I woke up and there was a delicate smile sprawled on my lips as I felt the rays whacking my complexion through the loose window of my room. It was a soothing sense with a whiff of invigorating entity of susceptibility. After I surged out in my bed, I sauntered to my cubicle and have my morning rituals along with. Girls and their stuff, you know.
After organizing everything for my course today, I went downstairs to eat breakfast. I don't wanna have a sunken stomach entering school. Moreover, as usual, when I got in the dining hall, a bunch of maids greeted me. Someone did the honor to yank a chair for me.
I heard footsteps heading towards here. It's my mother who's busy talking to someone over the phone, but I grasp my gaze in a sudden surprise. Suddenly, my cousin appeared from nowhere and now he was leaning in the chair in front of me, looking so arrogant with that signature smirk of his. The table between us became the obstruction for our space. Not until mom came and interrupted the silent glaring between us and announced the start of the eating session.
We ate quietly, not until my mother broke the silence.
"Lucian will take you to school every day. You do what he told, understand?"
I nodded in agreement. "Yes, mom." indeed, my case was hopeless.
Time flies so fast. Lucian and I are now taking our strides towards the gate. I'm wondering why he didn't bring one of our cars. Confused, but I still followed him.
My stares locked at his back. It was manly, wide, and comfy. He has capacious shoulders as if they were trained in the gym every day. He also has an elegant posture and elevated statures. He appeared to be dogmatic when we first met, but I don't tend to judge 'cause I still don't know him well.
Besides, I only knew his name when we were introduced last night. Judging him is the last thing I would do. After all, I don't like leaping to an insensible conclusion just because of our first encounter.
However, I halted in my track when the realization hit me the moment I bumped on his broad back. I lifted my face to see him clearly because my height was a fellow while looking at his drawn-out towering length. Even with his mouth shut, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes was obvious that it didn't flee from my notice.
My face flushed. Pangalawang kahihiyan ko na 'to. Way to go, Lea!
"Remember what your mother said?" I nodded. He has this playful aura again while staring at me.
"Yes. Do as what you've told." I spoke in a whisper, remembering my mother's words inside my head like warning bells when I refuse to follow him.
"Okay. Listen here, we're not using a car for transportation today."
"What? But-" I paused on my remarks when he blasted me a sleet glare.
"Do as what I've told," he ordered, intensifying his point and cueing me about his real deed.
His words are full of rigorous supremacy... that if I won't comply with his commands, he'll put me in the precise niche where I should belong.
"I'm sorry. I understand." I vocalized meekly.
"Hindi tayo gagamit ng sasakyan. Mag co-commute tayo." I gasped in shock.
I haven't tried to commute in my whole life, not that I'm scared. My mother prohibited me to do so. Of course, she's afraid enough to let their reputation tainted through me.
The idea of commuting with him made me feel inflamed all of a sudden. Admitting it or not, I can encounter now the things I haven't do in my entire existence by the fact that Lucian is with me during unprecedented things.
I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but he's my cousin. I think it's not that bad to share some things I haven't done yet with him, no?
We already wandered through the gate. His aura is intimidating me. I was known for handling a conversation smoothly but here I am, looking so mute while having my mouth pursed.
Should I start having a talk with him? But I don't know-how. When I open my mouth to speak for a word, his burning eyes put me in a consuming flame. Those piercing stares were giving me some chill in my veins.
But I have to say something!
"Uhmmm, saan ba tayo sasakay?"
"You'll see." tipid niyang sabi.
O-okay? Mukhang hindi niya gustong makausap ako.
I took a deep breath. I'll try again one more time.
"Anak ka pala ni Tito Diego? I've seen him last year on our grandparents' anniversary but I didn't see you."
A moment of silence. I'm just trying to have some back-and-forth conversation here!
"Malayo pa ba? You know what, it's my first time commuting on my own. Well, not literally on my own because I have you by my side." I'm really trying to strike a conversation, pushing the luck I have in my sleeves.
