Kabanata 8

Ang Tagahatid-Sundo

Run.

I gasped as I jolted awake. Kinapa ko ang gilid ng aking kama at napatingin sa paligid. Napapitlag ako nang may naramdamang kiliti sa kamay.

My eyes closed on Maya patting my hand with her paw and licking it. I held her tiny face in my palm as relief washed over me. I am awake.

The soft morning light entered my window. I sat down and Maya quickly placed herself on my lap and looked up at me. Iginilid niya ang kanyang ulo sa kaliwa and then started licking my face. I hugged her and then squeezed her foldy cheeks before kissing her tiny nose. She seems to love the attention.

I feel great compared to the previous days, kaya naman nagbihis ako at nagpasyang ilakad si Maya sa subdivision. Hindi pa siya nakakalabas ng bahay simula nang dinala siya sa amin and I still have time to spare before I prepare for school.

I got a few treats from the kitchen and put them inside my jacket pockets.

Tahimik ang buong subdivision at tanging simoy ng hangin at huni ng mga ibon ang maririnig sa paligid. Masyadong nag-e-enjoy si Maya dahil panay ang hila niya sa leash na pinipigilan ko naman. I give her treats everytime she walks beside me.

Pabalik na kami sa bahay nang bigla akong nakaramdam na may nakatingin sa akin mula sa kung saan. Wala namang tao sa paligid.

Biglang tumahol si Maya habang nakatingin sa bintana ng kwartong katapat ng kwarto ko ng katabing bahay. I looked up to see what she is barking at but all I saw was the slight movement of the curtains inside. She stopped barking and started turning in circles.

"Wala lang iyon, Maya. Tara na."

I took a shower and prepared myself for school when we got back. Pagkababa ay pinakain ko si Maya bago siya ibilin kay Manang. My phone vibrated in my pocket and it was Aiden's name that popped up.

Aiden: Outside.

Hindi pa ako nakakakain at nariyan na siya. Ang aga ata namin masyado? May practice na kaya siya?

I greeted my parents, explained that Aiden was already outside, and immediately got a slice of bread before going out of the house. My phone vibrated repeatedly in my pocket.

Pagkabukas ko ng gate ay agad akong natigilan sa nakita. Outside, leaning on Aiden's car was Ethan. A phone was pressed to his ear at agad naman niya itong ibinaba. Binuksan niya ang pinto sa backseat. Aiden opened the window and saluted before closing it again.

Hindi ako makalakad dahil sa sobrang gulat at pinasadahan ko pa ng tingin si Ethan, not believing that he is in front of me. He is wearing the school uniform for college students at bagay na bagay sa hubog ng kanyang katawan ang maroon khakis at puting polo niya. Napatingin ako sa braso niya when he gestured for me to go in.

Hinanap ko ang ulirat ko at pumasok na sa loob. I threw a questioning glance at Aiden and he just shrugged me off. "Nakikisabay lang siya, Soph. Do not look so confused," agap ni Aiden habang nakatingin sa rearview mirror para masulyapan ako.

He started driving as soon as Ethan got in. Agad namang binalik ni Ethan ang phone ni Aiden sa kanya. Nilingon ako ni Ethan sa likod at nginitian while I just frowned in confusion.

I pouted and sat back on my seat and just watched the trees as we go past them.

"Ready ka na sa tryouts?" tanong ni Aiden kay Ethan.

"Oo naman," ganado niyang tugon.

"Soph, gusto mo manood mamaya?" sabay silip ni Aiden sa akin mula sa salamin.

Aiden always invites me to go to his soccer practice, tryouts, and games, kaso iyong games lang mismo ang gusto kong panoorin. Ang gulo kasi nila na magti-teammates. Masaya naman but it is just not my thing to be included in their scene. I do not like sports and I never got interested enough to watch.

I have seen Aiden play especially on games, and I do that to support him despite not liking the crowded seats. Sa susunod na lang ako manonood sa kanila kapag may laban. Curious din ako kung magaling ba si Ethan. Ganoon na rin kay Forest dahil varsity raw ito.

I am not up for watching tryouts today. I will just stay in the library to sketch.

"I will pass," I said. "Hihintayin na lang kita?"

"Kung ayos lang?"

Tumango ako.

Naramdaman ko ulit ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko pagkaupo ko pa lang sa klase. Hinatid ako nila Ethan at Aiden and as usual, marami ulit nakatingin sa kanila.

Mom: We will be having dinner with our neighbor. Do not forget.

Napahawak ako sa noo ko.

Oo nga pala. Sabi ko pa naman kay Aiden makakapaghintay ako. Baka pwedeng ihatid niya muna ako pauwi bago ang niya asikasuhin ang para sa soccer team? Tinext ko agad siya tungkol dito.

"Sophia!" Napalingon ako kung saan nanggaling ang boses. Si Karl ay mahingal-hingal na lumapit sa kinauupuan ko.

