Love Me Like You Hate Me

Chapter 12

"Wait, Venice. Slowdown."

Hindi ko pinansin si Miss Carter at patuloy lang akong naglakad na parang walang naririnig habang hawak siya sa braso. Inis pa rin ako sa nangyari bago ko siya hilahin palayo sa crowd but I'm also confused about my behavior earlier.

"Hey, I said wait--"

Oh freak.

Bigla akong natisod pero dahil hawak ko ang braso niya ay napigilan ako nitong tuluyang matumba.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath after seeing my torn sandals.

Dammit. What a nice timing.

I tried to think of what to do 'cause I can't walk with this until a familiar hand placed a pair of wedge sandals beside my feet.

"Use mine. I think we're the same size."

I was shocked and looked at Miss Carter in disbelief. What the hell?

"What are you doing? Wear it back!" I refused but she's really serious at mukhang walang balak bawiin ang ginawa niya.

"I can walk barefoot. Just wear them. We're close to the magic fountain and the show will start in any minute so we better move now."

"No." Matigas na sagot ko at nakipaglaban ng tingin sa kanya.

I can't believe that she's standing beside me without any shoes on and the ground is hella dirty. My gosh!

"Wear it back. I'm not gonna use them."

"Oh c'mon, Alcantara. Don't be so hardheaded. Kahit ngayon lang." Madiing sabi nito at halatang nagpipigil din ng emosyon.

Sandali pa kaming nagtitigan hanggang sa mapabuntong hininga ako at labag sa loob na sinuot ang sandals niya.

Alam kong parehas kaming ayaw magpatalo at walang mangyayari kung pipilitin namin pareho ang gusto namin so I will let her win this time.

Miss Carter is smiling when I looked at her again kaya hindi ko na napigilang mapairap bago ako naglakad patungo sa harap niya.

I took off my cardigan and tie the sleeves on her waist. Halata ang pagtataka nito sa ginawa ko pero hindi ko siya pinansin at tinalikuran ko rin siya pagkatapos.

"Ride on my back."

"W-What?"

"C'mon, Miss Carter. I don't wanna miss the show. You said we better move now?" I said after rolling my eyes for the nth time.

"You don't need to carry me. I can walk on my own."

Now she's the one refusing kaya lalong nag-init ang ulo ko. Konti na lang talaga.

"Do you think I will let you walk without any shoes on your feet? Goodness!"

"But--"

Inis ko siyang nilingon at hinila ang isang kamay nito patungo sa balikat ko. "Make it fast before I change my mind."

Kapag nagmatigas pa siya ulit, iiwan ko na talaga 'to. Bahala siya sa buhay niya.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga nito kasunod ng pagpatong ng isa pa niyang kamay sa kabila kong balikat.

"Can you lower down a bit?"

Bumuntong hininga rin muna ako bago gawin ang sinabi niya at maya-maya lang ay naramdaman ko na ang bigat nito sa likod ko.

I secured her legs first with my cardigan so they will not show too much 'cause she's wearing a dress before I started walking.

Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi siya sobrang bigat dahil hindi ko ata kakayaning buhatin siya nang matagal kung magkataon at pagsisisihan ko rin na nag-offer pa ako ng piggy back ride--