Sam's POV
Napapangiti na lamang ako as I returned his wallet back to his now clean and dry bag sa may lamesita na nasa tabi ng higaan nito.
Mission complete.
Nagawa ko naring bayaran si Mang Suping sa lahat ng mga nagawa nito. Kakagaling ko lang ngayon sa kusina and I made sure that before I could even leave from there, naibigay ko na rito ang maliit na halagang pabuya rito.
Well, not really that less but just enough. Yes, yes... just enough na lumuwa ang mga mata ng matanda pagkakita sa halagang 'yon.
At first, tinanggihan nya agad ito but me being a persistent cat, tinanggap niya rin ito sa huli.
Now, all I have to do is carefully returned this wallet back to its owner. Sa dami ng dalang cash bills nito, I don't think he could still find this out. Hindi naman siguro nito mapapansing medyo pumayat ng konti ang laman nito.
And to be sure na walang makikitang ebidensya rito, I made sure to wipe his wallet with some cloth before even returning it to him. And when I was able to put it back to his bag, I quickly sat back to my seat, to my bed for tonight.
Mas lalo ng lumalalim ang gabi but there was still no sign of him waking up soon. And apart from that, there was still no response from Mason as well indicating that he had received my message.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, mas pinili ko nalang na magpahinga muna. With my butt on my seat and my head lying on the bed beside him, I had slept like that. With exhaustion, I quickly dozed off in a deep slumber kahit na hirap na hirap pa'ko sa posisyon ko. Well, I am used with sleeping this way anyway so kevs!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Naalimpungatan na lamang ako when I felt a hand was lightly squeezing my hand beside me.
Hindi naman siguro ako ganun kasipag ano to even do that to my hand kahit tulog na tulog pa'ko.
With my eyes still closed, I didn't moved and just waited for that hand to do that again.
"hatshiii!"
"May kalaban!" I exclaimed in surprise while jolting up from my sleep sabay hablot ng baril ko mula sa likuran.
Then I heard that soft chuckle before me.
Blinking my disoriented eyes, I adjusted my eyes from the light. I frowned when I was greeted with some bastard na kasalukuyang nakaupo na sa harap ko ngayon who were looking at me with a small smirk in the corner of his mouth. Habang ang ilong nito, parang ilong na ni Rodulf the Rednose Reindeer. But in his case, Cameron the Rednose bastard would suit him better.
"Why did you wake me up? Hindi mo ba alam kung ga'no ako kapagod mag-alaga sa'yo kanina kaya kailangan kong makatulog ng maayos ngayon? Tapos gigisingin mo lang ako just to see that mocking smirk in your face" I grumbled as I sat back on my seat, annoyed with him disturbing my sleep.
My eyes narrowed in a suspicious glare at him when he just cleared his throat out as his face turned serious in a sudden.
"Anong nangyari sa'yo? Did you get your tongue-tied now kaya pa-aherm-aherm ka nalang dyan ngayon huh?" kunot-noong usisa ko rito. I was just not used with him being loss for words.
"Well, tungkol sa pag-aalaga mo sa'kin, Ms. Javier, I thank you for that. Pero hindi ko naman sinabi sa'yong alagaan mo'ko so you being tired isn't actually my fault. But yours. "
Pagkarinig sa arogante na sagot nyang 'yon, I felt like all my sleepiness had jumped out of the window as my blood instantly boiled up in rage.
This conceited shit!
"Gusto mo bang lagyan ko na naman ng bala 'yang katawan mo, Mr. del Fuero? At baka gusto mong sa ulo mo naman ngayon so that you won't even have the chance to wake up again! How bout that?"
Agad na dumilim ang mukha nito, probably not liking that suggestion. Huh! Pagkatapos ng perwisyong idinulot nya, nagagawa pa talaga nitong mang-asar ngayon!
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Huh! Akala mo pala hindi ah!" asar na sagot ko rito, ready to give him a sample.
"Akala mo siguro---" akma ko na sana itong uundayan ng suntok but I stopped when I couldn't even punched him with his hand tightly holding my hand right now.
My gaze instantly zoomed in at our joined hands. I blinked at it a few times and then at him and then back to our joined hands.
