pristine || anthon (english narrative) || Dillan/Reese

•••

They should have been here by now...the news broadcasted that the chase has stopped and I hope she's alright..*rriiiiiiinnng**riiiiiinnnggg* "Hello?" "We're here." I sighed and thanked him. I put the phone down and went outside the apartment.

-

"H-hoy! Iiwan mo ba ako rito? Bumalik ka!" Ang bilis ng takbo ng sasakyan ni Dillan kaya hindi ko na nahabol. Binaba lang ako rito sa bahay na.. "hey." Biglang tumalon yung puso ko kaya napalundag ako, "aaahhh!" Paglingon ko si-si-si, "Anthon?" Inismiran lang ako ng mokong at sinabi na, "well you're fine, let's go inside." Aba akala yata niya mauutos-utusan lang ako.

Aangal pa lang sana ko pero hinila na niya ko papasok. "What are you going to do with me?" Umiling-iling lang siya at sinabing, "relax, you're safe with me." Hindi ko alam pero pakiramdam ko nga'y ligtas ako pag nasa tabi ko siya. Kagaya nung nagkaputukan nung isang araw lang, nung isang araw nga lang ba yun? Basta yun na 'yon. Pinagmasdan ko yung bahay na pinasok namin at sobrang linis nito, malaki rin, parang doble yata 'to ng akin. Tinitignan ko pa nang maiigi kaya lang wala akong makitang mga litrato, wala ring kahit anong accesory o parang accent, wala akong mapansin na magbibigay ideya sa akin kung sino ba to'ng kasama ko at anong klaseng tao siya bukod sa pagiging malinis. May mga halaman sa bawat corner pero yun lang at mga kagamitan sa bahay.. "what are we doing here?"

Pinaupo niya ako at hinihintay ko lang siya, pumunta siya sa isang parte ng bahay na hindi ko alam baka sa kusina. Wala akong magawa at hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang pangyayari kanina, hinahabol kami, akala ko totoong dudukutin ako pero si Anthon ata ang may pakana pero kilala naman niya ako bakit kailangan pa...ito nanaman ako sa mga tanong, masasagot pa ba to'ng mga 'to? Medyo kinakabahan ako na nagugutom, oo naiisip ko pa talaga ang pagkain at kumain sa ganitong sitwasyon! May nakita akong remote control kaya kinuha ko 'to tapos binuksan ko kung para saan man to'ng kontrol na 'to, inaasam ko na para sa telebisyon dahil nababagot na ko't nagugutom. *click* WOOOO THANK YOU BATMAN! SUPERMAN! Sa telebisyon nga. Makapili nga, ano bang magandang panoodin?

-

I heard the television opened and it amazes me how this girl could still have the mood to watch a television at this state. She was just chased. I dialed Dillan's number first as I'm waiting for the toasts to finish.

"Here, a juice and some toasts and a bag of chips."
"Thank you. Gutom na ko eh."

I laughed at her, really, who is this girl?

"How..how do you feel?" I wasn't sure what's the right question."
"Medyo...natatakot pero ok english hm a bit scared but--"
"I can understand Tagalog, go on pero baga-lan mo."
"Medyo natatakot syempre sino bang hindi matatakot? Pero maraming tanong sa isip ko."
"I can answer those questions, that is if I know the answer."
"Akala ko ba maiintindihan mo basta mabagal? I was speaking normally but it seems like you didn't need for me to speak slowly."
"I tried to understand of course. Just continue eating and let's talk later."

She finished half of the chips and all the toasts, I made 6, she was really hungry. We're just watching an american tv series and she's enjoying herself. For the past ohh it had already been three hours? She asked me to get her a pillow and more juice. She also asked me for another type of chips.

"Do you want to stay here for tonight?" There, I asked the question.
"Hep! I'm not that type of girl."
Of course she'd think that, I rolled my eyes and said, "it's not like that but it would be safer if you're here, stay even for tonight."

-

Naintindihan ko naman yung sinabi niya matapos niyang linawin, mahirap na baka...pero um-oo na rin ako, pumayag ako kasi medyo inaantok na ko tyaka mamaya sa byahe ko pauwi--HINDI KO NGA ALAM KUNG ASAAN BA AKO, basta kanya yata to'ng bahay na 'to. Basta ayoko munang isugal baka mahanap ako nung mga humahabol sa amin kanina.

