Sisihin Ang Bagyo | Wattys 2018 Winner

Kabanata 14 - Taunting, Threat, and Treachery

Kabanata 14

Taunting, Threat, and Treachery

The next day, Keith feels so distant. Bihira lang niya ako kinakausap sa klase, pormal lang siya sa biology laboratory at naka focus lang sa kung ano ang activity namin sa araw na iyon. Kahit sa lunch break ay hindi siya masyadong nag sasalita kung hindi ko kinakausap at mukha siyang hindi mapakali. Something feels off about him today.

It started when he came back after getting our food for the movie. Hindi na din niya ako pinansin pagkatapos ng palabas. I didn't notice his hands back at the theatre, but I noticed his scraped knuckles when we got home. What happened to you? I asked him. "I fell down. I also scraped my elbows." Pilit pa siyang tumatawa habang pinapakita ang sugat sa kanyang siko.

Whatever happened that night, it messed him up. Kung may nakaaway man siya, it bothered him until now.

"Are you alright?" I tugged on his sleeve to stop him from walking when we reached the parking lot. Kakatapos lang ng school hours at pauwi na kaming dalawa ng mapagpasyahan kong kumprontahin siya.

He stopped to look at his sleeve, then back at me. "It's nothing."

"Galit ka sakin?" That's weird I don't remember doing anything. He looked around the parking lot, then outside the gates like he's scanning his surrounding. Malaki ang parking lot ng school at marami pang mga sasakyan ang nakapark doon kaya malamang marami ang nakakakita sa amin sa tapat ng aming van.

"Hindi. Kung gusto mo mag-usap doon nalang tayo sa loob sasakyan, please." He grabbed my wrist ngunit pumiglas ako. Lagi nalang niyang nililihis ang topic.

Magsasalita pa sana ako ng may humarurot na pulang kotse papunta sa kinatatayuan namin. Sigurado akong nakikita naman kami ng driver ngunit hindi natitinag ang bilis ng patakbo nito. I panicked, I don't know which way to go. Aabante ba ako o aatras? Hanggang sa hinablot ako ni Keith papalapit sa kanya at hinila ako papasok sa van. Muntik na ako masalpok ng sasakyang iyon.

"Gago yung driver na iyon ah," Nagpupumiglas ako sa hawak ni Keith para habulin ang driver ng pulang sasakyan dahil tumigil ito ng makalampas sa kinatatayuan ko kanina. Lumabag ito sa batas ng paaralan, muntik pa siya maka sagasa. "Hoy! Ten kilometers per hour lang ang speed limit dito sa school, hindi ka ba marunong mag basa ng sign board?"

Lumapit ako sa pulang sasakyan at kinatok ang bintana ng driver's. "Papatayin mo ba ako? Ha?"

The car window opened and inside was a scowling man with a bald head and a thick beard. He had a bad bruise on his left eye that ran down to his left cheek, and a busted lip. I don't want to be judgmental but he looked like an ex-convict. He didn't say anything, he just looked at me.

"Gaby, I told you to get in the van!" Sinigawan ako ni Keith ngunit nag lakad din siya palapit sa akin. Natigil siya nang makita ang lalaki. The man smiled at him, revealing his chipped off incisors.

"Kung hindi ka makuha sa santong dasalan, daanin natin sa santong paspasan." Sambit nung lalaki, may pagbabanta sa kanyang boses. Ano ito? Aksyon movie? Para naman siyang galing sa 'Ang Probinsyano' kung magsalita.

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi nung lalaki. "Eh paano kung daanin nalang natin sa demandahan, ha? Pwede kitang ipakulong. Nasan na ba si Manong Ben at siya ang ipapaharap ko---"

"Gaby," Keith said, almost growling. That made me stop. His eyes were murderous while looking at the man inside the red car. "Gaby, I want you to stay in the van and lock it."

"Pero---"

"Umuwi na kayo ni Mang Ben sa bahay, I'll take care of this." He was clenching his teeth so hard, I can hear it grinding.