Wait. Why are we holding our hands right now? Hindi ko naman naaalalang hinawakan ko ang kamay nito so why the hell is it happening now?
And then I remember that. That squeezing kanina that disturb my sleep.
So kaya naman pala! Ito palang kamay nito ang may gawa nun!
With my primal instinct, agad ko ng tinampal ang kamay niyang 'yon para matanggal ang pagkakahawak nito. But to my utter annoyance, his hold at me just tightened.
"What the hell are you doing now?!" I demanded with bared teeth.
But instead of answering me, the bastard just sniffed and then gave me that familiar shrug na binigay nito sa'kin kanina when I had asked him why he had kissed me!
This bastard!
"Hindi ko alam.."
Mas lalo pang uminit ang ulo ko when I heard that same answer again gaya ng kanina!
I think now is the right time to 'castrate' his balls gaya ng napagplanuhan kong gawin kanina. But before that, let me asked him a few questions first.
With all my might, I took my hand from his tight grip and when I did, I started the 'castration procedure' with him just giving me an exhausted look.
"Oh yes. Kanina pa pala ako may gustong itanong sa'yo so I expect you---" I said with emphasis sabay turo rito.
"--to give me a sensible answer here."
"Pwede bang sa susunod nalang, Ms. Javier? You know I just came back from being dead kaya----"
"NO! I want it right now! As in right now and here, Mr. del Fuero dahil kung hindi, I'll make sure you will die in my hands!" mariing putol ko pa sa iba pa nitong palusot which made him scowled at me.
Oh yeah. I wouldn't buy his lame excuses right now. I need an answer and not an excuse! Dahil sa tingin ko, mamatay ako sa heart attack nito with his kisses kept ruining my peace of mind damn it!
Mas mabuti ng magkaliwanagan kami because having romantically attached to someone wasn't part of my mission here.
"So now, answer my question..." I started. And then withheld breath, I met his eyes before popping my question.
"Why did you kiss me last night and at the forest? Hindi ka naman siguro manyak ano para basta-basta ka nalang nanghahalik ng walang paalam?"
For a while, he didn't talked and just stared back at me with a scowl still pasted on his face. Habang ako, I just waited for him with my heart kept thumping wildly in my chest.
I wasn't planning to have any relationship with him but I just need to know.
Then my eyes narrowed at him when he looked away with his jaw kept twitching like he was having a spasm.
"Hindi ko alam, Ms. Javier.."
"WHAT??!" I snapped at him in a yell nang marinig ko na naman ang pesteng sagot niyang 'yon.
Hindi niya alam! My goodness! Talagang gusto yata nitong barilin ko nalang ito sa ulo eh nang mabigyan naman nya ko ng tamang sagot!
Well, ano bang tamang sagot ang ineexpect mo, Sam? That he had done that because he too had felt that same feeling you have right now everytime you remember that kiss? Yon ba??
When my mind chastised that, I can't help but cursed out in my mind!
You are not stupid enough to expect that, Samantha! You are-----
"Hindi ko alam dahil ang alam ko lang..."
"What?" I asked with expectant voice.
His eyes found me and never did he blinked an eye when he uttered the next words.
"I just feel like kissing you..."
I swallowed hard when I finally heard those words.
"Everytime you'd give me an argument na kahit ako, hindi ko magawang sagutin, I just always have that urge to kiss you."
When he added that, I stiffened more while staring back at him as I tried to take a grasp of myself.
Tama bang dinig ko? Gusto niya kong halikan kapag wala na itong ibang masagot sa'kin? Nababaliw na ba ang gagong 'to? O 'di naman kaya----
I quickly put my hand on his forehead to check his temperature which caused him to look at me in confusion.
"What are you doing?" usisa pa nito which I just ignored at nagpatuloy lang sa ginagawa ko.
But his body temperature had returned to normal kaya---- hindi na ito nilalagnat kaya walang dahilan para magdeliryo ito ngayon at sabihin ang mga salitang 'yon.
"I'm sure this is one of the effect ng pagkakabaril sa'yo, Mr. del Fuero, walang duda.."
When I concluded that with a nod, a disapproval growl escaped from him habang mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo nito.
