Chapter 3
Chapter 3
My mind was in chaos as I kept on staring at North while he ran the way towards the car so we wouldn't get wet that much. I couldn't take my eyes off him, afraid that if I did, then I would wake up from this beautiful dream.
Was this really happening? North was here and he was carrying me bridal style! Magkadikit na magkadikit ang mga katawan namin at dama ko ang init na nagmumula sa kanya kahit pa may nakaharang na damit sa pagitan namin—idagdag pa ang lamig ng panahon dahil sa ulan.
Oh my gosh... if this were a dream, please don't wake me up yet. Not when I was having the time of my life.
Wala akong matandaan sa alaala ko kung nagkalapit ba kami nang ganito ni North. All I could ever remember was chasing him and letting him know about my feelings, kaya ngayong nangyayari 'to, gusto ko sanang sulitin na muna.
Bahagya akong dumausdos pababa sa hawak niya dahil sa pagtakbo niya. North stopped running for a while para ayusin ang pagkakahawak sa akin. I could feel his arms clenching around me and hugging me even tighter so I wouldn't fall.
Oh, no, North...hulog na hulog na nga ko sa 'yo, e.
He stopped when we finally reached his car and carefully put me down. Ramdam ko pa ang pag-alalay niya at hinintay akong makaayos sa pagtayo. I saw him eyeing my feet.
"Are your feet okay?" he asked. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling when I heard the slight concern in his voice.
I nodded. "Yeah...hindi naman ako napilayan."
Umangat ang tingin niya sa akin at tinitigan ang mukha ko. His cold dark eyes searched something on my face, probably if I was telling the truth or not. Nang makita na nagsasabi ako ng totoo ay saka lang siya tumango.
"Get inside." He even opened the door for me. Hindi ko na naiwasan ang kiligin.
Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh! What was happening? Ano bang ginawa kong kabutihan kaninang umaga at parang ang ganda yata ng araw ko?
I was certain that I wouldn't see him today dahil nga may photoshoot ako. And ever since he started to handle their family business, dumalang na ang pagdalaw niya sa bahay kaya minsan ko na lang din siya makita roon, pero ang alam ko naman ay madalas pa rin silang magkita ni Kuya Zoren.
Imagine my shock when I saw him at the studio earlier, holding the dress that I left at the house. It felt like the door to Mount Olympus had opened and a Greek god stepped out.
Through the years, North grew more dashing than ever. That stubble under his chin and jaw made him look manlier, like a rugged gentleman. Alam kong marami ang nakakapansin, hindi lang ako, at alam ko rin kung gaano karami ang mga babaeng nagkakagusto sa kanya, kaya nandoon pa rin ang takot sa akin na baka paggising ko isang araw, North already fell in love with someone else.
No...sa akin dapat siya ma-in love.
I slid inside the car and he closed the door to my side. May kinuha muna siya sa likod ng kotse bago umikot at sumakay sa may driver's side.
He was holding a towel that he handed to me. "Dry yourself."
I shook my head. "I'm okay."
His cold eyes glared at me. He glanced at my hair which I was sure probably looked like a bird's nest now dahil medyo nabasa ng ulan. He sighed when his gaze returned to me.
"Magkakasakit ka."
I automatically smiled when I heard that. Concerned naman pala na magkasakit ako, hindi na lang sabihin kaagad.
"Paano ka?" I asked. Mas basa kasi siya sa aming dalawa. Dumidikit na ang basang parte ng white top niya sa balat niya to which gave me a great view. I could see his chiseled chest behind his top.
"I'm fine," maikli niyang sagot.
"E, may pupuntahan ka pa, 'di ba? Tapos basa ka—"
"I said I'm fine, Rylee..." He said my name with a sigh. "Worry about yourself."
Napanguso ako at kinuha na ang towel na inaabot niya. He started the engine and drove the way to my house. Pasulyap-sulyap ako sa kanyang seryosong nagmamaneho habang pinupunasan ko ang buhok ko.
Even his side profile looked so good. Halata ang matangos niyang ilong sa ganitong anggulo. I noticed his defined jaw clenching from time to time, especially when there was traffic.
Gosh...he looked so perfect.
"So...how was my shoot earlier?" I asked para lang may mapag-usapan. He was so quiet. I wanted to hear his voice.
He glanced at me before he looked at the road again. "Fine."
I frowned at his one-worded answer.
"Fine? That's all you can say?" Tumagilid ako ng upo para mas makita siya nang buo. "I saw you earlier! You got affected by my beauty!"
He chuckled. Dahil nakatagilid ay napansin ko ang paggalaw ng Adam's apple niya sa ginawa. "I told you. I felt like I was watching a children photoshoot."
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko. No...I really saw it! He got affected talaga! He was stunned and his eyes never left mine na parang ako lang ang tao sa studio na 'yon.
I really did my best so he would finally notice me pero iyon ang sasabihin niya?
I scoffed, trying to hide the pain and disappointment with his answer.
"You're definitely lying. I bet you've even fallen in love with me now," malaki ang kumpyansa ko pang sabi.
