Chapter 34: Handle

[Airish Laxamana]

"Make sure that all booths are prepared." Kaijin sighs as he walks away. Alam kong pagod na siya dahil kanina pa kami kumikilos. Hinahanda na kasi namin mga booths para sa Junior high students.

"Hindi kapa ba magpapahinga?" I looked at Caden as he smiles at me. This is the first time na aaminin kong maganda sa kanya ang ngumingiti.

"Everyone is busy kaya wala akong time para magpahinga." Natawa siya ng bahagya habang umiiling.

"You're too workaholic." That's me. Hindi ko na kayang alisin sa pagkatao ko ang pagmamanage ng mga trabaho. Hindi ko ugaling maging carefree. Time is important for me anyway.

"Airish!" Althea shouts as she smiles on me. Can she just give up on me? I have no time for her eenie-witty childish talks. Tsk. "Hindi ka pa ba nagugutom? I brought you some meals." Inilayo ko ang pagkain. Why would I eat it? I'm not that harsh but bringing the food I used to like when I'm with her makes me pissed. I feel like I'm being toyed again.

"I came here to bring you some foods. DIBA PWEDENG TANGGAPIN MO NALANG?!" What's with her all of a sudden? Bakit siya sumisigaw?

"Teka, may gusto ba siya kay Airish?"

"Oh my, Tomboy ba si Althea?"

"Eww... Gross! Hahahaha!"

She looks down as the crowd increases. Tsk. Bakit ba kasi laging habulin ng kapahiyaan itong babaeng ito?

Napabuntong hininga ako at tinanggap ko nalang ang pagkain. "Thank you." Napipilitan kong sambit.

"Just accept it but don't eat it. It's toxic." Napatingin ako kay Venice na ngayon ay marahang binatukan ni Asylum. "ARAY! Bakit ba?!" Iritadong sambit ni Venice.

"Dahan-dahan lang sa pagsasalita."

"IT'S NOT!" My eyes widened as I see her bit her lower lip. My chest hurts as I see her run away. Bakit nga ba sumakit?

"Wag mong sabihin na hahabulin mo siya?" Matalim kong tinignan si Venice tsaka ako tumakbo para habulin si Althea. DAMN IT! Bakit ko ba siya sinusundan? Is it because I care for her?

Of course Airish! Ano ka bang ibang dahilan?!

Saktong pagkababa ko ay nahagip ko siyang papunta sa likod ng building. Agad ko siyang pinuntahan pero nagtago ako ng may mga babaeng humarang sa daan niya.

"Ano 'yong pagkain na 'yon? Suhol mo? Para kanino 'yon? Kay Caden, Asylum, or kay Kaijin? O baka naman, para talaga 'yon kay Airish? Natotomboy ka na ba?" This scene... It's Bullying... She never fights in the school ground but why does her new record states that...

"There's no meaning behind that food." Sagot ni Althea habang nakakuyom ang kamao.

"But you insist of giving it." She looks at them while biting her lower lip. Oh fuck...

"Wag ka ngang umiyak! Jeez!" That bitches steps backward as Althea started to cry. "Stop it I said!" I grab that bitch hand as she tries to slap her.

"Go away." Malamig kong tono tsaka ko mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya. Her eyes widened as she looks at me. Binitawan ko ang kamay niya bago ko sila tinignan. "I'LL GIVE YOU MY FIRST WARNING LADIES. DON'T DARE TO TOUCH HER EVER AGAIN." Kinuha ko ang kamay ni Althea bago ko siya hinila papalayo.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay binitawan ko na siya. "You'll be fine here. Aalis na ako." I need to be cold towards her as much as possible... I may never recover if this continues...

"Wait!" Bago pa man niya hawakan ang kamay ko ay iniwas ko na ito. "Thank you..."

"Don't be mistaken Althea. I'm just doing my position as a President."

"But you followed me right? It means you still care for me." I clenched my fist as I answered.

