RAYANA

Chapter 18

I woke up feeling disoriented. I look outside and saw that it's nearly sun set already.

I glance at the empty bed beside me before going down. My steps was heard in the hallway until I go down and walk to the living room. I stop rubbing my eyes when the first time I saw was his dark blue eyes.

Binaba ko ang kamay ko and look at the TV, it's on but it silent.

Hindi ko namalayan na nasa harap ko na sya. I look at to him while his hand already reach the strand of my hair and put it on the back of my ear.

"Kanina ka pa andito?" Paos kung tanong. 

I walk passed him and go to the kitchen.  

I get myself a water.

"Yeah.." simple nyang sabi.

I just nod taking a seat to the high chair. Dumukdok ako dun and sigh. I'm still sleepy.

I felt him beside me and fix my hair on my face. His scent was a bit sweet and minty.

"You still sleepy?" He asked softly.

"Yes.." I said groggily. I heard him laugh a bit and touch my cheek so light like his afraid to touch me.

I stir because of his cold hand and look at him with my sleepy eyes but I jolt back when I young boy with a blue eyes stare at me with those sweet smile.

I get myself out of the chair knocking it off gasping and took a stepback away from him.

He was also shock by my action and raise his hands ready to catch me but I just raise my one hand to shield my body on him.

What the hell?!  What. the. Hell!

Anong nangyari?! Who is that boy?

"Reya.. What's wrong?" Marahan nyang sabi at hahakbang sana ng mabilis akung umiling.

"Don't come near me! " I gasp steping back a bit. I saw him shock and stare at me intently. I felt my hand tremble a bit and a sudden prick of pain starting on the side of my head.

He stand straight and raise his hands like surrendering. He watch my every move and take a step so silent.

"I'm not hurting you.. What's wrong?.." Iling nya.

"Just stay there!.. I said just Stay there Izaac!" Hingal kung sigaw sa kanya when he continued to move forward.

Wala akung nagawa ng nasa harap na sya and held me closer to his body. I gasp when I felt his running heart beat and heard his deep breathe.

Niyapos nya ko ng husto like his afraid to let go and he tighten his grips every heavy hard breathe I take. I felt my eyes heat and the frantic beats of my heart was making me deaf.

"What's wrong? Tell me.." Bulong nya.

I gulp and rest my face between his chin and shoulder.

"I saw a boy.." I quietly said shakily. I gasp when I feel the rush of my emotions. I don't know but this months is like new to me because I often showed it like Reiga said.. I've changed.

He redo his hug and incircle his arms around my waist and hold the back of my head.

I stop breathing when I heard the door open. I felt him tense.

"Reya!... Tulog na naman siguro.."

I pushed him away when I heard Lei. s**t!

I look at him and saw him watching me..I look away and sprint out of the kitchen.

Nabigla si Lei ng lumitaw ako sa harap nya.

"Reya what are... Bakit ang putla mo? What happened?!" Taranta nyang tanong ng mapagmasdan ang mukha ko. She hold my face both at her hands and try to search something on my face and my eyes.

I wanted to feel her warm and rest my head on her shoulder.

"Nothing... I had a headache." I quietly said.

"Then rest.. Come on." Agad nyang sabi at agad akung hinila paakyat ng hagdan. I look at the living room and saw him standing near the kitchen's door watching us.

I look away. What's with him? Why... he look like the boy I saw? Is it an illusion? or just an imagination? Was it just a spur in a moment? or something that Reiga told me involves here?

Did I forget something? or someone? 

"Bakit kasi tulog ka ng tulog?" Sermon ni Lei. I didn't mind her rants all the way.

Pinagpahinga nya ko sa kwarto while she go down.

I sat down in the middle of the bed hugging my head down to my legs. I sigh heavily remembering the face of the boy.

I shivered when he looks really familiar, I don't remember that boy but the resemblance of him and Izaac was really... the same. Ang pagkakaiba lang iba ang tingin nilang dalawa, the boy have this sweet stare while Izaac have this intent and calculating stare always well sometimes his soften but it never shown often.

