The Dark Side

Chapter 17

Mas lalong lumakas ang t***k ng puso ko nang makarating na kami sa bahay.

Nilaro ko muna ang mga daliri niya para mabawasan ang kaba pero mukhang walang epekto ito.

"Get some rest" he said bago ako halikan sa noo.

Pagkapasok ko ng gate walang tao so I thought I can finally walk in peace nang makasalubong ko si ate na palabas ng bahay. She is wearing a looses shirt and a leggings at mukhang nagmamadali ito.

Mukhang nagulat din siyang makita ako na napalitan ng pagkaseryoso.

"Sa'n ka galing?"

"Ma nandito na si Dayne!" sigaw niya sa loob.

She is eyeing me habang papasok ako sa loob.

Nagtama ang paningin namin ng kabababa na si mama.

"Sa'n ka galing?!" galit niyang sabi sa 'kin.

Tinabihan siya ni ate para pakalmahin.

"Bakit hindi ka nagpaalam kung saan ka pupunta? Nag aalala kami dito, pati sila Lily hindi alam kung nasaan ka!"

"Nasaan ang cellphone mo? Bakit hindi ka macontact?!"

Nakatingin ako sa baba habang nakikinig sa kaniya.

"Tumingin ka sa 'kin!"

Napatingin ako sa kaniya sa takot at sa gulat. She is panting habang nakahawak sa puso niya. Kaagad na dumaloy ang kaba sa dibdib ko.

"Ma"

My sister said while trying to calm mama.

"Ang papa mo kagabi sumugod sa malakas na ulan para hanapin ka nang malaman niya na hindi kayo magkasama nina Lily, kanina gumising siya ng maaga para hanapin ka din dahil hindi pa raw pwedeng ireport na missing hangga't walang 24 hours"

"S-sorry"

I feel bad for papa. Naramdaman ko ang luha sa gilid ng mata. Nang mag angat ako ng tingin mama is also crying.

"Bakit hindi nagpaalam?" she asked calmly.

Lumunok ako. Nagdadalwang isip ako kung sasabihin ko bang dahil anniversary namin ni Callen kaya gano'n at tsaka hindi ko naman alam na uulan ng malakas at hindi ako makakauwi kaya hindi na ako nagpaalam.

"Sumagot ka!"

I was about to answer when the door opened at iniluwa non si papa. I can already feel my legs being a jelly dahil sa kaba.

Sa dining kami nagusap when I said the reason, I saw how disappointed they are but gladly they let it pass.

"Magkatabi kayo natulog?" papa asked.

Napalunok ako.

This the first thing that he asked. While I was saying my reasons he is just silently listening.

Parang may nagbara sa lalamunan ko at nahirapan ako magsalita that's why I cleared my throat.

"Hindi pa...magkaiba kaming kwarto"

I lied.

Nakita ko ang nanliliit na mata ni ate na para bang hindi siya naniniwala sa 'kin.

"Sana true"

Tinignan ko siya ng masama.

"Kaya pala absent si gago,"

I heard ate but I am too tired to reply, physically and mentally, I don't think I can think straight right now.

"Maiwan ang cleaners" sabi ni ma'am bago lumabas ng room.

I gathered up my things and was about to leave when Lily get in my way.

Pumayat siya, you can see that she is stress. I suddenly feel the urge to ask her if she's okay but I stop myself for some reason.

She looks uneasy while I was waiting for her to talk. I saw on my peripheral vision that Matt took a glance at us.

I peeked at the hallway where Callen is waiting.

"Uh--"

"Saan ka galing noong isang araw?" she awkwardly said.

"Ano kasi, tinawagan ako ni tita hinahanap ka"

"Ano sa tagaytay lang...anniversary namin ni Callen"

The awkwardness is in the air.

Pakiramdam ko kahit magkaharap lang kami, malayo pa rin siya. We are not we used to before. I don't know, one day we wake up being busy with things and forgetting that we're friends, the three of us.

