Lost in a Stranger's Arms

CHAPTER 1

Prologue:

Life is a journey. You'll never know the mystery unless you take a risk.

There was I guy whom I kissed in our first met. Knowing he had a girlfriend makes me desperate to have him. He never told me how he felt about me, but he always saves me and helps me. He introduced me as his girlfriend but I was never and will never be his girlfriend.

I accidentally entered the wrong car, drunk until I lose control of myself. An old man almost took me but a stranger saved me. It was unclear for me to see his face, but I was so desperate. I teased him, cried at him, forced him, and kissed him knowing he was the guy I was obsessed with.

"You shouldn't allow me as a stranger doing this, unless I'm your husband."

I smirked and chuckled, "I will marry you if you asked me to," I mumbled, and started kissing him back.

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CHAPTER 1       

“Aila! Fix yourself. We are going to leave in a few minutes!” I heard Ms. Daniela shouting downstairs.

“Yes ma’am! Just a second! I’m almost done!” I yelled back.

 I checked my things and when I knew that I’ve packed everything, I went downstairs and finally entered the car, sitting beside the window. I leaned my head onto the window glass when my phone vibrated in my lap. I checked my phone and I found out it was a text message from Drake.

“Hi crush! ang lungkot ko, kasi hindi tayo parehas ng van na sinasakyan. Kamusta ka naman d’yan? nasa likod ninyo ang van na sinasakyan namin.“

 I found myself smiling. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko para mapigilan ang mapangiti. 

“Okay naman ako dito. Magkikita naman tayo mamaya pag dating natin sa Laguna.” I replied.

“Can’t wait to see you!” he replied.

Hindi na ako nag reply at baka sabihin niya na gusto ko na din siya.

At the middle of our trip, I suddenly I feel like I was going to vomit anytime. Tiniis ko ang hilo hanggang sa makarating kami sa Laguna. Napaawang ang bibig ko nang makita ang Enchanted Kingdom. Just wow! Hindi naman kami mayaman kaya hindi ako nakakapunta sa lugar na ganito. Required ang tour na ‘to kaya hindi ako pwedeng hindi sumama. Baka mamaya ay ito pa ang dahilan ng pagbasak ng grades ko.

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko, at itinuon ang atensyon  sa naglalakihang mga rides na nakapaligid sa amin. Magkaiba kami ng kurso nina Kelly Ylysabeth Vega, Amber Lee, at Trishia Montejo. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko sila kasama sa sasakyan.

Si Kelly ang pinakamalapit sa akin sa kanilang lahat. Bungisngis man, pero nagkakasundo kami. Archetechure naman ang kurso niya, nasa 5’5 ang tangkad, maputi, maganda ang mukha, at maganda ang hubog ng katawan.

Simula high school palang, magkakilala na kami. Minsan nga kapag kapos, o kinukulang ako sa project ko sa school, tinutulungan niya ako at pinapahiram. Gano’n din naman ako sa kanya pagdating sa mga gawain sa school. Kapag nahihirapan siya sa subject niya, tinutulungan ko din siya.

Si Amber naman, masasabi ko na siya ang sakto lang sa grupo namin. Maloko minsan, minsan naman ay seryoso. Nasa 5’5 din ang tangkad niya, morena at fasionista. Medisina ang kurso niya at nagkakilala kami noong ika-tatlong taon namin sa kolehiyo, dahil bigla akong inatake ng asthma at tanging siya lang ang nakakita at nagdala sa akin sa clinic.

At ang huli naman ay si Trishia, palaging naka tali ang buhok, 5’4 ang tangkad, at morena. Nagkakilala naman kami sa library, sabay naming nadampot ang librong gusto ko’ng basahin. Arts and literature naman ang kurso niya. Subsob sa pagbabasa, at palaging nakasalamin at may dalang libro.

At siyempre, Aila Katnis Mariano ang pangalan ko. 5’2 ang tangkad, hindi maganda, hindi rin naman pangit, sakto lang. Natural na kulot ang buhok ko, na bumagay sa singkit na mata, at kulay ng balat.

