Skin Deep

Chapter 22

Luna's POV

I went back to Andrew despite of what happened.Kailangan ko rin naman ng distraction para hindi ko na siya isipin.Nagpaalam na si Andrew saakin pati narin si Carlo dahil may therapy pa daw siya.Naglibot libot muna ako sa paligid nang makakita ako ng pamilyar na tao na nakatayo sa isang maliit na tulayna may maliit na lawa.

When I'm almost near her, I took a step back. But I mustered all my courage and walked towards her pace.Nakasampa ang kamay niya sa railing ng bridge.Tumingin siya sa gawi ko at bumalik sa tubig na nasa ilalim namin.

"Hey." Bati ko sakanya.She pursed her lips the nodded her head.There was an awkward silence.The sound of the streaming fake water is the only sound I can hear.Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako nagsalita.

"You probably don't trust me right now, but I want you to know, I will not even think of doing that thing to you." I said to her.Lalo na ngayong alam kong si Zander ang dahilan.Bumuntong hininga siya at humarap saakin.

"I know.Hindi ko nga rin alam bakit kita sinampal eh.Dala siguro nang galit ko." Sabi niya at ngumiti nang bahagya.I pursed my lips then slightly nodded my head.

"Sinabi na saakin ni Zander." I heard his name again.It makes me want to punch and kick everything.His name just brings every form of anger to me and honestly, I don't want to hear his name anymore.

"He is such an asshole." Sabi niya habang umiiling.

"Yeah he is." I said agreeing with what she said.

"Nagkaroon ako nang problema.Lalong lalo na sa pera.Kaya the past few weeks bumalik ako sa dati kong gawi.Iyon lang kasi ang matatakbuhan ko eh.Kaya nung sinabi ni Zander na may offer siya,hindi ko talaga matanggihan.Hindi ko naman alam gumamit pa siya ng private investigator.Kaya naman pala ako ang napili niyang gamitin.Cause he knows I'm desperate." She paused then breathes.

"Nalaman ko nalang lahat iyon, nung aminin niya na saakin ang totoo." She said, nearly choking.

"Nung nag panggap kami, tumigil ako sa paggamit.Kahit nung natapos na, hindi ko na tinuloy ulit.Ayaw kong masira ang buhay ko gaya nang pagsira niya ng buhay ko nuon." A tear escaped from her eye.Pinunasan niya naman iyon at tumingin saakin.Ngumiti siya.

"I'm sorry for accusing you Luna." I nodded my head as a sign of accepting her apology.

"At syempre pati narin duon sa panloloko." We both chuckled as we leave those things behind.She then moved forward then hugged me.I hugged her back.Nagpasya kaming bumalik na sa gymnasium.Nagkaroon pa nang kaonting program.May mga pagames din at kung ano ano pa.Bumalik na din si Andrew dahil namiss niya daw ako.

"Talaga ba?Namiss mo na ako agad?" Tanong ko sakanya.Tumango siya habang nakangiti nang malaki.

"Halos magwala na nga po siya duon Ma'am." Sabi naman ni Carlo.

"Luna nalang itawag mo saakin.Mukhang magkasing edad naman tayo." Sabi ko sakanya.Tumango naman si Carlo.I pushed Andrew's wheelchair papunta sa harapan.Paper dance ang laro nila ngayon at ito daw ang gustong pinapanuod na laro ni Andrew.

"Kailangan po namin nang mga players from the students and staffs din po." Sabi naman nang host.Tumaas naman ng kamay si Andrew.

"Si Ate Luna at Kuya Carlo po!" Sigaw niya.I laughed awkwardly.Napatingin naman ako sa gawi ni Carlo.He is smiling.I pursed my lip and gave him a face trying to convince him not to but he walked forward and placed the paper and beckoned me to come to him.My face turned serious.From my peripheral, I can see Zander shooting daggers at me.Hindi ko siya pinansin at pumunta kay Carlo.

