I Could Fall

Chapter Fifteen

As soon as I was inside his car, I buckled my seatbelt before sending an apology text to Atticus for leaving without saying goodbye. Sunod ay nag-group message ako sa pamilya ko na hindi ko na kailangan sunduin at pauwi na ako.

Nang matapos ang pakikipag-usap sa kanila ay itinago ko na ang phone sa bag. Inangat ko ang tingin at nakita na nakalabas na kami ng estate nila at nasa tamang daan na kami papunta sa bahay namin. Just around ten minutes away!

"You know our house?" I asked with a little wonder in my voice when I realized that we're near our estate and he never ask me for directions.

Well, lahat naman yata ng ginagawa ni Ali ay namamangha ako. What's new?

"Uh-hm." He nodded. His eyes were on the road.

I shut my mouth. Silence followed. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin. I neatly placed my hands on my lap.

I scanned my eyes around Ali's car. Mabango sa loob ng kotse niya at mukhang bagong bili pa. His car is a BMW. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung anong model.

"How's school?" Halos mapatalon ako sa biglang pagsalita niya. "Ga-graduate ka na."

I blushed at the attention his giving me. Tinanong lang naman ako tungkol sa school pero ganito na ang reaksyon ko.

"That's months from now. Sa March pa. And... ayos lang naman."

Natahimik ulit siya ng ilang saglit. Kinagat ko ang labi at nag-isip ng pwedeng itanong sa kanya. Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay naunahan niya ako.

"Maraming nanliligaw?" he silently asked.

Nag-init ang pisngi at napapikit ako. Feeling ko ang laki ng kasalanan ko sa kanya na maraming nanligaw sa akin kahit wala naman talagang masama roon.

"Uh..."

"Marami," he concluded.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. My blood pressure went up because of his question. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding panic.

"Nanligaw lang! Wala naman akong pinayagan! 'Cos you said... Bawal pa!" taranta kong sagot.

Ali's jaw clenched. His eyes remained in front. I noticed the way his hands tightened its grip on the wheel.

He breathed out and glanced at me with soft eyes. Ibang-iba sa reaksyon niya nung hindi pa tumitingin sa akin.

"You are free to do whatever you want, sweet Hyon. I have no say on that," he calmly answered.

"I promised to you... And... Hindi ko rin naman sila sasagutin kasi hindi naman sila yung gusto ko," humina ang boses ko sa dulo.

Suminghap si Ali habang ako naman ay hindi na makahinga. My heart was beating so hard and fast.

I like you, Ali.

Gusto ko sanang sabihin. If I was given more time, I probably would have said it and confessed. Naudlot ang plano ko dahil huminto na ang sasakyan at tumigil na si Ali sa pag-drive.

"We're here," he croaked.

I sadly glanced outside the window and saw our house. It was already a bit dark outside. The hues in the sky were slowly fading into black.

Napanguso ako at huminga nang malalim. I removed my seatbelt and brought my eyes back to Ali who was staring hard at me.

"Thank you for driving me home," I murmured.

Hindi ako bumaba agad. Naghihintay ng sasabihin ni Ali. He didn't say anything though. He just stared at my face. There's something about his eyes. He looked like he was conflicted and yet the softness was peaking through.