Fontabella 1: The Businessman's Trap

Chapter 17 [Mangga]

Sino pa ba?

"Let me go, Luke! Nagugutom na ako!" singhal ko sa kaniya at sinubukang agawin ang aking braso. He's stronger than me so I can't get my arm back! Tangina!

"No!" mariin niyang sabi. "You'll come with me." Nagsimula siyang maglakad habang tangan ang braso ko pero nagpabigat ako at hindi nagpadala sa kaniya.

"Ano ba?! Bumitaw ka nga sabi, eh!" This time, I slapped his hand holding my right arm, but it wasn't hard enough for him to let my arm go. Unti-unti na ring nagtinginan ang mga tao sa gawi namin kaya nakakahiya.

"I said you'll come with me so you'll come with me, okay?!" he said while looking into my eyes. "Tara sa kotse."

"Masakit nga sabi, eh!! Ano bang problema mo?!" Tinigilan ko ang paghila ng braso ko dahil namumula na ito sa pagkakakapit niya. I gazed around and saw Wilbert making his way towards us.

"You can't say anything against me, Tristan. You're my slave!" He yelled, making the people around us watch us with shocked, widened eyes.

"Pare, ano ba 'yan?" tanong ni Wilbert at sinubukang pabitawin ang kamay ni Luke sa akin.

"Matagal nang tapos 'yong kontrata, Luke! I no longer work for you." Sa pagkakasabi kong 'yon ay napabitaw siya sa akin nang mayroong nanlalaking mata. Inuna ko munang alalahanin ang sarili ko at sinuri ang aking braso kong namumula. Pagbalik ng tingin ko kay Luke ay hindi pa rin siya nakakapagsalita.

"Ano? Tapos na, Luke. We're done. The contract is done. Leave us alone in," all I said before Wilbert, and I left him there standing.

We got back on our way to the canteen and noticed people making way for us. Mga tsismoso at tsismosa talaga. Walking over to the canteen counter, I felt Wilbert's hand intertwined with mine, that I accepted.

"Isang burger at mountain dew," I ordered and gazed at Wilbert. "Anong sa 'yo?"

"Make it two," aniya sa tindera saka kinuha at nagbayad. My eyes started searching for a vacant seat until I settled on the far side of the canteen. Where no one's around, just the two of us.

Sitting down, I took a full bite of my burger and looked at Wilbert.

"Why did he acted like that?" Wilbert asked, referring to Luke, probably.

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Hindi ko rin alam sa isang 'yon, may tama ata sa utak." Sabay kaming natawa.

"Nakapag-note ka na ba?" tanong niya habang kinukuha ang malaking libro sa bag, ballpen at notebook.

"Hindi pa," I replied and got mine.

Buong time ng lunch ay nasa dulo kami ng cafeteria para magsulat ng notes. Sometimes, I would steal glanced at Wilbert while his brows were knotted, biting the tip of his pen and reading the book in front of him. Napapailing at ngiti na lang ako dahil sa hinayupak na ito.

When the clock hit 1 PM, Wilbert and I were able to finish our history notes. We bid goodbyes by kissing each other's cheeks.

"Hintayin mo 'ko sa tapat ng bench ng room n'yo, I'll pick you up," Wilbert whispered to my ear before we parted ways. The afternoon classes went by just like normal, ang kaso wala si Luke dahil umalis na ata.

Our class dismissal was early, so I waited for Wilbert on the stone bench alone. Pinanood ko lang ang mga estudyanteng labas-pasok sa mga silid nila hanggang sa tumungtong na ang alas kwatro y medya ng hapon, nakita kong naglalakad na patungo si Wilbert sa akin.

I stood from the bench and walked towards him, hugging his body when I got closer. Mas humigpit ito nang ako naman ang niyakap niya.

"Ano, tara?" nakangiti niyang tanong. Pinagsalikop muna namin ang kamay naming dal'wa bago naglakad patungo sa nakaparada niyang sasakyan.