Forbidden, Yet Allowed (Griyego #1)

Chapter 16

FYA - Bati

Iniwas ko ang aking tingin sa kanya. Of all people, why does it have to be him?

"Y-You didn't see me here. Just leave," I said as I stood up and was about to walk away.

Pero hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakaalis nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. He didn't utter a word and he just pulled me somewhere.

"Let go, Asa!" I said and forcefully took my hand from his that causes for him to looked at me with a dark expression.

Nanghihina na ako pero sa sandaling makita ko siya, biglang bumalik lahat ng lakas ko—not because he gives me strength, but because he aspires me to bring it back so I could shove him away from me.

"Don't be stubborn now, Afia. If this is about how I saw you there, forget about it. I'm just here to pull you out of there." Kalmado ang boses niya, pero nahihimigan ko ang galit sa tono nito.

Umiling lamang ako sa kanya at nagsimulang maglakad muli sa kasalungat ng direksyon na hinihila niya sa akin kanina. I didn't care if he saw me at that kind of state, pakiramdam ko lahat ng pakialam ko sa mundong ito ay sandaling nawala dahil sa pagod na nararamdaman ng aking puso. I just wanted to burst out every bit of emotions I was keeping inside me, so when the rain had stopped, I would just stood up and continue the fight.

But who am I kidding? He saw me at my worst state, he saw my vulnerability, he saw how broken I was. And I feel like all my ego and pride that I was throwing at him just suddenly vanished at the sight of seeing me drenched in the rain while sitting on the sidewalk, hopelessly.

I bet he's laughing at me in his mind.

Pero mukhang nagkamali ata ako dahil nang maramdaman ko ang muling paghawak niya sa aking kamay ay hindi ako kaagad nakapagprotesta nang yakapin niya ako ng mahigpit. Binitawan na niya ang kanyang payong at hinayaan na lamang din niyang mabasa ang kanyang sarili sa ulan.

"A-Asa..." I said trying to push him.

His hugged tighten before whispering to me. "Come on, please. Let's go."

I don't know how, but I just found myself being pulled out by Asa. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa kanyang sasakyan–yes, his precious car. Mukhang nagawa na nga niyang ipagawa ito, he just really had to wait for me to pay him completely.

Tinignan ko naman ang kanyang sasakyan bago siya. He looked at me then sighed. "Huwag kang mag-alala, wala ng gasgasan na magaganap."

Wala naman akong sinabi.

And as we got inside his car driving his way to Rio's condo, I noticed how uneasy he was. Tsk. Probably because both of us were soaked up in the rain and his car is getting all wet. E, 'di sana hindi na lang niya ako dinala rito. I can head my way back at the condo without him.

"We're here, Afia," he said to me because I didn't notice that we already arrived.

Tumango naman ako at tinanggal ang seatbelt bago napatingin sa kanya. Mariin lamang siyang nakahawak sa kanyang manibela at diretsong nakatingin sa labas. I noticed how his hand was shivering and he was just hiding it by holding the steering wheel. Napabuntong hininga na lamang at paniguradong pagsisisihan ko ang sasabihin ko.

"Tumuloy ka na muna," I said that made him glanced at me with a surprise look.

Napalunok siya at parang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. "H-Huh? Really?"