CATch-Ying My Cursed Scary Girl (Complete)

Sneaky Cat

Max's POV

I kept staring back and forth at Coach Ray's hand and at the big red clock attached to the wall. Any minute now, any minute now our training would be done for the day. I hurriedly hop to finished my 30 line hops, boosted from the ending ticking time. Last set ko na to, I couldn't care about my sore muscles. Basta gusto ko lang matapos na. Five more hops.

"OKAY! Times up!" pagbaba ni Coach ng kamay, sinyales na pwede na kaming umalis, IF, if natapos na ang sets namin. I did my last one before stretching forward and pressing my feet to stand. It was so sudden and unexpected kaya napatingin ang mga kasama ko sa akin, at maging si Coach. Medyo iika-ika akong naglakad.

"Wo—ah-ugh! Buti-ka pa-h, bro!" puna ni Patrick na nilagpasan ko. He and the rest of the team are still finishing their sets.

"Too-h moti-vated, broh?" nakangising saad naman ni Kyle.

Seriously, anong problema ng taong to?!! He's getting into my nerves. I know he always has his smirk plastered on his arrogant face, but I'm getting annoyed by it. He better stops!

Napairap ako at sinalubong ang tingin ni Coach. "You got your game back, Max." nilagay nito ang kamay sa balikat ko. "Keep up the hard work. You seemed inspired. Keep it, whatever or whoever it is. Hahaha, you're getting back and even better! Just don't push yourself too much! Okay?!" masiglang saad nito bago ako binitawan.

"Thanks, Coach." I bid my last remarks before going to the shower room. Pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko dun kaagad bumilis ang galaw ng buong katawan ko.

I can't wait even longer, ngayon pa't tapos na ako! Ni hindi man lang ako uminom or nagpahinga pa ng kunti, before taking a quick shower. After that, I gathered all my stuffs kahit tumutulo pa ang buhok ko.

Paglabas ko, ang pagpasok ng teammates ko. I got their heads following me, at syempre nakatanggap ako ng kantyaw at iba pang loloko. Kesyo may girlfriend daw ako, party, and more crazy things, ang binintang nila sa akin.

Hindi ba pwedeng mag-aaral naman? Pero sino bang maniniwala sa akin? I never hurried out before, I would rather do more practice, but that was before Kyle puts his fvcking mouth and commented on my business.

I did get insecure, I admit, pero dahil lang yun sa ayaw kong mapasama si Scary Girl sa mga kalokohan ng mga kasama ko.

Madamot ba ang sounds? Well, it is. I would rather keep her para hindi niya makilala 'tong mga loko kong kaibigan.

My intentions are pure, ayaw ko lang siyang mahusgahan nila. That's it. Simple and plain. Hindi naman kasi nila siya maiintindihan. Besides, I can't let her secrets out. That's the most valuable thing I'll keep to have her trust.

I pay no attention to their silliness. Ganun din ang ginawa ko sa medyo panginginig ng binti ko. My breaths are ragged dahil sa mabilis at malaking paghakbang ng mga paa ko. Medyo nalalaglag din ang strap ng gym bag ko sa balikat. Tumatalikod kasi ako para icheck kung walang ni isang tao dito sa hallway ang nakasunod.

Lahat ng natira dito sa school ay mga players na nasa gym, kaya kitang kita akong naglalakad. At kahit medyo act like 'takot' wala akong pake, dahil gusto ko lang makasiguradong wala akong kasunod.

Tahimik at iilan lang ang ilaw dito sa hallway para sa mga late nang umuwi katulad namin. Bukod sa mga ilaw, lahat ng parte ng school ay sarado na at madilim.

The thing is I don't know kung paano hahanapin si Scary Girl. I know she's somewhere here in the dark. Pero saan? Masyadong maraming madilim na parte dito.

What, should I whisper and call her in the dark? Baka magmukhang nakadrugs ako nun. Should I run and rampage all the dark places of the whole school? Mas galawang baliw yun. What should I do? Saan ko siya mahahanap?

I really have no idea where to go, but my feet walked to the parking lot. I don't really know, by the look of it, eh talagang uuwi na ako. I clearly know I shouldn't dahil may kikitain pa nga ako.

Nabalakan kong bumalik sana pero may itim na sulok akong napansin. Malapit yun sa sasakyan ko. May damuhan na hindi ganun kataasan sa kabilang side, dahil sa dulo ko iniwan yun kahapon. Remember, bigla na lang namatay ang sasakyan ko, kaya dyan ko naiwan.