Wala naman kasing ibang dahilan kung bakit 'to nagkakaganito ngayon. Because heck! Sino ba naman kasing matinong tao na basta-basta nalang manghahalik ng kausap dahil wala na itong ibang masagot sa'yo? Wala di ba?
"Baka nakakalimutan mo, Ms. Javier.. nandito ang tama ko.." he started to explain sabay turo sa kaliwang tagiliran nito before he pointed his head.
"at hindi dito sa utak ko so will you stop acting like I had some psychological issues right now or I was even in delirious because I wasn't. You know joking isn't my habit!"
"Ahh.. So anong gusto mong mangyari ngayon, that I'd obediently listen to you and believe that? Sino bang gago ang basta-basta nalang maghahalik because with that absurd reason you have? Just someone na katulad mo. And I don't want that answer---"
"But that was my answer! Wala na'kong ibang maisip na sagot para sa tanong na'yon and that's that! I just feel like kissing you and stop treating me like I had gone crazy."
That made me gritted my teeth hard and glared at him. He was scowling at me and not even a tinge of joke can be detected in his face right now.
Dahilan para magsimula na'kong kabahan sa sagot niyang 'yon.
I looked away at him and shook my head in refusals. I just don't want to believe that.
"NO. I'm sure hindi 'yan ang sagot mo. Mas mabuti pang matulog ka nalang----"
"But that is my only answer and I'm serious with it."
I glared up at him when he firmly insisted that in a growl, jaw still tight and his hands were still balled in fists.
For a few seconds, I just kept glaring at him, battling with stares at him. And if not with the sudden knock at the door, then our staring contest wouldn't have even stopped.
With an annoyed groan, tumayo na lang ako sa kinauupuan ko and opened that door.
"Adora! Tingin ko kailangan niyo ng umalis ngayon!"
That got my full senses back when Mang Suping greeted me that pagkabukas na pagkabukas ko palang ng pinto.
He was sweating pretty hard with his weary eyes habang may dala-dalang flashlight ito sa kamay nito. Na para bang hinahabol ito.
"Anong problema, Mang Suping? Bakit napasugod kayo rito sa ganitong dis-oras ng gabi?" usisa ko agad rito, curious to know why we had to leave now.
Taranta naman itong pumasok sa loob and then locked the door behind him and then started to pace around that room we are in.
"Adora, tingin ko may ilang taga rito na nagtimbre sa mga taong 'yon kanina na may kasama ako rito dahil may natatanaw na naman akong sasakyan ngayon na papunta sa direksyong 'to kaya kailangan nyo ng umalis ngayon na."
"Are you sure, Mang Suping? Baka naman ibang sasakyan lang 'yong nakita niyo?" nagbabakasakaling saad ko, wanted him to be wrong because I don't think I could just walked from here sa ganitong oras ng gabi!
My goodness!
"Hindi, Adora.." he answered with a shook of his head..
"kilala ko halos lahat ng mga sasakyan rito at wala namang de-apat ang gulong na sasakyan ang mga tagarito kaya natitiyak kong nasa panganib kayo!"
"What is this old geezer doing here, Ms. Javier? And why is he calling you like that?"
I just groaned and ignored that stupid question from the bastard. With that bits of information, tuluyan na'kong kinabahan sa mga sinabi ng matanda.
And to confirm that, binuksan ko na agad ng konti ang bintana sa silid na'yon and he was right. Sa gitna ng dilim, may tumatakbong liwanag nga na papunta sa direksyong 'to gaya ng sabi ng matanda.
At sa bilis ng takbo nito, it won't take them a few minutes para umabot dito.
"We have to move now before they'd catch us here!" I announced as soon as I shut the window closed saka dali-dali ng kinuha ang mga tuyong bag namin saka isinukbit na'yon sa balikat ko, not minding if Mang Suping could hear me calling my dear husband with another name.
"Adora, baka mapano 'tong asawa mo. Hindi pa magaling 'tong sugat niya."
When Mang Suping had said that with concern, I noticed Mr. del Fuero's forehead creases more than ever as he looked at us with confusions.
Oh I think I have an idea now why he was having that look in his face right now.