"You're a student after all." Umalis na ako dahil hindi ko mapigilan ang kabog ng dibdib ko tuwing nakakausap ko siya. Ayokong magkalapit kami dahil baka maguluhan nanaman ang isip ko.

"Airish." Pagkalingon ko sa tumapik sakin ay bagot ko siyang hinarap. "If you're looking for your Fiancé. She's in the garden." Wala akong oras para makipaglokohan sa lalaking ito. Aalis na sana ako ng maramdaman ko ang pagpigil niya sakin. Ano namang kailangan niya sakin ngayon?

"I want to talk with you." I smirks as he held my wrist. "Then make an appointment. I don't have to listen on any shit statement right now." Saktong dumating si Kaijin na nakatingin kay Khalid. Agad akong kumalas sa hawak niya sakin.

Pasalamat siya at hindi nahubad ang gloves ko. Dahil kapag nangyari 'yon hindi ako magdadalawang isip na patayin ang lalaking ito.

"Ano nanamang ginagawa mo dito?!"

"I'll make an appointment Ms. Laxamana. Pero sa ngayon, susunduin ko muna ang FIANCÉ ko." Alam kong sinasadya niyang banggitin ang salitang 'yan. Pero bakit naaasar parin ako?

"You don't mind that Right?" Tinalikudan ko si Khalid at tahimik na naglakad. I shouldn't be acting like this... I already have Kaijin and yet I can't clear my feelings for that woman...

"Tell me, did he hurt you?"

"He didn't."

"Bakit ka niya hinawakan?"

"No Idea."

"Tell me if my brother's bothering you again." Hinarap ko siya at tinignan sa mata. Bakit hindi ko man lang magawang tignan ang lalaking ito? Bakit si Althea ang laging nakikita ko?

"I wish I met you earlier." Bakit kasi hindi siya ang nauna? Edi sana wala na akong pinoproblema. I see him gets my hand as he placed it on his cheeks.

"Are you in pain again Chief?" Ano nga bang hindi ko matatago sa lalaking ito? Ehh Pipilitin niya akong paaminin hanggang hindi siya nakukuntento.

"What if I am? What if I'm still affected on her?" I need an answer.

"Then let's clear your feelings for her." He knows that's a hard thing for me.

"PAY ATTENTION TO ME AND ONLY ON ME." Ginagawa ko ang bagay na iyon pero bakit hindi ko parin kaya? I see him as my man but is it enough?

Sabihin na nating naiirita ako kapag kasama niya si Nadine pero nagseselos ako sa relasyon ni Althea kay Khalid... Gusto kong ipaglaban si Kaijin kay Papa but is it truly enough to say that I have this kind of feelings called LOVE for him?

"My attention is already focus on you but when I see her... I couldn't help myself but to look ONLY IN HER." Why is this so complicated?

"Don't let her ruin your mind Airish... Nagawa ka na niyang saktan. We both have experienced the same pain. Alam kong mahirap pero nandito naman ako diba? All you have to do is to look at me." I sigh.

"I'm stressed out. Can you handle the rest?" He kissed my forehead as my heart starts to skip. "Rest well Chief." Ramdam ko ang init sa mukha ko kaya lumayo na ako sa kanya. We separates as I let him handle the job.

"Do you love him already?" Napatigil ako at hinarap si Caden. "I can't answer that." Masyadong komplikado ang buhay ko. Dad won't allow me to marry him that's why he make a fucking Divorce paper.

Hindi ko alam kung papaano napapayag ni Papa ang papa ni Kaijin but there's one thing for sure... Even if I fight for Kaijin... He'll make a way to separate us.

Dahil sa mundong ginagalawan ni Dad ay may anak siyang isang babae. Isang babaeng nagngangalang Aiden Laxamana. At ang nakamaskarang babaeng iyon ay walang iba kundi ako.

At alam kong magiging mahirap ang lahat kung malalaman ng media na ako at si Aiden ay iisa...