VALENTINO SERIES 2: TO TAME HIS HEART

Kabanata 18

Georgia

I stared at my phone as it continued to ring. Boyd has been calling me since I let Tarlac but I never answered any of his calls. Pati si kuya Russia ay tinatanong na niya kung bakit hindi ako sumasagot sa mga tawag niya.

I know my brother had already figured out that something was going on between me and his best friend but kuya Israel promised not to tell kuya Russia the reason why I have to distance myself from Boyd.

Kuya Russia will be home in a few days. Siguradong tatanungin ako no'n pati ng tungkol sa pagpapa-cancel ko ng debut celebration ko. He surely thinks it was an odd decision but I don't know. I just don't want to do it anymore kasi hindi ko na pwedeng imbitahan si Boyd.

I sighed while staring at my phone. Namatay ang tawag ngunit ilang segundo lamang ay muling nag-ring ang phone ko. Again, I just stared at the screen while my heart sinks. Hindi ko gustong i-ignore si Boyd ng ganito pero kailangan kaya kahit masakit ay idinapa ko ang cellphone ko saka ako nahiga sa kama.

School is about to resume tomorrow. Siguradong nakabalik na si Boyd sa dorm niya. I have to ask kuya Israel to give me a ride to the university tomorrow. Hindi na ako pwedeng sumabay kay Boyd ngayon kahit na sunduin pa niya ako.

Pinilit kong matulog. I woke up the next day with low energy. Ni wala akong ganang mag-effort sa make up at damit ko. I just wore a boring top and a pair of jeans. My hair was on a messy bun and there's nothing on my face but some tinted sunscreen.

Napakunot ng noo si kuya Russia nang pumasok ako sa kusina. I went to give him a kiss on his cheek while my other two brothers were busy with their breakfast.

"What time did you come home?" I asked, trying to act in a casual way.

"Around four AM lumapag ang eroplano kanina. I met up with Boyd and got home around six. Aren't you going to school?" he asked. Nakasunod ang tingin sa akin.

Umiwas na ako ng tingin at nagpanggap na abala masyadong gumawa ng latte. "Papasok."

"Then what's with your outfit today?" si Rocco. "Doesn't seem like you at all."

"Well, I didn't have enough sleep last night so I'm not in the mood to spend a couple of hours trying to look good." Isinalpak ko ang portafilter sa espresso machine. "Mind your own business."

"Sungit," Rocco murmured.

Nilingon ko siya't tinaasan ng kilay. Sinipat naman ni kuya Russia sa braso nang hindi na ako asarin.

Kuya Russia looked at me. "Boyd was asking about you. Care to share something your big brother was supposed to know, hmm?"

"Nothing to share other than I am not in the mood to answer anyone's calls?" sagot ko.

Tinaasan ako ni kuya Russia ng kilay. "And what put you in such a mood, hmm? Considering how much of an extrovert you are?"

"I'm not an extrovert. I just like hanging out with my friends. There's a difference. My social battery also runs out, you know."

"I don't believe you. There's definitely something going on."

Nagkatinginan kami ni kuya Israel habang abalang uminom ng kape si kuya Russia. As if he knew I needed his help, he cleared his throat and straightened his back before he stole kuya Russia's attention.

"Speaking of Boyd, a friend of mine wants to book a tattoo session. I said you didn't pursue your hobby anymore so maybe Boyd can do it instead." Uminom si kuya Israel sa tasa. "Do you think he can do geometric tattoos?"

"That's his specialty. I'll give him a ring and ask him if he's free."

Tuluyan nang kinagat ni kuya Russia ang pag-agaw ni kuya Israel ng atensyon niya. I drank my latte and waited for kuya Israel to finish his breakfast. Nang tumayo siya ay nauna na akong lumabas ng kusina.

"He wants to take you to school," balita ni kuya Israel nang makalabas kami ng bahay.

"And what did you say?"

"I said I'll give you a ride instead so he can rest." Ipinagbukas niya ako ng pinto. "Get in."

Pumasok ako sa loob at hinintay siyang makasakay. We left a few moments later. Ngunit pagkalabas ng gate ay nakasalubong namin si Boyd na nakamotorsiklo. Mukhang balak akong sunduin kaya binusinahan na ni kuya Israel.

I felt guilty but I resisted the urge to ask kuya Israel to stop the car. Lalo lamang tuloy bumagsak ang enerhiya ko. Ni hindi ko nagawang pansinin ang friends ko pagdating sa school.

Everyone was talking about their fancy vacations while I stayed in one corner and pretended to sleep. May ilang sinubukang istorbohin ako ngunit tinarayan ko nang lubayan ako.

My phone buzzed. Kinuha ko iyon sa bag at tiningnan ang mensaheng natanggap.