Lumingon muna ako sa likod. Medyo matatagalan pa ang mga kasamahan ko, so I hesitate to go there. Para kasing may kung ano dun. I wonder kung may tambay na pinagdiskitahan ang sasakyan ko. Sinigurado namang nasa kamay ang cellphone ko at nagflashlight para ilawan yun. I can't really see anything. Slowly, I walked to approach it.

My heart is quite fast than the usual heart beat. I was about to take a deep breath at humakbang....nang may kamay na lumabas sa dilim at dinakma ang bibig ko. Hmm!!! What the fvck?!!!

I didn't dare to shout but I did struggle. Buti na lang at nadakma ko kaagad ang isang kamay nito, yung nakakapit sa may gilid ko, at dinikit yun papaunahan sa may kotse ko. Dun ko na ginamit ang buong puwersa ko para ipitin ang katawan nito at kicorner.

"Hap!" pagsinghap nito dahil sa mabilis na pangyayari at pagkakaipit sa akin. At the same time of her gasp, the post light near us suddenly flickers.

"What do you—you?" nawala ang gigil sa boses ko at napalitan ng pagtataka. That familiar scent and this small body frame na nakapitan ko na dati.

My eyes widens at what—no, WHO I saw.

"Scary Girl." my body instantly relaxed as my gaze draws against hers. She has messy hair at naiipit pa dahil sa mahigpit na kapit ko sa damit niya, dun sa parte ng baba ng leeg niya. Her long bangs na hanggang ilong ay lumilipad sa may gilid ng mukha niya. She looked a mess.

Naalarma ako dahil sa malalim niyang paghinga. I realized that I could have beaten her real bad kung hindi ko kaagad naagapang nakilala siya.

Hindi ako makapaniwala na ako ang nagcause ng pagkagulat sa mga mata niya. Yes, she is shocked. Her eyes are as wide as mine. Her orbs got darker in trying to catch her breath. I know gusto niyang kumalma.

This little fragile kitten. Damn me for giving her fear.

I brushed her face softly, at inalis ang bangs para maramdaman niya ang hangin. "Breathe." I softly commanded as I continue to caress her cheeks, enclosing her face in between of my hands.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." I looked directly at her eyes. There's a shade of light brown on it but it didn't fully formed as I feel her body relaxes. "Are you okay?"

"Hmmm." she nods. I did continue to hold her in the same position and feel her close. I'm really tempted to hug her, but I don't want to set a discomfort para sa kaniya. Kakakalma pa lang niya kaya ayaw kong ipush ang luck ko today.

She looked really different right now from what she looked pag nasa school. Parang siyang, ano.....para siyang sobrang babaeng babae ngayon. Yung tipong mahinhin at kailangan ng proteksyon. Pinapahiwatig kasi yun mga mata niya, na parang may something lang dun ngayon na gusto kong tignan, hindi lang ngayon kundi sa mga susunod ding mga araw.

Hindi ko rin alam kung gaano katagal ang tinake nun pero nang makakinig na ako ng ingay galing sa loob ng school ay binuksan ko na ang pinto sa may passenger seat. "Pasok ka." nag-aalalang utos ko.

Sinundan din niya ang tinitignan ko bago tahimik na pumasok. Nang masaraduhan ko ang pinto sumakay na rin ako sa driver's seat. I prayed na sana gumana na yung makina. And it DID!

"Can you sleep at my house tonight?" tanong ko at medyo sinulyapan lang siya. I did asked a weird question so I kept my eyes on the road.

"Ano ba pag-uusapan natin?" mababa nitong sagot. I seriously don't know. Gusto ko lang talaga intayin niya ako after training para maihatid siya ng maayos. Baka kasi maglakad na naman siya, eh ang gabi na. Ayaw kong makita ulit siyang tatakbo sa kalsada, tapos mawala na naman ng halos magdadalawang linggo. And thinking that she'll be alone in her house with creepy things, that would be a change of plan for me.

I let out a half sigh and half laugh sound. "What?" natatawa kong saad. "You made me a guest in your house. I would like to return the favor." pagdadahilan ko. I know she stared at me dahil sa sagot ko, naramdaman ko kasi ang mga tingin niya.

"Wag na." maigsing pagtutol nito. She's really hard to convince.

Sino bang ineexpect mong babae ang sasama ng ganun kabilis? No one will. Unless, they're homeless or a rebel teenage.

"Why?" segunda ko.

"Mahirap sa maaga."

I laughed at her answer. She DID considered going at my house! That's a good news!

I shook my head as I keep my smile and eyes on the road. "Not anymore. I have a new path kaya nga kita gustong isama para makita mo."

I suddenly remember yung ginawa kong inspection sa bahay namin. Yung araw kasi na hindi ko siya makita, inuli ko ang buong bahay namin to trace kung saan siya dumaan. I found a path at the back garden. Now I feel excited to show it to her.

