SHARING MY INFINITE STARS WITH YOURS...

chapter 8

At 9:26 in the morning, Edward finally drive me school. Ang plano ko lang talaga ay tanungin kung bakit nya binalak mag-pakidnap ng tao.

But knowing the reason why he did it, just made me panicked. Alam ko ang ugali ni Patrick, hindi sa nag-iisip ako ng masama but it's Patrick!

I don't know if I should still enter the school, sobrang late na rin kasi and we don't have afternoon class. Anong gagawin ko—

"I've been looking for you the whole morning, where did you go?" A cold voice shivers me and made me stunt for a second.

"B-bry..."

"I'm asking Denise, where did you go?" The way he talks, seems not like him at all. Parang hindi ata ako sanay, we're been seeing each other for a week but he haven't talk to me this way.

"U-uhm, why are you mad anyway?"

"I'm not mad! I'm concerned! Where the hell did you do?" An authoritative voice slightly raise in rage.

Ang unacceptable talaga ng way of talking nya over me. He could just ask more nicer. "Ang sabi ng kaibigan mo, akala nya sumunod ka daw sa kanya! San ka nag-punta!"

Alright, masyado ng nakaka-intimidate yung aura nya, heaving a sigh, I force myself to smile at him. "I got kidn*pped okay? A k********g mistake, ako nakuha nila instead of Jean, but I'm okay, fortunately I know that someone who tried to capture my friend—"

"And you think I'll believe you?"

Napa-pikit na lang ako ng mariin sa turan nyang iyon. Ang bossy nya! Ano bang problema nito—and why am I even explaining to him!

As far as I can remember, wala naman akong reason to make him feel better about my sudden disappearance, mag-tatanong pero hindi maniniwala? Who's the fault to blame then!

Without a word, I grabbed his wrist and dragged him forcely, and fierce. Kung ayaw nyang maniwala, then I'll give him a solid evidence!

When we're already at the front door of CCTV room, he gave me a clueless look. I'd just simply point at the door using my thumb, sarcastically smiling at him before opening it.

Wala naman syang sinabi at sumunod na lang. Pag-kapasok pa lang ay nakita kaagad namin ang guard in charge while watching all the monitors on the wall.

"Good morning po," I gently greet him, actually mag-kakilala naman kasi because his sons use to be my suitors before, but I never dated any at his children.

"Anong mai-paglilingkod ko sayo anak?" He said, without even turning his head on me.

"Kasi po may gusto lang po sana akong ipa-rewind sa CCTV, the incident earlier?"

In an instant, he look at me with devilish smile? Or ako lang ata nag-iimagine non. "Pwede naman anak... Yun ay kung makikipag-date ka sa mga lalaki ko?"

Hearing that, I swallowed a lump, nervously staring at him in disbelief. My gosh! I didn't expect this to be happening!

"U-uhm s-sir kasi po—"

"Diba tatay naman tawag mo saakin? Bakit hindi mo yun gawin, habang katabi mo ang nobyo mo?" Nag-aasar pa nitong tugon.

Now I know what he meant. He thought Bry here is my boyfriend that's why he's acting weird. "Ay tatay! He's not my boyfriend, just a friend? He was my mentor way back on summer. But sure, I'll date one of your son"

His face smoothed as I finish my explanation. Ganito kasi sya, sinabi ko kasi sa kanya noon that I'll never dated someone else until I turn 18. Para kasi talaga syang tatay saakin.

"K-kung ganon hindi mo shuta yang unggoy na yan!" He surprising uttered.

Napa-ngiti na lang ako at sinulyapan si Bry sa gilid ko. Ang sama na ng mukha nya, he's so pikon pala talaga.

"Opo tay, hehe pasensya po sa abala ha?" Masuyo kong sabi while smiling at him.

"Sige sige, mga anong oras ba yung iniika mong gusto mong makita?" Tanong nito at nag-simulang mag-tipa ng keyboard nya.

I said the exact time, when and where to make it clear. Habang nag-hahanap ay panaka-naka akong sulyapan ni Bry, pero naka-kunot ang noo.

"Bakit?" I whisper when I couldn't take his deep stares anymore. Parang may gusto syang sabihin pero pinipigilan nya, just worried though.

Hindi naman ito sumagot kaya hinayaan ko na lang. "Anak! Ikaw pala to, yung sa tapat ng library! Sino ang mga iyan anak ko? B-buti... Buti ligtas ka!"

"Kaya nga po tay, kaibigan ko daw po talaga ang plano nilang kunin, buti kakilala ko yung mastermind. Wala naman daw silang balak na masama saakin, so they set me free."

"Sino ang nanakit sa anak ko!" Tatay said it, full of concern. Agad akong napatalon sa gulat dahil medyo napataas ang boses nito.

