VALENTINO SERIES 2: TO TAME HIS HEART

Kabanata 20

Georgia

Mahigit isang buwan nang bumubuntot si Boyd sa amin tuwing ihahatid-sundo ako ni kuya Israel. He would stay outside for a few minutes just to wait for me to peek. Para bang kahit hindi ko siya pansinin ay sapat na sa kanya na makita niya ako.

"Miss Valentino, are you listening to me?" agaw ni Prof. Gabriel sa atensyon ko.

I inhaled a sharp breath and nodded. "Yes, Prof."

Her brow shot up. "Mind sharing your thoughts about the topic?"

Tumayo ako. Most of my classmates didn't even mind looking at me as if they don't think I have the brains to make a good statement. Yes, I was spacing out earlier but the topic is too easy for me not to get it.

"I don't think we should only base our judgements from a survey that only included a small portion of the population. Dysfunctional family or not, every family is unique. We're not raised in the same household, taught the same values, and treated the same way. There are . . ." Lumunok ako. "There are people who came from a dysfunctional family who became abusive, cycle repeaters and the likes while there are people who . . ." My chest hurt when I remembered Boyd. "There are people who choose to become better. More gentle because their pain made them understand that the world needs more good people. They work on themselves because they didn't want their own kids to be a reflection of themselves so no. I disagree that someone who came from a dysfunctional family will also build a dysfunctional family. Life is . . . a matter of choices. It's for us to decide whether we'll be like our care givers or not."

She nodded. "Look who's finally sticking her nose on her textbooks? Fifteen points. Good answer. Anybody else who wanna share their thoughts?"

I took my seat. Siniko ako ni Grethel habang nakangisi. "Where did that come from?"

"I studied."

She lifted a brow. Parang ayaw maniwala. Hindi ko naman pipilitin.

Wala akong ganang sumama sa mga gala nila. My energy was so low so I spend most of my time browsing my notes. Halos ayaw kong hawakan ang phone ko kapag nasa bahay na dahil baka kung ma-trigger ako ay i-chat ko si Boyd.

Nilunod ko ang sarili sa pag-a-advance study. Somehow, I started appreciating the art of learning. Minsan ay sumasama ako kay kuya Russia para mag-aral kung paano magpalipad ng helicopter. Kapag nasa bahay naman ay nagpapaturo ako sa kusinera ng ilang putahe. Kung minsan naman ay pinag-aaralan ko ang iba pang gawaing bahay.

Everyone at home always looks at me as if I've been possessed or something. Hindi ko na lang pinapansin dahil wala naman akong ganang magpaliwanag.

They will not understand why I want to learn basic household chores. Siguro kahit hindi ko naman aminin sa sarili ko ay nasaktan ako na ipinamukha sa akin ng nanay ni Boyd na hindi ako tatagal sa mundo nila kasi wala akong alam.

"Sama ka naman! Ron is asking us to bring you to the club," pangungumbinsi ng isa sa common friends namin ni Ron.

I grunted. "Please, stop pushing me to that guy. I don't like him anymore." Isinuot ko na ang bag ko. "I have to go. See you on Monday."

Gaya ng palagi kong ginagawa ay iniwanan ko na sila nang hindi hinihintay ang sasabihin nila. I walked out of the room and headed straight to the gate. Gaya ng inaasahan ay naroroon na naman si Boyd. Nakasandal siya sa motorsiklo niya habang nakapikit.

Napatigil ako sa paghakbang at tinitigan siya. He looks unwell. Parang namumutla. Is he okay?

"Georgia," tawag ni kuya Israel na naghihintay sa akin.

Mukhang narinig ni Boyd ang pagtawag sa akin ni kuya. He opened his eyes and immediately stood up. Nginitian niya ako ngunit umiwas kaagad ako ng tingin.

I walked towards my brother's car. Gaya ng inaasahan ay bumuntot na naman sa amin si Boyd. I couldn't help but watch him through the side mirror. Parang gumigewang ang motor niya. Panay rin ang yuko na tila nahihirapang magmaneho.

"May lagnat."

Napabaling ako kay kuya Israel nang marinig ang sinabi niya. "What?"