"Uy, teh! Sino iyong kasamang gwapo ng pinsan mo? Grabe siya oh! Share mo naman," aniya sa malambing na boses. Lumapit na rin ang iba niyang kaibigan sa amin. Pati na rin si Heather ay nakikinig na rin.

"Ah, eh, si Ethan iyon. Ethan C-Castillo, new student. Ka-year ni Kuya," nahihiya kong sagot sa dami ng tao na nakikinig.

"Pati pangalan ang gwapo! Swerte mo, Soph!" si Michelle naman iyon. Nakangisi siyang tumingin sa katabi ko kaya napatingin na rin ako.

Kyle was now wearing the school uniform as well at nakahalukipkip siya sa kanyang upuan. The scowl on his face made him look more mature and he seems to be mad at something–again. Humagikgik si Michelle at inayos na ang sarili niya. I do not get what she is trying to tell me again with all her expressions.

Pumasok na sa loob ang first period teacher namin kaya naman bumalik na rin sa kanya-kanyang pwesto sila Karl.

I tried my best to listen to the lessons, but my thoughts somehow drifted to the dream I have been having the past few days–the one with the voice. Kaya naman ang naguguhit ko lang sa notebook ko ay puro puno. Puno na lang because for some reason if I try to draw something else, nauuwi iyon sa mukha ni Kyle.

I would glance at him a few times and then realize na siya na pala ang nasa papel ko. If he caught me staring, he never said a word.

There was one time though that I caught him looking at me and trying to peek at my notebook. Kaya naman sinara ko na lang iyon at ginugol ang atensyon sa nagtuturo sa harap.

Aiden: Cannot go to lunch with you. Different sched.

I sighed and replied when I received the text just as the bell rang for lunch time. Wala akong kasabay kumain kaya dito na lang ako. Sigurado naman ako na maraming pagkain sa bahay mamaya dahil may bisita.

Pumangalumbaba ako sa desk ko and looked out the window.

My eyes were already half-closed when I heard something.

Run.

Nagising ang diwa ko at napatalon ako nang may nilapag si Kyle sa harap ko. I looked around to find where what I heard came from.

"Sinclair."

Napatingin ako sa tao sa aking harapan and for a moment... I thought kaboses niya.

Kumunot ang aking noo trying to remember what the voice in the dream sounds like but failed.

Tinignan ko ang inilapag niya at isa itong cupcake.

"W-What is this?" tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi pa rin sigurado sa kung anong ginagawa niya.

"I had an extra. Eat."

Bago pa ako makasalita ulit ay umupo na siya sa table niya at ininom iyong tubig na binili niya para sa sarili niya. Napatingin ako sa Adam's apple niya noong lumunok siya at madaliang umiwas.

"Thank you," nahihiya at mahina kong sabi. I could feel him staring at me while I was eating pero dahil gutom na gutom ako, hindi ko na siya pinansin. I did not expect this kind of gesture from him.

Nanatili na kaming tahimik buong maghapon hanggang sa mag-uwian. Niligpit ko agad ang mga gamit ko at dumiretso sa library para maghintay ng ilang oras para kay Aiden. The field is not far from here kaya naman naririnig ko ang ingay mula doon every time someone opens the door.

I busied myself by skimming through textbooks about our subjects and sketching on my notebook. I finished drawing an owl before I realized that it was getting a bit late. Kadalasan kaming maghapunan ng alas-syete pero 45 minutes na lang at wala pa rin ang tagahatid-sundo ko.

I got out of the library and dialed Aiden's number. Pangatlong beses kong tumawag nang sinagot niya ako.

"Soph?" Mukhang hingal na hingal siya sa kabilang linya.

"Hindi pa kayo tapos?"

Isang malakas na mura ang pinakawalan niya. Alam ko na agad na nakalimutan niya na ihatid muna ako pauwi.

"Sophia, nakalimutan ko. Sorry talaga. Hindi pa rin kami tapos dito," mabilisan niyang sambit. I can imagine him looking so frustrated with himself now.

"Kuya, ayos lang. I will call the driver para masundo ako."

"I am really sorry, Soph. Text ka kapag nasundo ka na."

With that, I ended the call and looked around.

Madilim na sa paligid at ang iilan sa mga building ay walang kailaw-ilaw. I gathered the courage and started walking towards the gate. Sa waiting shed na lang ako tatambay habang naghihintay.

Bago pa man ako makaupo, isang puting Mitsubishi Mirage ang dahan-dahang pumarada sa gilid ko. Tumingin ulit ako sa paligid at nakitang tulog iyong guard sa gate at walang ibang tao sa paligid. Abot-tahip ang kabang naramdaman ko and my breathing became labored.

Hindi ko pa nate-text si Manong para sunduin ako.

