Nagsimula na ulit itong hilahin ako.

"Bye, dude. Best wishes." Kumakaway na nakangiting sigaw ni Neiji.

Lumingon ako at pinandilatan si Neiji.

Pero ngumiti lang ito at kinandatan ako.

Oh, God please. Can someone remind me that I have to kill Neiji once we cross our paths?

"Hey. A-ano ba," I said. Kahit ano'ng pilit ko, hindi ko matanggal ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko. Masyadong mahigpit. I could already feel the anger burning in him as he held my arm. It's as if he would kill anyone who would block our way. 

May mangilan-ngilan na estudyanteng napapatingin sa amin. Ang iba ay nagtataka, ang iba naman ay natatakot. Bakit kaya? Are they thinking what I'm thinking? Will KJ beat me to death? Just the thought of it makes me shiver.

Can he do that? Can he hurt me physically? Why is he so angry anyway? Jeez.

I sighed. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang hilahin ako sa kung saan. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa. Masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko. He's so angry. Medyo nalungkot naman ako. I don't want him to get angry, lalo na kung ako ang dahilan. Parang ano e. Ahm...Nasasaktan ako paggano'n. Parang gusto kong maiyak.

Dumating na kami sa parking lot. Binuksan niya ang kotse at hinagis sa backseat ang mga gamit ko.

"Get in." He demanded. Oh dear God.

"Oh, God. Please don't kill me, KJ," I said in a boneless, tremble voice I could not recognize as my own. Ngek. Natakot na talaga ako. KJ kasi e. Ang lamig ng boses. Nakakatakot.

"Just get in the damn car," he shouted.

"Okay, okay. You don't have to shout you know."

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng kotse. Umikot si KJ at umupo na sa driver's seat.

There was a long silence after that. By the look on his face, he might have been considering some further comment on that interlude. Apparently, I was almost hoping for one.

"K-K..." I hesitated.

Ano ba'ng sasabihin ko? Sige na nga. Kailangan kong magtapang-tapangan. Hindi dapat ako magpakaduwag.

"Ano ba'ng problema mo ha?" Kunwa'y naiinis na sabi ko.

"Ano rin ba'ng problema mo ha? Bakit ka ba laging ganyan?" Halos mapatid ang litid ni KJ sa pagsigaw.

Yikes. He's one hell of a scary creature. Dapat pala hindi na ako nagsalita.

"I can't get it. Why did you get angry and suddenly drag me here?" I asked in confusion.

"Stay away from him." Iniiwas niya ang tingin.

"From whom? From Mike?"

He nodded as he gritted his teeth. Kuyom ang dalawang kamao nito.

"Why?"

"Because I said so." Sumigaw na naman ito.

"I don't want to." Nagmamatigas pa rin ako at humalukipkip.

"You don't know him. Stay away from him," he said coldly.

"Are you kidding me? For Christ's sake, he's my friend for almost two years now. Of course I know him. I know him better than you do!" I snapped at him. Okay. This is not right. Bakit niya ako papalayuin sa kaibigan ko? Unless...Don't tell me...

He's jealous?

Holy mother of cats and dogs!

Ngumiti ako nang mapang-asar. "Are you jealous?" I smirked. One of the qualities I learned from this fratman.

Tumingin siya sa akin, mababakas ang kaseryosohan sa mata niya. "Yes. Yes, I'm jealous! Yes, I'm jealous that you can laugh like that when you're with him! I'm jealous because I see how happy you are with him! And I'm fucking jealous just because I don't want you near any man! So fucking jealous that this fucking jealousy is killing me!" Nanginginig sa galit na hayag nito.

My jaw dropped. He just cant...Did he just admit it? Did he just say he's jealous?

Nagpatuloy ito sa pagsasalita. "Why are you like that? Lagi mo na lang akong sinasaktan! Putang ina! Tuwang-tuwa ka ba pagnasasaktan ako? Sabihin mo lang! Ano'ng problema, Astrid?! Ano?!"

"Wala akong problema, Karl! Wala! Ikaw ang may problema!"

"Ikaw ang may problema! Ang problema sa'yo, mahal na mahal kita pero ang tanga-tanga mo!"

"Ang problema rin sa'yo, mahal din kita pero ang tanga-tanga mo!" I shouted. That's it. Naubos na ang  pasensya ko.

KJ almost dropped his jaw to the floor.

Then,  it suddenly dawned on me.

Omaygad. Omaygad. Omaygad.

Did we just confess?