Her

"Sigurado kang hindi mo 'yon kilala? Siya iyong nagbirthday noong nakaraan." Si Jericho habang pinagmamasdan ang papaalis na si Erikson.

When I said those words, Erikson looked at me coldly and our stares battle for a minute until he clenched his jaw and turned his back on us. He stormed out of our way, stomping with his heavy footsteps and clenched fist.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang nilapitan siya ni Ana. My eyes followed them both as they talk. Erikson even glanced at me and caught me glaring at them, I raised my brow at him, he raised his brow as well as if challenging me. Natigil lamang ang titigan namin nang hinawakan siya ni Ana sa braso bago bumulong.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin kaya nagtama ang tingin namin ni Jericho. He was raising his brow at me, he probably caught my stare down with Erikson.

"Random guy, huh?" He sipped his cocktail and I shook my head.

"Kaano-ano mo 'yon?" I changed the topic.

"Si Hendrik?" Tanong niya kaya tumango ako. "Ah... schoolmate. We just met recently. Bago lang siya na-transfer na school namin."

"May girlfriend na 'yon?"

"Si Hendrik?" Tanong niya ulit kaya tumango ako ulit.

"I don't know? Maybe? Maybe yes? Hindi ko alam basta maraming babae ang may gusto sa kaniya." He shrugged.

"Bakit hindi mo alam? Iba-iba ba ang babaeng nilalandi niya?" Nakataas ang kilay kong tanong.

Natawa siya at umiling. "Allergic 'yon sa babae. Hindi ko alam bakit kay sa kaniya hindi." Turo niya sa kung nasaan si Ana at Erikson.

"Allergic sa babae?" Taka kong tanong.

"Oo." Natawa siya at umiling. "Ayaw niyang nilalapitan siya ng mga babae sa school kaya mas lalong naghahabol ang mga babae sa kaniya. Alam mo na, gusto nila ng hard to get."

Ayaw niyang nilalapitan siya ng babae? Eh, bakit lapit siya nang lapit sa akin noong nakaraang linggo?

Napabaling ako sa harapan nang biglaang tumunog ng kakaibang musika ang orkestra. It was soft and melodic, a romantic song. Kani-kaniya na silang aya ng isasayaw nila kaya hinanap ng mga mata ko si Erikson. I perfectly wore this shoes for this dance!

Nang makita ko ang likod ni Erikson ay hindi na ako nag-alinlangang lapitan siya. Bawat hakbang ko papalapit sa likod niya ay katumbas ng lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. I was almost near him, almost... until he walked and I stopped.

Ana was with him.

And they were dancing.

Like a couple in spotlight, their moves sway along with the music. I clenched my fist and stared at them until he caught my eyes.

I held his stare.

But he continued to dance.

As he stare at me.

"How about we dance?"

I broke our stare and glanced at Jericho. He was raising his brow at me, challenging.

My dance is only meant for Erikson. I am willing to endure the pain on my feet as long as I'm dancing with Erikson, not any other man. So I shook my head.

"Not in the mood."

Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad na palayo para hindi niya na ako magulo muli. I lost my appetite so I decided to go to the place where Erikson introduced— the gazebo.

The cold night breeze welcomed me and the romantic music continued, only that it was paired with crickets and wide awake chirps of bird. I went inside the gazebo and sat on the chair, staring down at my swollen feet.

How can Erikson dance with another woman?

Ramdam ko na ang sakit ng likod ng paa ko pero nanatili akong nakamasid sa sapatos na iniyakan at hinanap ko buong gabi dahil lang regalo ito sa akin ni Erikson. I was excited... so damn much excited to wear this shoes and maybe... silently hoping I could dance with him again using this shoes. Only to witness him dancing with another woman?

A shadow  kneeled in front of me and my eyes widened as my heart picked up in an unbearable fast pace. He held my feet gently and my lips part out of shock, I feel like my rib cage would be damaged due to the constricting of my oxygen and wild thud of my heart.

