Never Be Tamed

Chapter 37: Rumor

Natulala ako at hindi agad nakagalaw. Maging ang ilang dumadaan sa tapat ng shop ay napatingin sa'min dahil sa sinabi ng babae. Umatras  ako palayo at agad umiwas ng tingin.

"I heard she badly wanted to be a resident here... What a desperate girl..."

Mabilis akong naglakad palayo, notebook clutched in my chest beating loudly in fear. Sandali akong huminto sa tapat ng isang street lamp at humugot nang malalim na hininga.

It's okay... it's okay. Pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko. I'm not any of those words.

I raised my head once again to face the downtown street before me. I forced a smile to forget my trembling state. I'll just come back to the stationery shop later. I'll just buy a coat first. It's still a good day. Everything will be fine.

Muli akong naglakad sa sidewalk na pinaliligiran ng iba't-ibang mga tindahan. But the more I see faces staring at me, the more I wanted to hide and make myself small.

Nakarating ako sa shop na nagtitinda ng mga coats. I immediately saw the new coats displayed from the large glass window mostly in neutral colors or in dark greens or maroons.

I walked to the open front door while checking my bag, preparing the money I had to spend, but I suddenly left frozen on my spot when the shop owner showed up and flipped the sign on the doorway saying the shop was now closed.

"Sandali..." pakiusap ko. "Pwede ba akong bumili. Hindi ako magtatagal... kailangan ko lang talaga."

The owner gave me a sharp gaze. "Hindi mo ba nakikita? Sarado kami ngayon. At wala kaming coat para sa mga tulad mo."

I bit my trembling lips. "Pero... may nakita ako sa bintana..."

"Shameless girl... hindi ako magbebenta ng mga gawa ko sa tulad mo..."

I stepped away, my head ringing with her words. People on the  sidewalk started staring at me as though they knew something I didn't. Hindi ko maintindihan. I was welcomed here a week ago.

"I heard it from my daughter..."

"The family I've been serving said the same thing..."

"Quite a wild reputation for someone so innocent looking..."

Unti-unti akong umatras palayo hanggang sa isang tao ang mabangga ko. Hindi ko magawang lumingon dahil natatakot ako na maging sila ay pagiisipan ako nang masama. I hide my face from them, brimmed with tears.

"May problema ba dito?"

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. Napansin ko ang pagbaba ng tingin ng mga taong nasa paligid namin. Some of them scattered and walked away from us.

"Are you refusing service to a customer?"

Bumaling ako sa taong nabangga ko. It was Alexander.

The shop owner's eyes shifted away, uncomfortable with Alexander's sharp gaze. Maging ang mga taong nasa paligid ay hindi mapigilang manahimik at bahagyang yumuko. But I could hear the scorn in their whispered voices.

"Acting like someone big since becoming the beta..."

Pero walang pakialam si Alexander sa mga ito. He was raging mad, his every words snapping like whip. "I'm asking you, are you refusing service?"

The shop owner failed to make up an answer.

"I hope you have valid reason for breaching one of the rules of the town."

I grabbed Alexander's arm before he stepped closer to the shop. "It's okay, Alexander..." I knew for a fact that Alexander had wild temper if prompted.