A Crossroad ✔

Prologue

Quin

Habol ang hiningang napaupo ako sa damuhan. Halos hindi na kinaya ng puso ko ang pagtakbo nang kay tagal mula sa mga taong humahabol sa amin kaya nakapa ko ang dibdib at dinama ang bilis ng tibok niyon.

"Diyos ko, mamatay na yata ako..." anas ko na lang at mariing napapikit, pinapakalma ang hindi maawat na pintig ng puso ko kahit sumasakit na iyon sa patuloy kong paghinga nang malalim. My poor heart is pumping too much oxygen to support me.

"Don't worry, you won't. I would rather take in the consideration of a quickie death if those assholes catch up with us and poof— welcome bullet." He even made a popping sound with his mouth, making my brows intersect.

"I guess that would be the end of my promising career," pagpapatuloy niya pa na mas lalong nagpainit ng ulo ko.

I should always be calm pero pagdating sa lalaking 'to nawawalan ako ng pasensiya. He's the epitome of a whole annoyance, ignorance, and plain crap!

For God's sake!

Kung hindi lang niya ako pinakialamanan at hinila sa problema niya ay hindi ako darating sa puntong magbibilang na lang ako ng ilang segundo bago maka-face to face si kamatayan.

All because of him!

"Shut up. Huwag na huwag mo akong kausapin hangga't wala pang kwenta 'yang pinagsasabi mo. All you did was grin like you're not afraid to die. If only that could get us out of here, then that would make sense— but since it won't, then just shut up," I spat at him, my tone laced with sheer irritation.

Ginawa ko na ang lahat ng makakaya ko para lamang hindi magtaas ng boses, pero bigo pa rin akong itago ang hindi mahupa-hupang inis ng aking sistema para sa kan'ya!

Nakita kong nagkibit-balikat lamang siya at marahang sinuklay ang buhok na kumikislap pa sa ilalim ng liwanag ng bilog na bilog na buwan.

Gago. How come I am one of the people who attracted to this guy? He's just some asshole who can't possibly feed himself with spoon and fork!

"Oh well, I'm not like you, woman. Ang mga bagay na katulad nito ay madali lamang takasan kung gugustuhin ko." Nagbuga siya ng hininga at pinagpag ang shirt na suot upang hanginan ang sarili. 

Sanay na siya? Does that mean he faces death every second of his life?

Hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng pag-aalala pero kaagad ko rin iyong iwinaksi.

Why would I bother concern myself with his safety? Hindi ko naman siya kaano-ano at hindi ko rin siya halos kilala. Nagkita nga lang kami ngayon matapos ang mga taon kaya wala ng mas maganda pang itawag sa amin kun'di estranghero sa isa't isa.

"If you are, I am not. Ayoko ng gulo but you pulled me here. If you're best friends with trouble, I am sorry— not sorry to tell you that we aren't and all of this is not to my liking." Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso sa dibdib at napaisip sa mga salitang aking binitawan.

When did I start talking too much about myself?

And especially to a complete... stranger! Kahit sabihin pa nating alam ko ang pangalan ng lalaking 'to, does it pass my standard for an acquaintance?

Obviously not!

I never do storytelling. I keep everything to myself but right now, I just feel the need to. Certainly because I never experienced such frustration and uncertainty with life that I might need to let out everything before it's all too late.

I am dragged into this mess at natatakot ako.

Why won't I be scared?

Natatakot na nga akong makihalubilo sa mga tao, takasan pa kaya ang mga armadong lalaking humahabol sa amin? Just one pull on the trigger at maaari na akong maputulan ng paa!

Natigil ako sa hindi matapos-tapos na monologo nang narinig ko siyang nagbuntong-hininga.

"Okay, as a way of saying sorry for everything that I caused you, I will give you the rarest opportunity to ride on my back," aya niya sa akin at ipinosisyon ang sarili sa aking harapan.

Awtomatikong tumaas ang kilay ko habang nakatitig sa kan'yang likuran. Ano'ng ginagawa niya? Talagang seryoso siya sa pagpapasakay sa 'kin sa likuran niya?

"Come on, pumasan ka na. I know you're tired," pang-uudyok niya at saka ako nilingon nang bahagya. He has this little smile on his lips that I admit was such a beautiful sight in this long and exhausting night. 

Hindi ko rin alam kung dahil ba 'yon sa lambing ng boses niya o sa pagod kaya pumasan na lang ako sa kan'yang likuran. .

Gusto ko nang umuwi.

Kinakabahan ako hindi lang kasi natatakot akong maabutan kami ng mga humahabol sa amin kun'di dahil na rin sa naa-appreciate ko ang simpleng alok niya para makapagpahinga ako.

I never appreciated men.

Since my father left me and my mother for another woman, I learned to despise men. My mom didn't like the idea... maybe because after all these years, she is still holding on...

But no one can change my principle. It was pondered by experience and not just mere observation. Men will always be men: cheaters.

"Iyong mama ko," I whispered all to myself as my eyes grazed the very definite structure of his face in the side view.

My mom's left at home, all alone and waiting for me to be home like what I promised her. Alam kong labis na siyang nag-aaalala sa kalagayan ko pero wala man lang akong magawa kun'di ang magtiwala sa lalaking ito.

"I'll see to it that she will be fine so you don't have to worry. By the way, I am really sorry for everything that happened," mababa ang boses na sabi niya at nagsimula nang naglakad.

"You should be. You're one at fault," I immediately affirmed, earning a chuckle from him.

"Blunt as ever," he commented. 

I can certainly hear the amusement in his voice but I don't understand why. Napagdesisyonan ko na lang na manahimik at buong pakapalang inihilig ang ulo ko sa balikat niya. Could there be actually more comfortable than a strong shoulder to lean on and a good smell of masculine mint that's floating just in the air?

"Harassment na 'yan," he mocked.

"Then sue me," nasabi ko na lang bago pumikit.

Is there anything wrong with wanting to stop everything and just enjoy this while it last?

In the real sense, everything will be over after this. Maibabalik na rin sa dati ang lahat... And this man will remain only in my memory like how things go in my world. Although he must be one hell of an asshole for intruding with my peace of mind.

I meet people, but I never thought of entertaining them. It just happened that I met this man for the second time for no particular reason. And even though I know something is up within me, I know very well it is my responsibility to make sure it won't grow and destroy everything I vowed.

People meet by chance, coincidence, or even fate whatever. But that's it.

It doesn't mean you can't choose to leave, because I certainly can.