Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Bellia’s Point Of View

Every downpour was heavy while I was in the waiting shed. I didn’t go straight to my dorm because I already knew the words I would hear in every room I passed, so I’d better not show up in everyone’s eyes.

I applied both my hands to my iron chair, it wasn’t that long, I think four people could sit here side by side. I looked at my shoes as I was not fed up moving them back and forth. It’s good that the shed is big and I don’t get hit by rain, I can spend a few hours here.

There are only a few vehicles passing by due to the heavy rain at this time. It is the month of July so it is the rainy season. I kept wondering what Gabriel was doing now and whether he was already in his dorm, or still at the University because of the rain. I hope we meet here even though he is unlikely to come, dahil malayo ang University dito, ilang kilometro pa at dalawang kalsada pa ang dadaanan.

“What if we don’t get along anymore? Is it all my fault? Was it my fault I had an interest in things? I am so confused by what is happening now, the relationship between the two of us has been affected, why did I let this happen? And now I had the courage to ask myself if it was all my fault? Of course, it was all my fault, it will always be my fault.” I said to myself, “I miss him already.”

I took my cellphone in my pocket and checked what the time is now, “It’s already 5:23 p.m. yet it looks like it is already 7 p.m., ano na ang balak ko? What exact time I’m waiting to tick so I can go to my dorm? This is so nonsense, what am I actually doing here? He will not show up, Belle. How could he show up if you didn’t tell him to meet him in this area?” I proclaimed as I sighed.

“I wish you all the worst, Bellia Icencio Laurent.” It suddenly echoed in my ears. I can still see her eyes that stared at me, she’s creepy, why does she have to kill me? I can’t recall something that could possibly have caused what she’d said earlier, did I really just ruin the half of her? How could she say so?

Hindi ko magawang mag-isip nang maayos dahil sa gulong-gulo na ang isip ko sa nangyari sa amin ni Jordan kanina sa restroom, iniisip ko rin na kung totoong may alam siya sa kaso at kung siya ba ang suspect, o kilala niya ang pumatay kay Mang Sinlac. Why I didn’t asked her? Crap, how stupid I am. But the way she act earlier, I can say that she is the suspect, she annoyed me because I was dictated. Do I have to adduce all of these to Mr. Director? I have to think first before spilling all of these beans to him. 

I have to open this to someone who is trustworthy, si Gabriel kaagad ang pumasok sa isipan ko. But no, we’re not still okay, ayoko ng guluhan ang isipan niya’t madadagdagan lang siya ng iisipin. How ‘bout Logan? No, don’t try him, marami siyang iniisip. So it would be Matthew then? It would be.

Huminga ako ng malalim at saka tumingin sa aking harapan. Bigla kong naalala ang mga nakaraan noong bata pa kami ni Gabriel, we were always having fun when we’re playing in the middle of the heavy rain, running on the road, and when the rain stops, hindi puwedeng hindi niya ako ihatid sa bahay namin kahit na dinadaanan namin ang bahay nila, it is quite cute.

I do recall the day when there was a car on the road with heavy rain pouring all over. We played, throwing mud at each other, and then we saw the black-colored car, we threw mud in there, but the owner of that car noticed us and chased us. Gabriel managed to tell me a joke while we’re running just to calm myself because the man was chasing us at that time, and I was calm. We hid among the garbage so that the man wouldn’t see us, and we succeeded. Oh, I missed those days.

Sa aking masayang pagbabalik sa mga alaala namin ay mayroong tumigil na motorcycle sa aking harapan, wala akong alam sa mga model ng mga motorcycle kaya hindi ko alam kung anong model itong nasa harap ko.

It was wearing a helmet so I couldn’t say if who it is, nakasuot din ito ng black coat at boots. Biglang nitong binuksan ang shield sa kanyang helmet at saka tumingin sa akin, “What are you doing here? The rain is heavy, you should go to your dorm.” He adduced.

“Don’t worry, I’m okay.” I said, “Uh. Matt, si Gabriel?”

He left as he sat on his motorcycle and then quickly ran to the waiting shed, he was far away from me so I could look at him. He removed the helmet on his head and then fixed his undercut hair, as he fixed his hair he placed his helmet on the iron chair.

He sniffed his mouth as he frowned, but his gaze was on the pouring rain. “I didn’t see him, why?”

I blinked as I nodded, “Mmm, just nothing. So, papauwi ka na ba?” I adjusted my seat and placed one hand on my thighs while the other one was still on the iron chair.

He didn’t sit down but he turned his gaze on me, “Actually no, I was on my way to my grandfather’s mansion but then I saw you sitting here, why are you here? Ilang minuto na lang alas sais na.” He then took a few steps closer to me.

I frowned. “It’s raining hard and then you have a trip, you might get into an accident.”

He laughed next to me as he shook his head, “Mag-iingat ako. But it seems you are trying your best to be good at changing topics, huh. Would you mind giving me a response from you that why you are here?” He asked again.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig kaya napailing na lamang ako, “I need time for myself, to think properly, what about that? You insist that I answer, huh.” I raised one eyebrow as I turned to him

He nodded and then picked his helmet, “You’re not going?” He asked as he put his helmet on.

