Chapter 6.2 Hold-up
Matt’s POV
Nakonsensya ko sa ginawa ko kay Leighton. Akala ko kasi ihahatid siya ngayon ni Ace kaya hindi ko siya pinansin nung uwian na. Tapos maglalaro pa kasi dapat kami nila Enrique ng Baseball. Pero hindi naman natuloy.
Oo, sports club member na ko and I’m good with Enrique now. Nakaganti naman na ko sa kanya. After kasing umalis nila Leighton kahapon, I got into a fight with Ric. Napikon talaga ko sa sobrang disaster na ginawa nila sa Music Room at sinaktan pa niya si Leighton. Pero hindi kami nakatakas sa punishment ng principal.
Nakarating sa principal yung nagyari dahil kay Ace at sa isang babae pa daw na kasama niya. You may think na that is the reason why I get mad at Leighton kasi inakala kong siya yung kasama ni Ace, pero hindi talaga. Actually, kaming dalawa lang naman ni Ric ang pinarusahan pati sila Aldrin. Pero hindi kami na-suspend. Kaya wala talaga akong karapatang magalit kay Leighton.
Kay Ace ako naiinis. Pumapapel kasi siya masyado. At yung kay Leighton naman, it was all just an act. I sensed kasi that she will be with Ace the whole day again so I tried to avoid her. Again, dahil sa inis ko kay Ace. Since I know na hindi siya matitinag sa basta ganun ganun lang na pag-iwas, I dared telling her profane words that will hurt her. Kaya yun nga ang nagyari.
Pero hindi ko pa rin siya natiis. Nung nalaman ko na hindi pala siya ihahatid ni Ace at hindi kami natuloy na maglaro ng baseball, sinundan ko siya with my car. Nag-sisisi talaga ko sa mga sinabi ko sa kanya. Kasi habang pinagmamasdan ko siya na naglalakad, nakatulala lang siya na parang malalim ang iniisip.
She didn’t even notice my car just a few meters behind her. Tsaka nagtaka din pala ako kung bakit hindi siya sumakay ng tricycle pauwi. Ang dilim pa naman na at mag-isa lang siyang naglalakad.
Maya-maya pa, lumiko siya sa isang kanto. Napansin kong biglang bumilis yung lakad niya habang nakahinto lang ako sa may kanto with my head lights off. Syempre mapapansin niya ko pag naka-on ang ilaw. Natatakot siguro siya kasi madilim kaya ang bilis ng lakad niya.
I sighed and ask myself, why am I putting so much effort and importance on her?
May something talaga kay Leighton na hindi ko maipaliwanag.
Pero I think it’s more on being guilty and feeling responsible of her loneliness.
Hindi kasi siya actually yung taong babalewalain ka lang. I guessed she loves her friends so much and she’s very soft when it comes to dealing with the other people. Happy go lucky siya at parang kaibigan niya ang lahat. Maybe that’s the reason kaya ayaw niyang may nagagalit sa kanya.
Maya-maya pa, nakita ko siyang lumingon ditto sa gawi ko. Tapos para bang may hinahanap siya na ewan. Nagtaka ako kung bakit ganon. Pero natawa rin ako kasi para siyang paranoid na natatakot. Haha! Well, hindi ko naman siya masisisi kasi gabi na at mag-isa lang siya—alam niya sa sarili niyang mag-isa siya ngayon pero andito lang ako sa likod niya, nakaalalay, at babantayan siya hanggang sa makauwi siya ng ligtas.
I know. I look like a stalker. Pero I realized that if I’m ging to show right now, she would just ignore me. After all what I did to her this day, I don’t think she would have the guts to talk to me. She was clearly hurt and I’m not oblivious with that.
I snap back to reality and saw her running to this way. She was running and breathing hard that as if someone’s coming for her behind. And then when she passes by the street light, I saw a man with a dagger behind her.
Fear struck me and I can see she was shouting dreadfully. So I scramble on my seat and accelerated against her direction with my head lights blinding on.
I hit the brakes harder when I came almost a few meters before her. Out of fear she fell on her knees even I wasn’t so close to hitting her. The man behind her stop and he was now dragging her away.
