Chapter 33 - 31

Davon's words bothered and followed me up to my birthmonth, well, of course, our anniversary is just adjacent to my birthmonth.

It's now the fifth day of November. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para matanggal ang pagkabagot. Nasa unit kasi ako mag-isa. Ewan ko kay Davon kung saan pumunta, but he left with six words.

Don't worry. We'll go home together sabi nya. E hindi wala naman ako sa labas at hindi ako lalabas, paano kami magkakasabay pauwi? Susunduin ko sya?

Naisipan ko na mag-Wattpad nalang, pero habang nagbabasa ako ng in-line comments, my phone beeped and a notification popped up.

"Hi, Selena Aiah. I remember you too well. This is your Marcus. And, can we meet? I'll be waiting at the SM by the bay." basa ko sa message. A tear fell from my left eye out of shock and happiness and I just let it fall down, you can't blame me. Finally, after some waiting, Marcus replied.

Napatingin ako sa oras, it's 12:06 in the morning! Mukha namang hindi pa padating si Davon, mamaya nyan ito lang ang only chance ko, mahahawakan ko na si Marcus ngayon, hindi ko hahayaang dumulas sya.

Pero hindi naman yata sya madudulas, wala namang wet floor.

Kinuha ko ang jacket ko at tinahak ang daan papunta sa SM by the bay. May taxi naman na dumaan kaya doon na nga ako sumakay. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapagtanto kung sino ang taxi driver. 

"Zach?" tanong ko. Baka kamukha nya lang e. Pahiya ako.

"Hi, Selena." sabi nya. Saglit pa kaming nagkwentuhan at nang medyo malapit na ay nagbayad ako. 

"Ikaw ha? Suma-sideline ka na. Anong nangyari sa trabaho mo?" tanong ko. It's just unusual, Zach being a taxi driver. My mind immediately imagined Davon wearing a taxi driver's uniform. Chills were sent down my spine at the thought. He looks so hot.

"Hey, we're here." ani Zach at excited na bumaba ako sa taxi'ng sinakyan at nagpasalamat kay Driver Zach for taking me here safely. "No problem, Ms. Selena." aniya at nginitian ako saka sya kumindat bago umalis. Napaawang nalang ang labi ko. No wonder Keana fell so hard.

Habang naglalakad-lakad ay nagbeep ulit ang phone ko. "Here beside the bay, to be exact." kaya tinahak ko nga ang daan papuntang kalapit ng bay. Naexcite ako lalo nang makita ang papalapit na tagpuan, ano na kaya ang itsura nya? Sana lang ay matingnan ko na sya sa mga mata, pero 'wag nya sana ako halikan dahil magagalit si Davon!

Nangamba ako agad nang walang makitang tao doon. Pero sa di kalayuan ay may natanaw akong anino, tila kumakaway ito saakin. Napatingin ako sa likod ko, wala namang multo. Napalunok ako at nagsimulang maglakad palapit sa anino nang biglang may humigit saakin.

Nagdikit ang mga katawan namin at akmang itutulak ko na sana ang kung sino mang ito at humingi ng tulong nang bigla itong yumuko at ginawaran ako ng isang halik. Isang nakaw na halik! Nang lumayo ito saakin ay natapat ang mukha nito sa liwanag at nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Davon?!"

"Baby." he said cheerfully and smiled at me. Agad akong napayuko, hinihintay na pagalitan nya ako. "Hey, what's wrong?" tanong nya, nanatili akong nakayuko.

"Sige na. Pagalitan mo na ako't lumabas ako sa ganitong oras." sabi ko. Davon chuckled.

"Baby, I told you. We'll go home together. Look, I have something to tell you—"

"What? Why? What's with the we'll go home together?" tanong ko sakanya. Naguguluhan ako e. "And who's that one waving at me earlier?" tanong ko pa.

Tiningnan ko ang pwesto ng kanina'y anino na kumaway sakin at nagulat ako nang makitang wala na ito doon! "Baby, I'm the one who waved at you." he said hesitantly.

