Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 12

Horror Booth

Carter immediately removed his hold, agad ko namang nilapitan si Hugh. Hugh's been calmly sending threats with his eyes, as his right hand is clenched hardly, making his veins more visible. He looks like he's ready to pounce or something.

Binalingan ko ng tingin si Kreia and nodded my head at her, signaling her na aalis muna kami ni Hugh. She weakly smiled at me though, but she nodded anyways.

Hinawakan ko ang kanang kamay ni Hugh at hinila siya paalis doon. If looks can kill, Carter would be lying on the ground right now.

What is he acting about? He's obviously looking for a fight!

Hinila ko siya papuntang canteen and made him sat on one of its benches. Bumili ako ng mineral water at pinainom sa kanya. He calmly drinks it, but I know deep inside, he's raging.

"You should try to be friendly, Hugh. You're more likeable that way." I said as I opened up a topic, nilingon naman niya ako and I saw an emotion in his eyes. Is that Hope?

"Are you sure? I'm more likeable?" With a small smile, I nodded, his eyes then filled with happiness. After that, I stayed with him until he fully calmed down.

Bumalik kami sa disco booth. 11:09 am, we decided na kumain, since kanina pa kami gumagalaw ay nakaramdam na kami ng gutom. I saw how Carter has been avoiding my eyes, since we came back.

We went to Mcdonalds that's situated on a walking distance from USC. We lined up as Nicholette and Kreia looks out for our seats. Ramdam ko ang pagkawalang gana ni Kreia, but she still smiles at us. Kinain na namin ang aming inorder at naglakad pabalik sa eskwelahan, malapit na rin kasi magone. Mahaba pa naman ang pila basta horror booth.

And ladies and gentlemen, tama nga ako, sobrang haba ng pila. We joined the line and waited for our long turn.

"Damn! It's so hot. This is why I never like being here in the Philippines." Nakakunot na saad ni Dahlia, habang nagpapaypay gamit lamang ang kamay. Pinaypayan niya ang kanyang namumulang mukha dala ng init ng panahon. As she ties her shoulder length black straight hair, men are straight looking at her.

Tsk. Dahlia and her strong s****l appeal.

Nilingon ko naman si Hugh, nakaramdam ako ng 'konting-konti' na ginhawa, when he's just looking down on the college railing, back facing Dahlia. While we're waiting I get my iphone 10 from my bag and play mobile legends with it.

Marunong din kaya ako nito!

Sinundot ko naman si Nicholette para makiparty, she excitedly get her red iphone 11 at inistart ang application. I invited her, rank game, gulat namang napalingon si Nicholette sa akin.

Anong tinitingin-tingin mo dyan? Di ako yung maglalaro woy! Si Hugh palalaruin ko nito, para sure win.

Malakas naman napahagikhik si Nicholette, nang may sumali sa lobby namin, mythic ang account. Ako lang yung legend. Huhu. Mabilis na sinuot ni Nich ang kanyang airpods and starts talking while the mic is on, with the mythic guy. Nilingon ko naman si Hugh, na kanina na pa lang nakatingin. Parang inaabangan niya yata ang paglingon ko, alam na alam ang gusto kong gawin, he then patted my head and nodded. The game started ako muna ang naglaro, nag Karina ako, assassin.

You're doomed, fuckers.

Nasa kalagitnaan na ng game, malapit na sana akong mamatay when I felt someone at my back as he holds the phone and takes control of it. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba habang ang puso ko ay mabilis na dumagundong. H-He's back hugging me! Susubukan ko sanang umalis but he squeezed me with his arms, to prevent me from doing so.

"Don't move, we're gonna die." He seriously said but the smile is evident in his tone. I think I'll die first before this game freaking ends.

As he played with the game, I saw how fast his hands were. I can even hear his calm breathing. Why is he f*****g calm, while my insides are going on a crazy turmoil?!

Napatingin naman ang mga kaibigan ko sa amin, nakita ko naman ang pag-iwas ng tingin ni Carter. While Nicholette didn't notice what's happening, because currently she has her own world. I am so embarrassed! Gusto ko na lang maglaho ng parang bula!

We looked like a damn couple!

The game ended with Victory, habang ako ay parang tuod na nanlalantang nasa gitna ng kanyang bisig. Buhay pa naman ako. Nang matauhan ay mabilis ko siyang tinulak, at kinuha ang phone mula sa kanyang kamay. Nagpalit kami ng pwesto ni Nicholette na nagtataka sa paglayo ko kay Hugh.

Why does he have to do that? Naglalaro lang meron ng pagano'n?

"What the f**k is he doing here?" Napunta ang atensyon ko kay Dahlia when she cursed loudly. I also heard Katalina slightly gasped.

Nahanap ko na narin ang tinutukoy ni Dahlia, isa iyong mestisong lalaki na may malakas na s*x appeal. May kasama itong mga kapwa lalaki na mga gwapo rin. Malakas itong tumatawa habang may kasamang babae, girlfriend niya siguro.

It was their turn to went inside the booth, I saw how the girl he's with is so clingy, parang tarsier kung makakapit, napatili pa ito ng kelakas habang nasa entrance pa lang. Girl chill, entrance pa lang yan. By pair raw kasi ang pagpasok sa horror booth, para feel na feel ang takot. Pauso!

Nilingon ko si Dahlia and I was shocked when I saw how crumpled her face is. Like she's looking at something so dirty and weird, and she just can't stand the sight of it. Nang makapasok ang mag jowa sa booth ay mabilis na nilingon nito si Katalina na nagmamasid pala sa ekspresyon ni Dahlia.

"Do you know something about this?" May dudang tanong ni Dahlia kay Katalina. Sino ba kasi 'yon? Tsaka may jowa na yun ah. Huwag niyong sabihin type niyo?

