Mist After Rain

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"It's you again."

Humarap ang lalaki sa akin dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa basag niyang labi na may kaunting bugbog sa gilid nito. At hindi katulad noon, may emosyon ng makikita sa mukha nito pero iyon ay ang pagkaseryoso.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit kada makikita na lang kita, puro away ang dala mo," mahinahon niyang sabi sa akin pero ramdam ko ang inis sa boses niya. Halatang pinipigilan niya lamang ito. "Guess you never learned your lesson since you're with that guy again," mapangaral niyang giit sa akin.

Marahas akong napabuga ng hangin bago napangisi sa kanya. He doesn't even have an idea that I went to the club alone and just bumped into that lunatic Jace.

"For your information, mister. I'm not with that guy. Malas ko dahil nakasalubong ko siya sa loob ng club. Tangina, wala ka naman kasing alam!" katwiran ko rito. "Pero mas malas ako na ikaw pa ang tumulong sa akin! Sana hindi ka na lang sumali sa away namin tutal parang labag naman sa kalooban mo ang pagtulong, tama ba?"

And finally, he let his emotions show. Light irritation was all over his face. I looked at him fiercely before turning my back from him.

I was supposed to leave when he grabbed my wrist. My face became furious but quickly melted down as I saw his purplish-black hand because of the fists fight between him and Jace.

I hope he won't injure his knuckles because of me. I might feel guilty.

"Don't you think you're too much for not saying 'thank you' this time?" his voice was serious. Nakatalikod pa rin ako mula sa kanya habang hawak pa rin ang kamay ko. "Sa tingin ko hindi sapat ang dalawang beses na pagtulong ko para pasalamatan ng isang taong tulad mo," walang gana niyang giit at binitawan na ang aking palapulsuan.

Taong tulad ko? Oo nga naman.

I faced him with a straight face and grabbed the sleeves of his white shirt, ignoring what he said. Sapilitan ko itong hinila papunta sa parkingan ng Dale's na sobrang ikinagulat niya.

He's looking at me with confusion just like how he looked at me that night when I heard him sang a beautiful song.

He even tried to stop me but I still managed to drag him all the way to my car in the parking lot. I opened the pickup truck's bed and asked him to sit there.

"Miss, ano sa tingin mo—"

Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang pandilatan ko siya ng mga mata.

"Damn, just sit there," I told him with gritted teeth. Sumampa naman ito sa likod ng pickup at umupo doon, even though he's hesitant to. Napailing pa ito dahil hindi makapaniwala. "Dito ka lang, huwag kang aalis," mariin na sambit ko, hindi siya sumagot at tinignan lang ako ng may pagtataka pa rin sa mga mata.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng kotse at kinuha ang first-aid kit doon, sinilip ko pa ang lalaki sa likod kung aalis ba siya o maghihintay sa akin. Hindi naman ito umalis at hinawakan lang ang kamay niyang nanuntok kanina.

Ganito ba ang pakiramdam ng nakokonsensya? 'Lang hiya.

I hopped into the back of the pickup truck and sat there too, but have enough space between us. I heaved a sigh while looking at the guy but he averted his eyes to avoid my gaze. His eyes were now staring at the kit.

"Miss, hindi mo na kailangan pang gamutin ang mga sugat ko," sambit niya at akmang tatayo na nang hilain ko ang kamay niya, medyo napangiwi pa siya dahil sa paghablot ko ng bugbog niyang kamay. "Salamat lang ang kailangan ko," dagdag pa niya.

I didn't answer and just get the ointment out of the kit. Hindi na rin naman ito nagsalita nang gamutin ko na ang kamay niya.

"Wrapping your hand in a bandage can reduce the swelling, it may also heal better this way," I said while putting the soft cloth bandage on his bruised hand. "Done," I look into his hand before letting it go, checking if it is bandaged well.