Let Me See (Let Me Series)

Chapter 14

Gian and I were silent the whole ride papunta sa kung saang lupalop man naka-locate yung organization na sinasabi niya. Even if I wanted to ask him where we're going, there's no point naman kasi I won't be seeing the surroundings. So kung sakaling he's a kidnapper pala and he's actually bringing me to their hideout, hindi ko rin made-describe yung lugar.

When we finally came to a stop and I heard the engine stop, I figured we had already arrived at our destination. Narinig kong bumukas ang pintuan ng kotse and after a while, I smelled Gian's perfume beside me. He was sitting in front kasi kanina para maturo niya raw sa driver yung pupuntahan namin.

"We're here. Let's go?" tanong niya sa akin at ewan ko ba. Para akong kinabahan bigla.

"Can we just reschedule? I don't think I can do this yet," sagot ko naman sa kanya, not even bothering to hide the emotions I was feeling at that moment. Kahit kumunot man ang noo ko o ma-distort man ang buong mukha ko, I didn't care anymore. I just had to convey my emotions right now.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagbuntong-hininga ni Gian sa tabi ko. Maya-maya lang ay hinawakan naman niya ang kanang kamay ko. It wasn't really my intention to do so pero when his hand held mine, bigla ko na lang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak ko roon and it seemed like I didn't have the intention to let go.

"Aisleen, relax. Wala naman silang gagawing masama sa'yo. I'm here. I won't leave your side, okay?" Gian reassured me pero ewan ko ba. I still can't fully relax. Hindi ko kilala ang mga tao rito. What if they judge me? What if they give me certain looks because of my condition? Wala akong magagawa. Wala rin naman kasi akong makikita. I'm starting to hate my situation more and more because of this.

"Easy for you to say."

"My sister's inside as well. She's actually waiting for us. Tara na?" Kahit labag sa loob ko, wala na akong nagawa kung hindi sumama kay Gian. But the heck. Hindi naman ako na-inform na may meet the sister event pala ngayon! I should have been warned about this or something para na-prepare ko man lang yung sarili ko. Not that I was planning to make an awesome first impression sa kanya ha. Kasi, I mean, wala namang point for me to do so? Her brother's just helping me out and nothing more.

Pero 'yon nga lang ba talaga ang dahilan kaya ako nagkakaganito? A part of my brain asks.

Instead of focusing on it, I mentally shook my head and prepared myself for this encounter. I shouldn't keep my hopes too high about this meeting and about this organization. For all I know, this might be another failure in the making. My life has been a failure for the past few months and I don't think this day could ever save it.

Nagpaiwan na sa sasakyan si Kuya Dennis since kasama ko naman daw si Gian. I wanted to complain sana kaso ito namang si Gian, pumayag agad sa sinabi ni kuya. Kaya niya naman daw akong alagaan at hindi niya naman daw ako ipahahamak. If our maids were here, sa malamang, kinilig na ang mga 'yon dahil doon. But ibahin nila ako. Hindi ako marupok.

Okay, fine. Medyo bumilis yung tibok ng heart ko ro'n. Pero slight lang ah! And I would never admit that to anyone. Never as in never talaga!

"Huy, huminga ka nga. Nagiging violet ka na e," panloloko sa akin ni Gian. I did not bother to answer him though. Instead, kinurot ko siya nang pagkatindi-tindi. After a while, he kept on spouting curses again.

"Damn it, woman! Grabe kang mangurot!" reklamo niya nang makalayo na siya saglit sa akin. I had to stop the smirk that was forming on my lips because of that. Akala niya ba siya lang ang pwedeng mang-inis dito?

Nang maka-recover na si Gian sa pangungurot ko, he went back beside me. Hinigpitan niya na rin ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko para wala na raw akong way na kurutin siya. And with that, isang kalokohan na naman ang pumasok sa isip ko.