"Mahirap pa rin." muli niyang pagtutol.

I took a deep breath. "Don't worry, kunting pasikot-sikot lang yun pero guaranteed na walang makakakita sayo. Sa damit naman, I still got your two uniform na hindi mo kinuha sa locker mo. So you're all set for tomorrow."

"Pero—-"

I cut her off.

"Of course, ayaw naman kitang pilitin. Don't worry." paglinga ko dito at binigyan siya ng ngiti to assure her that it is fine. I can't be a jerk and force her to sleep in my house dahil inappropriate nga naman.

"Salamat." yun lang ang sinabi niya at medyo gumilid ang ulo para tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

Hinatid ko siya sa bahay niya katulad ng gusto niya. She said nothing and just looked at me as her goodbye. I did the same but with a wave.

My way home becomes quiet like my old days. I'm really used to this, but I don't know what got me down? Masyado kasi akong umaasa na lahat sasangayon sa akin ngayong araw. And sh't, I really thought that I got the luck. At dahil sa tanga ako ay inisip kong wag gamitin yun. I waited to use the luck para mapa-oo siyang sa bahay matulog.

Hahaha, I even thought of it that way kaya hindi ko ginamit, kung tama man ang term. Cause I've been wanting all throughout the day to share my happiness at ikwento kay Scary Girl lahat ng good things na nakuha ko sa tulong niya. But no, it really ended here.

Kasi kung hindi eh, diba, dapat kasama ko siya ngayon at baka nagkwe-kwento na ako. Masyado kong inaasahan ang luck na yun. Tsk! Nakakatawang nagmadali din ako kanina sa training para makita siya, then ang magiging ending pala ay parang kaninang maaga. I ended up late.

I ended up in where I should be.

I got home and eat a little dinner, hindi ako gutom. Hindi rin ako nagswimming dahil sa sakit ng katawan. I did immediately went to bed. Pero hindi talaga ako makatulog. Feeling my bed and looking around got me thinking that, 'Ummm, it'll be better if she's just here.'

Crap aside, I don't even know what's getting into me. Kung bakit sobra kong iniisip na ishare sa kanya ang kung anong meron ako.

Yeah, I do wish that, feeling ko kasi same kami ng lonliness. I could relate to her. Though, I'm living with my mom, but growing up, I got no single parent with me. Kaya nga siguro ako naging ganto. Don't get me wrong, I have all respect and love to my mom, but she's way too busy to notice me changing and growing. She got me at a very young age kaya alam kong mahirap sa kanya ang mag-alaga ng anak.

Oh no, this sh't got me more thinking. I should stop.

I looked at the alarm clock at my side, and it's already 11pm. Double sh't!!! I need to sleep soon.

Pero mukhang ayaw nga talaga akong patulugin dahil may biglang bumagsak na maliliit na patak ng ulan sa may bintana. That got me stand up.

"Men! I need cold water." I complained.

I silently walked down dahil alam kong tulog na rin ang mga tao dito sa bahay. I did fetch some water nang nakita ko ang isang maliit na ilaw galing sa office ni Mama. I could hear her talking to someone.

That's weird. At this time? Sobrang late na para kumausap ng katrabaho. I know my mom is young but never did she got dates other than business talks.

I slowly peek inside. Lumapat kaagad sa balat ko ang lamig na nanggagaling sa loob dahil sa lakas ng aircon. Bukas din ang nasa dulo niyang lampshade malapit sa nakasaradong bintana, na kabababa lang ng kurtina. Nakatungo siya sa may gilid ng paahan ng office table at medyo nakabent.

I could hear her whisphering something. I think I better talk to her sometimes, baka kung ano na ang inakausap ni Mama dahil hindi ko ata siya nakakamusta masyado these past days. Medyo busy kasi ako sa school, but now that I remember, bakit parang hindi nga siya nalabas ng office niya tuwing gabi?

The next thing really shock me, I can't believe in what I'm seeing now.

"Oh, you poor thing." she kisses and raised her hand, holding a cat. A cat which I know who she is.

"Hindi ka inaalagaan ng amo mo. Ohhh, kawawa ka naman." with full sympathy she said.

What the heck is she doing here?!! Akala ko ayaw niyang sumama! Hindi pa ako nakatulog kakaisip sa kaniya dahil umuulan! Tapos naandito lang pala siya sa NANAY KO!!!! Fvck! Ang laking sampal naman nun sa akin!!!!

Does she likes my mom more than me??!! THIS IS CRAZY!!!

'Tong pusang galang to! Yari ka talaga sa akin, Scary Girl. Wag lang talaga siyang babalik sa pagiging tao niya!!!