Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 37

#war2wp

Chapter 37

Heart

News spread like wildfire—especially in the Philippines.

Like an airborne virus—news about me and Hiel dating has spread on social media.

International supermodel Rinnah Jimenez confirmed to be dating Hiel Lara Cervantes.

People started asking where we met, how we met, and why we fell in love with each other.

Kumalat ang mga litrato namin ni Hiel no'ng mga bata pa kami. Elementary, high school, even when he reached college. Picture of me with his friends and many more.

People then concluded that maybe Hiel and I were originally friends who eventually fell in love with each other—which is actually pretty accurate.

People discovered the age gap. Some were ecstatic to know that I am older than him. But some, of course, were displeased by it.

Ang weird na mas matanda si Rinnah. Maganda si Rinnah pero, 'di ba, mas maganda kung mas matanda ang lalaki?

Pinagmasdan ko ang comment na 'yon. Pagkatapos, nagpatuloy ako sa pag-scroll doon.

Isn't Jadon and Rinnah? Outdated na yata ako. Or maybe she dated both? Wala bang bro code?

Wow, Rinnah is really out there dating younger guys.

As a supermodel, you are kind of an influencer na rin, 'di ba? Shouldn't you be careful about dating someone younger than you because it might influence some negatively? I mean, I get that they're cute–

I sigh and glance at the overlooking view of the Taal volcano, hindi tinatapos ang pagbabasa ng mga kumento ro'n. Malamig pero nagawa kong magsoot ng isang sage halter top. I tucked it inside a pair of white trousers. May bitbit din akong coat na hindi ko na sinuot pa dahil nasanay na siguro sa malamig na simoy ng hangin. I also wore a pair of white kitten heels.

Inangat ko ang shades sa itaas ng ulo ko at kumunot ang noo habang inaalala ang mga comments. Sure there are comments that are happy for us both, but I don't like the comments regarding the age gap. It's just two years. Bakit kapag ang lalaki ang mas matanda, people approve of it? Bakit kapag babae ang mas matanda, babae ang masama?

Isn't it unfair to judge a woman who's dating someone younger and not judge a man who does the same? Why is it that people are critical about women and not critical of men?

May pinagkaiba ba 'yon? Why is it weird for a woman to date a man younger than her? Why is it not weird when it comes to men?

Nawala ako sa iniisip ko nang abutin ni Hiel ang kamay ko sa ibabaw ng lamesang inookupa namin sa isa sa mga sikat na restaurant sa Tagaytay. Naabutan ko ang paninitig niya sa 'kin at mukhang alam niya kung bakit nasa iba ang atensyon ko.

"Don't read the comments," Hiel tells me. "There will always be bad comments. You just have to ignore them."

Hiel is wearing a white shirt under a sage green polo. He tucked the polo inside a pair of cream trousers and he also wore a pair of white shoes. It's my first time to see him in such a color. He looks so refreshing to look at. It suits him really well.  

Nawala tuloy ang kaunting lungkot sa dibdib ko. Halos lahat ng damit niya—kung hindi itim ay puti. To see him in other colors, masyadong nagpapasaya 'yon sa puso ko. When I saw him wearing this earlier, parang gusto ko kaagad siyang yakapin.