I have the guts that this is not gonna be a good year.

I gasp and sigh taking my phone and dial Reiga's number. I tried to call him for 2 hours yet he didn't answer until the phone cut the line.

I was frustrated to get my run my fingers to my messy hair, walking back and forth. This is the first time that I am restless and I feel a twirling nerve inside my stomach that in any minute I think I will throw up.

I stop med-step when I felt something in the back of head in the right side.

A bulky line and like a stitch, two inches flat line.

I ran to go to the bathroom and try to look at it in the mirror but I can't. Tinitigan ko ang magulo kung buhok at maputla kung mukha.

How did I get this stitches? Did I fall?

I eagerly walk out of my room and jugged down to stairs.

Agad na nasa akin ang tingin ni Lei na katatapos lang ilapag ang hinanda nyang pagkain.

Hindi ko pinansin si Izaac na may kinukuha sa ref.

"What wrong? May masakit sayo?!" Agad na baling sa akin ni Lei with those expression like she's ready to take off any minute.

"There's.. There's a line at the back of my head Lei?.. How can I..?" Hingal kung tanong trying to find the line again at the back of my head.

I stop when I saw how worried Lei was and shed tears on me. Agad na hinawakan nya ang dalawa kung balikat.

"Reya Listen.. Calm down hon." She soothly said fixing my hair and try to get my hand out of it.

"How can I calm down?.. Lei! What's happening?!" Taranta kung tanong but she held my face both her hands firmly, gasping and ready to cry but she face me with those strong face and bravery. 

"Listen carefully.. You don't have to worry about it. Sumasakit ba ulit sya? Let's get you to the hospital tomorrow..."

"What is happening?!" Mariin kung tanong taking her hands off me. There's this have the feeling that.. I can't take off and it's crawling on my skin and the way Lei reacted was give me more curious and furious to know.

Sinasabi sa akin na may mali dito. It's something that I should know and even it's wrong on my side I'll take it.

"Mawawala rin yung scar Reya just like the gun shot on your abdomen.."

She gasps and hopelessly looking at me while crying now. She even scared to tell me. 

"Lei!" Gigil kung tawag sa kanya gripping both side of my dress. I was beyond mad to her for keeping something to me and to the point I've involved wasn't good at all.

"It's not time for you to know!"

"I'll ask Sandy.." Galit kung talikod sa kanya but when I just take a one step I heard her whimpered saying.. 

"You nearly raped. " garalgal nyang sabi and even she whispered it between those tremble voice it seems like she shouted it to the world like atomic bomb that blast my entire being.

I got root on my feet and the only thing that it heard in the kitchen was her silent cry.

"I-It's... Way back.. way back in last.. last year near christmas eve." Lei gasp on her hands, it's really hard for her to explain and every time she sob and gasp brought me to shed tears.

"You and Sandy tried to go to this party near  down town more like.. 4 hours away from here. I don't really have to worry about you because you can defend yourself and always behave.. and not taking any alcohol drinks and.. and I didn't really think that that there's.. A man wanted you more like forcing you.. But it did. Remember Lukas?" She whimpered.

Lukas? Bruce's friend? 

" His so obsessed to you... Like Bruce..

Zach was there so he rescued you from them but he knock you out at the back with a baseball bat..."

I felt her hug on my back and held me to face her. Ayuko syang tiningnan. My emotions was really over flawing but the helplessness and the big heavy feelings are eating me. I was going to cry any minute.

"You've slept for two days and you forgot everything that night.. We can't tell you about this because it will triggered you to go back to that traumatic event Reya. I'm sorry.." Iling ni Lei habang hinahaplos ang pisngi ko at buhok.  

Mapula ang matang tumingin ako sa kanya.

"He didn't..?" I hesitately said.

"Did he..?" I lost my voice again.

"No! " Agad na iling ni Lei.

''As I was saying Zach was on time so he didn't touch anything except knocking you out.."

