A Night with a Stranger

Chapter 8

"Atasha, wait." tawag ni Light kay Jam pero Hindi nakinig ang dalaga at patuloy lang siya sa kanyang paglalakad. Pero naabutan pa rin siya ng binata

"Atasha, hey. What is wrong? Why are you avoiding me? " he asked frustratingly.

"Hindi kita iniwasan Asher. I am just busy. " palusot ni Jam

"No. You are lying. You are avoiding me. What did I have done wrong? Tell me."

"Wala ,Asher. Mabuti pang lumayo ka na lang Muna sa akin."

"Why? Did they harass you?"

"No.. Ayaw ko lang na lumapit ka pa sa akin." pagsisinungaling niya. Kita niya ang sakit na bumadya sa mukha ng binata pero pinigilan niya lang ang kanyang emosyon at tinalikuran ang binata. Tama sila Alice. Sobrang tayog ni Light. Langit ito habang lupa naman siya. Sobrang layo ang agwat ng estado ng pamumuhay nila. Nakapasok nga lang siya sa paaralan na ito dahil scholar siya.

Nag-aabang siya ng jeep pauwi sa apartment niya ng may huminto na sasakyan sa tapat niya. Laking gulat niya ng lumabas dito si Night. Gaano ba kayaman ang lalaking ito at ilang beses nagpapalit ng sasakyan? Hindi niya ito pinansin na parang hindi niya ito kilala. Pero walang sabi-sabi binuhat siya nito parang isang sako at ipinasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Ano ba? Buksan mo ang pinto." sigaw niya dito. Pero hindi ito nagsasalita

"I said stop the car and open the door. Huwag ka mag bibingihan at baka masapak kitang lalaki ka." sigaw niya at pinalo ito.

"Atasha, stop it. I am driving. You might be in an accident. " mahina sabi nito .

"Wala akong pake. Ibaba mo ako."

"No."

"This is kidnapping."

"It is not. You are old enough to be kidnapped."

"Hindi nakakatawa. Stop the car." sigaw niya. Hininto ni Light ang sasakyan at walang sabi-sabi , sinakop nito ang kanyang labi. Nabigla siya sa ginawa ng binata.

"I am not sorry for what I have done. Let's talk later" he said and maneuvered his car again. Natahimik na lang si Jam at nagpati-anod na lang kung saan siya dalhin ni Light.

"Di naman siguro ako papatayin nito,no?" tanong niya sa isip niya at sabay sulyap sa binata habang tahimik lang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.

"Ang gwapo naman nito para maging isang killer." dagdag niya pa sa isip niya

"Is there something that you want to say?" he asked ng mapAnsin nitong kanina pa pAsulyap-sulyap ang dalaga sa kanya.

"Wala.."

"Are you sure?" panigurado niya

"Oo nga kasi. Hmmmmm, di mo naman ako siguro papatayin diba? "

"Hahahahaha" natawa na lamang ang binata sa biglaan tanong niya

"Anong nakakatawa sa tanong ka ha?" she said

"That question is absurd. Do I look like a criminal?" natatawa pa rin niyang sagot.

"Duh, haler. In this era, marami ng gwapong criminal ngayon eeh kaya nadali nila yong victims nila." she reasoned out

"So , I am handsome in your eyes?hmmmm?" nakangising tanong ni Light sa kanya.

"BahaLa ka nga diyan. Pag ako papatayin mo. Mumultohin kita. Hindi ko patatahimikin yong buhay mo hanggang sa mabaliw ka." pagbabanta ni Jam sa binatan . Natawa na lang si Light sa kanyang tinuran.

"Silly, Atasha. It will not happen. Don't worry . I will not harm you or do anything that might hurt you. I just want to be with you. I miss you." he said sincerely. Hindi na lang siya sumagot pa at hinayaan ang binata.

Bumaba sila sa malaking gusali. She can't imagine how big it is.

"What are we doing in here?" tanong ng makababa na sila sa sasakyan.

"My flat is located here. Let's go." he said and held her hands. Tahimik lang siya ng sumakay sila sa elevator going to the 10th floor.

Maluwang ang espasyo ng condo ng binata. Black and white ang dominating color nito. Maaliwalas tingnan at hindi makalat. May mga painting na nakasabit nito.

"How's my place? Is it good?" he asked her.

"It is amiable. Minimalistic lang pero maganda." she complimented.

