Just The Strings (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 63

#JustTheStrings

Kabanata 63

We switched places. He quietly drove us to a better place habang ako naman, tahimik na nakaupo sa shotgun. I played the radio earlier but had decided against it. Sobrang awkward nung mga kanta. Sa isang station, Muling Ibalik Ang Tamis Ng Pag-ibig, sa isa naman, Don't Forget About Us. Sobrang awkward ng lyrics. Baka kung ano ang isipin ni Saint. So instead, I turned the radio off and just contented myself with the awkward silence.

"Saan na tayo?" I asked him after nearly an hour of him driving. This place was already very unfamiliar to me. Ngayon lang ako nakarating dito. Hanggang Enchanted Kingdom lang ang pinaka-malayo na narating ko sa Laguna.

"I'm not sure," he replied, his hands steady on the wheel.

"But are we safe?" I asked.

He looked at me briefly. "Of course. I won't let anyone harm you," he said. And then my heart felt at peace. He's still Saint... and hopefully, he's still my Saint.

I quietly looked at the surroundings. Masyado nang maraming puno sa paligid namin. Pero ngayon, hindi na ako kinakabahan. Sabi kasi ni Saint, hindi niya raw ako papabayaan. I'd take his word seriously. Mabuti na lang at hindi na kami nagtagal pa sa daan. He parked in what seemed like a resort. Lumabas kami. I trailed behind him hanggang makarating kami sa receptionist.

"Are there vacant rooms?" Saint asked. Mukhang naguluhan iyong receptionish. Saint was in a tuxedo while I was in my pajamas and jacket... We looked so mismatched. 

"Yes, sir. Dalawang room po para sa inyo?" Saint nodded and then gave the payment to the lady. Ako naman, tinignan ko iyong paligid. Nasa probinsya na nga talaga kami. I could hear crickets! Samantalang sa Manila, puro sasakyan ang naririnig ko. "Here are the keys, Sir."

Naglakad kami ni Saint papasok sa mismong resort. Kung hindi lang ako nahihiya, didikit ako kay Saint. The resort was okay... but it was a bit creepy. Pakiramdam ko ay nasa isa kaming horror movie tapos isa-isa kaming mamamatay. Sobrang ganon kasi iyong itsura ng hotel. It seemed haunted and felt haunted, too.

"Here's your room," Saint said nung makarating kami sa third floor. Inaabot niya sa akin iyong susi pero hindi ko matanggap. "Why?" he asked.

I chewed on my lower lip. Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nakita ko iyong kwarto na tutulugan ko. May malaki pang bintana na kita iyong labas! Tapos puro puno pa at mga damo! Kung hindi man ako makakakita ng multo, sigurado ako na mamamatay ako sa nerbyos at kaba.

"Is there a problem?"

"Nothing..." sabi ko at saka inabot iyong susi. "Diyan ka lang sa katabing room, 'di ba?" I asked. He nodded. Good. Siguro naman kung sisigaw ako, pupuntahan niya agad ako.

Pumasok na ako sa kwarto. Good thing kahit naman medyo scary iyong place, kumpleto iyong toiletries. I got the soap, shampoo, towel, and the robe and headed to the CR. I quickly removed my jacket and covered the mirror because it was scaring me big time. Tiniis ko iyong takot dahil gusto ko talagang maligo. My body felt icky from all the travel we did.

"Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," I recited as I washed my body. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay kung anu-ano ang naririnig ko. Tapos bigla pang humangin nang malakas kaya bigla akong nakaramdam ng malamig sa loob ng CR. Oh, dear God!

Hindi pa ako tapos maligo pero mabilis akong tumakbo palabas. Ang nadala ko lang ay iyong robe at sinuot ko agad iyon. I composed myself but truth was, I was shivering in fear. I never liked being alone in strange places. It scared me. But I didn't want Saint to think that I was using this as an excuse. Naligaw na nga kami dahil sa kagagawan ko, tapos magiging maarte pa ako?