Hopelessly Devoted (COMPLETED)

Chapter 32

Aubrey Maurelle

I'm waiting for a cab in the front of our gate that would sent me to school later on. I lift up my left arm to look the exact time on my wrist watch on it while my bag was hung on my right arm.

"It's 6:15. Hmm... not bad." I whispered.

May itim na motor na bigla na lang bumalandra sa harapan ko. I don't know yet who's the owner of it because he nor she wears his nor her helmet. He even wore a black leather jacket and gloves with his nor her hands. Tinanggal nito ang pagkaka-hawak sa handle ng kaniyang motor at maya-maya pa'y sunod na ring inalis ng estranghero ang kaniyang helmet mula sa kaniyang ulo. At nang maibaba niya ito at maitabi malapit sa kanan niyang tiyan ay bahagya pa niyang hinawi pataas ang kaniyang buhok.

"Austin?" My jaw dropped and my eyebrow raised again for the nth time. Wala ba siyang magawa sa buhay niya kundi ang sirain agad ang araw ko? Gosh! "Ano na naman ang masamang hangin ang nagdala sa'yo rito?"

"Good morning, my snob angel!" panimulang pagbati niya sa'kin
sabay pagyukod ng kaniyang katawan maging ng kaniyang ulo. Ano bang ginagawa niya? "Tara, sabay na tayong pumasok."

"H-huh?" I am bewildered again. Mas malala pa pala ang tama nito kaysa kay Yverson. Naku naman! "H-hindi na! You better go now. I'll just wait for a cab instead." I reasoned out. I even moved my left hand in an upward movement in a consecutive ways just to repulse him.

"Bahala ka, ikaw rin..." pangongonsensya pa niya
habang naka-pamulsa ito.

"It's early, though." I plainly said.

"Kung gano'n... sasamahan na muna kitang maghintay!" tila nabuhayan
pa nitong tugon. His sweet beam is present again on his lips. "Aalis ako kapag naka-sakay ka na."

"B-but---" Tinalikuran na 'ko nito
at saka humalukipkip habang naghihintay ng masasakyan ko.
Hays, nakaka-asar!

***

Half hour had been passed but it seems like the destiny is in favor at his side. Just great! Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa lalaking naka-tayo sa harapan ko. Bakit wala pang dumadaang sasakyan dito? Kahit tricycle man lang sana kaso wala rin! Ano kayang magic ang ginawa ng damuhong na 'to?

I heaved and sigh. If this will continue, I'll be damn late! Kahit nauubusan na ng pasensya ay nagtyaga pa rin akong maghintay ng kahit na anong masasakyan ko na maghahatid sa'kin sa school.

***

"My snob angel, mauuna na 'ko sa'yo tutal... ayaw mo rin namang sumabay." makahulugan nitong saad sa'kin. Akmang isusuot na niya sana ang
dala niyang helmet nang muli itong humarap sa'kin. "Last chance... Is
that your final answer?"

"Yes, so just leave." I stated while blankly staring at him. Kinuha ko
ang phone ko mula sa bulsa ng palda ko at saka doon ko na lang itinuon ang buong atensyon ko.

"Okay." Nang marinig ang sagot ko'y bahagya pa niyang iwinasiwas ang kaniyang buhok at ilang sandali pa'y tuluyan na nga niyang sinuot ang helmet sa kaniyang ulo. Iniikot na niya ang susi mula sa kaniyang sinasakyan at muling binuhay ang makina ng kaniyang motor.

At talagang iiwan nga ako, hays!

Nang tinapakan na niya ang clutch sa ibaba at kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang motor gamit ang sakong ng kaniyang itim na sapatos ay mabagal na niya itong pinaandar.

"Austin, wait!" I called him right away before he leaves me all alone here. I got so shy in front of him and I even bow my head. Agad namang umandar ang motor niya pabalik sa harap ko.

***

Pinakatitigan ko ang itim niyang motor sa harap ko. "Is this even safe?" I nervously asked.

"Oo naman! 'Yong simpleng motor ko na 'to eh parang bisig ko lang... Safe na safe ka rito, Aubrey!" pambobola pa
ni Austin sa'kin. My eyebrows arced again. Let me remind you that... I'm not easy to hook with, Mr. sporty lover boy!

"Tss!" I just gave him my death glare. Why I decided to talk to him, anyway? "You know what, you're so weird!"

"But, handsome." dagdag na papuri niya pa sa sarili.

"Whatever." I simply replied. Then I reminded him again about our early class for today. "You need to hurry up."

"Ikaw kasi..." panimulang paninisi pa ni Austin sa'kin. Napakamot pa siya sa kaniyang batok.

"What?" my voice raised while my eyes were widened in front of him. What's my fault? Malay ko bang wala pang dadaang sasakyan dito! Dati naman kasi meron.

"Wala." pagsuko na lang nito. Muli siyang bumaba ng kaniyang motor
at kapagdaka'y pinalapit na niya ko
sa kaniya at agad naman din akong sumunod dito. Mula sa handle ng kaniyang motor ay kinuha niya rito ang dala niyang extra helmet at saka marahan itong inilagay sa buhok ko. He focused on making sure that it is perfectly lock below my chin. He even showed me his sweet radiant smile while I blankly glimpse on him.

Matapos nito'y sumakay na siya sa kaniyang motor na agad ko naman ding sinundan.

"O kumapit ka, baka malaglag ka sa'kin... este baka malaglag ka sa motor ko." panimulang banat ni Austin sa'kin habang naka-talikod ito. Inalalayan pa niyang ibalot ang mga kamay ko sa katawan niya. Dahil dito'y napapitlag ako sa aking kinauupuan. Is he crazy? Kikiligin na ba 'ko, huh? Naningkit lang ang mga mata ko dahil sa mga walang kwentang niyang hirit.

"Just drive, will you?" I hardly tapped his back. I felt that my soul already left me. He's pissing me off this much again. Ang daming sinasabi!

"Sige basta... walang sisihan." paalala pa ni Austin. Walang ano-ano'y sinimulan na niyang paandarin ang kaniyang motor. I got goosebumps when he suddenly speed up his driving.

"Ahh! Nananadya ka ba, huh?" He won with our arguments a while ago. I have no any other choice but to wrapped my arms around him or else, my life will be in great danger again. Instead of answering my question, I just heard him smirk on me.

***

While we are in the middle of the road, I'm ascertain that this is my first time taking a ride on a motorcycle... with a guy. The dawn is simpering at the firmament while the cool breeze is gripping on my skin and actually, it feels good!

"Malamig ba?" simpleng untag ni Austin sa'kin habang patuloy pa rin siya sa pagmamaneho ng kaniyang motor.

"Not really." I responded while still peeping and astonished at this young man in front of me.

I think that it's fun and superb to go on a road trip on a motorcycle rather than someone that would take you anywhere using their luxury cars. Simplicity is everything and at the end of the day... it's the memories together with the one whom you care the most are still essential at all.

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Delightful_Harmony