"Si Kuya Zander at Ate Myla po!" Sabi naman nang isang bata.Zander and that girl moved forward and positioned next to us.Few more people joined then the game began.On my left side, I can feel the tension between me and Zander.I moved my head to make it look like I'm dancing but I'm not.Nang tumigil na ang kanta pumasok kaming dalawa ni Carlo sa news paper na nakalatag.

Dahil madali lang naman ang first round, nakapasa kaming lahat.Carlo folded the paper in half which is supposed to make it more challenging.Nakaabot kami ng 4th round at kami nalang nila Zander ang natira.Which means whoever can fit both people in the paper wins.Masyadong maliit na ang paper kaya sigurado akong mahihirapan kami ni Carlo.

The music stopped which means kailangan na naming pumasok sa papel.I was fine by losing when Carlo, to my surprise, picked me like a bride then held me like one.I was shocked at what he did.Nagpapabuhat ang babae kay Zander but Zander is staring at us.Nag countdown sila and me and Carlo won.Binaba niya narin ako and now Zander is even more mad.Bahala siya sa buhay niya.

"And the winners are,Ate Luna and Kuya Carlo!" Pumalakpak ang mga tao sa paligid.I did not smile or laugh or smirk.I did nothing.Atleast Andrew's happy.Next game is trip to jerusalem.Pinasali ulit ako ni Andrew kahit ayaw ko na, but the look on his eyes when I said no is too much to handle so I joined anyway.Good thing however, walang Zander or Carlo akong kasama.

We circled around the eight chairs until it went down to three.Apat nalang kaming natitira which means one will be out in this round.Nang tumigil ang music, uupo na sana ako sa upuan nang itulak ako. And I landed on Zander.

"Hey!" Sigaw ni Zander at akmang susugurin ang lalaking tumulak saakin pero pinigilan ko siya.Everyone is staring at us.I shook my head at Zander.

"I'm fine." I said to him which made him step back.

"Sorry.Hindi ko sinasadyang matulak kayo Ma'am." I nodded my head to him, assuring it was all fine.

"Out na si Ate Luna!" Sabi nang host at nagsimula na ulit ang tugtog.Lumapit ako kay Zander at sinenyasan ko siyang sumunod saakin.We're in a small gazebo that overlooks the pond with the bridge above it.

"Ano iyon Zander?" Tanong ko sakanya.

"Tinulak ka niya." Iritado niyang sabi.

"Yun lang Zander!Tapos ano bubugbugin mo siya?!" His jaw clenched and he bit his lip.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng babysitter Zander.Kaya kung pwede sana, wag ka nang makialam?" 

"Hindi ba pag gusto mo ang isang tao pinoprotektahan mo siya?" He said.

"Oo. But I don't like you.I hope that's enough for you to not like me." I left him with those words and walked away.Tinanong naman ako ni Carlo kung okay ako.Tumango nalang ako bilang sagot.

"Ate Luna, bisita ka dito ha?" Sabi ni Andrew.Tumango naman ako at niyakap ko siya.Even if he cant hug me physically, I still feel his warm embrace.He's such a blessing and I hope he finds a better family.

"I will.Someday." Sabi ko sakanya.Nakatayo naman sa tabi niya si Carlo.He handed out his hand to me.

"It's nice to meet you Luna." Sabi niya.I reached his hand and shakes it.We said out goodbyes to everyone then we headed home.I sat on my desk, fully pampered, thinking about my day.Mostly about Andrew.Why did his parents leave him when he is such an angel?Is it because he doesnt  have hands and legs?Posible pala iyon. Pero hindi iyon tama.

Then my mind went to Kacey.She might be struggling right now but I know she is a strong individual. And i know I will be there for her.Even when I feel like I am not qualified to be there, I will.

Then lastly, to Zander.Iniisip ko kung masyado ba akong harsh sakanya.Was he hurt by my words?Or are my words not enough?But I know to myself that Zander is a man I will never like back. And I am hoping that I am not wrong.

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