LOVEBITES

Chapter 13

"Stay home" seryosong utos sa kanya ni Romulus pagkababa niya mula sa motorsiklo nito. Nagpahatid na siya dito dahil hindi siya nito tinigilan hangga't hindi siya pumapapayag. May balak pa nga itong pwersahin siyang pasakayin sa motorsiklo nito at itali doon as a last resort. Wala ng nagawa si Caitlin sa pagpupumilit ni Romulus at pumayag na lamang sa gusto nito ngunit mabuti na lang din pala at pumayag siya dahil nakauwi siya ng mas maaga sa inaakala niya. Ang bilis kasi nitong magpatakbo. Ang akala nga niya titilapon na silang dalawa ngunit tumawa lamang ito ng sinabi niya iyon sa binata at sinabing kailangan lang niyang kumapit ng mahigpit sa baywang nito like she's holding for her dear life. Caitlin begrudgingly obeyed; still it took every ounce of her will power not to knock him unconscious. Agad na hinubad ni Caitlin ang suot na helmet at inabot iyon sa binata. Hindi siya umimik sa tinuran nito.

"Just don't go anywhere or do anything stupid atleast until I go back. I think I'll be gone for a we—" saglit na natigil ito sa pagsasalita ng mapansin nitong hindi siya nakikinig.

"Narinig mo ba ako?" nakakunot na ang noong tanong nito.

"Oo naman" agap na sagot niya. Caitlin rolled her eyes. Romulus's mouth turned up a bit because of the blatant display of defiance from Caitlin.

"May kailangan lang akong asikasuhin na importante ka—"

"Wag ka ng magpaliwanag. There's no need. You're not my keeper" Caitlin said immediately cutting him off. Marahas na napabuntong hininga si Romulus dahil sa tinuran ng dalaga. "And here we go again" frustrated na bulong nito.

"I'm just stating the obvious. Do you even realize that there's no need for you to explain yourself to me since technically speaking we are strangers and you're not my keeper or anyone else so you don't get to say what I should or should not do" hindi na napigilang paghuhuramentado ni Caitlin sa binata. Her mother said she's grounded and this dude is also telling her to stay at home at least until he's back. It just doesn't sit well on her. And besides they're not supposed to meet after this but the way he talks to her it's like he's telling her that they're going to see each other again and Caitlin can't help but think that's the last thing she wants to happen. Associating with him will make things even more complicated and she doesn't want complications in her life even though she owes him a lot.

"Nagkakamali ka. Technically speaking I'm your bodyguard" Romulus suddenly declared. Despite having a hunch, it still took her by surprise. Caitlin had gone quiet.

"Hindi ka magtatanong kung paano nangyari iyon?" Caitlin just shook her head. She doesn't want to know. Honestly speaking, she's scared to know.

"You're so freaking stubborn!"

"Look who's talking" Caitlin muttered sourly.

"Well, since you're not going to ask because you're not interested to know. I'll save myself the effort of telling you the why's and how's" napapagod ng pagpapaubaya ni Romulus sa kanya. "But let me make this clear once and for all. I'm your bodyguard. Stay out of trouble while I'm gone--lalong lalo na sa araw birthday mo. If you can, I will be more at ease kung hindi ka lalabas ng bahay"

"Right. Take all the time you need. No one's rushing you to go--woahh! Wait! Paano mo nalaman kung kailan ang birthday ko?" naaalarmang tanong ni Caitlin dito ng tuluyang mag sink-in ang tinuran ni Romulus. Makahulugan lamang itong ngumiti at hindi nagbigay ng explanation sa kanya. When he goes back again, Selene feels he need to be prepared or she will surely suffer some damage again. He is not healthy for her.

"Sigurado ka bang hanggang dito na lang kita ihahatid? It's still a long walk from here"mayamaya ay tanong ni Romulus habang matiim na pinagmamasdan ang madilim na kalye sa harap nito.