Chapter 16
Sleepover
"Franco.."
"Hey," he smiled and stopped right in front of me.
My heart beats rapidly. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Shane sa akin tungkol sa kanya. I took one step backward. Biglang naglaho ang ngiti niya sa ginawa ko at rumehistro sa kanyang mukha ang pagtataka kung bakit ako umatras. I tightly clutched my purse.
I was determined to run when he spoke.
"Right," rinig kong sambit sa sarili niya pero narinig ko iyon. "It's okay..I won't harm you. You don't have to run away." Umatras siya papalayo sa akin. Loneliness glimmered on his eyes. Mapait siyang ngumiti.
Napatigil ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Shane probably told you I'm some kind.. of criminal or.. rapist to be exact." Nahihirapan niyang sabi. He looked away while he took another step backwards. Nahihirapan siyang tumingin sakin na para bang tatakbo ako dahil sa takot kapag titigan niya ako.
Bigla ay naglaho ang takot ko. His gestures were telling me he was nervous that I might think he was a criminal and would run away from him.
It soften my heart. Hindi ko rin naman naramdaman na masama siyang tao.
"A-are yo?" I asked in a low voice but enough for him to hear it clearly.
"No.. no," mabilis siyang umiling. "It was all just a misunderstanding. Hindi ko yun magagawa. Hindi ako ganung klaseng tao. Hindi ko pinuwersa ang kanyang pinsan." He sighed. He smiled bitterly. "Pero babae siya eh. Kaya sa kanya lahat maniniwala. Ang.. ang hirap ipaliwanag." His voice croaked. His eyes seemed to began to build up tears. Naramdaman ko ang sakit niya.
Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya. He doesn't seem to be a person who'd do such thing. He's gentleman and fun to be with as I have observed on our first and second meet. When we were dancing, on our first encounter at the bar, he didn't even sensually touch me unlike those who wouldn't care anymore as long as they were satisfied with what their hands were doing. I remember his hands were gentle while guiding me to dance.
"Hindi ako masamang tao. Hindi ko lang alam paano yun ipakita sa lahat. Hindi ko lang alam paano linisin ang pangalan ko. Hindi ko alam saan ako magsisimula. Anung una kong dapat gawin. Everyone had turn their backs on me ever since I had known as rapists." His voice broke. I suddenly felt the urged to hug him.
This wasn't the best time or place for him to share this memories. But I think he felt he had to explain because of how I acted earlier when I saw him.
Humakbang ako papapit sa kanya. "Hey, it's fine. I'm not afraid of you."
He smiled at me and tried to blink the tears away from his eyes. Totoo naman. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng takot kapag nasa malapit siya. Mas natakot lang sa iisiping makita kami ni Shane na nag-uusap kasi alam kong may gagawin talaga siya.
"I'm sorry if natakot kita," he smiled then cleared his throat. "Pauwi ka na ba?"
Tumango ako. "My friends will pick me up. They're on their way."
"I guess you had.." lumingon siya sa restaurant pagkatapos ay sa bulaklak na hawak ko. ".. a date. You looked great."
"Uhm.. I just met.. someone," nahihiyang tinignan ko ang aking damit. Mabilis kong tinaas ang blazer as if it would cover my body.
"No, I mean," itinaas niya ang kanyang kanang kamay na parang pinipigilan ako. "..you're beautiful. You don't have to hide that.. I mean.. don't get me wrong. Hindi kita minanyak. You really looked great with that dress on," nauutal niyang sambit.
