DBS I: HEARTILY CAPTIVATIVE

CHAPTER 7

"How are you feeling? You didn't go to divisoria for two days. Did you get sick?" I heard Darius ask and there's no way to avoid him due to his question. That's why I looked at him slowly.

How did he know?

"Ahm. Yes."

Kahit naman na hindi. Nagkaroon lang ako ng hangover pero hindi umabot sa puntong nagkasakit. Alangan naman kasing sabihin ko na iniiwasan ko siya kaya hindi ako nakapunta sa divisoria.

Great, Aubrielle. So much for avoiding him for two days.

"How about now?"

He continued asking and I can still feel how nervous I am in front of him, my heart is continuously thumping. Is it really because of the shame that I'm feeling?

Next time, I'm going to note to myself that I will drink unless Darius is there. Sobrang nakakahiya. Parang bumalik isip ko ang mga kwento ni Lorie na pinaggagawa ko na pilit kong kinalimutan sa dalawang araw.

Sasagot na sana ako sa tanong ni Darius nang may lumapit na medyo matandang babae

"Darius? Andito ka na pala. Hinihintay ka ni Mayor Santos sa taas."

Darius nodded and he excused himself to us. Nah, maybe to Ciara only.

Asan na ba yung babae? Sobrang haba ba ng guidelines na pinapa-print niya at inaabot na siya ng siyam siyam?

"Bakit ka umiinom kung hindi mo naman pala kaya, Elle? Inabala mo pa si Darius."

I almost forgot Ciara's presence when Darius left, not until she spoke. I was slightly confused from what she said but I remembered what Luna told me.

I wanted to roll my eyes at her but then, she didn't do anything wrong to me. For now.

"I was just enjoying that night, Ciara—"

"Oh baka nagkunwarian ka lang na lasing pero ang totoo hindi naman talaga."

I wanted to absorb Ciara's statement but it doesn't really make sense to me. Bakit naman ako magku-kunwaring lasing? Oh my god.

Hiyang hiya na nga ako na sa mga pinaggagawa ko at hiniling ng ilang beses na sana hindi na lang si Darius yung naghatid sa akin.

Sasagot na sana ako pero nagsalita ulit si Ciara.

"Lasing daw pero ang totoo, gusto lang magpapansin kay Darius. Nakita ko na buhat ka niya noong nakaraang gabi ng nagkunwariang lasing ka. Hindi porkit mabait si Darius lulubus lubusin mo na."

What the hell?

"Ciara, what you're thinking is absolutely wrong. I don't have any hidden agenda towards Darius and if I'm only sober that night, I wouldn't dare to accept his offer to ride me home. There are no any malice at all like what you're saying. Sana dumalo ka na lang sa birthday at binakuran mo si Darius doon para hindi ka naga-assume ng kung ano-ano ngayon"

I saw how upset she was but she immediately hid it by glaring at me.

"Miss Elle Moris?"

Nilingon ko ang babae na sa wakas ay dumating na galing sa pagpa-print. Inabot niya sakin ang papel na naglalaman ng guidelines. Umalis na din ako dahil ayaw kong matuluyan mairita kay Ciara.

"Una na ako, Ciara." Sabi ko pero hindi na niya ako pinansin at kinausap na ang babae.

Naglalakad na ako palabas ng Munisipyo nang makita ko ang pababa na si Darius sa hagdan. Magsasalita sana siya ngunit nilagpasan ko siya ng tingin at binilisan ko na ang paglakad ko para makaalis na dito.