The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 7 - DEADLINE

Jade Cardwell

LUMIPAS ang araw at hindi na ako muli pinansin ni Raphael. Nagulat na lang ako nang makita ko siya na nag-aabang sa labas ng girl's restroom.

Is he here for me? No, I don't think so.

Napaka tanga ko para isipin na ako ang hinihintay ni Raphael. He is probably waiting for his girlfriend at wala naman ako pakialam kung sino ang love interest niya ngayon.

Ayoko mag-assume mga bagay bagay kaya mabilis akong lumabas ng restroom at nagpanggap na hindi ko siya nakita. I walked rapidly away from him to the point of tripping, but Raphael is much faster. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko at biglang hinila palapit sa kanya. My face quickly landed on his chest. Pag tingin ko sa kanya, he is glaring at me.

Bakit siya magagalit sa akin? Ako nga hindi niya pinansin ng ilang araw, tapos siya pa ang galit?

"We need to talk. And please, do not make a scene," he whispered in my ear with warning.

Maraming mga estudyante ang nasa hallway at lahat sila ay nakatingin sa amin ni Raphael. In their perspective, it is like Raphael is kissing me in my ears. Bago pa ko makapag-isip ng kung ano ano, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko hinila palabas ng school building.

I followed him without objections at napansin ko na papunta kami uli sa greenhouse. Nang wala ng estudyante sa paligid, bigla kong hinila ang kamay ko palayo sa kanya.

"Ano ba ang problema mo, Raphael?" inis na tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi ko naitago ang inis sa boses ko. Alam ko na maraming babae ang umaaligid kay Raphael, and I will be in a troublesome position for what he did. Baka isipin nila, may relasyon kami. Worst-case scenario, I will be bullied by the mean girls society dahil sa kanya.

Raphael took a deep breath and comb his hair with his hand as if he was losing patience with me.

Wow ha? Siya pa ang galit sa akin?

"Raphael, you avoided me for days na para bang carrier ako ng isang deadly virus. Ngayon naman, gusto mo ko kausapin? I am no longer playing your games!"

"I am not playing any games," he said impatiently.

"Is that so? Why did you ask my Ninong George to pick me up then? Pinagtitripan mo ba ko? Inutusan ka ba ng impaktong si Geoff Barwicke para paglaruan ako?"

"I went home late at nakita kita sa computer lab. Tinawagan ko si Sir Atkins kung pwedeng ako na ang maghatid sa'yo pag-uwi. That was it. Plain and simple. Period. Wag mo isipin na special ka para sa akin kaya ko ginawa 'yon. I did it out of courtesy," he explained without emotions.

I mentally slapped myself for assuming that he even cares for me. Nagmamagandang loob lang pala si Raphael kaya niya ko hinatid sa bahay namin.

Kasalanan ito ni Ninong George eh! He concluded na type ako ni Raphael at ang tanga ko naman para maniwala!

"Ano ba ang gusto mo pag-usapan? Bakit mo ko dinala dito?" tanong ko sa kanya while flashing my fake smile.

I pretended na hindi ako affected sa sinabi niya, pero gigil na gigil na ko sa lalaking ito.

Tama ba naman na sabihin na hindi ako special? Hello? Nakaka-hurt 'yon! Napaka insensitive!

"Ano? Wala ka sasabihin? Sinasayang mo oras ko. Babalik na ko sa classroom---"

"Jade, would you like to have a date with me?" Raphael blurted out of nowhere.

"I am sorry?"

"I said, would you like to go on a date with me?"

"Me?" I asked again like a parrot.

"No, not you, the tree!" he said in frustration. "Yes, you, Jade Cardwell. Ikaw lang naman ako kausap ko ngayon, 'di ba?" he sighed irritatingly.

Raphael Lancaster asking me for a date? Am I imagining things or is this for real?

"Teka, bakit ako? Akala ko ba hindi ako special tapos ngayon date ang gusto mo?"

"Well, I lied. You are special now," he said in a chilly tone.

I frowned at him dahil sa sinabi niya. He is asking me for a date, pero hindi siya mukhang interested sa akin. Parang napipilitan nga lang siya.

Is he being forced by his friends? No, Raphael does not have friends. Palaging nag-iisa ang lalaking ito.

"Are you making fun of me again? Umamin ka, inutusan ka ba ni Geoff Barwick at ng mga worshippers niya para gawin ito?"

"Do you think Geoff Barwicke is capable of making such orders to me?"

Raphael is right. Geoff may be the leader of the association of bullies, pero I don't think na kaya niya utusan si Raphael Lancaster. It is actually the other way around. Raphael can easily command Geoff in an instant.

"Hindi ko gets, Raphael. You saved me from Geoff, but then you avoided me like I am a parasite-infested person for days. At ngayon gusto mo makipag date sa akin? Nababaliw ka na ba?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Jade. I also want you to be my girlfriend."

"W-what? Pinagloloko mo ba talaga akong lalake ka!"

Hindi sumagot si Raphael at dahan dahan na lumapit sa akin. With just two steps, he is now in front of me and we are standing face to face. I stepped back away from him, pero naramdaman ko na ang glass wall sa likod ko.

"I am dead serious, Jade," he said with a diabolical smile.

"Stop! Don't come closer, Raphael Lancaster. I am warning you. Hanggang diyan ka lang!"

"Why are so affected, Jade Cardwell? I believe you did not react this way when Geoff Barwicke came closer to you. Sasapukin mo din ba ako?" natatawa niyang tanong.

Sasapukin ko nga ba si Raphael? Nope, I don't think I have the power to hurt this man.

"Tell me, Jade Cardwell. Do you like me?" bulong niya nang makalapit siya sa akin.

Yumuko lang ako dahil nararamdaman ko na malapit ang mukha niya sa akin. My knees are melting like a butter on a frying pan kissed by fire.

I can definitely relate to a butter now.

"Well. Uhmm. You are nice, so you can say that."

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" tanong ni Raphael as he raised my chin.

Kapag pumayag ako na maging girlfriend niya, magmumukha akong pathetic at easy to get. Kapag hindi naman ako pumayag, baka isipin niya pa-hard to get naman ako.

"Uhhmmm..."

"You have until tomorrow to decide. I will wait for you here, same time."

"Teka, you are giving me a deadline? Hindi ka pa nga nanliligaw tapos gusto mo mag decide na agad ako bukas?"

"Tomorrow, same time," sabi ni Raphael as he winked at me before he took his leave.