"Ano—"

Inilis niya ang sapatos sa paa ko at minasahe ito. I bit my lower lip and stifled my heart from bursting out of its shell.

"Bibili ako ng bago. Iyong hindi masakit." Aniya habang minamasahe ang paa ko.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Inilapag niya ang paa ko sa hita niya at kinuha ang isa ko pang paa. He massaged it the same way, easing it from the burning pain.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Nakakunot ang noo kong tanong.

"Nakatakas ako."

"Anong nakatakas?"

Hindi siya nagsalita. Nanatili ang mata niya sa paa ko at pagmamasahe nito. I sighed and let him massage my feet, enjoying the sight of him in front of me.

"I thought I was just a random girl you danced with?" I asked with raised brow.

He glanced at me and our eyes met for a brief second but it was enough to stop my breath. I missed those warm gray eyes because the eyes I saw earlier, the cold one, they were almost a nightmare I wouldn't want to see directed at me.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly.

"For what?" Mas lalong tumaas ang kilay ko.

"I didn't get to bring your burger steak." He sighed and looked down on my feet.

"Bakit?"

"Na-busy." He said. Liar.

"Na-busy saan?"

"Sa school?" Another lie. Akala niya ba hindi ko alam na summer nila ngayon? Porket nasabihan ko lang siya na hindi na ako nag-aaral, akala niya wala na akong balita.

Hindi ako nagsalita. Tumigil siya sa pagmasahe ng paa ko at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Nagtama ang mata namin. He blinked and I knew he saw the seriousness in my eyes, he knew that I knew he's lying.

He released a deep breath and placed my feet down gently. Tumabi siya sa akin, nanatili naman akong tahimik.

"Susubukan kong pumunta bukas." Aniya.

"Kung hindi ako pumunta ngayon, wala ka talagang planong balikan ako?" Tuluyan ko siyang nilingon kaya nagtama ang tingin namin.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at alam kong tama ako. Wala talaga siyang planong puntahan ako.

"Sabihin mo lang para hindi na ako umasa." Malamig kong sabi.

"I'm sorry." Yumuko siya kaya nadurog ang puso ko. Wala talaga siyang plano! Hindi ko na siya makikita pagkatapos nito!

"Okay." Tumango ko at tumayo.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin ngunit hindi ko na siya tiningnan pa. Isinuot ko ang sapatos ko at tatalikuran na sana siya pero hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, bunga ng galit, tinulak ko ang kamay niya paalis.

He winced and my brows furrowed. Hindi malakas ang pagtulak ko sa kamay niya. I held his forearm and he flinched again. When he noticed my stare, he removed his hands off me and straightened his back.

"Huwag ka munang umalis—"

"Sinaktan ka?" Seryoso kong tanong kahit na sa kaloob-looban ko gusto ko nang pumatay ng tao.

"Hindi." He said almost too quickly, too far from the truth.

"One more lie, Erikson." I warned.

He gulped and hid his hands behind me. "Hindi naman masaki—"

Hindi na ako nag-alinlangan. Inalis ko ang suit jacket niya at walang pag-aalinlangang tinanggal ang butones sa kamay niya. I raised it up to his elbow and I was fucking right. There were bruises in there.

"Bakit?" I asked too calmly despite of my thoughts hovering around how to get away with murder.

"Normal la—"

"Stop fucking lying." I spat, he flinched again.

"S-Sinuway ko si Papa." He breathe deeply.

"Anong utos ang sinuway mo?" I asked and stared at him seriously, giving him a warn not to lie.

"I told him I don't kill birds anymore." He said almost too quietly.

Fucking psycho.

"Iyon lang?"

"And I refuse to kill one when he ordered me." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin kaya mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ko sa kaniya, he flinched again so I soften my hold.

"So?" Mas kinalma ko ang tono ng boses ko.

"He disciplined me."

"Bullshit." He flinched again when I cursed.

I sighed, he looked so scared when he saw my face. I must've looked horrible. But I just can't help the sudden protectiveness in me. Damn it.