He glanced at me while he's keeping one hand on the steering wheel. "I approached him earlier when I noticed him having a hard time standing still. Inaapoy ng lagnat. Pinauuwi ko na pero ayaw talaga."

My heart pounced. Muli kong sinilip si Boyd sa side mirror. Maya-maya ay napasinghap na lamang ako nang matumba ang motorsiklo niya. Wala siyang tinamaan pero kitang-kita ko ang pagbagsak niya sa kalsada.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Kuya!"

My brother immediately pulled over. Sabay kaming lumabas ng kotse at pinuntahan si Boyd. Nadaganan ng motor niya ang kanang binti niya. He groans in pain while laying on the asphalt road.

"Boyd!" sigaw ko. I went on my knees and removed his helmet. Paghawak ko pa lang sa pisngi niya ay halos mapamura na ako. Ang taas-taas ng lagnat niya!

He struggled to open his eyes. Nang makita ako ay gumuhit ang pagod na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"George . . ." hirap niyang tawag.

Kuya Israel parked Boyd's motorcycle on the side of the road before he went back to us. Tinulungan niya akong akayin si Boyd patungo sa sasakyan. Nang maisakay si Boyd sa backseat ay bababa sana ako para pumwesto sa harapan ngunit hinawakan ni Boyd ang braso ko.

My heart swelled when I saw his pleading eyes. Para bang gustong magmakaawang tabihan ko na lamang siya.

Sandaling nagtalo ang puso't isip ko. I sighed before I sat next to him and shut the door. Sumakay naman si kuya Israel sa harap at muling pinatakbo ang sasakyan.

I didn't say a word but Boyd slowly entwined our fingers. Lalong nanikip ang aking dibdib dahil sa ginawa niya. I could feel his longing for me. Nami-miss ko rin siya pero hindi ko pwedeng ipakita dahil magkakasakitan lamang kami sa huli. Baka kung lumalim pa ang mayroon kami ay mas maging masakit sa amin ang hinaharap.

I pursed my lips when Boyd caressed the back of my palm with his thumb. Bahagya rin siyang sumandal sa aking ulo kasabay ng paghugot niya ng hininga.

"Na-miss kita, George . . ." bulong niya.

Humugot ako ng matalim na hininga. "You're sick. You should've stayed home."

Umiling siya. "Gusto kitang ihatid-sundo."

"But you're sick--"

"May sakit o wala, mamamatay na o hindi, ihahatid-sundo kita." Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga't hinaplos ang likod ng aking palad. "Ihahatid-sundo kita . . ."

My chest tightened and the corners of my eyes started to burn. Bakit ba ang kulit nito? Why can't he be like other guys? Iyong kapag hindi mo na pinansin ng ilang araw ay kusa nang aayaw sa'yo? Why does he have to be this faithful? Bakit kailangan niyang mag-effort nang ganito kahit hindi ko siya pinapansin?! It's been over a month already?! Why can't he just get tired of my treatment?!

"George . . ." tawag niya.

I sniffed. "What?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry kung . . . may naging pagkukulang ako kaya ayaw mo na."

Nagkatinginan kami ni kuya Israel. Siguro ay narinig niya ang sinabi ni Boyd. There was a hint of pain in my brother's eyes. Para bang naaawa sa akin dahil nagluluha na ang mga mata ko.

Nilunok ko ang namuong bara sa aking lalamunan. "Wala kang ginawa. I just . . . don't want to continue what we had so please, itigil mo na ang pag-aabang sa akin--"

"Hindi ko kaya 'yan, Georgia Valentino." He gently squeezed my hand as his adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Hindi kita kayang sukuan . . ."

My tears fell as I stared at him. Nakapikit ang mga mata niya at salubong ang kanyang mga kilay dahil iniinda ang sakit. Nagpapawis din ang noo at namumutla ang balat. He's already in so much pain, pero bakit ganoong bagay pa rin ang lumalabas sa bibig niya? Bakit?! Do I even deserve this?

Napahikbi ako. "Just stop. Please . . ."

Boyd pursed his lips and gently shook his head. Maya-maya ay inianggulo niya ang kanyang ulo upang mapatakan ng halik ang aking noo.

Napahikbi na lamang ako nang maramdaman ang kanyang mga labi sa aking balat. Oh, God please, please help me resist this man because my defense is about to crumble . . .