"It's intrams, what do you think?" Napairap naman si Dahlia and continued fanning herself. Nagtataka naman kami sa inaakto ng dalawa.

Finally! Kami na ang susunod, after so many minutes of standing. As the rules said, it's going to be by pair. Of course kami ni Hugh. Para namang papayag to na iba ang maging kapartner.

Sina Kreia sana at Mika, pero Nicholette insisted that she wants to be paired with Mika, so sina Kreia at Carter na lang. Tatlo na lang ang natira, Karsyn, Dahlia, and Katalina.

"May sumama pa kasi, sobra tuloy." Biglang parinig ni Katalina. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Dahlia sa narinig and was about to say something when someone volunteered to be partnered with Karsyn.

Gulat naman ang ekspresyon ni Karsyn as he looked at the charming guy, he also looks handsome! May malakas na kumantyaw, kaibigan siguro nitong si pogi, namula naman si Karsyn sa nangyari.

"W-Will it be okay, though?" Pabebeng tanong ni Karsyn, nagitla naman kami. Akala ko ba snob to sa mga lalaki? May tinatago ka palang ganyan, Kars.

"It's my pleasure, my name by the way is..." Kita ko ang mahinang paggalaw ng balikat ni Karsyn. Kilig ka girl? Anong pangalan? Di ko narinig ang ingay kasi.

"I'm Karsyn." She shyly said, at inipit pa ang buhok sa likod ng tenga. Kay Dahlia mo natutunan 'yan noh? Masama ko namang tiningnan si Dahlia, she just rolled her eyes at me. So kumpleto na kami, walang nagawa sina Katalina at Dahlia ng sila ang naging partners.

Turno na namin, papasok na sana kami ni Hugh, when with confidence ay unang pumasok si Dahlia. Napairap ako, when she flirtingly waves her hand and winks at Hugh as she passes by. Napatanga naman si Katalina. Dahil partner sila ay umiiling na sinundan ni Katalina si Dahlia papasok.

"Katalina!" Di pa naisasarang pintuan, rinig na rinig namin ang pagtili ni Dahlia. Malakas kaming napahalakhak.

It's now Hugh and I's turn, binuksan ng babae ang pintuan after she said, "Ang matakot panget". Unang bumungad sa amin ang kakaibang amoy, at ang malakas na sound effects.

Pinauna ko si Hugh, ako naman sa likuran as I hold tight on his shirt habang naglalakad. Muntik na akong mapasigaw ng may hihila sana sa paa ko. Ang aga naman! Kakapasok lang eh!

"Hmft." Naiinis kong sinapak ang likuran ni Hugh when he laughed at me.

Hinawi ni Hugh ang plastic na nakatabon sa pintuan at dahan-dahang pumasok. Ang lakas ng sound effects dito, ang pakurap-kurap na pulang ilaw lang ang nagsisilbing liwanag namin. Mahigpit naman ang pagkakakuyom ng aking dalawang kamay sa likod ng damit ni Hugh, to the point that the fabric wrinkled.

"Leigh. Chill, it's just a booth." Nang-iinis na saad ni Hugh, kinurot ko naman ang kanyang tagiliran, napaigik naman ito. Shut up!

Malakas kong natulak si Hugh papunta sa biglang nanggulat, sanhi ng muntikan nitong pagkadapa.

Oops! Sorry!

He regained from what happen and sent daggers on me with his eyes. Malakas akong tumawa pero naputol iyon ng may biglang humawak sa bewang ko at hinila ako palalayo.

Yawa!

"Hugh!" Malakas kong sigaw sa pangalan niya, nakita ko naman siyang mabilis na sumunod habang tumatawa sa natatakot kong reaksyon. Taena, tawa lang! Gago ka!

"H-Hoy! Wala naman pong ganitohan!" Kabado kong saad habang hinihila niya ako sa kung saan. May nahagip ang aking tingin.

Kabaong?!

Pisting yawa! Wala sa plano kong magpalibing ng buhay! Nahagip ng tingin ko si Hugh na wala nang ngiti sa labi.

"Okay, that's enough." Seryosong saad ni Hugh at mabilis na hinila ang aking kaliwang kamay papunta sa kanya. Napatingin ako kay Hugh, galit niyang tiningnan si Kuya.

"Walang personalan bro, para sa grado lang." Napakamot ng ulo na saad ng lalaki na may suot na yung kay jason mask, habang may hawak na kutsilyo na may dugo. Di naman sumagot si Hugh at mabilis niya akong hinila sa daanan papuntang labasan. Para siyang walang nakikita habang naglalakad, while me on the other hand keeps on flinching every time may nanggugulat. Muntikan ko ngang masampal yung panghuling nanggulat as my reflex. Sorry naman!

Nakalabas kami sa booth pero patuloy pa rin kaming naglalakad, hinila niya ako sa hallway na wala gaanong tao. He then pinned me on the wall. He didn't talk, as he tried to catch air first. I chuckle. When he's calm ay napatalon ako sa gulat ng bigla siyang lumapit sa akin. My eyes widened when he made our foreheads touched. He's chesr was slightly heaving.

"H-Hugh, anong ginagawa m-mo?" I felt my heart thump. Namula naman ang mukha ko. Ang lapit!

He touched my face and held my waist. H-Hoy!

"At first, It was funny to watch you cry my name for help. But then, it just doesn't feel right to see you held captive in his arms." He whispered heavily, seriousness evident in his voice.

With expressive eyes, he moved his jaw as his eyes slowly closed. I then felt a long kiss on the bridge of my nose. Namutawi naman ang masayang ngiti sa aking labi ng makaramdam ako ng kiliti sa aking tiyan.

-------------------------

sshandi

Ilong naman!