Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 4

Mine

Since that day, I have been calling him 'Hugh'. Which made my parents think it was weird, cause I never called him anything aside from 'Kuya'. And speaking of the devil. He's sending me daggers while half-running towards me.

I'm currently outside our house. Sinusubukan ko kasing magdrive ng motorcycle scooter namin na Honda Click 150i. It's Saturday, so I got the time to spend. Ang boring kasi kanina eh kaya napagdiskitahan ko itong subukan.

"Leigh! What the hell are you doing?" He angrily asks as soon as he reaches me. Pumunta siya sa aking kaliwang banda tas hinawakan niya ang harapan at likuran ng scooter upang ibalanse ito. Para na niya akong niyayakap habang nasa gitna ako ng dalawa niyang mga kamay.

Napairap ako ng muli niya akong tingnan ng masama. Galit naman agad! I'm just trying, what's so wrong about it?

And goodness, I didn't even get to start the engine!

"You're just 16 years old! What are you thinking? You're not even wearing a helmet. Pa'no kung mabangga ka? Ano, durug 'yang bungo mo?" Seryosong saad niya na tila tinatakot ako. Grabe naman to, durug agad?

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. Ang unfair ah. Siya na 17, nakakapagdrive na ng sasakyan. Ako na scooter lang, di man lang pwede?

"You're also 16 when Dad teaches you how to drive the car! I'm just trying to learn how to ride the scooter, not the car!" I answered back, but it seems that it's a wrong move. His jaw moved in a harsh way which made me stare at it. I noticed that he has a small visible stubble, where it actually looks cute on him.

When I raised my looked into his eyes, he was also staring at me. Ang kanyang mga abong mata ay pinapakita ang kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin. Para siyang batas na dapat sundin! Grabe naman makatingin 'to.

"Does Mom even know about this?" Hindi ako nakasagot roon. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin at napakamot sa batok.

I heard him let out a low groan as a reaction. "You know what? Get off." Suminghap ako at naging alerto. He kicked the stand of the scooter and held both of my arms, he then tried to pull me off from the scooter.

Sinusubukan kong alisin ang kanyang kamay sa akin pero hindi ko matanggal-tanggal iyon! "H-Hugh! No!" I pleaded at him but his ears were closed. I  found my hold onto the scooter.

Hindi ako bibitiw!

"Leigh! Isa!" Naiinis na banta niya. Bakit ba?! Gusto ko kang subukan ah, di naman ako mamamatay kung sasakay ako nito.

Natatakot akong napakagat labi. "Why can't you let me ride it? Turuan mo na lang ako!" I yelled. His hold started to loosened. Napabuntong hininga ako.

"Okay, Fine! I'll teach you!" Napipilitan niyang saad. His was so strict but when he saw how happy I was, his face softened.

Binitiwan niya ang scooter at umatras. "But! Before anything else, wear the helmet first." He instructed me to go to the garage and get a helmet.

Tumakbo ako papuntang garage and get a helmet, where there are piles of displays. Masayang tumatakbo ako pabalik sa kung nasaan siya. While running towards him, a small smile made to his lips.

Atleast his fine with it now.

I wore the helmet and excitedly looked at him, waiting for his next instruction. In a low voice, he chuckled at the very sight of me getting super excited.

He bent a little, which took me off guard. Napa-atras ako ng konti, pero bago pa 'ko makalayo pa, he held me still. He looked at me warmly in the eyes, as he tightened the strap of the helmet.

Nanatili akong naninigas sa aking pwesto  nang lumayo na siya sa akin. My heart is  beating so fast, like so fast to the point that  it made me feel so overwhelmed.

He instructed me to ride the scooter, which cut me off of what I'm thinking. I rode the scooter as he kicked the stand off the ground. I let my two feet balance the scooter. He then teaches me how to turn the key to start the engine. He instructed me on everything that I need to do.

I held the hand clutch getting ready to blast off. Nabigla ako ng pinatong niya ang kanyang kamay sa taas sa akin. As soon as his palms touched my hand, I felt a weird spark where I actually felt it spread all over my whole system. I looked at Hugh who was really focusing on instructing me on what to do.

Why am I being like this? I'm taking things over board! Just a simple move from him can cause my insides to flip over. I bit the side of my mouth as worry consumes me. This can still be normal, isn't it?

Nang mapansin niya na wala sa tinuturo niya ang atensyon ko ay seryoso ang tingin na lumingon siya akin. Our eyes immediately meets. Napakurap-kural ang aking mga mata sa biglaang pagtagpo.

