More Than Just A Kick

Chapter 30

Zipline

"Iyah, what are you doing here? And are you okay?" Galit na mukha ni Marsan ang nakita ko.

"She's okay, bro." Sagot naman ni Stephen. "And we're here to have a lunch date."

"I'm not asking you." Marsan says ang grabs my wrist, he pulls me towards him na ikinauntog ko sa chest niya. Ang bango rin ni Marsan, he smells vanilla, so sweet yet so manly. "We should find another restaurant, Française." He suggests.

"But I'm okay here." Mahina kong pagkakasambit.

"No, you're not."

"I'm really hungry Marsan. We should eat here na lang."

I look at Stephen, begging for him to help me. He knows that I like Marsan naman but I still denies it.

"Ah sige. Kayo muna may gagawin pa pala akong mahalagang importante." Palusot ni Stephen while he dismiss us with his hands as if shooing us like we are a dog. Then he winks at me.

Marsan grabs my wrist at hinila na ako palayo kay Stephen. I mouth 'Thank you' to him. Siya na ang magpapatuloy sa investigation since magtataka lang si Marsan na nandito ako.

Bakit ba kahit hawak lang sa wrist ko ay kinikilig na ako kay Marsan? I can't help it. I'm feeling nervous and I like the way he holds my wrist. And the way that he so worried right now. Pwede bang ikulong na lang sa moment na ito? How I wish pwede yun.

Tumigil kami ni Marsan, humarap siya sa akin.

"Why did you go there Française?" He almost shouts.

"I just want to eat lunch there." Sagot ko nang iniiwas ang aking mata sa kanya.

"It's dangerous..." Mahinang sagot niya at parang may sinabi pa siya, hindi ko na lang narinig.

My phone beeps. Stephen texted me. I open it.

Stephen:

Buy me some time. Magskyranch muna kayo or something. Siguradong magtataka yan kapag nagtagal ako.

I replied Ok.

Stephen:

Huwag mo akong ipagpapalit sa kanya 😉

Hindi ko na lang inabala ang sarili kong replyan siya sa halip ay humarap kay Marsan.

"San, may gustong akong puntahan?"

"What is it?"

"Skyranch."

"Oh."

"Oo. Sa Skyranch muna tayo. Gusto kong sumakay ng rides eh. Libre na lang kita." It didn't sound right. It feels like I'm asking him on a date.

"No." Disappointment rush through my being. Mag-iisip pa sana ako ng nakakalungkot na mga bagay pero nagsalita ulit siya. "Ako ang manlilibre." Nagulat ako pero tinago ko agad dahil hindi na bago sa kanya ang manlibre.

"Okay. I'll buy our lunch instead," offer ko. Alam ko naman na hindi siya titigil sa pakikipagtalo kung di ako sasang-ayon sa kanya.

"Okay." Sagot niya with a smile on his face.

***

Skyranch is full of rides-such a beauty. I want to spend time with Marsan here, I'll treasure this happy memory. I am the moon whenever I'm with him, I look at him but it seems like his mind is wandering somewhere.

"Hey," liningon ko siya sa likod ko. Hindi pala siya sumusunod sa akin.

He's looking at his phone.