Nagmadali ako at kinuha ko yung baseball bat ko sa likod.
Pagbaba ko,nagpanggap ako na hindi ko siya kilala which I know was half true with her because she was looking wide eyes open on me in shock.
“Miss, okay ka lang ba?”
She shakes her head terribly tapos nakita ko yung balisong na hawak nung lalaki na nakatapat sa leeg ni Leighton habang nakaupo parin siya sa kalsada. Kinabahan ako bigla at napalunok ako.
“Oo, pre, okay lang. Pauwi na sana kami kaso muntik mo na siyang masagasaan.” My body went rigid from what he said.
“Ganun ba,” I paused, helping Leighton to stand, hoping that she finally recognized my face.
“Pasensya na ha,” I added, clutching the baseball bat tight behind me.
“Walang anuman—
*BOOGSH*
Pinalo ko ng baseball bat sa ulo yung lalaki with my full force which send him wincing on the ground in pain.
“Takbo dali!” I grab Leighton’s hand and we ran back to my car.
I shove her inside the passenger seat with the baseball bat and then I get inside and drove off out their village.
My heart was beating fast.
I was afraid that my hit would eventually kill that man, but I just hope it wouldn’t.
“Are you okay?” Tinanong ko si Leighton na nakatulala pa rin.
Alam kong gusto niya ng umiyak dahil sa sobrang takot at tension kaya hindi ko muna siya kinausap for another minuteto catch her breath and go back to reality.
And then later on, she buried her face on her hands and burst out crying.
I told her softly, “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe here.”
Dinala ko siya sa isang park, kung saan makakahinga siya ng maluwag with fresh air. Bumili muna ko ng burger and drinks. Tapos pagbalik ko, nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa isang swing na umiiyak pa rin. Good thing na kami na lang ang nandito ngayon kasi gabi na. 7:05 na sa watch ko. Pero hindi ko naman siya pwedeng iuwi na ganyan ang hitsura niya. For sure magtataka ang mommy niya o kung sino mang aabutan namin sa bahay nila. Kaso, mas mag-aalala yun kung gabi na makakauwi si Leighton.
“Kumain ka muna,” Inabot ko sa kanya yung mga binili ko pero umiling lang siya. May tumutulo paring luha sa mga mata niya.
I just sighed and sit on the other swing beside her.
She sobbed. A lot.
“Kung ayaw mo ng pagkain, atleast take this one.” I gave her a hankie then. Kasi basang basa na yung panyo niya eh. Kanina pa talaga siya umiiyak.
“Thanks,” She mumbled. For the first time tonight, she spoke to me.
“No problem. It’s my way of making it up to you. I—uh—about earlier this day…I’m sorry.”
She wiped her tears and sobs more.
Naiiyak ba siya dahil doon?!
Damn it. I really feel guilty.
“Lei, stop crying—
She forced a smile. “Akala ko hindi mo na ko kakausapin eh,” she paused and cried more tears, “Akala ko din hindi ko na kayo makikita. Kakaiba talaga yung naramdaman ko kanina. I felt my world crashing down. Everything’s a blur. I thought it was my end. I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to live any longer. I thought—
I embraced her tightly. “Sshh. You’re here right now with me, right? You don’t have to worry now. You’ll come home soon. But if you don’t stop crying there, your eyes will swell and you can’t go home with that look. Do you want me to leave you here alone?”
She shook her head and she pulls away with a chuckle.
“Thanks a lot, Matt. Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko kung hindi ka dumating. Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano ako kasaya nung nakita kita kanina. Hindi lang talaga ako makapag-react kasi…natatakot ako.”
I laugh at her. Para siyang bata. Haha!
Then she snatch the bottle of water na pinatong ko sa tabi ko.
She gulp a lot. Uhaw na uhaw siya grabe. Dala na rin siguro ng tension sa nangyari sa kanya kanina.
“Sa sussunod kasi wag ka nang maglalakad pag madilim.” I scolded her.
“Sa susunod kasi wag ka nang magalit sakin. Naglakad lang naman ako kasi iniisip kita eh—
Haha! Tinakpan niya yung bibig niya na parang nagulat siya sa sinabi niya. At Nagulat din ako.