Boyd: Sorry, na-late ako kanina. Aagahan ko na lang ang pagsundo sa'yo mamaya diyan sa uni. Miss na kita, George.

I pursed my lips and immediately hid my phone again. Natatakot akong kung tumagal pa ang titig ko sa chat niya ay matalo ako ng pagka-miss ko sa kanya. God knows how much I miss that man. Pero kung hindi ko gagawin 'to ay masasaktan lamang din namin ang isa't isa balang araw.

Mas mabuti nang masaktan ngayon. Kung kailan hindi pa ganoon kalalim ang namamagitan sa amin.

"Georgia, wanna come with us?" tanong ni Grethel sa akin nang matapos ang huli naming klase.

I shook my head. "Nah, my brother Russ is home. I'll have some flying lessons," I lied. Tumayo na rin ako't isinuot ang bag. "I gotta go."

"Wait!" habol niya. "Can we come with you instead? You know, just wanna say hi to your brother."

I rolled my eyes. "No. He's not into girls younger than him. Mamumuti muna ang mga mata no'n bago pumatol sa mas bata. Bye."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin niya. I stormed out of the room and messaged kuya Israel. Nagsabi akong tapos na ang klase kaya lang ay mukhang busy pa siya dahil hindi ako sinagot kaya wala akong choice kun'di mag-taxi na lang. Ayaw ko na rin namang tawagin si kuya Russia o kaya ay ang family driver. Siguradong aabutin pa ng siyam-siyam bago ako makauwi. I really want to go home as soon as possible.

Kalalabas ko lang ng gate nang mapahinto pagkatapos naming magkatinginan ni Boyd. He's leaning on his motorbike while looking at every student coming out of the gate. Nang magkatinginan kami ay kaagad siyang tumayo. Napako naman ako sa kinatatayuan ko't hindi alam ang gagawin.

"George," may lambing niyang tawag bago ako nginitian. "Na-miss kita. Hindi mo sinasagot mga tawag ko."

My heart pounced. I missed him, too. God, I missed him, too but we can't keep doing this anymore.

Umiwas ako ng tingin habang kaya ko pang gawin iyon. "What are you doing here? Hindi ko naman sinabing sunduin mo ako."

"Pero gusto kitang sunduin. Ganito naman bago tayo pumunta ng Tarlac." He reached for my hand. "Halika na. Malapit nang mag-traffic sa dinadaanan natin."

I wanted to take my hand back and tell him to get lost. Pero isang hagod lang niya ng hinlalaki sa likod ng palad ko ay nanghina kaagad ang depensa ko. My longing for him made it even harder to resist his presence. Pakiramdam ko kaunti pa ay matatalo na ako ng kagustuhan kong makasama siya.

"Georgia," tawag ng pamilyar na boses.

Kuya Israel walked towards our direction. Napabitiw ako sa pagkakahawak ni Boyd nang makalapit sa amin ang kapatid ko. He took my bag and gave Boyd a nod before he held me by my arm.

"Halika na. Naghihintay si Rocco. I still have to pick him up," he said.

"Bro, ako na maghahatid kung pwede-"

"It's not safe, Boyd. Nandito na rin naman ako. Ako na ang bahala sa kapatid ko," putol ni kuya Israel sa sinasabi ni Boyd bago niya ako hinatak palapit sa sasakyan.

I looked back and saw Boyd walking towards his motorbike. Nanikip ang dibdib ko nang makita kung gaano kalungkot ang mukha niya. It was like he could feel that I'm really distancing myself. Nasasaktan ko na siya kahit hindi ko pa direktang sinasabing hindi na kami pwede. Paano ko pa sasabihin iyon nang harap-harapan kung ngayon pa lang ay ganito na ang kirot na nararamdaman ko?

"Would you rather let him take you home, Gia?" tanong ni kuya Israel nang makapasok ng sasakyan. He probably felt sorry now that he's seeing the pain written in my eyes.

Humugot ako ng hininga't iniling ang aking ulo kahit na nasasaktan ako.

"No, kuya." I swallowed the lump in my throat before I gave my brother a broken smile. "This is the r-right thing to do . . ."

Napabuntonghininga na lamang ang kapatid ko saka na niya pinaandar ang kotse, ngunit nang makaalis kami sa harap ng university ay napansin kong bumuntot sa amin si Boyd. He didn't stop tailing us until we got home. Pagkapasok namin ng gate ay nag-chat siya sa akin.

Boyd: Sorry. Gusto lang kitang ihatid kahit hindi kita angkas. Uwi na ko, George. I miss you.

I pursed my lips as pain struck my heart. Ibinaba ko ang bintana at pinakinggan ang tunog ng papalayong motorsiklo ni Boyd.

My tears began to build up in the corners of my eyes as I read his chat again.

Oh God, please help me unlove this man kasi hindi ko po 'to kayang mag-isa . . .