"Oo nga pala, belated happy anniversary sa inyo"

"Thanks"

But I admired her for being brave to talk to me despite that. The only difference is that no more funny jokes, we are not touchy anymore and from we looks like a mere classmates that talking about assignments.

Looks like she has a lot to say but she let me go. I glance at her for the last time and gave a half smile before walking away.

Sinalubong ako ng seryosong titig ni Callen.

"Hindi ka nagpaalam?" bungad na tanong niya sa'kin.

I stop. Nag iwas ako ng tingin.

"Sinabi sa 'yo ni ate?"

"Bakit hindi ka nagpaalam" he sounded mad.

"Hindi ko alam na gagabihin tayo okay, bakit ka nagagalit" kunot noo kong tanong.

"Ang sa'kin lang ano nalang sasabihin ng nila--"

"I already explain it to them, they understand okay"

Siguro.

He was about to say something pero inunahan ko siya.

"Pagtatalunan pa ba natin 'to?"

"Pe--"

"HINDI na"

Pinagsiklop ko ang mga kamay namin at nginitian siya.

"Let's go to your house, I'll explain to your parents--"

"Huwag na, nagexplain na nga ako, magpapaalam na ako next time, hmm sige na, let's go na"

My sister is there and I know she'll asked nonsense questions to him kaya mabuting huwag na lang.

Mukhang hindi siya convince sa sinabi ko kaya niyakap ko siya.

"Tara na kasi, tara na" pag-aamo ko.

My lips automatically formed a smile when I felt his large hand caressing my hair.

"Huwag mo ng uulitin"

Tumango ako at ngumuso, asking him to kiss me. He lean and give me what I want.

Better.

"Sino 'yan?" I said and tried to peeked at his phone but his reflexes are fast he moves a little bit that's why I didn't bother anymore.

We are currently near at the soccer field, kinuha ko ang bottles water at ininuman ito.

I saw how his eyes reads fast before sighing and look at me.

"Kailangan kong bumalik, nagkaproblema sa thesis namin"

Sumimangot ako nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Hindi pa tayo tapos kumain" I said but he didn't bother.

He get up and was about to leave when I speak.

"Sabi mo hahatid mo 'ko"

"Yeah babe sorry, kailangan naming ayusin 'yong thesis, doon nakasalalay ang grades namin at malapit na ang final defense"

He held my face and kiss my forehead.

"Hatid mo muna ako,"

He stop for a second.

What?

Come on, the past few days lagi ka nalang research.

"Dali na, wala akong kasama"

He sigh loudly. I heard a ting again coming through his phone. He is typing while his forehead furrowed. His phone tings nonstop but his expression remain the same, the only difference is that it gets deeper.

"Kailangan ko ng magmadali---"

"Yeah mga 15 minutes lang naman nasa bahay na namin, halika na maglakad na tayo para makabalik ka agad"

Kinuha ko ang pwedeng pang makain doon at nilagay sa bag ko before I intertwined our fingers and pulled him to the gate.

The whole ride he is looking at his phone typing which piss me off a bit.

"Kasama mo nga ako, 'yong isip mo naman nasa malayo" sabi ko pagkababa namin ng sasakyan.

"What?"

"Totoo naman,"

His phone tings but he didn't bother.

Tumagos ang tingin niya sa likod ko. Nang lingunin ko ito tinitignan niya pala ang mga tricycle driver at iilan na bumaba rin ng jeep gaya namin ang nakatingin sa amin.

Medyo napalakas yata ang boses ko. Dinala niya ako sa lugar na hindi masyadong dinadaanan ng mga tao.

"Ano nanaman 'yon," he said at hinarap ako

"Anong ano nanaman 'yon, bumalik ka na do'n, may thesis ka pa diba" I sarcastically said.

"Alam mong importante 'yon dahil grades and nakasalalay do'n"

He fix his glasses.

"And me? Hindi ba 'ko importante sayo? Parang paghatid lang, lagi ka nalang nando'n sa research mo"

I said, sulking.

"Hinatid na nga kita, ano pa bang gusto mo"

His forehead creased.