Tinitigan ko ang mukha ni Lei na matapang na tumitig sa akin at pilit na nagpapakatatag. Agad na bumaba ang tingin ko when I feel my eyes heat again.

I stop when I feel a intent stare, I slowly look up to where he stand. I feel my shoulder down and my eyes blur a bit when I saw his blue eyes on me with those parted lips. The look on his eyes was in a daze and glint with looming darkness. His holding a bottle water that crumbled between his finger still looking at me with those dazed eyes.

My lips tremble a bit and a water slide   on my eyes in a split second but I turn around right away.

"I'll just.. take a rest.." My voice shake a bit but I walk out with a frantic steps.

I heard Lei called me but I just ignore it and go to my room.

I dropped myself to my bed and curl hugging my pillow. I close my eyes so tight and let myself out from the silence.

Every seconds I sigh and sigh, snipping and sigh. Again and again.

Lei tried to take my dinner but I don't really have any appetite nor think anything.

I tried to sleep forgetting everything but in the middle of it I dream about it.

The different light of the neon lights around and the smells of liquors and perfumes, the bodies around and the noise. I was partying having fun around until it exchange to the grinning Lukas who's staring lusting over me with insane glint on his eyes.

I jolted and gasping when I wake up. I'm sweating so much and my trembling shoulder hug my legs with the comforter. I drop my head to my arms and helplessly hide myself in between.

I startled when I saw my door open soundlessly and the light was getting in but a huge figure block it.

"Nightmare?" A familiar voice asked.  I saw his blue eyes in the dark and his huge statue getting in and close the door again.

"Why are you here?" Paos kung tanong. I was restless and tired but I can't go back to sleep. 

He didn't answer and seat beside the bed turning on my lamp shade. Agad na lumiwanag sa loob with the yellowish light.

Agad na nasa akin ang tingin nya. 

The illuminating abstract of him with his strong defined jaw and the pointed nose, his longlashes and the blue eyes and his huge form was nearly crashed my entire form and the bed itself in the yellowish light around my room, while on the other side was me being messy and pale. Lifeless.

Alam kung ang putla putla ko, magulo ang buhok at ramdam ko ang pawis sa likod ko even on my forehead.

"I've never left.." He quietly said staring at my tired face.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at sinandal ang pisngi sa mga tuhod ko hugging my legs again looking at my window, in the darkness rather.

I feel his eyes on me and I sigh when I felt his hand on my hair at the back of my head.

"I forgot someone.." I whispered to myself but I know he heard me because he stop fixing my hair.

"It's not your fault.." He said with those low voice. The softness is there but the tip of his tongue was firm like there's another sentence there.

I sigh and close my eyes tight.

"Reiga will surely go here. His mad of Lei.."

"It's there problem.. He have rights to be mad.." Agad kung inangat ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Hindi mo naiintindihan.. Aatras na naman sya sa plano.." I stop when I remember Reiga's face. Bakit ko nga ba to sinasabi sa kanya?

"Plan?" Inakap ko ang tuhod ko at tiningnan ang kamay nyang nasa paanan ko nakapatong.

"His courting Lei again and he wants to stop the wedding." I quietly said try to not watch his reaction.

"What?.." He humor asked. There's a laughter on his voice.

Tinitigan ko sya ng masama bago umayos ng higa at talikod sa kanya.

"His ex is Lei?" He asked again.

"Of course that's Why he gave me to Lei.. But torpe sya. The reason why it have to be this way again.. I just want a peaceful life. Go home now. We have classes tomorrow." Antok kung sabi at inakap ang unan sa gilid ko.

Nabigla ako ng bumagsak sya sa tabi ko at inagaw sa akin ang isang unan na yakap ko.

Ngumiti sya sa akin habang nilalagay ang unan sa ulo nya.

"Night." He said closing his eyes facing me. I sigh hugging my comforter turning to my side. I don't really know what's on his mind huh.

The blue eyed Izaac.