"Good to hear that." he smiled." Anyway, what do you want to eat? I'll just order some food for us. You know. I can't cook." he said. She rolled her eyes. She knew he is rich pero hindi niya alam gaano ito kayaman. Hindi naman siya interesado.

"Huwag ka na mag-abala. Doon na lang ako kakain sa apartment ko. Ano bang sasabihin mo ha?" she said. Nawala ang sigla sa mata ng binata sa sinabi niya

"Atasha, don't be like that. Please, dont do this to me. " he pleaded

"Why are you doing this, Assher?" she asked. "Why are you so good to me?"

"Can't you see? Can't you feel my heartbeats for you?" he said and looked into her eyes.

"Huh? I don't get it , Assher?"nagugulohan niyang tanong sa binata. He was giving her mixed signals.

"I like you, Atasha. I really like you so much. "

"Assher? nabigla siya sa sinabi ng binata.Hindi siya makapaniwala.

"Pero bakit? P-paano?"

"I dont know why? or when? As long as I like you." he said.

"Baka nagugulohan ka lang , Assher. "

"No, my intention is pure to you. I do not want to force you to believe in me but I know what I have felt to you." he said

"Sobrang tayog mo, Assher. Langit ka, lupa lang ako. Wala ako sa kalingkingan ng mga babae na nagkaka gusto sayo." she said hesitantly.

"Does it matter? I don't care about them. All I want is you. "

"No. Hindi ako nararapat para sayo, Assher. Hindi tayo bagay." she said

"Sssssh, you are the only girl that fits me." he said and unti-unti niyang nilalapat ang kanyang labi sa labi ng dalaga. He passionately kissed her and gave her assurance. She responded to his kiss.

"Do not think about what they will say . Please do not avoid me anymore. I can not bear to think that you are away from me." he said.

"But____ "

"No, but, from now on I will court you. Is that okay? I will prove how pure I am to you." he said while hugging her. She can feel the warmth of his body. How could this man be so adorable? He is good to be true. She can not deny the fact that she likes him too, however, she is just afraid.

"What do you want for dinner? I want to cook for you but I don't know how. " he said adorably while scratching his hair.

"Where is your refrigerator? Let me cook for you instead." she said.

"Hmmmmm, I am afraid you couldn't find something to cook. hehehe."

She rolled her eyes on him and opened the refrigerator.True to his words, there is nothing on there but water, beer in can and left overs.

"I told you." he said.

"You are always changing your cars but you have nothing inside your ref.tsssk. " she said

"Sorry, baby.So let's just order food."he said while clinging on her.

"Nope.Let's go to the supermarket and buy what we need." she said firmly

"Baby, there is an easiest thing to do.I am hungry."

"Napaka unhealthy ng kinakain mo kaya magluluto tayo whether you like it or not."

"copy master."

Panay ang sulyap ng mga tao sa kanila lalo na ang kababaihan. Who would not look to this handsome man beside her?Tawag pans in ang dating nito.

"That is too much. Just get half of it." saway niya sa binata. kung ano-ano lang kasi ang inilagay sa cart nila.

"We do not need that.Ibalik mo yan." she said and dinilatan niya ng mata ang binata but he just smiled at her.Ma stress lang siya pag kasama ito mamalengke eh.

Ito na ang nagbayad ng kanilang pinamili .

Bumalik sila sa condo ni Light. Plano niyang magluto ng paborito nitong Adobong Manok.

"Baby, I want to help." paglalambing ni Light sa kanya habang hinuhugasan ang karne ng manok.

"Baka pag tutulong mas lalo tayong matagalan sa pagluto, Light." she said.

"No ,baby. I promise. I'll behave."he said sweetly.

"Duda ako diyan."

"Babyyyyy .. Please."paglalambing pa rin ng binata.

"Haist sige na nga. Cut the onion into julienne slices and minced the garlic." she said

"Noted my love." he said enthusiastically.

"sos."

"Why is it so nakakaiyak? The onion makes me cry." reklamo ng binata ng binalatan niya ang sibuyas at hiniwa niya ito.

"Ginusto mo yan kaya panindigan mo." she said.

"I want a kiss baby." he said

"Itong sandok baka gusto mo halikan."she said. Tinawanan lang siya ng binata.

Pagkatapos nilang mag luto kay kumain na sila.

"You really cook well , baby. I want to learn as well para ako na mag luto for you," he said sincerely.

"Kumain ka na.Dami mo pang salita eeh." she said