Kung

Chapter 14. Kung

NICOLEA was immediately saved by Jave. If he hadn't notice Merriam coming closer to her, she might had been lying on the floor while she's being mobbed by the girls. Nakita kasi niyang nanlilisik ang mga mata ng mga ito sa kanya nang ilayo at alalayaan siyang tumayo ni Jave. Halos pasalampak na napaupo kasi siya nang hilahin siya ng bitchesang si Merriam.

He strongly removed that bitch's tightened grip on the hem of her dress. Mabuti na lamang at maganda ang pagkakagawa ng dress niya, kung hindi ay paniguradong nahubad na siya ni Merriam sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakahila nito sa kanya.

Agad na nilapitan sila ng mga teachers at may ilang security rin.

"I'm sorry for the commotion," she humbly apologized to the faculty but not to the bitches. "Uuwi na lang po ako para wala nang gulo."

Bahagya niyang hinila ang manggas ng polo ni Jave, senyales na gusto na niyang umuwi.

Eversince Jave turned eighteen, he could freely driver his car so he chose to drive that night. Pinasabay nito si Manong sa pamilya nito kaninang umuwi ang mga dela Costa.

While they were inside his car, she anonymously sent the photos and videos she had taken to Perla using her extra phone. Ngayo'y alam na niyang hindi na makakalusot ang mga ito.

She then typed in a chat and sent it to Lacey:

Hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng jowa mong gago. Ayun nga't muntik na akong sabunutan ng isa sa mga babae niya. You should think carefully. Alam kong matalino ka at alam ko ring mahal mo siya pero walang halaga iyan kung hindi ka naman niya ginagalang at minamahal.

"May masakit ba sa iyo?"

Napakislot siya nang tanungin siya ni Jave, nakahinto ang sasakyan dahil pula ang stoplight.

Umiling siya. "Thanks to you, wala akong kalmot o pasa."

"Ano ba'ng nangyari?"

She sighed and started telling him what exactly happened earlier.

"And how did you find out those things?"

Napakagat-labi siya. Paniguradong magagalit ito dahil hindi siya nagsabi noon.

"Huwag mo nang sagutin. I'll drive you home." Nagmaneho na ulit ito dahil naka-go na ang signal.

"I-park mo muna sa tabi. Or humanap ka ng parking lot."

She was determined to tell him what did she do, but not definitely when he's driving. Not that she's not confident on his driving skills, it was just that she was worried about his emotions when she started telling him what did she do.

They parked at the nearest club car park. She sighed and started to talk.

"I investigated," panimula niya.

"You what?"

"Imbestiga. Remember when I told you that I want to be a private investigator?"

Kumunot ang noo nito matapos tumango.

"That's how I knew it."

"How did you investigate, then?"

"I... Uh... Followed them..."

Lalong kumunot ang noo nito. "You don't know how to drive."

"I rode the taxi."

"All by yourself?"

Tumango siya.

"Saan mo sinundan?"

"K-Kahit saan... Sa restaurants, h-hotels..."

Hinampas nito ang manibela't kumuyom ang mga kamay. Agad niyang hinuli ang isang kamay nito. Iyon na nga ba ang tinutukoy niya, eh. Paano kung nagmamaneho ito habang nagkukwento siya?

"Hindi naman niya dinala sa hotel sina Merriam. Iyong mga ibang babae—"

"That's not the point, Nicolea." Marahan ang pagkakasabi ni Jave subalit ramdam niya ang galit sa boses nito.

"I'm sorry..." Para siyang makahiya na tumiklop.

"I'm not mad at you. I am mad about what you did. You were so reckless, Nic. Paano kung napahamak ka? You should've just told me so I could help you. I know how to drive, and definitely, I can protect you if shit happens."

"Because I thought you're just thinking that I'm only playing some detective games."

He kept still and she knew she was right. He never believed when she told him she also wanted to be a private investigator.

"I'm really sorry..."

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged on what you want to be. But the only reason why I was being in denial about you, wanting to be a private investigator, was because I am worried. Maraming kapahamakan ang maaari mong kaharapin habang nag-iimbestiga." Puno ito ng sinseridad at pag-alala.

"I know. Kaya nga pag-aaralan ko rin nang husto sa college, eh. Kumbaga, warm up lang iyong ngayon."

"You're just seventeen, you should be enjoying your teenage life."

"Makapagsalita, 'kala mo hindi ka seventeen— ay, eighteen ka na nga pala. Pwede nang mag-asawa." Alam niyang alam nitong pilit niyang iniwas ang usapan para gumaan ang atmospera.

He sighed heavily. "Just don't do that again without telling me, okay?"

Tumango siya.

"Kaya pala palagi kang may dahilan nitong mga nakaraan at nagmamadali kang umuwi."

She guiltily formed circles on his forearm using her index finger.

"And, what? You're saying that you wanted to have some good rest because you're on a diet?"

Nanulis ang nguso niya. Mukhang napagtagpi-tagpi na nito ang mga kakatwang kinilos niya.

Hinuli niya ang kanang kamay nito at hinalikan ang likod ng palad.

He just groaned.

"You really know how to make me go speechless."

Ngumisi siya. "Kung lalaki lang ako't babae ka, laglag ang panty mo sa akin."

"Why do you keep on saying that?"

Natawa siya. Totoo namang lagi niyang sinasabing kung lalaki lang siya at babae ito... pagkatapos ay dudugtungan ng mga salita.

"At dahil babae ka't ako ang lalaki, panty mo ang malalaglag kapag ginawa na natin iyon."

"Ano'ng iyon?" Ngumisi siya.

"Basta iyon. Wala ka na bang sasabihin?"

"Wala na."

"Kung ganoon, huwag mo nang uulitin iyon," paalala ulit nito. "Kapag gusto mong mag-imbestiga ng kung ano, sabihan mo ako, sabi ko nga, magaling akong driver, pwede mo rin akong maging bodyguard, at—"

"You know what? Just shut up and kiss me."

She was anticipating for his sweet aggressive kisses. The last time she was kissed by him torrid was on Valentine's Night. Nasa hindi mataong parte sila ng eskuwelahan at hinalikan siya nito. Muntik pa silang mahuli ng rumorondang gwardiya kung humaba pa ang paghahalikan nila. Kaya matapos niyon ay hindi na siya basta-basta hinahalikan ni Jave, at kung hahalik man, smack lang.

Hindi pa nagtatagal ang halik nang masilaw sila sa headlights ng sasakyang nasa tapat nila. Sabay silang natawa nang bahagya at inayos na niya ang upo. Ito nama'y in-start na ang sasakyan at nagmaneho na palayo. Ilang sandali ring magkahinang ang mga kamay nila habang ang kaliwang kamay nito ay nakahawak sa manibela.

Kung puwede lang sanang hindi na natapos ang panahon noon...