"Ms. Javier? Nahihibang naba 'tong matandang 'to? Anong asawa---hmp!" agad ko ng tinakpan ng kamay ko ang malaking bibig nito and then tightly smiled at the old man na parang nagtataka narin sa inaasta ng gago kong kasama.
"Actually, mahal..." nanggagalaiting saad ko sa kanya while clamping his big mouth in a rather harsh way.
"Tinulungan tayo ni mang Suping noong malapit na tayong mamatay sa gubat!" inis na saad ko with gritted teeth.
"Hinmmp!---" mas hinigpitan ko pa lalo ang pagkakakuyamos ko sa bibig nito to stop him utter any words.
"'Wag ng matigas ang ulo, Diego! Umalis na agad tayo rito! Wala ng satsat pa!" naiinis ko ng bulyaw sa kanya and then swiftly guided him to stand up on his feet which made him groaned in disapproval.
"I can stand on my own so----"
"Shut up! Kung ayaw mong iwan kita rito at mamatay ng tuluyan sa mga kamay ng mga gagong 'yon, sumunod ka nalang!"
I think he doesn't like that idea of mine dahil hindi na ito umimik and just kept growling like a wolf in heat.
Kahit halos pumutok na ito ngayon dahil sa inis, I don't care! We don't have a luxury to throw insults at each other now. Alam kong hirap na hirap parin ito dahil sa malalang tama nito dahil napapangiwi pa rin ito while clutching his wound on his side.
Good thing the bastard was so stubborn and full of ego dahil nakatayo nga ito ng maayos ngayon, much to my surprise.
"Mang Suping, pwede nyo po bang ituro sa'min kung saan pwedeng dumaan rito patungong bus station?"
Agad namang tumango-tango ito before he guided us out of that room with the help of his flashlight.
"Sundan nyo nalang ako, Adora. May ibang daanan rito sa likuran na mas mapapabilis ang pagpunta niyo sa sakayan ng bus."
I just nodded at him and followed his lead with gritted teeth habang akap-akap ko ang gago sa tagiliran nito.
"I said I can walked in my own, Ms. Javier!" came his protests in a growl.
"Oh yes. I know you can, Diego dear but can you atleast spare me with your earthsized-ego dahil hindi ko kailangan yan ngayon!" I hissed at him in between with my teeth.
And then with hasty steps, agad ko ng iginiya ito pababa ng hagdan kahit na ang bigat-bigat nito just to catch up with Mang Suping's steps.
And Good thing the bastard was smart enough to shut his mouth at nanatili lang na tahimik until we reached the back part of the house.
Dahil sa dilim ng parteng 'yon, the light from Mang Suping's flashlight was the only thing that provided us light in that part.
"Adora, sundan niyo nalang ang makitid na daang ito at makakarating kayo sa sakayan ng bus bago paman mag-umaga.."
My gaze followed where he had pointed the flashlight and oh Shit! Bakit papunta yata sa bundok ang makitid na daang ito??
"Great! I guess we can find the bus station at the peak of that mountain then. What do you think?"
I groaned and glared up at him. He really knows when to throw some sarcastic remarks.
Heaving an annoyed sigh, hinarap ko nalang ang matanda imbes na patulan ang gago. Wala na nga itong naitutulong sa'kin, nagagawa pa talaga nitong mang-asar ngayon! This ungrateful bastard!
"Mang Suping, tingin mo ba ganun lang kadaling lakarin ang daang ito papunta sa bus station?"
"Lakarin?" kunut-noong tanong nito as he looked at me in confusion.
"At sino naming may sabing lalakarin niyo lang yan, Adora? Sa kondisyon ng asawa mo ngayon—"
He paused when the bastard beside me growled out. Agad ko ng kinurot ang hindi injured na tagiliran nito to shut him up.
"Please continue, Mang Suping. Anong ibig nyong sabihin?"
Agad namang tumango-tango ito before he continued.
"Hindi kayo maglalakad, Adora. Sasakyan niyo ang isang 'to upang mapabilis ang pagtakas niyo rito." Then his flashlight pointed behind him, sa animo kwadra ng---
A grin suddenly formed in my mouth when I understand what he meant. Alright! May kabayo na si Adora't Diego ngayon!