Hindi naman kami mayaman, pero mayaman naman at busog sa pag-mamahal at pag-aalaga ni mama. Si papa naman, pumanaw na bago pa man ako ipinanganak. Bente uno ang edad ko, graduating student sa kursong Hospitality Management.

Back to where I was…

Kasalukuyang nakapila kami sa Entrance ng Enchanted Kingdom.

“Aila!“

Rinig ko ang pag-sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses, kaya lumingon ako kung saan nanggagaling ang boses.

“Hey!” she giggled.

“I thought we’re not going to see you!” she added.

Kahit kailan talaga itong si Kelly bungisngis. Napailing nalang ako at  napa-ngiti.

I pouted my lips, “Ah! I’m glad that you found me.” I giggled.

“I thought I’m going to ride all of those by myself.” I added, pointing those big rides around us.

“Yeah! We’re glad that we found you. Ang liit mo kaya!” Amber teased me, seriously? Did they just find me to annoy me?

Ugh.

“Tse! Ang sama mo sa akin. F.O na tayo!” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

“Oy joke lang! “ Tinapik ni Amber ang balikat ko.

They burst into laughter.

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah Whatever!” I walked out.

Actually it was a prank walkout. Nagmartsa ako paalis mula sa kinaroroonan nila. At hindi ko na namalayan na madaming tao pala ang papunta sa direksyon ko. Nabangga ako, kaliwat’ kanan. At dahil maliit lang ako, naisipan kong bumalik sa direksyon ng mga kaibigan ko, para hindi maligaw.

Ilang hakbang palang ang nagagawa ko, nang makaramdam ako ng pamamanhind ng paa. I forced myself to walk but then, when I stepped my other foot, it leads me from falling. I don’t know but I felt like time had pause for a while, and I was slowly falling from the ground. I closed my eyes for I know falling could hurt me.

“What the f**k?“ he cursed.

Natauhan ako nang makarinig ng boses ng lalaki.

I slowly opened my eyes, and quickly stood up when I realize something.

Hindi pa ako patay, I just fell, and this is the man where I landed onto.

“I..I’m sorry,” I shyly said, looking down. I was surprised when I saw his phone was already cracked.

He was furiously looking at me. “Sorry? Huh? You just destroyed my f*****g phone!” he yelled and took his phone from the ground. “And sorry?!” he added.

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. Halo-halong emosyon ang nararamdaman ko. Sana ay hindi nalang ako sumama. Sana hindi na nangyari sa akin ‘to. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin. Nahihiya ako sa nangyari. Ramdam ko ang namumuong luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

“I …” I was starting to explain myself when he grabbed my hand that leads us from hugging each other.

I was surprised when he grabbed me. I was about to speak and push him when he cut me off.

“Stay like this for a while. Then I won’t be mad at you,” he whispered softly.

Hindi na ako nag protesta. Aaminin ko, nagustuhan ko din naman ang yakap n’ya. Hinayaan ko gano’n kami ng ilang minuto.

Ang bango niya. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti, hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako niyakap.

Namulat ako sa katotohanan nang itulak niya ako palayo.

“Did you like it?”

He smirked, and a playful smile was found in his face.

Ang kapal ng muka n’ya! Binabawi ko na lahat ng sinabi ko. Ang manyak niya!

“Manyak ka! Manyak!” Hinampas ko s’ya ng ilang beses. But I was to small and weak.

“Bakit mo ako niyakap ha? Bakit?” Inis na inis tanong ko habang hinahampas siya. ”Wala ka bang mapagtripan kaya ako ang nakita mo ha?” Bulyaw ko.

He smirked. “Tss!”

“For I know, you stepped on phone, and you apparently destroyed it. And now, you’re telling me na pinagtitripan kita?” He was yelling at me.

“Kung tutuusin, may kasalanan ka sa ‘kin,“ he added.

He laid his hand beside his eye. It was a sign as if he’s thinking about a bright idea.

“How could you even pay for my phone?“ He raised his brow.

 He took the phone I was holding. “Is this what you only had?” He insulted me.

How could he?! I went here to enjoy and now he’s ruining my trip? How could he Insult me like that? Pinaghirapan ko ang cellphone ko na ‘yon. Palibhasa mayaman! Ganyan naman lahat ng mayayaman. Matapobre!

