Forgotten Memories Book 1 (2013)

Chapter Nineteen: Sleepless in Seattle

Alex's Point of View

Ilang beses na bumaba ako sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig, nagtimpla ng gatas at kumuha ng cookies.

I can't sleep. I drew a deep breath.

Ibinaba ko na ang iniinom kong gatas na hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang baso ko na. Pati si Nana ay napapabangon sa higaan nito kapag bumaba ako. Malapit lamang kasi sa kusina ang tinutulugan nito kaya konting kaluskos lamang ay nagigising ito.

Pinapagalitan na nga ako dahil malamang daw madami akong nakain kaya hirap akong matulog. Hindi ko masabi na wala halos akong nalunok sa dinner namin ni Gin.

Napatingin ako sa wall clock sa kwarto ko. Past 10 pm na. Usually tulog na ako kapag ganitong oras, at kanina pa naman ako naihatid ni Gin.

I sighed again when I remembered him. That guy...

He is making a way through me and I am more than afraid. He is a bet. At kailangan na isaksak ko iyon sa isip. Na isang pustahan lamang si Gin. At kahit na hindi siya isang pustahan, I should protect myself from him. Nakakatakot ang binubuhay na pakiramdam niya sa akin.

I have never felt like this. Not with any other guy.

Nagulat pa ako nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Napakurap ako at wala sa loob na sinagot iyon.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sweetheart."

Kumabog ng sobra ang puso ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses.

"Gin!"

I heard him laugh. "I am glad you still remember my voice. Why are you still awake?"

Because of you! I wanted to shout at him pero napiit ko.

"P-Paano mo nalaman ang number ko?" naguguluhan kong tanong. Ni hindi ko matandaan na hiningi niya iyon.

"I asked Carmi. I told her na kaklase kita sa isang subject and I want to know what is our homework."

Si Carmi!

"And I told her we went out on a date."

Napakurap ako. "W-What?"

He laughed slowly. "She was shocked. To think I just told them kanina na I don't want to be your plaything."

Sunod-sunod ang tahip ng dibdib ko. Bakit ganito kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko? And this warm feeling...

"But I will never be your plaything, Isabella. I'll never consider what I want with you will be about playing each other. I want you to be my girl."

I could feel my throat is being constricted with something. The way he will say he wants me to be his girl.

"What if I say I don't want to be your girl, Gin?"

Katahimikan.

I could feel I am anticipating his answer that I hold on to my cellphone as if it is my lifeline.

"Why?"

Natigilan ako. Wala akong maapuhap na sagot.

"Don't you like me, Isabella?"

My heart started to drum inside my chest like a hammer. "No! I mean---"

He laughed shortly. "If you don't like me you will not go out with me tonight like the way you always deny him. But let's say I believe that you don't like me just like you have said, then---I'll make you like me."

Natigilan ako. A warm hand slowly cupping my heart. My eyes grew larger in shock.

"Gin! Please, I mean would you stop doing this to me? You are like a mad man na sinusundan ako and at the same time insisting yourself to me!" Pakiramdam ko ay nagha-hysteria na ako sa panic.