Please, Forget me Not

CHAPTER 20

"Yeah, you're my baby..." I fell silent.

Instead of being happy with what he said, I suddenly remembered the reason why I decided to get drunk last time.

"No, you're lying. I'm not your baby. You have a girlfriend in Canada. Put me down," I scoffed.

"Wait, what? Where did you get that?" He stopped walking and looked over at me. I glared at him.

"I said put me down!" I said firmly.

"No, hindi kita ibababa. Sabi mo ayaw mong maglakad 'di ba?" mahinahong sabi niya.

"I can walk now. Put me down. I hate you."

"Why? What did I do wrong?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"You ghosted me!" puno ng hinanakit na sigaw ko. "You suddenly stopped talking to me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla ka na lang hindi nagparamdam sa akin. Hindi mo alam kung ilang araw akong natutulala at nag-iisip kung bakit, kung may nagawa ba akong mali or what. You don't have any idea how it affected me so much because your message isn't just a message to me. It was my happiness..." Tears rolled down on my face. "And I freaking hate when you suddenly showed up and acted like you did nothing. Yeah, I know we're not in any kind of relationship, but we always talked to each other every day for almost four months, and I think I deserve an explanation." His grip loosened and I took that chance to move away from him.

"You suddenly popped up and acted so sweet to me at oo, aaminin ko na natutuwa ako. Sino bang hindi matutuwa na ang sweet sa'yo ng taong gusto mo? But there's also a part of me that wasn't happy about that. I can't help myself but to think that maybe you were just playing around because you're aware that I like you... that maybe you have a girlfriend that’s waiting for you back there in Canada and you're just bored and you're usin—" He cut me off.

"No, please don't think like that, Kaiah. I'm not playing around, okay? And don't ever think that I'm just bored and I'm just using you because I'm not." He tried to walk towards me, but I stopped him.

"You freaking ignored me before then you became so sweet all of a sudden. That was so f*cking contradicting, and you can't blame me for thinking like that."

"I know... and I'm sorr—"

"T*ngina, ayan na naman tayo sa sorry na 'yan! Nakapag-sorry ka na before and I don't need it anymore. What I want is your freaking explanation! At kung wala kang planong sabihin sa akin kung bakit, I'll just go home alone. Huwag mo akong susundan!" I grabbed my things from him then I walked passed him. I heard him heaved a deep sigh.

"Kaiah, wait...." I ignored him and continued walking away. Muntik pa akong matumba dahil nahihirapan akong maglakad nang tuwid pero nakapitan niya ako at agad ko namang hinawi iyong kamay niya sa akin.

"I can handle myself," walang emosyong sabi ko.

"No, you're drunk, Kaiah. Tara na, ihahatid na kita sa inyo."

"Ayaw ko nga sabing magpahatid sa'yo!" inis na singhal ko sa kan’ya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. See? He was just ignoring my rants! He doesn't care about my feelings at all. Another set of tears rolled down on my face because of that thought.

I heard him curse when he saw my tear-stained face and stepped closer to me. He cupped my face and softly wiped my tears away.

"Hush... stop crying, Kaiah." I shut my eyes tightly, trying to calm myself. "Let's talk when you're sober. For now, let's go home first. You need to take a rest," malambing na sabi niya. Nagmulat ako ng mata at tumama iyon sa mga mata niya.

"I'm not drunk." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not." I insisted. He sighed.

"How much did you drink?"

"I lost my count, but I'm not drunk. We can talk now."

"No, I want you completely sober when I tell you my explanation, so you won't forget."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not drunk? Ang kulit-kulit mo, Zachary Shein! Ayaw mo lang sa'kin sabihin, e! I hate you!" The corner of my eyes began to water again as I stared at him.

"Okay, okay, baby, you're not drunk," he breathed.

"That's what I keep on telling you!" I crossed my arms.

"You know what, you're now acting like a kid throwing a tantrum." I could hear the suppressed laughter in his voice.

"You just compared me a while ago to an adorable baby and now to a brat kid? What's next?" Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. Umakto naman siya na parang nag-iisip.

"Uh, my grumpy girlfriend? Menopausal wife?" He smirked.

I glared at him. "Are you flirting with me?"

He c****d his head, pretending to be innocent. "No, I'm not."

"See? You're just toying me. I hate you!" I said, hitting him on his chest. Natatawa naman niyang sinalag 'yon.