I can’t take this anymore, he’s getting into my nerves.

“Akin na ang cellphone ko,” I demanded, and was seriously looking at him.

Sa halip na ibigay, ay itinaas n’ya ito para hindi ko makuha. Sinubukan ko naman na abutin ngunit hindi ko kaya. I was too small to reach it.

“I’m going to give your phone right after you deal with me,” he coldly said with no emotion at all, looking down at me.

May pa deal-deal pa siyang nalalaman.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. “Fine!” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

“Let’s go try all those ride together,” he mentioned, pointing the rides around us.

 “Unless, you wanted to dump me, after what you’ve done to me. Sinira mo na nga ang phone ko, sumakit ang likod ko dahil natumba tayo, at kasalanan mo ‘yon. Ngayon, kung ayaw mo, madali lang akong kausap. I’m going call your professor,” banta niya.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko, at napaawang ang bibig. “And how did you know about my professor?” I sarcastically asked him, raising my brow.

Nanliit ang mata ko sa mga paninindak niya. Sino ba siya sa tingin n’ya?

He smirked. “I know Ms. Daniela very, very well!” he was smiling like an idiot while threatening me.

Minsan nalang ako sumama sa ganito, sisirain pa ng lalaking ‘to.

I took a deep breath, but before I could speak, he cut me off.

“Time is running, ano na? Do you want me to call the dean instead?” He smirked, and threatened me even more.

Hell no! I’m not going to sacrifice my scholarship? Just for this stupid person in front of me. Palalagpasin ko ang araw na ito, isang araw lang.

Hinipan ko ang hibla ng buhok na naka lutang sa mukha ko bago nagsalita.

“Fine! Yun lang pala eh!” Sarakstikong sabi ko, at iniripan s’ya.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano gagawin ko. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako, at padabog na sinundan s’ya papunta sa kung saan.

“Aaaaaahhhh!” Sigaw ng mga nakasakay sa Vikings.

Ang saya ko! Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam na mag enjoy pa-minsan minsan.

Tahimik kaming naglalakad, habang nakasunod pa rin ako sa kanya kung saan niya gustong pumunta.

 I suddenly saw some teddy bears. I really like soft things. Especially bears! Napahinto ako habang pinagmamasdan ang mga naglalaro para makuha ang teddy bear.

 How I wish I can get one.

Nagbayad ako ng fifty pesos para masubukan. Isa siyang mini hanging bridge na dapat ay makatawid ka sa kabilang dulo para ma pindot ang buzzer. Agad ko na hinubad ang sapatos ko at nagsimulang umakyat sa taas. The rope was too thin, with all my strength, I held the rope. I’m almost at the edge of the rope when I fell from the soft things below the bridge. Dismaya at panghihinayang ang naramdaman ko, but then, I laugh because I fell from things that are soft.

Nagmadali akong bumababa at nagsuot ng sapatos. Naalala ko bigla yung unggoy na kasama ko kanina. Hindi ako nagpaalam, at pasimpleng umalis sa likod niya. I wonder where he is right now, I’m sure inis na inis na ‘yon kakahanap sa ‘kin. Binilisan ko ang pag sisintas dahil alam kong pagkakataon ko na ‘to para makatakas.

“Nice try climbing, annoying girl.”

Isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig ko at agad akong tumayo para tignan kung sino man ‘yon.

“You’re here, I… I thought you left.”

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at yumuko.

 “I won’t leave you okay?” He assured, having a sweet voice.

Hindi ko siya maintindihan kung bakit paiba-iba ang mood niya. Kanina ay suplado, ngayon naman ay bumait.

Napailing nalang ako.

He grabbed my arms and took me to the Hunted House. Nanginig bigla ang tuhod ko, I don’t think this is a good Idea.

“Ayoko dito,” I disagreed, and shook my head.

“It’ll be fun, I promised,” he assured, and his voice convinced me.

Ugh! This is so insane! Takot ako sa multo, pero mas takot akong kasama ka. Takot akong matumba ulit sayo. Dahil baka sa susunod na matumba ako sa’yo, mas pipiliin ko nalang na sa sahig mahulog, dahil baka mabaliw ako ng tuluyan sa kung ano na naman ang magiging kapalit.