Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 16

Dinner

Nang rumehistro sa isipan ko ang mga salita niya ay kusang gumalaw ang katawan ko palayo kay Treyton. I frantically wiped the tears still cascading down my cheeks before I began to leave. I couldn't allow my emotions to take over because I still had exams and I can't afford to miss any of those due to an invalid reason.

My scholarship is at stake here.

Tumatakbo na ako ngayon habang hinahanap ng mga mata ko ang daan palabas dito sa parke nang may humigit sa aking kamay kaya napahinto ako. "Saan ka pupunta?" Treyton asked.

I budged but he wouldn't let go of my hand so I sighed deeply. "I'm going to the university."

"Are you sure you can take it? You're mentally and emotionally unstable right now. Baka makaapekto sa pagsagot mo," he argued but my mind was already caught in a haze of regrets and anxiety. Sa kabila no'n ay isa lang ang mahalaga sa akin ngayon at iyon ay ang makakuha ng exam.

"Oo. Kaya ko pa ring kumuha kaya bitawan mo na ako," saway ko sa kanya pero wala iyong naging apekto sa huli.

I looked at him in the eye and I felt conscious by the way Treyton's scrutinizing me. "Sigurado ka? Can you really do it?" he asked again, his voice overflowing with sincerity which made me more confused. Hindi ako nakasagot agad dahil sa loob ko ay hindi ko rin alam kung ano nga ba talaga ang itutugon ko sa kanya.

But I just knew I had to do this.

My mouth was about to part to give him a response but he already started pulling me with him. Malakas siya kaya hindi ko mabawi ang kamay ko mula sa kanya kaya sinimulan ko siyang hampasin. "Bitawan mo na ako sabi, eh!" I shouted. I could've might as well screamed for help but unfortunately, no one's around here with us and only the trees and greeneries were the witnesses of my current dilemma.

The latter must've become deaf because he didn't bother to look back at me. Napansin kong tumigil lang siya sa paghatak sa akin nang makarating kami sa harap ng isang nakaparadang itim na motorsiklo. Binitawan na niya ako at nakita kong may kinuha siyang helmet bago niya iyon iniabot sa akin.

I eyed the thing he was handing to me with furrowed brows. "Suotin mo na. Ihahatid na kita," he casually said. It took a few seconds for me to process what he said and by the time I did, he already wore the helmet on me.

Nabalik ako sa huwisyo dahil sa bigat no'n at naguguluhan akong napatingin kay Treyton na nakaupo na ngayon sa kanyang motorsiklo. "You're not the only one who doesn't want to be late," he said before tapping the seat behind him.

I don't know what forces made my body move without my own accord but I just found myself sitting behind Treyton afterwards. Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang paandarin ang motorsiklo niya kaya napayakap ako sa kanyang baywang. I smelled the manly scent swirling around him which made me blush. But I suddenly felt his body becoming rigid so I immediately withdrew my arms. "Sorry," I whispered.

I heard him coughing first before answering me. "I don't mind. I'd be driving fast so better hold on tight. Hindi ko na kasalanan kung mahulog ka dahil hindi ka kumakapit nang maayos," pahayag niya kaya napalunok ako.

He began to drive and when we accelerated, I couldn't stop myself from wrapping my arms around his waist. Nalula ako nang mapagtanto kong hindi pangkaraniwan ang taas ng motorsiklo ni Treyton at kung gaano kabilis ang pagpapatakbo niya ngayon kaya napapikit na lang ako.

I felt us zooming past cars and other vehicles so I tightened my hold on him to the point that I could feel his muscles underneath his black shirt. "I know you're enjoying right now but don't hug me this tight unless you want to kill me." Hindi ko alam kung malakas lang ang pandinig ko kaya nakuha ko ang lahat ng mga sinabi ni Treyton kahit halos tangayin na ang boses niya ng hangin. But I wished I didn't because it's embarrassing!