Go Through The Spark (Red String Series #1)

Chapter 17

Risk

Kenji's

"Kiko?"

I woke up when I felt someone's tapping me on my shoulder. I slightly opened my eyes but it's dark and blurry. I can also feel my whole body weight is on the couch.

"Kiko?" Someone's calling me?

I squint my eyes. "Hm?"

"May lagnat ka," he sounds very concerned while slightly stroking my hair out of my forehead.

May lagnat nanaman ako?

Hindi ako sumagot at mas pinili kong kilalanin ang nakaluhod sa harapan ko. Sa sandaling iniangat ko ang ulo ko ay naamoy ko ang pabango n'ya.

It's Koji.

"Hi," I smiled uncontrollably while staring at his face even it's dark.

He's already home.

"Ngumingiti ka pa, may lagnat ka na nga." Rinig kong usal n'ya habang sinasapo ang noo ko, pero ngumiti lang ako lalo.

"Hinahawakan mo noo ko, e." I giggled as he quickly pulled his hand and slap me on my shoulder.

Pilit akong umupo sa sofa na balak n'ya pa sanang pigilan pero nag pumilit ako. Kinusot ko ang mata at inilibot ang paningin, gabi na yata dahil madilim na. At nakauwi na rin si Koji? Bakit parang ang dali naman?

"How's the concert?" Kuryusong tanong ko habang sinusubukan sipatin ang mukha n'ya, pero madilim talaga sa loob at tanging sinag lang ng buwan mula sa bintana ang nagsisilbing liwanag.

Rinig kong humangos s'ya at kasabay no'n ang pagtayo n'ya. "Okay lang, nakakapagod."

"Traffic?" I breathed.

Hanggang ngayon iyon padin ang iniisip ko na baka na traffic sila, baka naiipit si Koji ng mga tao ro'n? O, 'di kaya, baka maligaw s'ya.

Isinandal ko ang batok sa couch habang hinihintay ang sagot n'ya. Suddenly, i felt his hand on my knee and slightly put some force on it, until I felt someone sit next to me on the couch.

I was stunned and turned to him immediately, but I can't see his face.

"Tama ka, traffic nga do'n." It's just his figure in the dark but I could see his head turned to me.

Sabi ko na, e. Dapat talaga sumama ako.

"Umuwi rin kami ng maaga para...hindi kami maubusan ng sasakyan pauwi. Gaya ng sabi mo." Agap n'ya.

I smiled again while drunkily look at his direction. "Thank you, Koji."

He scoffed and I could feel his shoulder shrugged. "Thank you for what?"

Natawa na rin ako sa sarili ko. Why would I even say that? Say thank you for what? But I have my reason.

"Thank you for listening to my advice," I said hoarsely and sighed.

Ngumisi s'ya. "Ba't ka nagpapa-salamat?"

I pout and tilted my head and. "Thank you for coming home. I'm worried about you."

Napalunok ako dahil kusa na iyong lumabas sa bibig ko. But I really want to be vocal para kahit paunti-unti lang may idea na s'ya kung bakit ako ganito.

He look away and rested his back on the couch, just like what I'm doing. Nakatitig lang din ako sa direksyon n'ya kahit sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman s'ya maaninag.

"Para ka kasing ano kanina," namamaos na sabi n'ya habang may hinablot na kung ano sa mesa.

"Ano?" Nagtataka kong sabi habang kinakapa ang cellphone sa tabi ko na mabilis ko namang hinanap.