"Kabayo. Nag-iisang alagang kabayo ko ang isang 'to at dadalhin kayo nito sa pupuntahan niyo." He explained.
"Pero Mang Suping, hindi ba sobra-sobra naman yata kong dalhin pa namin 'tong alaga mo?"
"Wag kang mag-alala... sobra-sobra naman yong ibingay mong tulong sa'kin kanina kaya makakabili rin ako ng bago."
That made me grinned out at that.
Oh yes. Sobra-sobra nga.
With that being said, tumango na lamang ako rito and just ignored the questioning look Mr. del Fuero was giving at us. Probably wondering what help was that.
Oh yes. Kung alam nya lang... I'm sure he would die in a heart attack right then and there.
Agad ng inilabas ng matanda ang puting kabayo nito sa kwadra habang hawak-hawak ang renda nito.
"Mauna ka ng sumakay, Diegago."
Agad na nya'kong tiningnan ng matalim when I called him that way but he complied anyway, siguro naririnig narin nito ngayon ang papalapit na ugong ng sasakyan... ang papalapit naming kamatayan if we won't move our asses now.
With a grimace in his face, agad na itong sumampa sa likod ng kabayo with great effort. Nang tuluyan ng makasampa ito, a beads of sweats had started to form above his brows.
Agad narin akong sumampa after him, at the back of him habang dala-dala parin ang mga bagahe namin.
"Hindi ba dapat ako ang nasa likuran imbes na ikaw ang nandyan ngayon? I don't think tama ang posisyong-----"
"Oh bother! Wala na tayo sa 19th century para sundin kong anong nakagawian na nating gawin noon. Nasa makabagong panahon na tayo at ikaw ang injured dito ngayon so to hell with that!" then with that, agad ko ng hinawakan ang renda ng kabayo ang looked at the nervous Mang Suping.
"Aalis na kami,Mang Suping.. Hindi ka namin makakalimutan ang lahat ng itinulong mo sa'min. Adios!"
"Dalhin nyo ang flashlight na'to, Adora. Makakatulong 'to para makita niyo ang daan.."
I quickly took that flashlight from him while nodding my head at him then with that, umalis na agad kami. Riding the horse with enough speed para hindi mapano ang sugat ng gago, heedless with the cold wind of the night.
I made sure to turn off the flashlight hangga't hindi pa kami tuluyang nakakalayo sa lugar na'yon.
I just hope na walang mangyayaring masama sa matandang 'yon...
Nagsisimula ng lumiwanag sa may silangang bahagi so I'm sure malapit ng mag-umaga ngayon.
Mga ilang minuto na kaming nakasakay lang sa kabayong 'yon and The only thing that could be heard right now was our heavy breathings and the clicking of the horse's hooves against the ground.
Tahimik lang kami habang tinatahak namin ang makitid na daang 'yon with our flashlight until the bastard broken that silence.
"Ms. Javier.."
"What?" I grumbled when I heard him called me.
My brow shot up when I heard him let out a sigh...
"Nakontak mo na ba si Mason?"
"I don't think na nakarating sa kanya ang mensahe ko kanina. Masyadong mahina ang signal dito so I doubted if it had even reached him." I informed with disappointment
For a few seconds, nanatili lang itong walang imik habang panay ang buntunghininga nito. Probably realizing how complicated our situation now.
"I'm certain na masusundan tayo ng mga taong 'yon at baka nga may nakaabang na sa'tin doon sa bus station kaya mahihirapan tayong makasakay papuntang airport without them spotting us."
I just rolled my eyes upward and just remained silent, too tired to even think of ideas kung pa'no kami makakaalis rito nang hindi namamataan ng mga kalaban.
"Naririnig mo man lang ba ako, Ms. Javier?"
Again, my eyes just rolled upward when he growled that out.
"Of course, naririnig ko nga kahit 'yang litseng tibok ng puso mo ngayon so how could I not? Tshh..." yamot na sagot ko rito which caused him to mutter a curse under his throat.
"Can you please do me a favor, Ms. Javier?"
"What favor?"
"Umisod ka kaya ng konti dyan sa likuran so that I won't feel that thing kept bumping on my back!"