"Sorry. Hindi ko sinasadya." I said softly and stared at him. He nodded and slightly pursed his lips, almost like pouting.

"Huwag ka munang umalis." Aniya.

Tumango ako at sumulyap sa pasa sa kamay niya. A sudden anger rose up again, wanting to explode and throw a bomb at the person who did—

"Kumain ka na?"

It was like a splash of water. I'm back again. With him, beside me. Nothing happened to him. He's okay, I don't need to attack. So I shook my head as an answer to his question.

"Kukuha ako ng pagkain." Aniya at tumayo pero hinawakan ko ang kamay niya.

"Hindi pa ako gutom." Umiling ako kaya pinagmasdan niya ako ng ilang minuto bago tumango at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Bawal kang umalis ng bahay?" Tanong ko.

Tumango siya kaya bumuntong-hininga ako. He scratched his nape, I squinted my eyes on him.

"Ginamot mo 'yang pasa mo?" Turo ko sa pasa niya.

"Hindi pa pero—"

"Anong hindi?!" Sigaw ko at tumayo kaya napatalon din siya.

"Hindi naman siya mala—"

"Gamutin mo! Mayroon kayong aid-kit?" Tanong ko.

"Ayos—"

"Erikson." I warned

"Okay!" Tumayo siya at nagkamot sa batok. Nilingon niya ang mansion nila at bumuntong-hininga.

"Nasaan ba banda?" Tanong ko at tumayo na rin.

Tinuro niya ang bahay nila. "Nandoon lang sa storage room." Aniya kaya tumango ako at naglakad na papunta sa bahay nila.

"Teka! Pupunta ka?"

Tumigil ako at nilingon siya. Nakaparte na ang bibig niya at mukhang gulat. Ano naman kung pumunta ako? Lahat naman yata ng tao ay nasa labas?

"Oo, para hindi ka na bumalik."

"Ayos lang—" He cut his words when I looked at him coldly. "Okay." At naglakad na siya palayo, tahimik.

Sinundan ko siya at dahil mataas siya ay malalaki rin ang hakbang na kaya niya kaya nahuli ako. He was few meters away from me while I walked behind him when he suddenly halt so I stopped as well. He looked back at me and when he noticed our distance, he stepped back and stopped until we both are in line, then, he started walking slowly, in my pace.

"Hindi ka marunong ipagtanggol ang sarili mo?" I suddenly asked as we both walk, side by side.

"Oo."

"Bakit?" I glanced at him, his eyes remain on the front.

"Wala namang silbi, ako lang ang kawawa." He shrugged and I sighed.

"You should learn self-defense."

Ilang saglit siyang natahimik kaya sumulyap muli ako sa kaniya. He sighed and shook his head.

"It's not just physical." He whispered and I clenched my fist.

Fuck them.

Pumasok siya sa back door at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. I sighed for the nth time and tried to control my face from anger. Tahimik akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay nila. It was a dark storage room. Puno ng mga gamit na hindi na ginagamit kaya sigurong walang tao rito. He locked the door and went to the cabinet to ramage something. Then I saw the hidden aid kit.

"Bakit nakatago?" Tanong ko.

"Dito ko ginagamot sugat ko." He said unconsciouly.

I sighed and shook my head. Inilapag niya ang kit sa isang lamesa at sumdal rito. He removed his suit jacket and fold it up until his elbow.

"Iyan lang ang pasa?" Tanong ko.

"Mayroon sa likod—"

Nilapitan ko siya at tinanggal ang butones niya, galit at tangina, gustong makita kung saan nila siya sinaktan! He gasped and held my hand to stop me but I glared at him.

"A-Ano—"

"Hands off." I warned him.

"Pero—"

"Erikson." I called too calmly, he gulped and let go of my hand.

