The Protector

Chapter 8 - AliTon

She is wearing jeans, white shirt, black jacket and of course her trademark sunglasses. Ang porma talaga. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko aalisin ang mga mata ko sa kanya.

"Babe, you're not answering your phone. What happened?" Anton asked as he approached me.

"Hi babe. Sorry, I was busy kanina." sagot ko habang sinasalubong siya.

"I miss you. Hmmmn." he said as he hugged me tight.

Hindi pa siya nakuntento, he kissed me on the lips. As in lips to lips with a bit of tongue involved.

Fuck, hindi ako ready sa ginawa niya. I closed my eyes momentarily and let him kissed me. Although nakatalikod siya sa mga tauhan niya, I am aware that they can see what he is doing. Naasiwa ako kaya medyo tinulak ko na siya.

Pagmulat ko ng mata, I glanced at Bea's direction. She is facing me so I'm aware that she is watching even if I can't see her eyes. Pero yumuko agad pagkakita na nakatingin ako sa kanya. 

"I baked some cookies babe. I want you to taste it." I said when Anton let go of me.

"Ohhh busog pa ako babe. We had some food earlier. Later na lang. I'll shower muna." sabi niya.

"Okay, no problem." sabi ko na lang.

I tried to hide my disappointment in front of the people around us.

"We will go out after an hour." bilin niya sa mga tauhan niya.

Nagsimula na siyang umakyat, iniwan na lang ako sa baba.

Then I heard him calling me to follow him.

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BEA.

I had a rough night and did not sleep well.

Paulit ulit kong naiisip ang mga sinabi ni Ponggay, actually lahat sila, sa akin.

After that revelation from Ponggay that Jho is back also, parang nawalan na ako ng gana pang ituloy ang birthday party ko.

Ponggay apologized furiously to me and to the others. Hindi naman daw niya sinasadya at alam ko rin naman na wala siyang intensyon na masama. She is just being herself, tactless.

Since naumpisahan niya na, I let her tell me what is going on. Halos magkasunod pala kaming bumalik ng bansa ni Jhoana, my ex girlfriend. Nauna lang siya sa akin ng two weeks. Iisang circle lang kasi ang ginagalawan ng mga friends namin kaya hindi talaga maiiwasang makita siya nila Ponggay.

Jho seemingly contacted my friends and invited them to meet up. Kilala naman nila siya kaya hindi sila naka hindi dito.

But nobody mentioned it to me. Nandito na ako lahat lahat but they kept silent.

Doon ako naiinis.

Tapos sa mismong birthday ko pa talaga malalaman. Hindi ba nila alam na masakit pa rin sa akin ang mga nangyari noon? I was hurt, damn it!! But the intensity of the pain is not the same anymore. May konting pitik na lang sa puso.

"Why did you not mention it the last you were here? And why do I have to see her? For me, wala ng dapat pang pag usapan." I said.

"Bea, we are sorry but you have to face her whether you like it or not. You know why? Because you two have unfinished business, you didn't end your relationship properly. Kumbaga, walang closure lalo na sa part mo. We knew it was her fault kung bakit kayo nagkahiwalay and aminado naman si Jho. She begged us to talk to you. Ang sa amin lang naman, why not give her a chance?" Ponggay replied.