"I was wrong when I thought you're cute in that state, because judging now, you've got very terrible mood swings when you're drunk. But it's okay, I can handle it."

"Hindi nga ako lasing! Ang kulit-kulit mo! Ikaw ata ang lasing sa ating dalaw—" Napatigil ako nang bigla niya akong binuhat at mabilis na naglakad papasok ng elevator.

"Anong! Bakit mo ako binuhat?" I asked him while he was busy pressing the button. After that, he glanced at me.

"You said you didn't want to walk, right?" Napayakap naman ako sa leeg niya nang ayusin niya ang pagkakabuhat sa akin pero agad ko ring binawi iyon.

"Put me down! I said I want to go home alone, right? Hindi ako sasama sa'yo hangga't hindi ka pa nag-e-explain sa akin!" Nagpumiglas ako pero parang wala lang sa kan'ya 'yon.

"I'll explain everything tomorrow when you're sober. I promised you."

"Ugh! You're so annoying! Hindi nga ako lasing! Put me down! Sisigaw ako!" I warned him.

“Kanina ka pa sumisigaw, Kaiah." Nang bumukas ang elevator ay lumabas na siya at dire-diretsong naglakad.

"Help! He's kidnapping me!" Nagulat naman siya sa sigaw ko at mukhang hindi niya inaasahan iyon. "Help!" I shouted again while roaming my eyes around.

"Stop it, Kaiah."

"No, you stop walking and put me down."

"Boss." Napalingon ako sa security guard na lumapit sa amin at nakatingin ito sa akin bago bumaling kay Zach.

"Kuya, he's abducting me."

"Totoo ba 'yon, boss?" Para namang umusok ang ilong ko dahil doon.

"Kuya tanga ka ba? May kidnapper ba na aamin na nangingidnap sila?" inis na singhal ko sa kan’ya.

"Kaiah, your words," he reprimanded. I rolled my eyes.

"Boss, pakisabi na lang kung kaano-ano mo po siya."

"Wala, Kuya. I'm telling you, he wants to abduct me!" Singit ko kahit na hindi ako ang tinatanong niya. "Do I looked like I'm lying?" I asked, frustrated. Parang hindi siya naniniwala sa akin, e.

Tumango siya sa akin at bumaling kay Zach. "Boss, pakibaba na lang po siya kung ayaw niyo pong tumawag ako ng pulis."

"No, I'm not kidnapping her."

"Kung gano'n boss, bakit niya sinasabing ki-kidnap-in niyo po siya? Kaano-ano niya po ba kayo?" Zach looked at me for a few seconds before he spoke.

"I'm his boyfriend." Napanganga ako nang bahagya dahil sa sinabi niya pero agad din akong nakabawi.

"No, he's not my boyfriend." Matinding iling ang binigay ko kay manong when he looked at me, asking for confirmation.

"Boss, hindi raw niya kayo nobyo. Ganito na lang boss, do'n na lang po tayo sa prisinto mag-usap. Mukhang pinipilit niyong sumama sa inyo si Ma'am."

"No, we don't have to. I'll show you a proof... Sir, if you don't mind, can you please get my phone in my back pocket?" Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan dahil sa sinabi niya pero nakay manong ang atensyon niya.

"Now, open it, Sir. Then swipe it up. You see that picture?" Tumango naman si Manong. "Is that enough proof?" Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa akin at sa cellphone na hawak niya.

"Eh, boss baka edited lang 'to?" sabi niya habang nakatitig sa cellphone ni Zach.

"Hindi po, Sir. But if it wasn't enough, try to look at the messages. She sent me that, asking to pick her up. Naniniwala na po ba kayo?" Tumango naman si Manong.

"Sorry, boss, kung napagkamalan ko kayong kidnapper. Pasensya na po," nahihiyang sabi ni Manong.

"What?" sabat ko, hindi makapaniwala sa nangyayari.

"Pasensya na, sir. Lasing lang ang girlfriend ko kaya siya gan’yan. Pwede na po ba kaming umalis?"

"Oo, boss. Sorry sa abala, mukhang nabibigatan na kayo kay ma'am."

"Mukha ba akong baboy, ha?" Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata dahil sa huling sinabi niya. Nang-iinsulto pa, e hindi na nga ako tinulungan!

