Love Or War

Kabanata 24

Bewitch.

He licked his lower lip and surround be with his long arms. Here he goes again.

"Lia..." he looked at my lips, then closed his eyes, hard. He's avoiding something. I pouted as we arrived at the office.

He made a salute while me? Should I salute too?

"Let me talk to her first Captain" the old hard baritone of his voice really scares me. I don't want to be with him alone. He's...scary. From his old looks, he's really something.

I looked at him and saying in my mind that I don't and I can't but he ignore me. Shit.

"So, Doctor Alfonso..." I swallowed hard for his eyes made me tremble.

Oo nga pala! Hindi ko pa siya nababati! This is the end!

"Uh, Good Afternoon Director" I can't looked at him directly.

"Oh. How was it? Any reports from the earthquake?" pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay after niya akong ni head to toe.

"Uh... T-There are almost one thousand death but mostly the employees from t-the new infrastructure." my hands were trembling so hard! Should I say about the blocks? Bahala na talaga!

"I n-noticed that the cement wasn't that thick so I-I conclude that because of the scanty amount of cements and fillers, the death of the people rise and not because of the earthquake. " Hu. Really huh? Should I die? Mali bang sinabi ko yun? Shinare ko lang naman ah.

"Hmm you're really good huh, as I heard from the people Doctor" he slightly smiled as well as I.

"You're right, we conclude the same thing because I also visited that building, but somehow, the earthquake was also that strong so maybe its because of the both" I just nodded for what he said. I'm so speechless.

Our conversation ended after that many chit-chats about the happenings here.

Mariin akong pumikit pagpasok ko sa kotse. I survived. But why are my hands still trembling hard?! Am I abnormal?!

"Did you get nervous?" he looked at me. I can't speak! There's no words coming from my mind. Is there a malfunction on my brain?!

Before I tried to say something he already held my hand and kissed it.

Why the heck did he do that?! My heart took all the nervousness I'm feeling and changed into a fast beating heart! Arghh!

On the way, we stopped at a subway shop and added gasoline.

"Lia hold this" he said.

Should I be thoughtful? I don't even know how to stop this.

"Stop this when it turns to 1k" he pointed the stop button while hugging me from the back. Bakit ba ang hilig niyang yumakap sa likod? Anong meron? But simply I find it romantic.

It turns to 1k and I stopped it. He's already going back but he caught a child. The owner was shouting so I get curious.

"Thank you! Jusko magnanakaw ang batang yan, buti nalang sundalo ka, ikulong niyo yan" sambit ng humihingal na lalaki.

What? He's just a child. And, Yeuri! Huhulihin mo talaga tong batang to?!

I held the hand of the child.

"Let go" I said as he hardly held the small hand of the child.

"Don't. He just get some snacks! Maybe he's hungry! He-" the owner cut me off.

"Anong pinagsasasabi mo ha?! Nagnakaw yung bata-" I succeed in cutting him off.

"Shhh! There's a child! I'll bought it okay." I almost yelled because of the anger.

"You merciless people" I whispered as I gave him the money.

"May gusto ka pa ba?" I asked the child. Umiling lang siya at kita ko ang awa sa mga mata niya.

"Sige na, bumalik ka na ha. Take care" I patted his head before he ran.

He's supposed to defend the child, not to catch him!

Padabog akong pumasok sa kotse.

Mga ilang minuto ko lang narealise na magsalita tungkol sa nangyari.

"You're supposed to protect the child." I said.

"I didn't say something"

He's saying nonsense now.

"You caught him." I hardly said it.

"I didn't even try to catch him." he groaned. Tss kitang kita ng dalawa kong mata na hinuli mo siya. Liar.

"I catch him on purpose, to protect him but you talk first"

I ignored him. Really huh?

I opened the car window again so I can see a view. I saw a sign, saying "The Ship of Unraveled Love" what's that? I want to go there!

"Where is that?..." hindi pa ako natatapos pero sumagot na siya. Like, shit. Is he mad at me? Is there a problem with me?!

"That's far."

I don't know what happened but I slept. Where is this? This isn't the camp.

"Let's go" he said.

"Where?" before I said that word he already walked. Nakakabwisit na ha!

He said something to the old man until he jump into the speedboat. Inalalayan niya ako sa pagbaba sa speedboat, dahil ba to sa nakaheels ako or he's just being gentleman?

I didn't accept his hand so right... Muntik na akong nadapa kung hindi niya lang ako sinalo. Isang malaking katangahan Lia. Nasan ba kasi kami?! And where the heck are we going?! Marami pa akong gagawin! Tatakas ba kami?

"Thank you" I said in an insincere way.

"Kumapit ka" he menacingly said.

I held the metal beside me tight. I trust him but... I'm mad. Its his fault. He's so cold to me.

He drove the speed boat really fast but safely. Mabilis kaming nakarating at...

Napaawang ang bibig ko ngunit mas nangibabaw ang ngiti sa aking labi.

This is the sign that I saw a while ago. I looked at him. I'm so happy. Ang ganda nga talaga neto. Even if it's old it's still beautiful and elegant.

He didn't even try to offer his hand but just walked. So rude.

Wow, ang ganda! I went on the middle of the old ship. It was beautifully preserved. I was a word written by scratches on the body of ship.

"Bewitch" I read the word.

"Have you ever been bewitched?" I asked him seriously. Me? Yes I am. I've been bewitched. Everyday.

"Hmm no" he avoided looking at me. But I stayed looking at him. You didn't get attracted to me before? Tss. Liar.
So liar.

We got back to the camp when sunset. Without even talking to each other. But sometimes I can see beside that he's looking at me. I'm happy for what he did but...what am I feeling? Nagtatampo ba ako? O galit lang talaga ako sa kanya?

I stepped a small rock so my heels are broken now. Argh! Nakakinis! Bakit ngayon pa! Pwede bang mamaya nalang sanang pagpasok ko man lang?! Okay. Bahala na! Maglalakad na ako ng nakapaa paa.

He suddenly grab my legs at tsaka ako binuhat.

"Hey let go" my small voice made him looked at me.

"My baby will be hurt" he's seducing me. The way he looked at me... It's just...

"I didn't bewitch, I value"