His laughter boomed inside the car. Buong-buo ang pagtawa niya na masarap pakinggan sa araw-araw at alam kong hindi ako magsasawa kung paulit-ulit ko pang maririnig iyon. He rarely laughed this way around me kaya naman sinulit ko ang pagkakataon, at kahit na inis pa rin ay pinanood ko lang siya sa pagtawa.
"You sound like a kid," sabi niyang bahagya pang natatawa.
Halos maiyak na ako sa inis doon. How long had it been? Ilang taon na ang nakalipas pero sa mga mata niya ay mukha pa rin siguro akong bata. Walang nagbago sa paraan ng pakikitungo niya sa akin. He still treated me like a little sister.
What should I do to make him fall in love with me? Gosh...I really loved this man! Pwede bang sa 'kin na lang siya?
"I'm not a kid," I said, glaring at him.
Saglit siyang sumulyap sa akin na may ngisi sa mga labi bago napailing at ibinalik ang mga mata sa daanan.
"And I'm not your little sister," pahabol ko.
Wala siyang sinabing kung ano. I was left with silence. Tahimik lang siyang nagmaneho at hindi na ako muling kinausap.
I sighed. I glanced outside the window and noticed the rain had stopped falling now, pero madilim pa rin ang langit na parang nakikisama sa nararamdaman kong lungkot.
If there were a slight chance that North would fall in love with me, I'd definitely grab it. Hinding-hindi ko na iyon bibitawan.
Ilang sandali ay nakarating na rin kami sa bahay at ipinarada niya ang sasakyan sa harapan ng gate namin. He went out the car. Umikot siya papunta sa side ko at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.
"Pasok ka muna sa loob. I'll make you coffee," sabi ko nang makababa. Dahil matangkad ay kinailangan ko pa siyang tingalain.
He sighed. "I need to go, Rylee."
"Okay...nagbabakasali lang naman, baka makalusot."
His lips twitched a little, trying to hide the smile that wanted to appear on his lips. Mukhang nakukulitan siya sa akin kaya natatawa na lang.
"Thank you sa paghatid," I said when I finally realized I couldn't anything to make him stay. Baka importante talaga ang appointment niya.
Kinilig naman ako sa iniisip ko. Mukha ngang importante iyon kaya pupunta pa rin siya, pero naglaan pa rin ng oras para maihatid ako. Plus, ang sabi niya kanina, he didn't have time to watch my photoshoot because of his appointment pero nagtagal naman hanggang sa matapos ang shoot ko.
Oh my gosh... I was claiming it! I could feel it! There was a big chance that North will fall in love with me!
I took a bath after I rested a bit. I decided to wait for Kuya Zoren who, apparently, wasn't here yet. I just wanted to thank him, kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya, hindi kami magkikita ni North ngayon. Hindi ko mararanasan ang maihatid niya sa bahay pagkatapos ng trabaho at mas lalong hindi ko mararanasan ang mabuhat niya ako nang bridal style!
Gosh...I could still feel his arms wrapped firmly around me. He was so strong. Nakaya niya akong buhatin habang tumatakbo kanina papunta sa katawan niya. I bet he could still easily carry me that way if I were wearing a wedding dress!
I giggled at my thought. Gosh...I guess I really loved him, huh?
"I wish you were there kanina, Drea! You should've seen how North carried me! Mukha kaming ikinasal!"
I called Andrea through Facetime to tell her what happened. I wanted to see her reaction while I was telling her my stories and I wanted her to see mine too! Mas exciting magkwento kapag ganito.
Isa pa, baka kasi makatulog ako habang hinihintay si Kuya Zoren kaya makikipagkwentuhan na lang ako kay Andrea.
"Gaga!" She was laughing. "Kung nando'n ako, hindi ka ihahatid ni North! You wouldn't have your moments together!"
She was right! Buti na lang din pala umalis siya kanina. North might've thought that I was alone so he decided to say throughout the photoshoot. Inihatid pa ako. May bonus pang binuhat niya ako na parang ikinasal kami.
"Though I really want to see him carrying you," dinig ko ang panghihinayang sa tono ni Andrea.
I sighed. "Yeah...na-picture-an mo sana."
Nakakainis! Now that I thought about it, wala man lang akong souvenir ng moments namin na 'yon! Others would probably think that I was just making up stories lalo pa at alam nila kung gaano ko kagusto si North!
"But at least mukhang nagle-level up na ang relationship n'yo," Andrea said, trying to cheer me up. She probably saw the slight sadness on my face.
I smiled at her. "Yes! At alam mo ba? Parang nagseselos siya kanina no'ng kausap ko si Adrian!"
I saw her frown. "Sigurado kang nagseselos siya o baka ilusyon mo lang?"
I stomped my foot. She wouldn't believe me! "He's jealous! I'm sure! 'Di ba cold yung mga mata niya? Mas naging cold pa kanina!"
Natawa si Andrea, napailing pa na parang hindi talaga naniniwala sa sinabi ko.
"Ewan ko sa 'yo, Ry. Ilang beses na tayong nag-assume sa mga tingin ni North pero masyado lang talaga tayong asyumera."
"No. Believe me. Iba talaga yung tingin niya kanina," pagpupumilit ko pa.
