Her Unveiled Love

Kabanata 13: Hindi Na Muli

[Via's POV]

Patuloy ako sa pag-atras habang nakaawang ang mga labi. Did I just heard him right?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan. I've never felt this fright especially just because of someone's eyes. Ang asul niyang mga mata ay nakakapasong tingnan na bahagya kong iniwas ang mga tingin.

Natalo ako?  Did I just lost in a staring contest?

Tumigil ako sa pag-atras at nilabanan muli ang kanyang mga mata. Hindi ulit ako iiwas... hindi na muli.

"That... doesn't give you the rights. Tsaka, sanay na ako."

"What? Did I just heard you right, Via?"

Bumilis ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko sa tono ng pagtanong niya na parang may malaking kasalanan akong ginawa at nahuli niya ako.

Why the fuck... am I sweating?

"Where are your guards, Sylvian?" Napalunok ako sa pagbanggit niya sa second name ko.

"Pinauwi ko." I tried to remain bold by taking a step forward but I could still feel the trembling of my fingers.

"What?!" He exclaimed in disbelief and I raised my eyebrow at him.

Sisinghalan ko pa sana siya dahil sa kanyang reaksyon nung mabilis na siyang lumapit sa akin. I didn't have any time to react kaya nataranta ako lalo na nung hawakan niya ako sa pulpusuhan.

"Krae Davin, what do you think you're doing?!" I began to panic when he started dragging me away from the park.

"I swear kung hindi mo ako tatantanan, you'll taste my wrath!–"

"Pasok ka, hahatid kita sa bahay niyo," he interrupted. Despite my panicking and loud voice, he tried to sound calm, ignoring my threat.

Tumigil kami sa harapan ng pula niyang sedan. Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa kanyang sasakyan. His face will still look so innocent if not for his furrowed eyebrows.

"I'm calling my driver now, okay? Hindi mo na ako kinakailangang ihatid." I was about to dial my driver's number when he took my phone away.

What the hell?

"You're being weird, Krae. It's not funny." Suway ko pero nanatiling nakataas ang braso niyang may hawak ng phone ko. Ang mga mata niya ay blangko. His expression remained firm and unbothered.

"Get inside, Via."

"I have my own driver, Krae." I said with gritted teeth. His behavior is annoying. Hindi ko alam kung ba't nagkakaganito siya.

"I don't care. Get in." Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata dahil sa tono niya. Is he ordering me?

I scoffed before turning around. I don't take orders from anyone, I give them. Narinig ko siyang napasinghap at mabilis akong humarap muli nung maramdaman ko ang pagsunod niya sa akin.

"Just get inside the fucking car!"

"Minumura mo ako?" He immediately look so frustrated after hearing what I said.

"Of course not! Gods– just... get in, please."

"Give me my phone and I'll call my driver." I patiently said with a straight face.

"I want to take you home personally. Mapapanatag ako."

"I'm not your responsibility–"

"Yes, you are." Natigilan ako sa ginawa niyang pagputol sa aking sasabihin. I raised my eyebrow in confusion.

"You're my project partner. Earlier, someone was gawking at you. What worse could have happen if I wasn't there?"

"So... you want me to thank you? Okay! Thank you!"

Napaawang ang mga labi niya and it seems like patience have left his soul. He looks so frustrated but tries to hide it.

"Don't make this such a big deal. Ihahatid lang kita sa bahay niyo."

"You can't enter our village, yet alone our house."

"I can."

I smirked as I cross my arms in front of my chest. "Oh, really? And how so?" The amusement in my voice is certainly obvious.

"You'll be in my car which means I have the key."

.

Nakahalukipkip ako habanag tahimik na nakaupo sa passenger's seat. I squinted my eyes at Krae who is silently driving with a face merely showing any expression.

"Why do I feel like you're indebted to me? I'm not your responsibility."

Napabuntong-hininga siya bago hininto ang kotse nung maabutan kami ng stoplight. "You are."

"Can you elaborate that please?" Hindi siya sumagot pero hindi ko na inulit muli ang tanong. Tahimik ko lang na inoobserbahan ang pagmaneho niya until confusion began to fill me.

He's going into the right way and he never even asked for the directions.

Hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng suspetsa. Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at tinanggal ang pagkakasukbit ng seatbelt.

"Put your seatbelt on–"

"Give me my phone," I interrupted with my open palm extended towards him. My fingers began to quiver as I start to doubt his motives.

He's been following me ever since he transferred in. Mapilit din ito na gawing partner ko, he even match his class schedule with me.

Shit, why am I just questioning it now? Well, dahil nasa peligro ang buhay mo.

He threw my phone and it fell on my lap, ignoring my wide-open palm. Napaawang ang labi ko nung binigay nga niya.

Kidnappers shouldn't give their hostage's phone.

"Now, put your seatbelt on, Sylvian."

"Don't call me that," reklamo ko habang sinusuot muli ang aking seatbelt.

"That's your name."

"Ba't kabisado mo ang daan papunta sa 'min?" I asked, ignoring his response.

"I always follow you home when we finish late in our project."

"You what?!" Bakas ang inis na singhal ko.

"I need to ensure your safety."

Hindi ko na narinig ang kanyang sinabi at nakatuon ang buo kong atensyon sa pagpasok namin sa entrance ng village.

I was about to roll the windows down but the guards just boringly looked at Krae's car as we make our way through.

"What?" I reacted.

Don't tell me na nagiging maluwag na ang pagbabantay nila?! Krae's car is definitely a stranger's car!

"I'm going to report them," sabi ko sa sarili habang dina-dial ang number ni Tito Savi.

Bago pa masagot ni Tito ang tawag ay hininto na ni Krae ang kotse sa harap ng mansion. He quickly step out of the car to open the door for me.

Pagkabukas niya ay padabog agad akong lumabas habang nakadikit pa ang phone sa tenga ko.

The gate opened and one of our maids went out of the gate. Sa likod niya ay si Mom, ang dalawa kong mga kapatid, at si Tito Savi na akmang sasagutin na ang nag-iingay niyang cellphone.

"Tito, I need to have a–"

"Quenelle! I'm glad you've already met your fiancé!"