I surprisingly looked at him. “What? You want me to come with you? Are you serious? You’re not joking, aren’t you? How could I say no, then.”

Nakikita ko sa kanyang mata ang bigla at pagkakagulo sa aking sinabi, “What? Did I… Did I told you that you’d come with me? No, I did not. Why would I ejaculate that?” He fixed his black heather gloves.

Nagtitigan kami nang ilang segundo ngunit ako ang umiwas, “I’m just kidding. Go ahead, have a good trip.” I pointed at the road.

He fixed his black heather gloves while his gaze was on it, “You want to come?” He suddenly urged.

Napatingin ako sa shield ng kanyang helmet at saka niya ito binuksan, bumungad sa akin ang mga tingin niya habang hinahaplos niya ang kanyang palad. “You want me to come with you? Huwag na, baka maabala pa kita sa mga dapat mong gawin doon. You better move na, baka mas lalo pang lumakas ang buhos ng ulan.”

I saw him smile because of the sudden squeeze of his cheeks, “No. Para rin may ibang makausap si grandpa. Tomorrow is Sunday, right? We don’t have classes, ‘yong mga shifters lang nama— wait, are you a shifter?” He asked as he adjusted his stance.

I shook my head. “No. Ano pa bang dapat i-shift ng isang BS Criminology, ‘di ba? Are you sure that it’s okay if I would come with you?”

He nodded as he took a steps closer to his motorcycle. Pinanood ko siya sa kung ano ang kanyang kinukuha at sa kanya pagbalik niya ay mayroon siyang dalang black coat din, mayroon ding boots na mukhang kasya sa aking mga paa.

Inabot niya sa akin ang ito habang inaalis niya ang nakasuot na helmet sa kanyang ulo, “You must wear those.” He said as he put his helmet off of his head and held it to me.

Tinanggap ko ang black coat at boots na inabot niya sa akin, nagdalawang isip ako kung tatanggapin ko rin ba ang helmet na inaabot niya. “Okay na itong coat at boots, sa ‘yo na ‘yang helmet.”

He frowned as he fixed his hair, “Huh? Hindi ko naman pinapasuot sa ‘yo, pinapahawak ko lang saglit dahil may tatawagan ako.” I heard that he laughed as shook his head while he put his hand into his pocket.

Oh, my god. That embarrassed me.

I took the helmet he was handing me and then I shoved it into the iron chair. He glanced at me as his two thumbs were only a few centimeters away from the screen of his cellphone. “You good?”

I nodded while my attention was on the black coat, I put it on and then followed with the boots, hinubad ko ang suot kong black sandals at saka ipinatong ‘yon sa inuupuan ko. The boots suit me, it has no braid to fix, it only has a zipper on the side. I put on the supporting hat of the black coat on my head and put my cellphone in its pocket, my cellphone will not fall here because its pockets have a zipper.

Naririnig kong may kausap siya sa cellphone niya ngunit hindi ko ‘yon binigyan ng pansin, marahil ay inayos ko ang suot ko para hindi maulanan ang suot kong uniporme.

“You seem like you are ready, so let’s go.” He uttered while putting his supporting hat on and then walked towards his motorcycle.

I grabbed his helmet and quickly ran to him, “Are you good at driving?” I asked as I handed him his helmet.

The rain was still pouring down so I couldn’t look at him too much because he was taller than me. Nang maramdaman kong kinuha niya ang helmet na inaabot ko sa kanya ay hinawak ko ang kanyang motorsiklo.

“You had put this on before you went out in the shed.” He said and put the helmet on in my head. He gently put it on and I could see his face while the downpour slid on its shield.

His face was serious as he adjusted the helmet on me, he’s always that serious-looking, though. When he looked satisfied with what he did he quickly turned back and sat on his motorcycle, sumunod naman ako at saka inayos ang aking pagkakaupo roon.

He had already prepared it because I heard the sound of his motorcycle and its vibration. I groped on my back as much as I could captain or hold but I hadn’t groped yet it suddenly worked, I suddenly hugged his back so I stuck myself to him, even my head wearing a helmet.

I heard him laugh and I can imagine that he smirked at what I just did, “I am good at driving, trust me. Don’t let your hands that are wrapped on me get unwrapped, you might fall.” He adduced loudly.

I removed the grip of my body on his back and gently removed my hands clasped around his waist. I can feel his abs in my hands, I felt embarrassed again.

I removed the grip of my body on his back and gently removed my hands clasped around his waist. “I said do not let your hands let go of me.”

I felt the heat on my face at what he said. I obeyed his command to hold on to him so that I would not fall. He drives fast but he knows how to protect those with him.

I can’t help but to laid myself on his back while my hands are wrapping his waist to his stomach. Napabuntong hininga ako sa gitna ng aming byahe. I missed him.