Falling for That Badboy

Chapter 13

I KEEP on glancing on Luke's side as he speak. I can feel the heaviness again and a pain in my heart.

“We met in junior years. She was my classmate—no, she's my seatmate.”he paused, then he smiled. “I'm an asshóle back then, but she helped me. She always follows me wherever i'll go, and persuade me to be good and regularly attend the school”

“She was my companion. At first, i want to get rid of her, but she stayed. Hindi niya ako sinukuan, hanggang sa nasanay na ako na lagi siyang andyan. Because of her, i tried to be a better person. After a couple of times na nakasama ko siya, mas nagkasundo kami. Siya ang lagi 'kong kasama pag mag-isa ako. Siya ang laging takbuhan ko kapag may problema ako, and one day i realized that i should keep her. She's for keeps.”

“She was the kind of girl who deserve to be loved, kaya naman i courted her. At first, hindi siya naniwala pero pinatunayan ko sa kanya na totoo ang nararamdaman ko. Then, dumating 'yung araw na she really fell for me and said yes to me.”

“We became together, until she ask me to meet her parents. I was so nervous at that time, but my nervousness fades away when she holds my hand, and smiles genuinely at me. Napapagaan niya ang nararamdaman ko, he always makes me calm. Kaya nangako ako sa sarili ko na siya na. Siya na ang babaeng mamahalin ko, at papakasalan ko.”

Then he stopped for awhile.

Medyo nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kirot sa puso ko nang marinig ko ang huling sinabi niya, he promise to himself na 'yong babaeng iyon na ang pakakasalan niya. Then, what is he doing with me then? Mukha namang mahal niya pa 'yung babae. So what's the use of courting me?

“And i'm really glad that her parents also like me. They said that they wants me for her, but in return i should always keep her safe. Simula nang araw na 'yon, iniwasan ko na ang mapasama sa gulo. I want to have a peaceful life at hiling ko na lang ay ang makapagtapos, para mapakasalan ko na siya. But, something happened...”the paused, and when i look at him, a lone tear fell from his eyes.

Mas lalong bumigat ang nararamdaman ko dahil sa nakikita 'kong umiiyak siya. Gusto 'kong punasan ang luha niya—but i hurriedly stopped myself when he look and stared at me,before continuing his story.

“Napahamak siya dahil sakin. Someone tried to use her against me, they kidnapped her and hurt her. At that time, i want to find her and hurt those persons who put pain in her. But i'm late. I was late. Because when i found her, she's lying on the floor and there's a blood all over her body. I felt stiffened, my heart was crushed into pieces, and i want to hurt myself because i didn't fulfilled my promise to her parents that i will keep her safe”

“She almost died because of me, mabuti na lang nadala agad namin siya sa ospital. And when her parents knew what happened, they hated me. They said that i can't protect their daughter from any harm. At mas lalo silang nagalit dahil ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya dinukot. Those persons who kidnapped her are the persons who hated me because of the gang fights i'd been doing before.”

“I hated myself. I wanted to kill myself because of too much hatred, but then my parents talked to me and say that they will bring me to US. I said no, because i don't want to leave the woman i love. Hanggang sa sila na mismo ang gumawa ng paraan. The parents of my beloved decided to take her away from me, they took her without telling me kaya halos mabaliw ako dahil hindi ko alam kung kamusta na siya at kung anong lagay niya . It's been almost 3 years had past, hanggang sa muli ko siyang nakita...”he paused then he stared at me as he utter those words. “—and she doesn't even remember me. She forgot about me.”then an overflowing tears escape from his eyes.

Gusto ko 'ding maluha sa kwento niya. Luke really love that woman. Imagine, isang lalaking kinatatakutan ng lahat ay umiiyak nang dahil sa isang babae. He really does loves her.

Kaya lang nakalimutan siya nito. He must've suffered too much because of the thought that the person he loves forgot him.

Mabilis na pinunasan ni Luke ang pisngi niya na basang-basa ng luha. “You shouldn't see me like this.”he said.

I blows a breath.

“Bakit naman? Nahihiya ka ba kasi nakita kitang umiiyak?”i asked and he answered a nod.

“It's a shame on me to be seen by a girl in this state. We're strong!”he uttered.

“The winners of life's game aren't those who have never tasted failure. But, those who have tasted failure again and again but never give up.”i said and breathe heavily.

He frowned.

“Anong kinalaman niyan sa sinabi ko?”

I sighed. “That means, failure is a part of facing the obstacles that 'were experiencing, and accompanied by failure is crying.”i breathe heavily. “Ibig sabihin hindi masama ang umiyak. Nakakatulong ang pag-iyak para mas tumatag.”i professed.