"Hinatid nga, hindi naman bukal sa loob"

I said and rolled my eyes.

He is taken aback. "It's because I feel bad for my groupmates--"

"So mas pinipili mo sila kesa sa 'kin?"

He stop and breathe for a while. I know that stares, he has a lot going on on his mind but he is choosing to stay silent.

Is it freaking hard to say no? So mas pinipili nga niya?

My anger started to boil.

"You are unbelievable" he finally speaks.

"YOU are unbelievable, porket na ka score ka na ha"

It just came out of my mouth.

"What?"

Now he is starting to get mad. I saw how his eyes turn into angry one even behind those glasses.

"Hindi kita pinilit" madiin niyang sabi.

He is now throwing intense glare at me.

"No one says na pinilit mo 'ko, kaya nga bumalik ka na do'n, balikan mo na ang groupmates mo" I said before walking out.

He let me leave. And it breaks my heart because I am hoping that he won't let me unless the problem is solved.

Mali ba 'ko?

Argh, I don't know anymore, I just want his attention!

Sinulyapan ko ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng table nagbabakasakaling nagmessage siya or what.

Kanina ko pa siya hinihintay magsorry or magmessage pero gabi na at wala pa rin!

My mood lit up when my phone tings, I quickly grab it but I got disappointed when the message is from our subject teacher, saying that there no class in his time tomorrow.

He did not really message me huh?

Another message came up. At halos mapasigaw ako nang makitang galing sa kaniya 'yon.

From; Callen babe

Nasa labas ako ng bahay niyo.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat kaya agad ako lumabas ng bahay para kompirmahin iyon. And to my suprise he is really there, still wearing a school uniform. He waved his phone.

I was about to leave the house, kahit naka pajama lang ako, nang makasalubong ko si papa. We both stay silent for a second.

"Gabi na"

Should I tell him? s**t. Pinagpawisan ako kahit mahangin sa labas.

"Nasa labas ang boyfriend niya pa" biglang sumulpot si ate.

Tinignan ako ni papa na parang nanghihingi ng explanation.

"Uhm, maguusap lang kami sandali pa"

My sister is distracting 'cause she is giving me a questioning look.

When he finally gave me a nod as a permission kaagad ko ng pinuntahan si Callen sa labas.

"Bakit ka nandito?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Galit ka pa din?"

Of course I am!

When he tried to move closer I step backward. I saw a glint of pain in his eyes kaya napalunok ako.

He massaged his temple, he took off his glasses and clean it using his shirt bago binalik uli iyon.

"Sorry na"

Can't believe that he really choose his groupmates over me. My pride hurt's as a girlfriend. Bahala siya edi doon na siya sa mga kagrupo niya tsk.

Nilagay niya sa harap ang bag niya at inilabas doon ang isang bulaklak.

I am surprised pero hindi ko iyon pinakita.

Inabot niya ito sa 'kin, tinignan ko muna siya ng matagal bago kinuha ito.

Sayang naman ang pinunta niya kung hindi ko 'to tatanggapin.

Infairness mabango siya.

May inilabas uli siya na maliit na paper bag at iniabot ito sa 'kin.

"Ano 'yan" taas kilay kong sabi.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at inilagay doon ang paper bag.

"Peace offering"

Nang silipin ko ang laman nito nanlaki ang mata at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa kaniya.

I saw him smile despite that tired eyes.

Ibinalik ko ang expression ko sa dati. Dapat galit ka Dayne!

But how can I resist this foods?

"Sorry na..."

Sa sobrang lambing ng pagkakasabi niya, pakiramdam ko matutunaw ako.

He reach for my hand at kinulong ako sa mga bisig niya.

When he kiss my forehead my tears started to flow. Para bang ang mga luha na kanina ko pa kinikimkim ay nagsilabasan lahat.

"Nakakainis ka, gusto lang naman kita makasama kasi namimiss na kita, hindi mo ba ako namimiss?"

"Of course I miss you, I'm sorry"

He brushed my tears using his thumb and kiss my eyes.

"Stop crying it's breaking my heart"