“For real?”
She nods, smiling shyly.
I pat her head saying, “You’re such a stubborn bitch.”
She pouted. “Ugh. Nasarapan ka sa pagtawag sakin niyan ah. Ang sama mo.”
I just laugh.
“Anyway, bakit ka nga pala naka-eyeglasses ngayon?” Tanong niya.
“Ah, ito ba.” I removed my eyeglasses and I move my gaze to her. “May napapansin ka ba?”
She narrows her gaze na parang kinikilatis yung mukha ko. “Oo. May napapansin ako.”
“Ano?”
Then she smiled.
“Ang gwapo mo.”
>,<
I know right. Haha!
She laughs.
“Ugh. Leighton, kahit naman hindi mo ko titigan ng ganyan obvious na gwapo ako eh. What I mean is that yung sugat sa gilid ng mata ko. Near my temples.” I complained.
She leans in and narrows her gaze at me again, then her mouth open, “Ah. Oo nga noh. Napano yan?”
“Ouch! Wag mo namang hawakan. Fresh pa yan. Kahapon lang yan eh. I got into a fight with Ric when you left.”
“Ay sorry. Talaga?” She sat back na parang nag-iisip ng malalim. Then she said, “May koneksyon ba yun kung bakit ka nagalit sakin?”
Exactly.
I mean, that’s exactly what I was avoiding her to know. Ayoko nang sabihin sa kanya kung bakit kasi baka mag-argue lang kami kung malalaman niya na kay Ace talaga ako naiinis. I know how she likes Ace so much that’s why she would probably defend his side. So I just say,
“Ah. Wala yun. I was just acting. Kasi ayokong malaman mo na nakipagbugbugan ako kay Ric kahapon. Alam ko kasing aasarin mo lang ako eh tsaka baka panggigilan mo yung sugat ko kaya lumayo muna ko.” I force a laugh and my bad that it was too awkward.
“Ganun ba,” she’s still confused and she rests her head dun sa chains ng swing.
“Oo. Ganun nga.” I answered confidently tapos kinain na namin yung mga burger namin habang nag-siswing.
Nanahimik muna kami for a while. Ang sarap kasi ng hangin eh. Tsaka nagpapahinga muna si Leighton. Hanggang ngayon kasi naririnig ko pa yung after shock ng sobs niya. Mukha namang hindi siya nag-woworry kung malilate siya ng uwi eh.
I just watch her swinging back and forth. Yung buhok niya hinahangin palikod. And I found a sudden tinge of strange feeling inside me. It couldn’t be a spark. I know. Because, I couldn’t totally like her any thing more than friends. Maybe it’s just the care we shared for each other for being friends. But it’s impossible that I will like her more than that.
Still, si Candice pa rin ang mahal ko.
Even we’re miles and miles away from each other, no other girl could ever replace her in my heart. She’s one of a kind. And I wouldn’t give her up just for this freakin distance between us.
“Matt?”
Leighton murmured, as soft as my sweet Candice’s tone. She really reminds me of my girlfriend. But, as always, I have to shake that thought out of my head.
“Hm?”
“Can you sing for me?”
There was a sudden piercing feeling in my heart. It was like a deja vu. And I felt my body tensed.
“What song?” I asked, shrugging off that weird thing.
“Any friendly song.”
“Okay. Like one by Bruno Mars?”
“Sure.”
And then I sang to her something in a happy tune by Bruno Mars.
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you
Find out what we're made of
What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there and I know when I need it
I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends
Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh
If you toss and you turn and you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you
Find out what we're made of
What we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there and I know when I need it
I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends
Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah
You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You can count on me like one, two, three
I'll be there and I know when I need it
I can count on you like four, three, two
And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends
Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh
You can count on me 'cause I can count on you...
Once she was swaying her head joyfully and now she rested it on my shoulder.
I can't believe she actually fell asleep with that song.
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a/n: Sorry kung pangit yung quality ng video. haha! wala na kasing ibang mv niyan eh.
I split this chapter into two pala. :)