Tinapos ko lang yung isang episode pa tapos dinala niya ako sa pangalawang lapag nung bahay. Naglakad kami hanggang sa may kanan at yung pangalawang pinto ang binuksan niya, binuksan niya rin yung ilaw at napanganga ako, ang linis pa rin dito! Ang ganda rin nung itsura! Nasa hotel ba kami? "Last door is my room, the first one is a spare room but sometimes Dillan stays there." Tumango na lang ako pero napanganga ulit ako nung naproseso na ng utak ko yung sinabi niya. "So kilala mo si Dillan?" Tumango siya at lumabas ng kwarto. Naglibot muna ako kasi hindi ko naman alam saan siya pumunta, hindi naman ako mausisang tao kaya wala akong balak alamin yung pasikot-sikot dito at ang kailangan ko lang malaman ay yung daan palabas at alam ko naman saan yun, hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito.

Nakita ko na may sariling banyo ang kwarto na ipinahiram niya sa akin at kumpleto na may mga tuwalya, sabon, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, at may lotion pa sa loob nito. "Hey, here are--" "Ah! Stop scaring me!" Napahinto siya, mukhang nagulat sa sigaw ko. "Sorry. Here are some clothes, a set of pajamas, I think that would fit you. Those are brand new." Ang weird na may pambabaeng pajama set siya..maliban na lang na hindi kanya 'to, eh malamang hindi nga kanya, ano ba Pristine tanga lang? Hahaha sabi niya naman brand new. May pinaghahandaang babae? Siguro babaero 'to, sabagay gwapo tapos single.

"Get ready and after that we can talk for as long as you can. You look tired." Ibig ba sabihin nun ang pangit ko na? Mukhang sabog? Mukhang pagod? Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin pero mukhang disente pa naman at maayos-ayos, tumaas ang isang kilay ko at nakita ko naman siyang umiling-iling. Sinara na niya yung pinto kaya nag-ayos na ko.

Ang sarap sa pakiramdam matapos kong maligo. Nagsipilyo na rin ako at dali-daling nagtuyo ng buhok para makapagbihis na ko.

-

She went out of the bathroom and then something shifted on the atmosphere or that was just me. She looks beautiful. She didn't look to surprise to see me inside the room and that amazes me again. I didn't stay there and waited for her to finish if that's what's going on in every reader's head.

She sat down on the bed and invited me to sit with her. Guess it's time to answer some questions.

"What's your relationship with Dillan?"
"He's my brother. I told him to make a scene like that because the enemy would suspect that another team or whatever wants you. Your officemates were paid to act, they knew. And no, your best friend didn't, only you two didn't know but when she called me I explained everything and she knows that I'm going to ask you to stay here and I assured her that you're safe."

She nodded and ask another one right away. "You said the enemy so who is the enemy and why would they want me? Were they the people shooting us and chasing us a while ago?" And then she laid down, trying so hard not to close her eyes.
"I had a hunch on who shot those fires before and then I dug for some information and found out that I was right. He was a long-time enemy and he would do anything to kill me. This situation is messed up, sorry to have you affiliated with it, I know you didn't want this and I didn't think he was right there at that moment and that he'd think we know each other. He had been searching for anyone that can be linked with me. He doesn't know yet about my brother and other friends or family.."

She yawned but asked another again, "can you stay here until I fall asleep?" I was shocked at that. I blinked twice, not expecting that question. "S-sure. I'll be here, making sure nothing bad is going to happen to you." What shocked me more was how I responded and how I meant every word. What is this girl doing to me?

She fell asleep in an instant and I'm not sure why I didn't get up and leave. I stayed for a couple of minutes until my eyes can't stay open anymore and soon, I too, drifted off to sleep.

-

"Good morning kuya! Good morning girlfriend ni kuya!"

Gosh what is that noise?! My eyes squinted as they try to adjust to the bright sunlight that's passing through the window. Who the hell opened the curtains? "Kuya! Girlfriend ni kuya!" What?! My eyes opened wide and saw Reese smiling wide at us. I looked around and realized that I fell asleep with Pristine. I checked on her and she's just groaning, "hey babe wake up, sister's here."

Her eyes opened wide and then....
SHE PUSHED ME OFF OF THE BED!