Saglit pa kaming nagkwentuhan ni Andrea bago ko narinig ang pagdating ni Kuya Zoren. Nagpaalam ako sa kaibigan ko at lumabas ng kwarto. I went inside my brother's room at naabutan ko siyang inilalapag ang briefcase sa kama. Mukhang kararating niya pa nga lang.
"O, Rylee. Bakit?"
I didn't say anything. Nilapitan ko siya nang may malaking ngiti sa mga labi. Nakita kong nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya dahil doon. "What is it? You're scaring me."
"Are you tired? Do you want me to massage you?"
His frown deepened. "Huh?"
Itinulak ko siya papunta roon sa one-seater sofa sa loob ng kwarto niya at pinaupo siya do'n.
My brother looked really confused by my actions. Nakikita ko ang kalituhan sa mga mata niya habang sinusundan ako ng tingin pero wala akong sinabi at pumwesto lang sa likuran niya. I started massaging his shoulders.
"Aray! Fuck—" reklamo niya agad kahit nagsisimula pa lang ako.
He struggled to free himself from my grip but I wouldn't let him hanggang sa hinawakan niya ang dalawang pulsuhan ko para alisin ang mga kamay ko sa balikat niya at tumayo.
"What's with you?" he asked. I almost laughed at the expression on his face! "Bakit bigla-bigla ka na lang nagmamasahe d'yan, e hindi ka naman marunong?"
"I just wanted to thank you and this was the only way I could think of," depensa ko.
"Thank me? Pinapatay mo yata ako, e!"
Napanguso ako at sinimangutan siya. He was so ungrateful! Siya na nga mina-massage, siya pang may ayaw.
Hinawakan niya ang balikat niya and rolled them. Mukha ngang nasaktan pa siya sa pagmamasahe ko.
"Ano bang mayro'n at gusto mong magpasalamat?" he asked. Dumadaing siya habang hinihilot ang sariling balikat.
"Because of what you did today!" I smiled widely. "I saw North."
"Ah, oo," walang gana niyang sabi. "Walang ibang magdadala sa 'yo kaya nakisuyo ako. Bakit ba kasi iniwan mo?"
"Nakalimutan ko kasi. Anyway, because of you, I got to experience that moment with him!"
I saw him still. Napatigil siya sa paghihilot sa balikat at ibinaba ang mga kamay. Seryoso pa siya nang tumingin ulit sa akin. "Bakit? Anong nangyari?"
I decided to ignore his serious gaze and tone. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko sa kanya.
"North carried me bridal style, Kuya!" I almost squealed.
He frowned in confusion. "Huh? Bakit naman bubuhatin ka niya nang gano'n?"
"E kasi umuulan kanina. Madulas 'yong daan and I was wearing my heels din kasi. Muntik na 'kong madulas, so North carried me 'til we got to his car. Siya pa nga ang naghatid sa akin pauwi."
Nakita kong bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa ko. Nawala ang pagkasimangot sa mukha niya at napalitan iyon ng pag-aalala.
"How's your feet?" he asked. Concern was evident in his voice.
"My feet are okay. You should be asking about my heart!"
Bumalik ang pagkalito sa mukha niya nang muli akong tiningnan. Gusto ko na ngang tawanan! "What's with your heart?"
I dramatically put a hand over my chest, where my heart was. I looked dreamily up at the ceiling, imagining I was looking at North. Napansin ko pang napatingala din si Kuya Zoren sa tinitingnan ko.
"North just made me fall in love with him even more."
Tiningnan ko si Kuya Zoren at nakita kong hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. He had this very serious look on his face. Minsan ko lang siyang makitang may ganitong expression sa mukha—iyong kapag hindi niya talaga nagugustuhan ang ginagawa ko.
"Itigil mo 'yan, Rylee. You can't have feelings for him."
I frowned. He warned me about this before. Naalala kong sinabi niya rin sa 'kin na tigilan ko daw ang pakaka-crush ko noon kay North. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit pinagbabawalan niya 'ko when North was his best friend!
Was he afraid that North would hurt me? Alam niyang 'di 'yon gagawin ni North.
"It's too late, Kuya. I am already in love with him," I said and even smiled at him.
I noticed him clenching his jaw. He was angry pero pinipigilan niya lang ang magalit sa akin. I didn't even do anything wrong!
Kuya Zoren took a deep breath, at parang sa paraan na iyon ay pinapakalma ang sarili. Nang tumingin sa akin ay nandoon pa rin ang kaseryosohan sa mga mata.
"You can't fall in love with North, Rylee. Huwag sa kaibigan ko."
Sinimangutan ko siya. Now, I was regretting massaging him earlier! Ibalik niya ang effort kong magmasahe sa kanya!
"I told you it's already too late!" I said, almost stomping my feet out of frustration. "Bahala ka na nga! Sana pala hindi na lang ako nagpasalamat sa 'yo. You ruined my day, Kuya!"
I walked out of his room, feeling so much irritation. I shouldn't have waited for him! Nasayang lang ang oras kong dapat ipinahinga ko na lang sana!
I should stop my feelings for North? That was impossible. Just totally impossible.
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