That made me frowned at him. Sounding as if he was tormented by something.
"Anong 'thing' naman 'yang pinagsasabi mo? Pwede ba diretsahin mo'ko?' litong tanong ko dito, not understanding his point.
He just kept groaning na para bang hirap na hirap ito...
I wonder what got him react this way. Sumasakit ba ang sugat nito?
Worried with that thought, agad ko ng tiningnan ito ng malapitan kahit na hirap na hirap pa'ko with me sitting behind him.
"Sumasakit ba ang sugat mo? Huminto nalang muna kaya tayo and let me check it----"
"Hindi 'yan ang ibig kong sabihin. It was your boobs. It kept on bumping on my back so you better distance yourself from me now before I'd stop this horse and kiss you again against your will."
When he grumbled that, I froze against him as my breathing completely halted.
Then when realization finally hit me, mabilis pa sa kabayong 'to na umisod ako palayo sa kanya. Just atleast two inches away from him. Just enough na hindi sumayad sa likod nito ang dibdib ko.
"I wasn't doing that on purpose!" defensive kong sagot rito which to my utter annoyance, he just answer with a scoff.
"Of course, you didn't.. You don't want me to ravish you right now and here with my condition right now, do you?"
"Sabi ng hindi ko sinadya 'yon eh!" I yelled out at him while almost out of breath. He really want me die in a heart attack with him kept making me think those horny thoughts!
I cursed out when he didn't answered and his shoulders just shook. As if he was silently laughing at my expense.
Kahit na gustong-gusto ko ng batukan ito, pinili ko nalang na tumahimik as we continued with our ride. I just made sure that my boobs won't rubbed on his back again.
It didn't took us long para makarating sa isang sementadong daan with a few houses and people were already there. Wala naman talaga sa bundok ito kundi nasa likuran lang nito. It was almost six in the morning nang makarating na kami sa daang 'yon.
Maliwanag narin ang daan kaya naman hindi na namin kailangan pang gumamit ng flashlight.
"Where to go now?" Bored pang tanong nito maya-maya.
I squinted my eyes as I scanned the place around us.
I'm sure Mang Suping won't just give us this direction kung mali naman ang sinasabi nito.
Kung wala man ang sakayan ng bus dito, tyak malapit lang 'yon dito.
With that thought, pinalakad ko na uli ang kabayo and then asked a few people na nandun kung nasaan ang sakayan dito.
And when we did, dumiretso na'ko sa kung saang direksyon ito ang itinuro ng mga napagtanungan namin.
At mga ilang minuto lang, natatanaw na nga namin ang sakayan ng bus. May dalawang bus ng nakaparada sa gilid ng daan. One of it was going to Cagayan de Oro at marami-rami naring nakasakay sa loob nito.
Just seeing that bus, hope had instantly bloomed inside me.
I guess hindi pa nga talaga dito nagtatapos ang swerte namin.
Then with that, I took a quick scan of the place. Scanning if there are any of those men na naghahabol sa'min and when I spotted none, agad ko ng pinatakbo ng mabilis ang kabayo kahit na alam kong delikado sa sitwasyon ng gago.
Well, kesa naman sa maiwan kami rito.
Nang tuluyan na kaming nakalapit sa bus na'yon, quickly got off from the horse saka sumunod ito.
And then ignoring those people who were looking at us with great interest in their eyes, hinila ko na ito paakyat sa bus na'yon saka nakipagsiksikan sa mga taong nandun.
"Ms. Javier! Do we really need to do this? Wala ng upuan!"
"Eh kung bumaba ka nalang kaya at maiwan nalang dito? What do you think?"
I smirked when he just scowled at me saka sumunod lang sa'kin.
With how he was glaring at me, I think he was almost ready to strangle me now dahil sa inis nito.
"Mularga nata!"("Aalis na tayo!")
Kahit hindi ko naiintindihan ang sinabing 'yon ng isang lalake which I think the bus attendant, I felt relieved lalo na nang magsimula ng umandar ang bus na'yon.
The indication that we are about to leave now. And we are just one step before we will reached to the airport kung saan naghihintay si Mason sa'min.
~~~~~~~~~~