"Shh, Kaiah. Calm down," bulong niya sa akin matapos humingi ng paumanhin do’n sa gwardya at naglakad palayo. Tsaka niya lang ako ibinaba nang makarating kami sa parking lot.

"Get in the car," he said while holding the door open.

"No!" I crossed my arms.

"Kaiah, don't be so stubborn. Get inside now so we can go home." He held my elbow and ushered me to get in, but I remained firm.

"Tell me first why Manong guard let us go. Naniniwala na kaya siya akin kanina!" I looked at him, feeling betrayed.

"I showed him your message."

"And the picture? What picture is that?"

"Our picture." His gaze fell as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ha? May picture tayo? Kailan pa?" I creased my forehead trying to remember if we really have photo together. Pero wala akong maalala.

"Tss. Last week, sa Batangas."

"Oh, really? Ba't wala akong matandaan? Patingin nga." Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kan’ya habang nakasandal sa kotse'ng dala niya.

"I'll show you if you get in the car." I narrowed my eyes at him. May pa kondisyon na rin siya, ha.

"Gaya-gaya." Napangiti naman siya dahil sa sinabi ko. Hinawakan niya ang ulo ko at iginiya ako papasok. Sinamaan ko muna siya ng tingin bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa kotse.

"Good girl."

Mabilis siyang umikot at pumasok sa sasakyan. Iniabot niya naman sa akin 'yong cellphone niya bago pinaandar ang kotse.

Nagulat naman ako nang makita ko ang mukha ko nang ma-open ko ang camera sa lock screen. "Sh*t! I looked like a mess! Why didn't you tell me that I've got chocolates all over my face?" I glanced at him, annoyed.

"You didn't ask me." He shrugged.

"Because I didn't know! You should have told me!" I shouted at him.

"I didn't tell you because I find it cute. A low-budget cosplay of cat woman." He burst out in laughter after saying that. I laughed too while looking at my face on the camera because I really looked like one.

"You've got a point there," I agreed in between laughs. "Okay, I'll take a selfie, then." I moved the phone closer to my face and did multiple wacky shots. I browsed them after and I really looked cute, especially on the last shot where I was smiling from ear to ear, showing the complete set of my teeth. I smiled and set that as my lock screen before putting the phone in my bag.

I leaned my head on the window, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. I closed my eyes for a few minutes pero napadilat ako nang maduwal ako. Naramdaman ko namang biglang huminto ang kotse at bumukas ang pinto sa gilid ko. Dali-dali akong lumabas at sumuka sa gilid ng kalsada. Hinawakan naman ni Zach ang buhok ko para hindi iyon humarang sa mukha ko habang marahang hinahagod ang likod ko.

Pakiramdam ko said na said ang laman ng tiyan ko nang matapos ako sa pagsuka. Iginiya niya naman ako papasok ng kotse at inabutan ng isang boteng tubig na hindi ko napansin kung saan niya nakuha. Bigla naman akong naiyak nang may pumasok sa isip ko.

"Hey, why are you crying?" tarantang tanong niya nang makapasok muli sa sasakyan.

"Am I pregnant?" I looked at him, crying.

"Silly, of course not. Why did you think so?" Bakit parang tumatawa pa siya sa akin?

"Because I vomited?"

"No, I'm sure you're not pregnant. You just vomited because you drank too much alcohol," he said while wiping my tears away.

"How can you be so sure that I'm not pregnant?" I asked while staring at his face that was only inches away from me.

"Because you neither have a husband nor boyfriend."

"Yeah, you're right, I'm not yet married." I nodded at him. "But I do have a boyfriend... Does that mean I'm pregnant with him?" inosenteng tanong ko. Natahimik naman siya saglit habang nakatitig sa akin.

"Who's your boyfriend?" He arched his brow, still staring at me.

"You. You just said a while ago to manong guard that you’re my boyfriend." I pouted. He gave me a lopsided smile.

"I'm not your boyfriend... yet. And you're not pregnant, okay?" He assured me while putting the strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Oh, you lied to manong guard?"

"You were being so stubborn that's why I did that." He backed away and started the car again.

"Because you're not explaining everything to me!" I shouted at him when I suddenly remembered it again.

"Here we go again," bulong niya.

"What?!" I asked when I didn't get that.

