Kissing Fire (KD#1)

Fire 12

Mad

With clenched jaw, fisted palms, and raging eyes, Heathcliffe strode towards Sandro's direction. He marched in a fast and decisive pace, like a warrior ready for battle.

My feet worked on its own. Hinawi ko ang mga tao, kung minsan ay napapalakas ang aking tulak dahil sa pagmamadali. My legs strived to reach Heathcliffe first before he could throw a punch on Sandro's face and regret it forever.

"Have you gone mad?" I yelped in front of him.

Bigla siyang napahinto at ang kaniyang nangingitim na mata'y lumamlam. Ang galit na naglalaro roon ay napalitan ng gulat at pagkabigla.

"Let me go, Euphoria," he gritted his teeth and turned his head to my hands that were pulling his arms.

"Let me go so I can punch that bastard's face. Sumusobra na sila," ulit niya.

I shook my head and met his livid eyes.

"I will help you, okay. Use your brain, your sister will hate you if you do that," I calmly told him, trying to rationalize with him.

"Wala akong pakiealam. Hindi magandang impluwensiya iyang Sandro na yan kay Primrose!" He exclaimed, seething with anger.

I sighed and patted his shoulder.

"Sige, sige. Bugbugin mo. Sa harap ng napakaraming studyante ng Santeria. Bigyan mo ng black eye, wag kang magpigil," bulong ko sakaniya.

Binigyan niya ako ng nagtatakang tingin. Hindi maintindihan ang biglang pagpapalit ko ng salita.

"Gawin mo iyon. Wag kang titigil. Magpakain ka sa galit mo at makikita mo. Hindi ka na ulit kakausapin ng kapatid mo. Kakamuhian ka niya. Lalayuan ka niya. Gusto mo ba iyon, Heathcliffe?" dagdag ko pa, nang-uudyok ngunit nagbibigay babala.

"If you want that, then go ahead, I won't stop you," kaswal kong saad at binitawan ang kaniyang braso.

Akmang maglalakad na ako paalis ngunit bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking palapulsuhan at pinigilan akong makalayo.

"Help me then, Euphoria," he said in a commanding tone.

Hindi ako humarap sakaniya at sinusubukang tanggalin ang pagkakagapos ng kaniyang kamay sa aking braso.

"Help me," he whispered again, this time softer, his voice laced with desperation.

Doon ko na siya hinarap. Nanlaki ang mata ko noong lumingon sa direksyon namin si Rosie. Mabilis kong kinuha ang kamay niya sa aking braso at hinatak iyon papunta sa isang malayong stall.

"Stupid, we almost got caught!" I scolded him. He was silently following me and letting me lead him to the stall.

His eyes were soft and mellow, he was no longer enraged. His shoulders, fallen, his lips formed a thin line across his face. Clearly, he took my words seriously and probably imagined his sister hating him.

"Buti naman ginamit mo utak mo," saad ko pa at nilingon na si Rosie na ngayon ay bumibili ng ice cream. Medyo malayo na kami sakaniya at nahihirapan na akong sundan siya ng tingin dahil sa dami ng taong nakapagitna sa amin.

"Why are you so mad in the first place? Hindi mo nakita yung malaswang pagsusubuan nila?" nalilitong tanong ko.

Biglang nanigas si Heathcliffe, lumingon sa akin na umuusok ang tainga't namumula sa inis.

"Anong subuan?!" he roared furiously.

"Ng fries? Sa Mcdo? Di mo nakita?" inosente kong tanong. Nakita kong bumintong hininga siya at kumalma.