Matapos marinig ang kaniyang pangalan, kaagad na lumingon sa direksyon ko si Kejadian.

Naningkit ang mga mata nito habang inaaninag ako sa 'di kalayuan.

I forgot. Malabo nga pala ang mata niya.

"Ianthe?" kunot-noong sambit niya bago mabilis na naglakad palapit sa 'kin.

"Hey, what's wrong?" may halong pag-aalalang tanong niya.

Tila ba bigla akong tinamaan ng hiya. Pero bahala na. Ang mahalaga ay maiwasan ko si Edevane.

I scratched my nape. "I have something to discuss with you," saad ko bago sandaling pinasadahan ng tingin ang tatlong nasa loob ng sasakyan.

Kita ko naman kung paano iyon sinundan ng tingin ni Kejadian, and his eyes stopped at Edevane.

The latter's eyes glowered and his jaw clenched. Kaya bago pa magkagulo ay hinigit ko na palayo si Kejadian.

"Ingat kayo sa pag-uwi," pahabol kong sabi kina Aquisha na halatang naguguluhan sa mga nangyayari.

Nang makalayo sakanila'y tumigil na ako sa paglalakad. Gano'n din ang kasama ko.

I bit my lower lip before facing him.

"Pasensiya ka na. Wala na kasi akong ibang maisip na paraan para maka-iwas kay Edevane," paghingi ko ng dispensa.

"May ginawa ba siya sa 'yo?" my mouth went agape because of his question.

"What? No. I mean, wala."

"But he's still bothering you?"

I was about to shook my head when I remembered that he's always helping me to avoid Edevane.

"Hindi naman madalas. Minsan bigla lang siyang sumusulpot sa kung saan-saan. But he's not harming me," I explained.

He sighed sharply. "What does he want from you?"

"Said he wanted to talk." I shrugged.

"About what?" muling pagtatanong niya dahilan para ako'y matigilan.

"You don't have to answer if it's too personal to tell," he added before looking away.

"It's about what happened in the past," panimula ko. I saw how he frozed from his place.

"Edevane's my suitor before, and he wanted to say sorry about the things he has done. He wanted to settle everything, but I know it's not just that."

"Ayaw ko nang magkrus pa ang mga landas namin kaya ko siya iniiwasan. But he keeps on showing up, asking for a talk and such."

"Sinabi ko sakaniyang ayaw ko nang pag-usapan pa ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon, pero mapilit siya."

"Report him," Kejadian suggested that made my eyes widened.

"No. It's not that something so serious, Kejadian," mariing pagtanggi ko.

"It is, Ianthe. Kung pinagsabihan mo na pala siya pero ipinagpipilitan pa rin niya ang gusto niya, report him."

"Look, he's not harming me naman."

"Aantayin mo pa ba?" aniya sa mababang tono. Natutop naman ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Don't worry, I warned him already."

"Then what is he doing there? Offering you girls a ride like a concerned citizen?" he uttered sarcastically.

"Calm down, okay? Wala siyang gagawing masama sa 'kin. I'm sure of that."

"He cherishes his surname and so called good image. Iyon ang nasisiguro ko, at alam kong alam mo 'yon."

I smiled when he did not answer.

"But really, thanks for the concern and being a great help for the past few months. I won't get this far without your helping hand," I said then chuckled.

"Hindi ko na alam kung paano pa kita mababayaran sa lahat ng kabaitang ipinakita at binigay mo sa 'kin."

His face brightened, "Hindi lahat ng tumutulong, may hinihinging kapalit. I helped you because I want to and I'm capable to do so."

"Kaya tigilan mo na ang kaiisip ng paraan kung paano ako mababayaran."