AS we reached his car pumasok kaagad ako sa passenger seat. I opened the stereo to listen to some music. He started the engine and was ready to go. My eyes were at the window when he suddenly turned off the stereo. My brow creased in an instant for what he did. I was about to throw him a question-look but still, his eyes were on the road and he spoke.
"What happened, Blair? You didn't kiss him, right?" I was stunned when he calls my name for the first time. "H-huh?" I stuttered.
After I received a text message coming from 'unknown', lumabas ako ng washroom habang pinapalis ang luha ko. Xanthus asked me why I am crying. I didn't answer him instead I looked away. Xanthus leaned closer to me. Bahagya akong nakayuko para itago ang aking mukha. He then held my chin up and wiped my tears. That's it! Hindi ko alam kung paano kami kinuhanan ng litrato ni Cassidy na parang naghahalikan. It was intentional...pretty sure.
"It's not forbidden," I spat out. Hanggang kailan ko ba paninindigan ang kasinungalingan na ito? Ganoon ba ka big-deal ang halik na iyon? Kung sakali man na totoong hinalikan ako ni Xanthus may masama ba roon?
"It's forbidden... not until you're at Eighteen," naalarma ako sa sinabi niya. "It's the ritual, Blair, "As I glanced, his sight was in the road seriously driving. Here we go again. "Tell me about it," I pleaded.
Hindi niya ako kinibo sa halip ay nagpatuloy siya sa pagmamaneho. Hindi siya nagsasalita sa tuwing tinatanong ko siya. Ni hindi niya man lang ako lingunin kahit saglit lang. Nang akma na sana akong pipikit para umidlip. Nahagip ng aking mga mata ang bagay na malapit sa paa ko. I crouched so I could reach it.
"Your shirt. Ang kalat mo...kung saan-saan napupunta ang mga gamit mo," I sounded like a concerned mom. Yikes! "Take off of your shirt," He muttered out of the blue. Hindi niya tinanggap ang shirt niya. My jaw dropped.
"Take it off or I should be the one to do it?" He suddenly stopped the car from nowhere and his cold stares met mine. "Scott!" I blurted out. Napalunok ako sa sarili kong laway. Dumausdos ang tingin ko sa shirt niya na hawak ko pa rin.
"W-what we gonna do?" My voice was shaking. Parang excited pa ako sa tinig kong iyon. "What are you thinking?" His brows raised as soon as I look up at him.
"Change that...use mine," he ordered bago siya lumabas ng kotse. He was referring to the shirt I was wearing. Kailangan ko ba talagang magpalit, seryoso? Maayos naman itong shirt ni Xanthus. Binaba ko ang bintana ng kotse at dumungaw doon.
"Scott…" He cut me off instantly. Hindi ko pa nga nasasabi ang nais kong sabihin. "Use mine, Blair...use mine," He was controlling his tone to calm down. I bit my lower lip. Hindi na ako umangal pa. I don't want to argue so I keep my mouth shut. I take off of my shirt and wear his mine instead. When I was done, I called him and immediately went to the car.
"Looks good on you," he commented. Nasilayan ko ang pagkurba ng ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Ang moody niya, parang kanina lang nakabusangot ang mukha niya tapos ngayon maaliwalas na.
I took a nap for a while at sa hindi ko namalayan ay nakarating na kami. I guess we ride for almost an hour before we arrived at Casa Grande. Scott sent me to my cottage and I thanked him. He was about to leave but Tita-ninang came.
"Where are you going?" His mom asked him. His drowsy eyes stared at Tita-ninang's as he reached to kiss her cheeks. "At my cottage," sabi ni Scott kay Tita-ninang.
"The guest rented it. Stay at her cottage for now. I think it's okay to Blair, right hija?" She glanced at me. I blinked many times trying to absorb what I've heard.
"Sure po, Tita-ninang!" I giggled. He can't do anything but stay at my cottage and as well as I am. I don't think so if I'm going to tell Tita-ninang what happened to me. But I decided that it would be better to keep my mouth shut. I'm not a kid anymore. I can deal with it.
"Magsha-shower ka?" I broke the silence amidst us. He just nodded while his eyes were still on the television. "Ang towel mo nandito," I left the towel at the backrest of the sofa was near to him so he could easily get it. "Go first," He mumbled.
I took a bath instead of showering. Pakiramdam ko kasi ang lagkit ko dahil sa juice na binuhos sa akin. Tinanggal ko ang trintas ng aking buhok na ngayon ay wavy na. Hinayaan ko nalang na nakalugay para matuyo. I don't know if Tita-ninang had a blower so I could dry my hair but I won't disturb her. I put on my terno sleepwear before leaving the bathroom.