PLS2G: Somewhere Down the Road

Chapter 3

Shine’s POV

They were standing a few feet away from us. Their stern gaze bore into me, arms crossed tightly over their chest. Their expressions are a mix of surprise, filled with judgment and disapproval. Their stares felt as if I was obligated to explain what was happening.

I flashed them a smile that was caught in the moment. Damn! Why suddenly I struggle to find the right words to explain myself? Para akong magnanakaw na nahuli. I’m already eighteen, hello! Legal na akong makipaglandian! Sige nga sabihin mo yan sa Kuya mo? Hamon ko sa sarili.

Binuka ko ang bibig ngunit bago pa man lumabas ang boses ko’y biglang nagsalita si Kuya Rain.

“Sino ‘yan?” He demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. Ang kanina’y tapang at confidence ko’y naglaho bigla pati yata ang espiritu ng alak ay nilisan ang katawan ko. Sa tanang buhay ko ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng takot sa kuya ko. Napakaseryoso ng kanyang mukha, para na siyang si Daddy sa tuwing nagkasala kami. Siguro dahil ngayon lang niya lang rin ako nakitang nakikipag-usap sa lalaki and who knows how long they've been watching me and what else they saw. Kung nakita nila ako nung palapit pa lang sa lalaki’y tiyak nakita nila kalandian ko, sh*t! It’s really embarrassing!

Pasimple kong sinulyapan si Allaric. I didn't see any reaction from him; he appeared unbothered. However, I noticed a slight twitch at the corner of his lips as he took a sip from his wine glass. Tinignan ko si Kuya Rain, seryoso pa rin ang mga mata niyang hinihintay ang sasabihin ko.

“A-ah-”

“Who permits you to talk to strangers?” ngunit hindi niya muli ako binigyan ng chance na makapagsalita ulit. “Nalingat lang kami saglit kung sino-sino na kinakausap mo,” napaawang ang mga labi ko, seriously? Tatalakan talaga niya ako sa harap mismo ng future husband ko? Agad na naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng magkabilang pisngi ko. I've never felt so embarrassed like this before.

“Just because you're eighteen doesn't mean you can do whatever you want,” patuloy ni Kuya.

“F*ck eighteen,” my attention inadvertently caught the words that Allaric uttered, salitang ‘di ko dapat marinig.

“Did you just curse?”

“Kuya!” Mabilis kong hinarang ang kamay ko sa dibdib ni Kuya ng binalak nitong sugurin si Allaric.

“Rain!” Awat ni Rafa.

“Baby, kalma!” Singit ng gagong si Thirdy.

From leaning on the counter, Allaric moved and faced Kuya Rain. Bahagya kong naiatras ang kanang paa at napatingala sa kanya. He's incredibly tall and... hot, damn! As he straightened up, I couldn't stop myself from sneakily checking him out from top to bottom. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing his actual physical size. His stance said it all, showing a calm strength that nobody couldn't miss.With each movement, his muscles rippled beneath his shirt, hinting at a strength that was both impressive and captivating.

Magkasingtangkad lamang ang dalawa ngunit mas malaki ang built at matured tingnan si Allaric. He probably older than Kuya ngunit magkamatayan na ‘di ko siya kayang tawaging Kuya!

Sinalubong niya ang galit na mga titig ni Kuya ngunit ni katiting ay ‘di man lang ito makitaan ng takot sa mukha. He remained calm and didn't match Kuya Rain's anger.

“Look, I don’t want to get in any trouble. I had no idea she was only eighteen. If only I had known I shouldn't have talked to her in the first place. I truly didn't mean any harm or disrespect. If you’ll excuse me,” pagkasabi’y agad na tumalikod siya at umalis. Hindi na siya sinita pa ni Kuya Rain at hinayaan siya.

May panghihinayang na sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Ewan ngunit sa narinig at pagtalikod niya’y nakaramdam ako ng konting kirot sa dibdib, OA pero nasasaktan at nanghihinayang talaga ako. Ganito siguro ang pakiramdam ng mga heart broken, paano kaya nila nakayanan ang sakit, ito ngang segundo ko lang siya nakilala nasasaktan na ‘ko paano na lamang iyong ilang taon nagsama at nagkahiwalay?

“Ano ‘yon?” Untag sa ‘kin ni Kuya Rain. Hindi pa siya tapos.

“Parang nagpapakilala lang,” palusot ko.

“Are you serious? Talking to a stranger in a bar tapus lasing ka pa? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” Tuluyan na akong nahimasmasan. “What if he took advantage of you? If we hadn't spotted you right away, who knows what could have happened?” Napayuko ako at hindi na nagsalita pa. Tanggap ang kasalanang nagawa.

“Shine, hindi sa pinaghihigpitan ka namin. It’s just, there are too many jerks in this place,” singit ni Kuya Ian.

“Let’s go home! Nawalan na ‘ko ng gana,” galit na saad ni kuya.

“Saglit, ayain na rin namin ang ibang tropang umuwi,” rinig kong saad ni Uriel.

Hinawakan niya ang pulso ko, napasunod na lamang ako sa kanya. Hindi ko masisisi si Kuya Rain kung ganito na lamang ang pagkadismaya niiya. Siguro’y natakot lang rin siya sa pwedeng mangyari sa’kin. Obligasyon niya ‘ko bilang nakakatanda sa ‘kin at alam kung kampante si Daddy na sumama ako dahil kasama ko si Kuya.

Pero ewan, ni katiting ay hindi man lang ako nakaramdam ng takot o pagsisisi sa ginawa ko pero lihim akong dumalangin na sana’y mulig mag-krus ang landas naming dalawa…

Nakaharap ako sa glass wall sa loob ng kwarto ko habang nakatingala sa langit, as soft sigh escaped from my lips.

Allaric…

Sambit ko sa pangalan niya, nakangiting kagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. Hindi ko kailanman makakalimutan ang mukha mo at pangalan mo. Damn! What is it about you that's causing me to go crazy and constantly thinking about you?

Makikita pa kaya kita muli?

I closed my eyes and silently wished into the universe, hoping that fate would once again bring us together… Sana lang talaga...