I looked deep into his gray set of eyes where whenever I looked at it, I always get lost. I can see him staring deep into my eyes, like he's seeking something. Pinutol niya ang tingin at umiling bago niya pinitik ang aking nuo na kita sa suot kong helmet.

Gagong 'to!

Napahawak ako sa aking noo at mahina iyong hinaplos para mawala ang hapdi. "Masakit 'yon ah!" Tiningnan ko siya ng masama pero ang kanang tenga na namumula ang napansin ko.

Bakit namumula 'yan?

Sinubukan kong hawakan ang kanyang tenga ng iniwas niya ito sa aking. Why is he suddenly avoiding my hand?

Pinipigilan ko ang tawa ng makitang mas lalo itong namula. "L-Leigh. What are you trying to do?" Dinaan niya ang boses sa galit-galitan pero hindi nakatakas sa akin ang hiya sa kanyang mga mata. Hindi ko na napigilang mapahalakhak ng makitang pasimple niya itong tinatago sa gamit ang kanan niyang kamay.

"Your ears are red. Why is it red, anyway?" Natatawang tanong ko. Mas lalo siyang nahiya. Anong kinakahiya nito, eh ang linis-linis naman ng tenga niya. Tumawa ako muli ng pagkalakas-lakas, where it made him slightly pissed off.

"You, get off! Let's continue this session next time." He pulled me off from the scooter. He guides the scooter to the garage where the helper then took it over.

He looks back at me where he saw my shoulders still shaking. Iritadong tumalikod siya muli at naunang pumasok sa bahay.

Ang bilis mapikon ng gago, 'di pwedeng biruin.

Pumasok ako sa bahay at nakita siyang nakaupo sa sofa ng living room. I watched how his hand keeps on touching his still red ears. Mahina akong napa hagikgik habang pumupwesto sa kanyang likod.

I wrapped my arms around him, hugged him. Naramdaman kong napatigil siya, tumigil rin ang kanyang kamay sa paggalaw sa tenga.

Eh? Bakit walang reaksyon?

"Hugh?" I jokingly blew air at his left ear. Tiningnan ko ang mukha niya, 'di siya tumugon pero mas lalong namula 'yong tenga niya. I chuckle, may kiliti pala sa tenga ang lolo niyo.

"Hoy, Hugh." I blew at his other ear once again. I was shocked when he suddenly stood up and looked at me with eyes wide open, judt process what I did with his cute ears. Mahigpit akong napakapomit sa likod ng sofa ng muntik pa 'kong matumba!

"L-Leigh! W-What the f**k!" Mabilis siyang tumalikod at umakyat sa hagdanan papuntang second floor. Grabe naman makareact 'to! And what? He just cursed at me! Minumura na niya ako?

Want to make fun of him a little bit more. "Hugh! You have to teach me to ride the scooter! By the way, your ears look so cute when they turn red!" I shouted as I followed him upstairs.

I quietly opened the door on his room, which is dead pitch black. Tahimik akong pumasok.

Someone whispered at me and went to my back to close the door. "Don't." Napatigil ang aking kamay sa pagpindot ng switch ng marinig siya.

I looked around his room, 'di naman pala ganon kadilim. Dahil siguro sa liwanang na nanggagaling sa veranda niya ay may konting ilaw na tamang-tama lang.

Someone suddenly hugged me at the back, making me stilled. Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay na nakapalibot sa bewang ko. It felt warm but rought because of his hairs.

Uminit ang pisngi ko sa nangyayari. "Hugh?"

Dama ko ang paghigpit ng kanyang brask sa akin. "Yes, Leigh?" In his deep baritone voice, he whispered once again. Nanigas ako sa aking pwesto ng umihip siya sa aking kanang tenga. Lahat ng balahibo sa leeg ko ay nagsitayuan. I even felt him smell my neck!

Mas lalong uminit ang mukha 'ko. "H-Hugh, what are doing?" He didn't answer. Is this revenge because of what I did earlier?

Hindi din ba siya natuwa nung ginawa ko ito sa kanya? Dahil hindi na rin ako natutuwa!

Tumingin ako sa harapan at may nakita akong salamin. I saw our reflection on the mirror, he's definitely hugging me!

His lips had a small smile, I saw his lips move and what he said next made my head stop thinking.

"Holding what's mine."

It was a whisper but I definitely heard him say that.

_____________

sshandi