Luke stared at me for a long minute, until he sighed then speak. “It's getting late already, ihahatid na kita pauwi sa inyo.”anito, at agad na tumayo.

Ilang beses akong napakurap bago naintindihan ang sinabi niya. Sumunod na din ako sa pagtayo at agad na inabot ang mga paper bag na naglalaman nung mga Panda bears na napanalunan ni Luke.

Nagsimula siyang maglakad kaya naman agad din akong sumunod. We walked together but he seems like his mind isn't here. I don't want to disturb him so i continued walking, until we got to the Parking Lot and we saw Butler John—whose waiting for us.

When Butler John saw the two of us walking towards him, he immediately step out of the car and opened the door on the back seat. After opening, he bowed 90 degrees, to greet us.

“Good evening, Master Andre and Lady Leige”he greeted.

Luke is the one who answer him.

“Good evening Butler John, ihahatid lang natin siya pauwi.”

Butler John nodded. “Sige po Master. Sakay na ho kayo.”anito , kaya naman agad na kaming sumakay. Nauna akong pumasok kesa kay Luke.

Nang magsimula ang byahe, tanging tunog lang ng makina ng sasakyan ang maririnig. Walang ni isa sa kanila ang nagsalita. Para 'bang pareho kaming nagpapakiramdaman.

And because it feels awkward to be with him in this kind of situation, i tried to open up a topic...and i guess the topic i chose was wrong.

“Luke...”I called.

“Hmm?”he hummed.

“Pwede ko 'bang malaman ang pangalan nung girl?”

I waited for his reply. But, minutes had passed di pa rin siya sumasagot. I blows a deep breath as i laid on the back seat and shut my eyes.

Mukhang wala talaga siyang balak na sabihin sakin ang—

“You'll know her soon.”he answered. I look at him , and silently nodded.

“Hindi mo ba siya hinanap or pinaglaban mula sa mga taong naglalayo sa inyong dalawa?”i asked. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili 'kong magtanong dahil parang may kung anong nagtutulak sakin na alamin 'kung gumawa ba siya ng paraan para mahanap or makita 'yong babae.

I want to know if he really does love that girl.

“I gave up to see her before.”he uttered while looking at the outside of the car.

I gulped. “Why did you give up on her?”

He looked at me, and smile sadly. “I think that people give up, Not because they can't be bothered anymore, But because they realize there's something better.”he paused. “Kung kami talaga, magtatagpo kaming dalawa kung kailang maayos na ang lahat.”he said.

I remained silent at what he said, then i laid my back on the seat.

After a couple of minutes at dahil hindi na ako mapakali, mas pinili ko na lang na ipikit ang mata at umidlip sandali. Sigurado naman akong gigisingin nila ako mamaya kapag nakarating na kami sa bahay.

———

“Leige...wake up...hey!”unti-unti 'kong iminulat ang mga mata ko nang makaramdam ako ng kamay na tumatapik sa balikat ko. I slowly opened my eyes and a face of Luke appeared infront of me.

Mabilis akong umayos sa pagkakaupo, bago sumilip sa bintana. Nakahinto na ang sasakyan sa harap ng bahay namin. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko, bago binuksan ang pintuan at lumabas duon.

I walked and walked hanggang sa marating ko ang tapat ng pintuan ng bahay namin. Hinarap ko si Butler John at Si Luke.

“Thank you for this day, Luke.”i said, and i smiled at him.

Luke put his hands inside his pocket then he just answered a nod.

I look at Butler John , and bowed a little. “Thank you din po sayo Butler John.”ani ko naman.

“Walang anuman po, Lady Leige.”

Matapos 'kong magpaalam ay tinalikuran ko na sila, at akmang pipihitin ko ang doorknob—nang bigla na lang bumukas ang pintuan—at bumungad sa paningin ko ang mukha ni Mommy at Daddy.

I stilled with my wide eyes.

Shemay! Nandito na sila Mom! It means, it's past 8:00 already.

Ibinuka ko ang bibig ko upang magsalita—nang mauna sa pagsasalita si Luke.

“Sir....Maam...”

At hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, pero bigla na lang sumakit ang ulo ko. Napahawak ako sa sentido ko, habang ang isang kamay ay itinukod ko sa may pinto upang mai-balanse ang sarili ko.

Naramdaman ko din na may umalalay sa akin.

“Leige, anak. Ayos ka lang ba?”rinig 'kong tanong ni Mommy. Sasagutin ko na sana ito ng bigla na lang sumigid ang sakit ng ulo ko, na naging dahilan ng pagpikit ko.

Hindi ko na kaya.

Sunud-sunod ang paghinga ko nang malalim, hanggang sa napansin kong unti-unti nang nilalamon ng dilim ang buong paligid ko.

Then...

Black out.