I heaved a breath and unbutonned his shirt. Nang tuluyan ko nang matanggal ang saplot niya ay pakiramdam ko may sumabog sa loob ko. He has brusises all over his body! On his chest, on the sides of his stomach, a fucking scratch, a scar. Fuck it. Fuck them. Umikot ako at tinulak siya para makita ang likod niya at tama nga ako dahil may mga pasa rin doon pero ang mas malala ay may nakita akong malaking sugat. It was as if he's been whipped behind his back.

"You called this discipline?" I asked in my cool tone.

"Oo—"

"This is fucking abuse, Erikson." I cut him off, he winced at that.

"Ayos lang—"

"Bullshit. And shut the fuck up." Inagaw ko ang kit sa kamay niya at padabog itong nilapag sa lamesa, he winced again.

Hindi ako nagsalita nang inuna kong gamutin ang pasa sa likod niya. Pakiramdam ko kung magsasalita ako, puro mura lang ang lalabas sa bibig ko kaya mas mabuti nang tumahimik na muna ako. Nang matapos sa likod niya ay pumunta na ako sa harapan niya. He leaned against the table while I grabbed his arms to put some ointment on the bruise parts.

If only I could protect him.

Panay ang sulyap niya sa akin pero seryoso ang mata kong ginagamot ang braso niya.

"Sorry." He said after minutes of silence.

Kumunot ang noo ko pero nanatili ang atensyon ko sa sugat niya. "Bakit ka nagso-sorry?"

"Mahina kasi ako." Aniya at yumuko kaya bumuntong-hininga ako.

"Bakit kasi ang hina mo? Lumaban ka." Mahinahon kong sabi.

"Lalala lang."

Sabagay. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa kaniya sa loob ng bahay. Anong mangyayari sa kaniya kapag iiwan ko siya rito? Walang magtatanggol sa kaniya? Magtatago siya rito at mag-isang gagamutin ang sugat niya?

"Hanggang... hanggang hindi pa kita kayang protektahan. Sundin mo muna lahat ng gusto ng Papa mo para hindi ka mabugbog." Ayaw kong sabihin pero anong magagawa ko? Paano ko siya maisasalba kung wala ako sa tabi niya?

Natawa siya ng kaunti kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Sinubukan ko nga, eh. Pero parang ang hirap." Aniya nang nakangiti habang nakamasid sa akin.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya. "Bakit mahirap?"

"Huwag daw kitang lapitan."

I sighed. "Pero nilapitan mo pa rin?" Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya.

"Nakatakas lang." He said with a smile, napailing nalang ako pero hindi mapigilang ngumiti.

Dahil sa ngiti ko ay bumaba ang mata niya sa labi ko. I squinted my eyes on him and he blinked, eyes widening because I caught hin staring at my lips. His ears flushed and he avoided my eyes.

"Ang hilig mo tumingin sa labi ko." I pointed out. Mas lalo siyang namula.

"Hindi ah!" He lied.

"Lie to your fucking father, not me."

He scrunched his nose and scratched his nape. Napailing ako dahil hindi niya na magawang sumulyap sa akin. Hindi ko nga alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ko nang kinuha ko ang baba niya at hinalikan siya sa labi. It was fast, lasted for only a second, but it took him a whole lot of fucking minute to process what I just did.

"There." I said cooly even when my heartbeat picked up in a race.

His lips part as he stared at me in shock. Mukhang hindi pa siya makausad dahil sa mabilisang halik na iyon. I raised my brow at him.

"Iyon lang muna. Bata pa tayo." Sabi ko nalang dahil masyadong awkward kapag hindi ako nagsalita.

Nanatili siyang nakatulala sa akin, walang tono o salita ang lumalabas sa nakaparteng labi niya.

"That was my first kiss..." He croaked.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya."Hindi 'yon kiss. Kiss involves opening one's mouth." I just said that because it's embarrassing to admit that I'm his first!

"My first peck!" He said kaya natawa ako. Ngumuso siya pero hindi mapigilan ang ngiti.

"You like it, didn't you?" I accused and he flushed more, not denying it.

Don't worry. I like it as well.