Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 30

After we dropped off Eli at home, we went our way to Calumpit. Kahit na gusto kong hilingin na mamayang after lunch na lang kami pumuntang Calumpit dahil hindi naman kami magtatagal sa gitna ng daan, nanatili na lang akong tahimik.

God knows how disappointed I was when he told me should go, that he can't drive while hugging me. If only he could, he's more than willing. He is warm, I feel like I fit perfectly in his embrace.

Habang nasa gitna kami ng daan ay hawak niya lang ang kamay ko, ang isang kamay niya lang ang nagmamaniobra sa manobela at hindi ko maiwasang purihin siya sa aking isip.

Mula sa gilid ng aking mata ay pinanood ko siyang halikan iyon, malambot ang labi nito at mainit ang halik. He did that countless of times, and everytime his kiss touch my skin, I feel like God is really testing me. Siguro ay penitensya na nga talaga ito.

"Let's negotiate," I offered. Hinarap ko siya at nakita ko naman ang sandaling pagtingin nito bago ibalik ang mata sa daan. Tumango ito kaya nagsimula na ako. "You can't be like this in public, you can't hold my hand or kiss it." Ngumuso ito na tila ayaw ang suhestyon ko.

"I wasn't informed, artista ka na ngayon..." I rolled my eyes because of what he just said. "Baka bawal ka na ring tignan, bawal na ring lumapit sa 'yo? Then, I have to talk to Aster so we can exchange car more often 'cause you don't want me in public."

"It's not that I don't want you in public, the art of waiting! I'll turn legal in two months!" Sigaw ko, kahit na matalim ang tingin ko sa kanya ay nakita ko ang pagsilay ng kanyang ngiti, his dimples are at it again.

"Ah, so you're telling me you'll finally be my girlfriend in two months?" Napakagat ako sa aking labi, akmang aagawin ko sa kanya ang kamay ngunit humigpit lang ang kapit niya, muli niyang hinalikan ang likod nito habang hindi pa rin maitago ang ngiti. "Alright, that's a good negotiation. I can stand that..."

"H-Hindi kagaya ng iniisip mo! Ayaw ko lang na may isipin ang mga tao kasi bata ako!" I turned my gaze outside, I thought that he'll be insulted with what I just said but he just chuckle. "I don't want them to think that you're just taking advantage of that fact..."

"Don't make me look so old, Dale. Si Meteo lang naman ang nag-iisip niyan," Natigil ako sa narinig. Lumipad sa kanya ang tingin ko, sa totoo lang ay ayaw kong banggitin iyon. "Nag-abot sila ni Aster kagabi?" Huminga ako nang malalim at tumango.

"Kuya Meteo's being overprotective, Aster believed that he doesn't seem to fathom the whole picture. They threw hurtful words at each other last night. Umalis si Kuya Meteo, Aster seems carefree after that..." Kwento ko.

Ngayon ko lang naalala ang nangyari kagabi. Just when I found peace as I rest myself in his embrace, I realized that the life before me is not as peaceful as it looks. Biglang binawi ng Diyos ang kapayapaan at saya na sandali siyang ipinahawak, panandalian lang pala iyon.

"I'm sorry, Dale..." Umiling ako, wala namang dapat na ipagpaumanhin. "I'll talk to Meteo, do you want me to? I'll talk to Aster too..."

"You told me, it'll just the same mantra. He'll just tell you that I can ruin you, that this can shatter you..." Nakita kong pinaghalong sakit at galit ang dumaan sa kanyang mata, halos parang dasal na lang ang pag-ulas ko ngunit rinig na rinig niya iyon. "Alam kong kaya ni Kuya na umintindi, he'll understand..."

"People will never understand things they don't want to understand at all," Natahimik ako sa kanyang winika, nanatili ang mata ko sa magkahawak naming kamay. "And you don't have to force them to understand you, if the only thing they ever do is to question you..." Huminga siya nang malalim, sa sinabi nito ay hindi ko alam kung bakit ako biglang nakaramdam ng awa.