Beyond Control (A Reckless Desire)

HALOS mapamulagtad si Chloe sa loob ng tricycle nang makarating sya sa kalye na malapit sa kanilang tirahan, at tumambad kaagad sa kanyang paningin ang kakarating lang na kotse ni Melvin.

Seriously? Hindi nga sya nito hinintay sa labas ng karinderya, subalit sinalubong naman sya nito sa kanilang lugar.

Chloe swiftly paid the driver, hopped out of the tricycle, and strode off with large steps. Nagbabakasakali syang hindi sya mapapansin ng binata, gayung hindi naman ganon kalayo ang pagitan ng mga sinakyan nila.

Unexpectedly, she arrived home peacefully without the young man noticing her. Marahil ay may anghel na nakabantay sa kanya ngayon.

She reached for the doorknob of their house, and nearly jumped in surprise when another hand joined hers in opening the door. Mabilis syang napaharap upang tukuyin kung sino iyon, at laking gulat nya nang isang dangkal nalang ang layo nito sa kanya.

"Melvin! Don't you know how to announce your presence?!" She snapped. Pakiramdam nya ay napugto ang puso nya sa pagtibok sa presensya nito.

"I followed you, and didn't bother to call out, since you wouldn't listen anyway," he answered seriously.

Chloe slightly clenched her jaw. "Bakit kana naman--"

"May usapan tayo, Chloe!" Nakakunot-noong wika nito at tiningnan sya ng seryoso.

Nakaramdam muli sya ng takot. Pakiramdam nya ay galit na naman ito.

Bahagya syang yumuko upang umiwas ng tingin, at tila nanginginig na sinagot ito. "I-I thought you just left there."

Nagtagis ang bagang ng binata. "Then why did you hurry off, knowing my car was there?"

Napatingala sya rito nang tumindig ang boses nito. Hindi man ganon kalakas ang boses ng binata, gayunman ramdam nya naman ang bigat ng bawat pagbigkas nito.

"I already told you not to get away from me!"

"But, Melvin! Paano naman ako?! I'm scared whenever you're near, but you force me to stay close!" Matapang na pag-amin nya.

"It doesn't make sense at all, Chloe. Your distance only fuels my desire to pursue you. And I will chase you even if you hide yourself in a grave."

Tila nanindig ang lahat ng balahibo nya sa huling sinabi nito, at hindi malaman kung paano iyon tutugunin. Is this man truly losing his sanity over mere desire? At bakit sya pa? Wala naman syang ginawa para akitin ito. Besides, many women are interested in him, and he doesn't need to force himself on anyone. So, why her? Bakit ako ang napili nito para pahirapan?!

She once recalled the days when she'd only admired him from a distance; na sya pa ang laging humahanap ng paraan para makita ito't panoorin ang mga laro sa basketball court. However, no matter how much she admired him before, she never dreamed this moment would come, nor did she want it to.

—— ××× ——

A HEAVY silence filled the interior of Melvin's luxurious car. After the young man took a calming pills, he never spoke to her again. Nakatuon lang ang buong pansin nito sa pagmamaneho, ni hindi man lamang nga sya nito nililingon at pinapansin.

At once, Chloe's weakness and fragility manifested. Sumama sya rito upang wala ng gulo. Tsaka, wala din naman syang ibang pagpipilian. Mas lalo lang magiging komplekado ang lahat kapag nagmatigas pa sya.

Oo, marahil ay natuto na syang magmaldita dahil rito, ngunit hindi naman iyon ang kanyang tunay na pagkatao. She couldn't escape who she really was. And she knew she would inevitably revert to her true nature.