Tumayo rin sya para siguro tignan kung nasaktan ba ako, but seeing me smiling and fine. He'd just hug me with warmth. "Sino yun anak? Sino?" Masuyo nitong sabi, pero umiling ako at nginitian sya.

"Ayos na po tay, salamat po..."

"Hindi mo ba gustong ireklamo sila? Ako titistigo sayo anak. Pasensya na hindi ko iyon napansin kanina, nasa eskwela ata ako ng bunso kong anak."

Niyakap ko itong muli, bago nag-paalam na. Baka kasi estorbo na rin kami sa trabaho ni tatay. Pero hanggang maka-rating kami sa cafeteria dahil haft hour nalang din naman ay lunch break na, hindi ako inimikan ni Bry.

I was consulting him every sec, but he never talk to me since then. Wala naman akong magawa, baka kasi lalo syang magalit.

For the mean time, we continue eating hanggang sa napansin kong palapit sa pwesto namin si Jean.

"Queenie! Hala buti nakita ka ni Bry? Kanina pa nag-wawala yan sa room hinahanap ka—oy ikaw! Nag-cutting class ka pa a? Lagot ka bukas"

"Alis na ako"

Kapwa natigilan kami ni Jean sa inasta ni Bry. Nag-katinginan pa kami pero wala ding nasabi hanggang naka-alis na nga si Bry, dala ang pinag-kainan nito.

"Anong nangyari?" Takhang tanong nu jean na pinapanood lang na lumayo si Bry saamin.

Nilabas ko ang laptop ko, at doon kinabit ang hard drive kung nasaan yung copy ng CCTV kanina. I let her watch it to see her reaction, at kagaya ni Bry kanina, naging tahimik ito ang saglit. Tinuloy ang pag-kain na hindi maka-tingin saakin ng deretso.

"J-jean..."

"Finish your food Jane, mamaya tayo mag-usap"

Ganon nga ang ginawa ko tulad ng turan nya. Ang weird, bakit ganon ang reaction nila? Pero ano ba dapat, maging OA. Hayst!

Naka-pasok na kami sa afternoon class, pero ganon pa din. Hindi ako inimikan ni Bry, or ni Jean manlang. While my sister is glaring at me the whole time.

Nong hapon ay uuwi na sana ako, but then I saw tatay with his son—Liam. Sya yung anak nya sa mayaman nyang asawa. He's a good guy though, mabait and gentleman. Pero taga Stunt sya...

"Tay!" I called him, and walk our distant with a whopping smile. Then I turn on Liam. "You're really here? Why is that" I innocently asked, even I already know the answer.

"Dad force me—"

He stop when his dad elbowed him, while his stares never cut with mine. "Manahimik ka, parang ikaw pa lugi a!" Mahinang bulong nito, but I managed to hear.

"Ano, date daw tayo... K-kailan ka ba available?" He Melancholy said.

"I don't know, shall I call my mom to convince her?" I teasingly said, smirking.

Simula kasi nong ni-reject ko sya. He swear he never tried to pursue his love for me ever. Lalo na nong nalaman nyang si Lance—his older brother, tried to approach me at the same time before.

But look at him now, without any choice but to agree, standing in front of me with his dad. We're friends, but not typically close one.

"Paano ba yan mauna na ako? Kailangan ko pang mamalagi sa lobby, balitaan nyo ako mga anak a?" Tatay said, taking his exit.

"Kailan ka nga available, a-ako kasi lagi akong free. So?"

I think for a moment, pwede naman siguro ngayon diba? Besides it's only 5 pm, baka naman pwede kaming mag-dinner na lang or somewhere else he wanted.

"I'll talk to mom first about it"

Pumayag naman ito, but my mom refuses to let me. Ang sabi nya gagabihin, and it's better if we dated at day time. Para na rin daw maraming tao if ever Liam here tries to do something on me.

But I defend him obviously, Liam is not that kind of guy to begin with—but again, my mom only wanted me the best.

"Next week—I mean this coming weekend. Either sat or sun, you decide. By the way, I have to go home now. See you—"

"Saturday morning at 8. I'll come to your house to pick you up." He hastily said.

"Mag-hihintay ako..."

Nauna na akong umalis sa kanya, sakto namang andito na yung service ko. Ganito naman lagi, Dianne and I we're separate on going and leaving school.

Simply because she doesn't like me at all. I can't blame her, she became rebellious because of me, they said I'm kinda imitating to be with, top achiever daw kasi ako—not a valid reason though.

I was about to enter the dinning hall when I saw a man sitting on the living room. He smiled as he saw me, he even salute.

"B-bry!?" Fvck!