Maraming may galit kayla Mommy at Daddy dahil mga abogado sila. Dapat umuwi na ako nang maaga. Hindi ako makagalaw. I will not panic.

Takbo o sigaw?

Bago ko pa masagot ang sarili kong tanong, biglang bumukas ang driver's seat. Napahawak ako sa dibdib dahil sa takot. My feet became rooted to the ground and all I could do was look at the person who just came out.

My mouth opened in shock when Kyle stepped out of the car, still in his uniform. Sinara ko rin iyon agad noong nakitang papalapit siya sa akin. Anong oras na pero nandito pa rin siya?

"K-Kyle?" I managed to say. He clenched his jaw and opened the passenger seat right in front of me. I am too relieved that I will not be kidnapped or killed pero gulat pa rin ako na siya ang nasa harapan ko ngayon.

"It is late. I will drive you home." He gestured to the passenger door. Maybe it was the bewilderment that made me not question his offer. Magkatinginan kami hanggang sa makapasok ako at maisara niya ang pinto.

His expression was serious as if he would not take no as an answer from me while I am pretty sure I look so startled by his presence.

For some reason, hindi na ako nagsalita at dumiretso nang umupo sa loob ng kotse niya. Agad ko rin pinagsisihan ang desisyon nang mapagtanto na hindi ko pa siya gaano kakilala pero sumama na ako sa kanya.

When the car slowly accelerated, bigla ko nakita si Ethan na naka-jersey shorts at dri-fit shirt patakbo papunta sa gate kaya naman kinawiyon ko siya even if I am not sure if he will see me inside. Tagaktak ang pawis niya at mukhang nagmamadali but when he saw Kyle's car pass by him, bigla siyang natigil sa pagtakbo.

For a moment, I saw how his expression darkened pero dahil sa sobrang saglit lang, pakiramdam ko guni-guni ko lang iyon. Dahan-dahan siyang tumalikod at bumalik sa loob ng campus habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa labas hanggang sa nawala siya sa paningin ko.

Tahimik lang kami buong byahe except for the times when he would ask for directions. I glanced at him every now and then and he looked so serious behind the wheel. There was a slight frown on his face making his eyebrows knit a bit.

Unang beses na ibang tao ang maghahatid sa akin pauwi at iyon pang hindi kilala nila Daddy. Mapapagalitan ako nito.

"Ah, turn right," sabi ko nang makita ang entrance ng subdivision namin.

Biglang tumunog ang phone ko at nakita ko ang nag-aalalang text ni Aiden at pagtatanong ni Mommy kung nasaan na ako. I forgot to text them, and I fumbled to type my responses.

To Aiden: Sinabay ako ng kaklase kong si Kyle pag-uwi. Nakita niya ako sa labas. Sorry nakalimutan ko.

To Mommy: Pauwi na po.

Una kong nireply-an si Aiden pagtapos ay sinabihan si Mommy na malapit na ako.

"We are here."

Inangat ko ang tingin ko at tumingin sa labas. Nasa tapat na kami ng bahay ko. Kumunot ang noo ko trying to remember if I told him that this is my house. Marami pa kasing pasikot-sikot rito sa lugar namin.

I put my phone back in my pocket and reached behind me to get my bag pero iniabot na agad iyon ni Kyle.

"Thank you," I said and went out.

Isinabit ko ang bag sa balikat nang marinig ang pagbukas at pagsara ng isa pang pintuan ng sasakyan niya. Napalingon ako sakto nang lumabas si Kyle na may dalang paperbag at mukhang lalapit sa akin. He locked his car as he walked with such grace, I never knew a man is capable of.

"W-What are you doing?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Escorting you home," he said in a seriously low tone na agad na nagpakaba sa buong pagkatao ko.

"I-I am alright here, Kyle. You can go home. Thank you ulit."

Hawak ko na ang gate ngayon at tinulak ko iyon para magbukas.

Ayos na talaga ako rito. Umuwi ka na, please.

"Is that the way you treat your guests, Sinclair?" He asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. Nang harapin ko siya, he was looking at me funny and the corner of his mouth was raised to a smirk. Gulong-gulo ako sa sinabi niya.

He checked his watch and then returned his attention to me.

"Dinner, remember?"

Binulsa niya ang susi ng kanyang kotse bago bumaling sa direksyon ng kabilang bahay. Comprehension dawned on me when I realized what he meant.

"Y-You are?" nauutal kong tanong at itinuro siya.

Our eyes met and I saw a spark of emotion pass through his eyes. His turned-up lip twitched from amusement. Para akong nilagutan ng hininga ngayong nasasaksihan ko siyang ganito sa harapan ko. I feel like in just my simple question I made him undone.

"Yes," walang pag-aalinlangan niyang sagot. There was no mistaking it when I heard the rawness in his voice as if he were trying to sound amused. The masked frustration he had overpowered what he was trying to keep within him.

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