Heart Beats Again

Safe Drive

[Lea's POV]

Hindi ko masyadong narinig kung ano 'yung sinabi ni Eion dahil biglang nagsitayuan ang mga tao at naghiyawan. The match is over, panalo ang Maroon Kicks.

"Ano 'yun, Eion?" Nakaawang ang labi niya at napailing. "I-i'm passionate about you... and our friends. Kahit may attitude ako minsan, I care for everyone." Tukoy niya sa mga kaibigan namin. Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti. If there's something I like about Eion, is that he's genuine and sincere when it comes to his words. Though, it's rare for him to be sweet.

Matapos ang pingpong match ng favorite team namin ay agad na kaming dumiretso ng Mpaya para mag-lunch.

"The f**k?" Mura ni Ron matapos siya naming sikuhin ni Pierce.

"Stop whistling," suway namin. This mad d**k would get us into trouble. There are a lot of attractive and high-class girls dining in. We don't want them to think that as Ron's friends, we are tolerating his perverted acts.

"Ba't hindi ka matino, Ron?" Inosenteng tanong sa kanya ni Eve. Kahit ako ay nagtataka rin. Ron looks innocent with his light brown hair and thin, pale face.

"It runs in the blood," ngisi niya. We've met his brothers and they are all jerks just like him. They have this playboy aura and flirty smiles. Nakilala namin sila nung nag-lunch kami sa bahay nila Ron nung Sports Week noong grade 8 pa lang kami.

We all ordered the same meal. Fried chicken and pasta, and oh gosh, I feel quite embarrassed to sit with Ron right now.

"Ron, please f*****g behave." Mariing suway ni Pierce. He keeps giving hand signs to the girls sitting right next to us and it's annoying.

"Can't help it. The girls love me."

"You're making me sick." Eion frustratedly sighed before standing up.

"Sa'n ka?"

"Comfort room," maikling sagot niya bago dumiretso na ng banyo.

Tumingin ako may Ron at nakatulala lang ito habang pinaglalaruan ang pendant ng kanyang kwintas.

"Hey," tawag ko sa atensyon niya at tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Sa tingin mo, ano ang mga type ni Eion sa babae?" Napasimangot ako nung malakas siyang tumawa matapos ko siyang tanungin. What's so funny about that?

"Pfft– don't tell me you're starting to fall for Nathaniel?" Namimitik-mitik ang mata ko sa kanyang tanong at sarkastiko ko siyang nginitian.

"He's my friend, you i***t, why would I fall for him? Si Eli, kapatid ni Cy ang may gusto sa kanya."

"Ah," napatango silang lahat including Pierce and Eve. Do they also think that I fell for Eion?

"You're seriously naive, Lea. You don't know anything about Eion." Pinatong ni Ron ang magkabilang siko niya sa mesa at mataman niya akong tinitigan.

"Really? Said the one who knows everything about Eion," I sarcastically replied.

"Mga type ni Eion ay 'yung mga mahilig din sa sports, hindi lang naglalaro ha, 'yung passionate talaga. 5'4 ang height, grabi kung kumain, mahilig sa japanese products, at ang klase ng babae na hinding-hindi siya magugustuhan."

"Seryoso ka ba diyan? Why would Eion fall for someone who can't love him back?"

"Exactly my question and a question you should also be asking yourself. You also fell for someone who can never be with you. I guess people tend to love someone they could never have."

Honestly, sapul na sapul ako roon. His words were spot on and annoyingly stings to the bone.

"Iyung ideal girl ni Eion parang marami kaming common. Hindi sa nag-aassume ako ha pero 'yun kasi nararamdaman ko. I mean, 5'4 din height ko."

"Parang lang."

"Yeah, parang lang." Magkasabay na dagdag ni Pierce at Eve.

"Hindi mo sure," kibit-balikat ni Ron. Pinanliitan ko sila ng mata dahil sa kakaiba nilang pagsagot. Nagtinginan din silang tatlo na parang they're hinting someone and I feel like i'm the only one who doesn't have any idea.

"Seriously guys, ano ba? Are you talking about a particular person? Ako lang ba ang hindi nakakakilala sa kinagugustuhan ni Eion?"

"H-hindi naman pero nakikita kasi namin na naa-attract siya sa mga ganoong klaseng babae. Like kanina, sa pingpong, nakita mo naman siguro kung paano tumitig si Eion sa player ng VVC."

Nagdadalawang-isip ako kung sasabihin ko ba kay Eli 'yung impormasyong nalaman ko. Kilala ko siya at takot ako na baka baguhin niya ang sarili niya para lang magustuhan siya ni Eion.

"You're overprotective, Eion. I can just call Mom's driver. May pupuntahan ka pa diba?"

"Cy's place is just few kilometers away. I'll just drop you and proceed to my aunt's house blessing."

"Sure ka?" Pagkompirma ko at agad namang sumungit ang mukha niya. I guess I don't have a choice.

Umuulan pa rin at ilang ulit ko pang kailangang suwayin si Eion dahil sa bilis ng kanyang pagpapatakbo.

"Slow down, ang dulas kaya ng daan."

"This is my slow down, Lea. You're panicking like a freshly caught fish, it's distracting." Napatili ako dahil mas bumilis pa ang takbo ng sasakyan.

"Don't put us in danger, you moron. Ayoko pang mamatay!" Kasabay ng pagsigaw ko ay ang pagtunog ng kulob na may kasamang kidlat na mas lalo kong ikina-panic.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at hindi ko maiwasang hampasin siya dahil sa kanyang pagngisi.

"You think it's funny? Huh?"

"Yeah, you know i'll keep you safe with any means necessary. Kanina lang may pasabi ka pa na i'm safe being around you. I'll safely deliver you to Cy... no matter what." Halos pabulong na sambit niya sa mga huling salita.

Hindi na ako nagsalita o kumontra pa kahit na mabilis pa rin ang kanyang pagpapatakbo. Ini-hook ko na lang ang seatbelt ko at mahigpit na humawak sa grab handle as I secretly pray for our lives.

"Thanks for the safety ride." Sarkastiko akong ngumiti bago bumaba nung makahinto na ang kanyang sasakyan sa harap mismo ng gate nina Cy.

Tumayo ako sa gilid at kumaway. I was waiting for him to leave but I got confused when he went out of his car.

"May nakalimutan ka ba?–" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hindi na napagpatuloy pa ang sasabihin ko nung makaramdam ng mainit na labi na dumampi sa kaliwang pisngi ko. Mas napaestatwa ako nung marinig ang pagbukas ng gate sa mismong likuran ko.