"Eh? Bakit naman ikaw? Pero bakit nga kasi sabay tayong uuwi?" pagtatanong ko pa, I smiled secretly when I saw Davon stopping himself. "It's okay, ilabas mo ang nararamdaman mo." natatawang sabi ko at mas lalo akong natawa sa sinabi nya.

"Baby, why won't you just ask questions one by one?" tanong nya saakin. "First, I just want us to go home together. Second, nothing. I just waved at you there and went here. You walk slowly, baby." he chuckled. "By the way," his gaze became serious, agad akong napalunok sa kaba. "Why are you here, Selena Aiah?" the way he said Selena Aiah brought back memories and at the same time, sent shivers down my spine. He leaned closer, I gulped when my back touched the tree trunk. "Again. Why are you here, Selena Aiah?" he said, his damn so deep and husky voice made my libido grow wilder like it have never been this high. 

"N-nothing." I said. His lips touched mine and his tongue demanded for entrance so I opened my mouth, only to find myself chasing his lips. He pulled my wrist gently, now we're walking.

"Is it because of that ex-suitor of yours?" he asked, my eyes widened in shock. How did he know? Hinarap nya ako. "Is it because of him, baby?" tanong pa nya habang nakayuko nang bahagya at matiim na nakatingin saakin.

"H-how did you know?" tanong ko. Nakausap nya ba kanina si Marcus? "Nakausap mo ba si Marcus? Pinaalis mo ba sya Damarcus Leivon?!" my voice broke. Si Davon ay napayuko bigla.

"Baby," tawag nya. He looked at me and I stared at his eyes, we remained in that position, eye staring contest while he's holding me waist closer to him. I stared at his eyes for too long, he even tilted his head ang gave me a kiss that made me remember his kiss from years ago.

My eyes widened when he pulled away from the kiss like how he used to kiss me back then, right after realization hit me.

"N-no way." bulong ko habang umaatras. "No way!" sigaw ko. Tears started falling from my eyes that became like Niagara Falls. Cold wind passed by so I hugged myself.

How stupid of me! How can I not realize? How can I not know? Damarcus Leivon and Marcus....

"Baby, I'm—" he stopped. He looked at somewhere, and his eyes suddenly widened in shock, his lips also parted. "Fuck!" sigaw nya at bilang tumakbo sa likod ko. I faced him and tears fell in an instant when he hugged me tighter and I saw a red dot, it's pointing at Davon's back. 

Our memories from many years ago just resurfaced. I hate myself for forgetting. I hugged him back like how I hugged him before, like how I hugged Marcus before.

I closed my eyes but no sound came. I just felt Davon's weight being transferred to me. My eyes widened and my lips parted when I felt something wet on his back. I cried harder when I saw what's on my hand. "Baby, I'm the—" Davon coughed, some droplets of blood came out. I took my phone and texted Keana to call for an ambulance here. "I am your suitor who— w-who saved you back then, baby." Davon said. I cried even harder when he said that. 

Tuluyan nang naghina ang mga tuhod ko kaya ngayon ay nakaupo na ako sa semento, si Davon ay nanatiling nakayakap. "D-Davon, please hold on, please!" I cried. Davon continued coughing blood and sobs escaped and echoed. "Marcus, please," I held his face. "p-please live for me." I smiled.

"I-I will, baby. Promise." he said and closed his eyes. The ambulance's siren came so I somehow felt relieved. They took Davon from me and I was about to hop in the ambulance but Zach and Keana stopped me for a while.

"He will be okay." sabi ni Zach, nginitian naman ako ni Keana. Tinanguan ko sila at sumakay sa ambulansya.

Agad kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Davon at inalala ang mga sinabi nya't mga nangyari kanina.

I still can't believe that my suitor who saved me will also be the one whom I want to spend my lifetime with. So, please, God, save him, save him, make him live for me, for us. Please.