"How 'bout Tito Diego? Is he doing fine? I don't hear any news about him. Where-" I was cut off by him.
I swallowed. It's time to shut up.
He confronted me with irritated eyes. I gulped because of the intensity. I'm petrified about what will come next. I'm always afraid about everything that will cause any harm to me. I mean, who wouldn't, right?
And Lucian is the exact definition of a walking catastrophe. No doubt, his orbs cause chaos at one glance.
"Shut up your pretty mouth will you?" I can't meet his gaze and just silently nod at him for a response.
After that, he proceed to stroll like he didn't give me a menacing threat. A hushed atmosphere filled us again.
My shoulders slumped down. Now I give up. Man, he brings horror when he's mad. And I don't wanna feel that terrifying notion again.
Ang kanyang paghakbang ay nahinto. Sinundan ko kung saan nagawi ang kanyang mga tingin. My eyes poured to the children in the streets. Kita ng aking dalawang mga mata kung paano sila pinagtabuyan ng isang ginang na pinanghingan nila ng pagkain.
My brows downward meet because of that. How could she exclude those sympathetic children?
My conscience can't stand how she rudely drive those kids away! Hence, I did some reckless deeds.
I found myself taking a quick pace towards them. I can hear Lucian's voice calling my name, but I shrugged off his call.
Pumagitna ako sa kanila. "Excuse me, ma'am? You don't need to push them away like that. They're just kids."
Galit na bumaling sa 'kin ang ginang. "Huwag kang makialam dito!"
I was bewildered by her rudeness.
"Mangingialam ako dahil hindi tama ang ginagawa mo! Mga bata lang sila na nagugutom! Nanghihingi lang sila ng pagkain kaya hindi mo na dapat tinulak pa." mahinahong ani ko, trying to put some sense to her mind regarding this matter.
"Sinabi kong huwag kang makialam hindi ba?!" but I was shocked by her outburst. The word rude doesn't fit her. Her acts go beyond that.
She even pushed me and I wasn't prepared for that, thus, I lose my balance and fell to the cold ground. She has a disgusting attitude!
I almost flinch in bewilderment when a pair of arms supported me to get up from my fall. Hindi ko na kailangang sabihin pa kung sino 'yon. The familiarity of his presence affected my system big time.
His eyes glazed over my whole figure.
"I told you to do as what I've told! Kaya pala pinababantayan ka ng ina mo dahil sobrang pakialamera mo! You dig your own doomed because of that stubbornness of yours!" I chewed my bottom lip. His words blow me up and it hits me real hard.
"I just want to help..." I whispered.
I decided to focus my stares on my shoes to dodge those cold eyes that are currently looking at me.
"Ma'am, might walk away before I'll call the police for disrespecting this woman and the kids." he sounded mad and dominant. His voice was alleviating yet there's a trigger augury on it.
Mukhang natakot naman ang ginang sa banta niya kaya nagmamadali itong umalis.
"You're a hard-headed girl, Lea," he muttered deeply.
Ini-angat ko ang aking mukha para matingnan siya. The way my name rolled to his tongue felt weird.
"I'm sorry..."
I know it's my fault for interrupting others' business, but I can't just stand there and do nothing to defend those poor children at all!
"Sa susunod, 'wag kang makialam. And if you're sincere in your apology, then don't do it again. Let's go, you're getting late for school."
Nauna na siyang maglakad muli, without hearing me say something. His hands are on his pocket, strolling even more dominant than earlier.
But still, he is right. Whatever reason maybe, I should put in my mind that it's not good to be apologizing for the same thing once more.
I gave the children a vindictive look. In addition, I provided them with a small amount of money which came from my allowance.
Moreover, I heard Lucian's annoying complaint about staying that long.
"Ano? Baka gusto mong magpatayo pa ng bahay ampunan dito?" I simply rolled my eyes at his irritating remarks.
Can't he see? I'm just trying to help!