Kabanata VII

“No.”

Fred just said it flatly, and then led me to the passenger seat of his car without a single word.

Deretso ang labi, at mahigpit ang panga niya habang nasa driver’s seat hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang restaurant na walang man lang katao-tao.

The receptionist greeted us with smiles, pero pareho naming hindi nagawang ibalik iyon sa kanya. I heard the whole place was reserved by Fred, base sa pag-uusap nila.

Hinayaan lang ako ni Fred na maunang maupo na sa isang table set for two.

“I’ll order for us,” he said, then didn’t bother to stay and wait for my confirmation.

I felt so heavy that my lips just won’t move to say anything at all. I have to. Allergic ako sa seafood. Ang dami ko pa namang nakikitang seafood dish sa menu na nasa ibabaw ng table.

Fred came back after a few minutes just staring at me probably feeling the tensed air around me.

“Mich, while waiting for the food, is it okay if we talk about what happened?”

“Wait, Fred ano munang in-order mo?”

“Well-done steak, fish and chips, and some cucumber juice.”

Naningkit ang mga mata ko.

No seafood and he managed to get all my favorites.

 “Do you know about my favorites and allergies to seafood?”

Ngumti lang siya.

“Just a good guess, maybe?”

Pinanood ko si Fred na mag-slice ng steak habang malalim ang iniisip.

Medyo nawi-wirdohan na ako. Nakakadalawa na siya ngayon araw na ‘to. First, the sweetie endearment, then my favorite foods, and now my allergies.

I haven’t told him these things until we were together.

Nakakatakot na parang sobrang smooth ng lahat ng tungkol sa kanya. And to think na wala na sa nangyayari ngayon ang nakasulat sa libro, I feel a little lost somehow. I’m literally expecting things will get hard for me, since it’s fate that I’m against here.

“So,” kinuha ni Fred ang plato ng steak ko at pinalitan ‘yun ng in-slice niya, “what happened, Mich?”

I just uttered a soft, ‘thank you.’

“W-Wala.”

I can’t say it. I have to keep a safe distance with him. I don’t want him to get involved in my life too much for now. We can’t afford falling in love with each other this early. Lalo na ngayong, malayong malayo ang loob ni Kuya sa ‘kin.

Fred clicked his tongue. His grip on the knife is tight.

“Mich, you’re literally talking about dying just a while ago. It’s not nothing.” He gazed at me intensely.

“That was just an idea, okay? What if you just pretend to kill me in front of Kuya Luthner, then I act traumatized, seduce her and ask him to stay with me to make him fall for me.”

Nakita ko kung paano siyang nahirapang lumunok.

“No,” mariin niyang tutol.

“Pero sabi mo tutulungan mo ‘ko?”

“Tss, Luthner would definitely touch you if that happens. Ayoko Mich, akin ka. Marami namang ibang paraan para maghiwalay sila.”

So this is what he meant when he said ‘if I can.’

Hindi niya pala ako susundin.

“Fred, don’t be an assh*le here. You don’t own me. You ask for my terms, then confide in my terms.”

“Well sh*t Mich, anong tawag mo sa nangyari kagabi?”

“A catch up? A bait, na hindi rin naman kinagat ni Kuya! I didn’t even say I love you.”

G*ga, nasabi ko tuloy.

Agad akong napayuko at mahigpit na hinawakan ang strap ng bag ko.

I felt it.

Sumobra ako.

I even got a glimpse of Fred’s eyes flickering in pain.

Minsan, hindi ko maiwasang maisip kung talaga bang totoo ‘tong nararamdman ko kay Fred ngayon. This might be just the effect of the book. I don’t want to believe it.

“Do you love him?”

Hindi agad ako makasagot. I’m doing this to save the only one that feels genuine family to me. But is it the love he’s pertaining to?

“Mich, sagot.”

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi samaan siya ng tingin, dahil hindi ko na gusto na pinagtataasan niya ako ng boses.

And then, my hand followed the surging emotion inside me.

I slapped him.

“Oo! Hindi mo ba gets?”

He slammed the knife down the table with a bang. The nerves in his neck are puffed up. Even his hand.

I flinched to the sound. Nakatayo na lang rin ako ay nagmadali na akong maglakad paalis ng restaurant.

But he caught my arm again.

“A-Aray! Fred, ano ba?”

Sinubukan kong bawiin ang braso ko sa hawak niya pero lalo lang niyang hinihigpitan ang hawak niya. Lalo tuloy humahapdi.

“You’re going with me.”

Nakarating kami sa sasakyan niya na takang-taka ang lahat ng taong nakakakita.

Tinulak ako ni Fred para sumakay ulit sa passenger seat.

I wanted to argue, pero bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay agad niyang tinakpan ang bibig ko, habang abala ang isang kamay niya sa paglagay ng seatbelt ko.

Nanghina rin agad ako sa kakabuntal sa braso at dibdib niya, samantalang siya ay parang hindi man lang iniinda ‘yun.

Damn it! Those firm muscles and abs aren't for display.

Habang hinahabol ko ang hininga ko ay narinig ko na lang ang clicking sound na hudyat ng pag-lock ng kotse.

“Fred, just let me go. Kung ganito lang rin, ‘wag na tayong magkita. Hindi na kita guguluhin. Please just bring me back to my pharmacy.”

“Too late, Mich. I like you.”

“We’re not mutual.”

“Then I will teach you how to make it happen.”

And it seems like he isn’t joking. Sa halip na sa pharmacy ko niya ako dumeretso, napunta kami sa parking area ng condo niya.

As soon as the car engine was shut down, he quickly went outside, opened the door for me and dragged me into a dark corner.

Just before his face came closer, I saw a familiar car.

Kuya Luthner’s car.