My face turned pale and my hands didn't stop from shaking. He slowly walked towards me and my feet were glued. Damn, why couldn't I move them? Come on Flame, walk.
"Do you know how worried Carl was when he found out that you're missing?" His voice became colder than the atmosphere in New Zealand.
"Do you know how my father commanded all his men just to find you?" He's just two meters away and I can feel my heart skipping a beat.
"Do you know how crazy I get whenever you're out of my sight?" One meter.
"And do you know how much I want to scold you now for being such a stubborn lady?" One yard.
"Until when do you have to hide from me, Flame?" One foot.
He stopped walking and talking when we're just a foot away from each other. He examined me with his half-closed eyes. His cold stares sent me daggers. He's mad, I felt it, but he remained calm.
"Magsalita ka naman. We've been looking for you for almost four hours. We went to different places just to find you. Flame, until when do we have to play?? Aren't you tired running in circles? Baby, please don't leave me again." His voice was shaking and his shoulders moved. Nakayuko siya kaya hindi ko makita ang mukha niya. Umiiyak ba siya?
He took two steps forward and I was stunned when I felt his arms around my waist. The warm breath that came from his nose reached my neck and it made me shiver.
"Please talk. Are you mad? Hurt? Confused? Sulky? Please tell me. J-just tell me, baby. Stop making me... crazy," he spoke in between his sobs.
"Steel..."
"Yes, call my name, Flame. Talk to me. Yell at me. Murahin mo ako. Sigawan. Anything. But please, I can't stand your silent treatment. Please tell me what's wrong." His cold voice became softer.
"Do you hug your friends like this?" Sa dami ng tanong, galit, panunumbat, at inis na meron ako, 'yan lang ang naitanong ko. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit but I think, that was the thought I had when he hugged me.
"Is that the thing that made you act like this? You should have told me earlier," sabi niya bago hilain ang kamay ko.
His hold wasn't too harsh. Hindi rin naman 'yon mahigpit. Pero... bakit ganito ang puso ko? Parang sasabog na.
Tahimik lang siya hanggang makarating kami sa hotel. Sa labas lang siya ng taxi nakatingin ngunit ramdam kong paminsan-minsan niyang pinipisil ang kamay ko.
Nang makarating kami ay pansin kong aligaga pa rin ang mga tao. They're still looking for me like I'm a kid who got lost and didn't know my way back. I saw them walked back and forth, some ran and most of them wore tired faces.
Napayuko ako dahil sa hiya. Flame, what have you done?
"Everyone! She's here." Sa lakas ng boses ni Steel, alam kong rinig nilang lahat 'yon.
Nanatili lang akong nakayuko. I didn't know how to face them. I felt so guilty, it's the second time na nangyari 'to. Naabala ko na naman sila. Nagulat ako nang biglang bitawan ni Steel ang kamay ko at may yumakap sa'kin.
"Flamey girl, pinag-alala mo kami. Sa'n ka ba nagpunta ha? Sabi mo CR lang, dirty ba here kaya naghanap ka sa ibang place? Bruha sana sinabi mo para nasamahan kita. Sa'n ka ba pumunta? Girl ano na? Hala don't cry! Omygeee!" sunod-sunod na sabi ni Carly.
Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong yakapin siya nang mahigpit at humikbi. I've done a lot, alam kong napakalaking abala na ang nagawa ko pero ganito pa rin niya ako itreat. They're so kind.
"Sorry... Sorry... I didn't know... I'm sorry," sabi ko nang umiiyak.
"Take her to your room, she's tired. I'll go there later, puntahan ko lang si Dad," sabi ni Steel.
CITEȘTI
From Ash to Flame
Dragoste- A story of finding happiness, purpose, love, and all the good things in life - Flame Salazar, a twenty-four-year-old stunner, was having the best of her life. Being a model, artist, influencer, and endorser, she has always experienced the life eve...
