I Love You At Your Darkest

Chapter III: You Look Grown Up

"You okay, hon?"

She quietly nodded then blew a heavy breath. "Are you sure we are not going to report this to the police?" she asked with a concerned look on her face.

I nodded, tightening my hold on her hands. "Let's just stay out of that. As long as we're safe, everything's going to be alright."

"But what about the man who saw us? Baka hanapin niya tayo. He saw us, 'di ba?"

It was a she, hon. I wanted to say but I kept my mouth shut.

I shook my head and played along. "No. He didn't see us clearly. Mabilis naman siya nawala agad and it's dark there."

"Okay." she said lowly then looked up to me. "Let's just not go there again, okay? Feeling ko na-trauma ako sandali dahil sa mga nakita ko."

"Okay." I kissed her forehead. "Let's call it a night, shall we?"

She nodded and gave me a small smile. "Ingat ka pag-uwi. Text me agad when you arrived para 'di ako mag-alala."

"Yes, ma'am." I saluted. "I love you."

"I love you, hon. Good night." she said before walking away from me. After she went inside their house, pumasok na ako sa kotse ko.

I blew out a sigh while gripping the steering wheel.

My mind was a mess right now. I kept on thinking why was Black being chased, kung sino 'yung mga armadong lalaki na humahabol sa kanya, kung anong ginawa niya para habulin siya...

I sighed again before heading off.

Maybe Black was really the epitome of trouble. And I don't want to trouble, so might as well forget what happened tonight.

××× ×××

Early morning when I woke up, I decided to jog. It was a nice weather and maya-maya lang, sisikat na ang haring araw.

I changed into my running clothes. I wore a black jogging pants, gray muscle shirt, and white running shoes. I also prepared my iPod for my music later while jogging. After I got my tumbler from the kitchen, I got out of the house.

"Magandang umaga, sir." bati sa akin ni Mang Noel, security guard namin. "Jogging?"

Ngumiti ako at bumati rin. "Opo."

He opened up the gate for me. I went outside and started walking while stretching. After I felt stretched enough, I started jogging.

Nilibot ko lang ang buong subdivision. There were some who were also jogging. Some with their dogs, some with their partners, and some were alone like me. I saw a woman wearing black outfit while jogging and I instantly remembered Black.

Now I wonder. Paano siya nakapasok dito sa subdivision namin, eh private 'to. At 'yung mga lalaki, paano rin sila nakapasok? Magnanakaw ba si Black? Akyat-bahay? There were so many thoughts about her in my mind. She's such a mystery.

It was a week now since I last saw Black. She was nowhere to be seen in school. And I can't help but think kung ayos lang ba siya o pinatay na ba siya nung mga humahabol sa kanya.

I shook my head at the thought.

Unti-unti nang nagliliwanag ang paligid pero hindi pa tuluyang lumalabas ang araw. I was catching my breath from jogging long enough when I decided to stop over a kiosk in the farthest corner of our subdivision.

Umupo ako sa may maliit na hagdan nito at ininom ang tubig ko. I removed my earpods because I felt my sweat trickling down my face.

It was peacefully silent. Tanging lagaslas lang ng mga puno at huni ng mga ibon ang maririnig mo ng malakas. Faint vehicular noises can also be heard from afar. My parents were lucky to find this kind of place to live in despite the buzzing city life. The breeze here was refreshing.

I was about to got up when I heard a soft snoring from somewhere. Agad akong napalingon at hinanap ang tunog but no one's around.

Maybe it's just me.

I was about to wear again my earpods when a cigarette fell from above. Kumunot ang noo ko at dahan-dahang  iniangat ang ulo ko.

"Sinusundan mo ba ako?"

I fell on my butt when I saw Black lying comfortably on the beam of the roof of the kiosk. Her blue eyes was hooded. She looked like she just woke up when she yawned and stretched. She was still wearing her black hoodie jacket and black pants last time I saw her.

Why was she sleeping here?

I realized I was staring at her longer than usual so I gathered myself and then stood up. Pinagpagan ko muna ang pwetan ko bago tignan ulit si Black.

My eyes widened when I saw her expertly making her way down using the metal bars and columns of the kiosk. She landed smoothly on the ground then looked up to me again.

Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin and hindi ko mapigilang mailang sa presensya niya. She gives off this dark and cold aura. Very intimidating and full of authority. I remembered someone giving also this kind of aura to me.

"Why are you here? Bawal outsiders dito." I managed to say.

Pinulot niya ang sigarilyong nahulog. "Sayang naman.." she mumbled, not minding me. She got something from her pocket. It was a lighter.

Inipit niya ang sigarilyo sa mga labi niya bago ito sindihan at umupo sa inupuan ko kanina. I only stared at her when she puffed a thick smoke from her mouth.

My brows furrowed. "I said, what are you doing here? You're not from this subdivision. I can sue you for this." I spoke hardly.

Umangat ang ulo niya at bumuga ng usok papunta sa akin. I don't like the smell and secondhand smoke is dangerous for my health pero I had to look tough in front of her.

Ngumisi lang siya at pinagpatuloy ang paninigarilyo.

"That's it. I'm going to call the security." I stated and started walking away from her.

"Hindi mo gugustuhing gawin 'yan, boy."

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Hinulog niya ang upos niyang sigarilyo sa semento at tinapakan 'yun.

Boy? Come to think of it, it was her second time calling me a boy! First when I saw her beating four men into a pulp and now this??

"I can do whatever I want, miss." I said, fetching out my phone. "Outsider ka. And I think walang may alam na nandito ka, so I'm calling the security."

"Sumbungero."

Uminit ang mukha ko. "What?!" galit na sabi ko.

She stood up and tilted her head to the right. She squinted her eyes at me. "Ikaw 'yung lalaki, 'di ba?" she asked.

I don't know what encounter she was referring. Pang-limang na beses pa lang na pagkikita namin ito. And most of our meetings was composed of her being... violent.

Galit na tinignan ko lang siya at hindi nagsalita. I don't even understand myself why was I still standing here.

"Ah, oo." she said upon recognition. "Ikaw 'yung may kasamang babae at naglamlampungan dun sa isang abandonadong lugar. Pasensya na at naistorbo ko kayo nun."

"We were not making out!" I defended. Hindi naman kasi talaga!

"Sure, boy." sabi niya at nilagpasan ako.

I quickly faced her. "Why do keep on calling me a boy? Bulag ka ba?" I said, getting angry.

Lumingon siya sa akin. Her dark blue eyes were like arrows made of ice piercing through my soul. She scanned my body, stopped at my thing, then looked at my face again. "Nah.. You look grown up." she said then walked away until she was out of my sight again.

That... That woman!

I groaned in frustration and confusion.

Wait. Why was I even bothered by her??

Ugh!