"Nothing." Sisigawan ko sana ulit siya nang mag-ring ang cellphone na nasa bag ko. Inis ko iyong kinuha ngunit napatigil ako nang makita ko 'yong picture ng caller. Vica is the name. Kumunot ang noo ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Pamilyar ang mukha niya sa akin. If I'm not mistaken, she's the same girl I saw in Zach's i********: story. Bakit siya natawag sa akin? Bakit niya alam ang number ko?

"Hey, aren't you going to answer it?" Napalingon ako kay Zach na nasa kalsada ang tingin. Ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa cellphone at sinagot 'yon.

"Oh, Zachy, you answered it! I missed you already! Why aren't you calling me?" nagtatampong sabi ng babae sa kabilang linya.

"You dialed a wrong number, b***h. My name is Khyrss, duh." mataray na sabi ko. Natahimik naman siya ng ilang segundo.

"No, I'm not. It's really Zach's number. Who are you? Why are you holding his phone? Where is he?" Napatingin ako sa cellphone na hawak ko dahil sa sinabi niya at napansing hindi nga iyon akin.

"Your girlfriend is looking for you." Iniabot ko agad 'yon kay Zach nang hindi siya tinitingnan. Nang kunin niya iyon ay isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa bintana at pumikit. Ayaw ko man pakinggan ang kahit na anong pag-uusapan nila, e alam kong imposible dahil magkatabi lang kami sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Vesinica... oh, she's Khyrss... a friend. Can we talk some other time? Yes, I'm driving... I'll just call you back. Okay, thank you." Hindi ko na narinig 'yong buong sinabi niya kasi parang nabingi ako do'n sa friend. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin kanina na girlfriend niya ako do’n sa lecheng guard biglang naging friend niya lang ako pagdating sa lecheng Vesinica'ng 'yon na pabebe ang boses! T*ngina, ha! Pinaglalaruan lang ata talaga ako ng pesteng Zach na 'to!

Sana all, f*cking friend!

"Hey, Kaiah, are you still awake?" he gently asked after a few minutes of silence. I just ignored him and closed my eyes instead. "Okay, maybe you're asleep already...," he said more on to himself.

Hindi na siya nagsalita ulit hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng bahay. Agad naman akong lumabas ng sasakyan pagkahinto niya at hindi na siya hinintay kahit medyo nahihilo pa ako. Agad akong naglakad papasok sa gate ng bahay namin.

"Aray!" I yelped in pain after tripping over my own feet. My hand immediately flew on my ankle when I felt a searing pain in that part.

Zach ran towards me and kneeled to check my ankle. "You should have waited for me. Look what happened." He looked at me, concerned. I arched my brow at him.

"So kasalanan ko pa, my friend?" I asked sarcastically.

"What?" Kumunot naman ang noo niya sa akin. I just rolled my eyes at him and tried to stand up, but I can't do it myself, so I let him help me.

"Kaya mo bang maglakad?" tanong niya nang maitayo niya ako. Agad ko namang tinanggal 'yong pagkakahawak niya sa akin.

"Yes, my friend. Just go home, I can handle myself." I shooed him away, but my eyes widened in shock when he suddenly carried me again in bridal style.

"You sprained your ankle. Hindi ka makakalakad nang ayos at baka malaglag ka pa sa hagdan." He started walking towards my house.

"E, pake mo ba? Ikaw ba ang mamamatay 'pag nalaglag ako sa hagdan? Hindi naman, a? Ibaba mo na nga ako! Kaya ko ang sarili ko!" Napataas ang kilay ko nang makita ang inis sa mukha niya sa unang pagkakataon.

"Oh, bakit ka naiinis sa'kin, my friend? Hindi ka dapat mainis sa akin dahil ako lang ang may karapatang mainis sa'ting dalawa!" singhal ko sa kaniya.

"And why are you annoyed at me? Did I do something wrong?"

"Oo!" mabilis na sagot ko sa kan’ya. Leche, kanina pa kumukulo ang dugo ko sa kan’ya!

"What is it?" he asked softly as he entered the house.

"Why would I tell you? Just put me down and get out! Naiinis ako sa pagmumukha mo!" Siya pa ang may ganang magtanong kung bakit? Hindi niya ba talaga alam kung bakit?

"Tsk. You're now acting like a grumpy girlfriend," he said, amused.

"Mukha mo, grumpy girlfriend! I'm just your friend, remember?" I snapped sarcastically. Lalo akong nainis sa kaniya nang hindi niya iyon pinansin at dire-diretsong umakyat sa hagdan at pumasok sa kwarto ko.