A Way To Your World

Chapter 32

AWTYW - Bayan

"Still... I don't want to push your limits," I said and returned my gaze in front.

I've seen him work in the hospital, and I know that working in there is really exhausting. Lalo na't siya pa ang may ari nito. Maswertihan na lang talaga kung makakapag pahinga ka pa ng ilang oras. And now, seeing him getting back here to work, really pushes my guilt. I know that he is the one who volunteered, but I don't want to take advantage of it. Hindi rin naman niya responsibilidad ito. At kahit na alam kong natapos na ang pagtutulong niya sa amin, I am still thankful for him. I'm not thinking all of these because I can't bear to work with him, its just that... I'm afraid I might get use to it. Kasi alam kong sa sarili kong wala na. But ever since I saw that bandaid, something buried deep within me started to rise again.

Hindi na siya muling nagsalita pa. Nanatili kaming dalawa rito ng ilang minuto. Hindi ko alam kung hinihintay niya bang tumila ang ulan o gusto lamang din niyang pagmasdan ang pagbagsak ng ulan katulad ko. I'm actually quite surprised that we managed to talk without arguing with each other. Basta matapos ang pag-uusap namin, pareho na lamang kaming nanahimik at pinanood ang pagpatak ng ulan.

"Looks like I have to go now..." I said when the rain slowly stopping.

Napatingin naman siya sa akin. "You brought your horse or..."

"Ah. Mang Toby will pick me up." I suddenly became awkward. "Uh... b-bakit?"

He sighed and slowly shake his head. Marahan naman akong tumango at parang naging dismayado sa hindi malaman na dahilan.

"M-Mauna na ako kung gano'n." I tried to put some energy in my voice and turn my back around him.

Pero nakakailang hakbang pa lamang ako papunta sa pinto nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "Hihintayin mo pa si Mang Toby, 'di ba? I-If you like... I can drive you home."

Gulat naman akong napalingon habang ang puso ko naman ay biglang nagwala. Geez. Kung anong ikinatahimik nito kanina ay ngayon naman ay walang palyang pag-iingay nito.

"Or not, if Mang Toby is on his way–"

"Hindi!" Agap ko.

Nakita ko naman sandali na nagulat siya sa biglaang pagsagot ko. Bahagya naman akong nahiya at napakagat sa ilalim ng labi ko. "I mean... I can text him... I'll just tell him that someone will give me a ride back," pahina na nang pahina kong sinabi.

"If it's not.. uh... really a hassle for you," nahihiya kong sinabi.

Nakita ko naman ang munting pagsilay ng isang ngiti sa kanyang labi. "It's not."

Tahimik lamang kaming dalawa sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan. Hindi ko aakalain na makakasakay na naman ako rito sa pangalawang pagkakataon. I never even imagined that I'd be able to ride on his car. And now that I am here, sitting, it felt so surreal. I glanced at him. Being right next to him felt surreal.

His left hand was the one steering the wheel, while his right hand was on the clutch. I gulped when I saw how firm his muscles on his biceps, while the veins in his arms were really showing. Malamig. Sobrang lamig. Pero nang madapo ang mga mata ko sa kanyang braso ay parang nakaramdam ako ng init. He was just wearing a plain black v-neck shirt, but I don't know what is happening with me. It was actually driving me nuts!

"You're still coming, right?" He said as he was maneuvering his car.

"H-Huh?" Gulat at nagtataka kong sinabi sa kanya.