After the Chase

Thirteen

"Hindi mo ba puwedeng ipagpaliban 'yan?" pilit naman ng babae. "I want to congratulate you pa naman for being the team's new captain." She tiptoed and leaned over to his ear. "You deserve a good fuck today, babe."

Apollo pursed his lips tightly before stepping away from Lilia. She was smirking devilishly while looking at him. Napasuklay si Apollo sa kanyang buhok at humugot ng hininga.

"Lilia, I thought we're already clear about what happened to us the last day?" he asked. His voice was low because a lot may heard about what they were talking about. "It was just a casual sex."

"It is. I know." Lilia shrugged. "Pero hindi ba puwedeng maulit?"

His jaw clenched. He and Lilia just happened to met in the bar where they were celebrating for their last year in college. They talked and flirted with each other. He asked if she wanted him, as much as she wanted her at that moment, and had a one night stand. Hindi sila lasing na dalawa noong nangyari iyon, kaya malinaw sa kanyang isipan na napag-usapan nila na hindi na puwedeng maulit ang nangyari. Lilia agreed to his condition. Kaya bakit ito naghahabol ngayon?

"We talked about this the last time, Lilia," Apollo said firmly. "I thought you're cool about it?"

"I don't know. I thought so, too." She started sliding her finger on his arm like she was seducing him. "Pero simula noong may nangyari sa 'tin, hindi na kita maalis sa isipan ko."

Apollo was starting to get pissed. Kaya ayaw niyang basta-basta na lang pumapayag sa gusto ng mga babaeng nakakasalamuha niya sa bar dahil karamihan sa mga ito ay hindi tumutupad sa usapan. Hindi niya masisisi ang sarili kung bakit mapili siya sa mga babaeng pinagbibigyan dahil mahirap talagang magtiwala sa mga pangako ng mga ito. Na kapag natikman na siya ay hahanap-hanapin na, kahit malinaw naman na napag-usapan na isang beses lang dapat ang mangyayari at hindi na puwedeng umulit pa.

"Apple!" a woman's voice called his nickname. Napapikit si Apollo at tahimik na napamura. Thank God!

Umikot siya paharap kay Nova na tumawag na pangalan niya. He smoothly walked away from Lilia's trap and went toward his friend.

"Tapos na klase niyo?" tanong niya habang nakatingin sa dalaga.

"Oo." Kumunot ang noo ni Nova nang makita nito si Lilia na nakatayo pa rin sa likuran nila. "May date ka?"

"Wala," mabilis na sagot niya kaya mas lalong nagtaka si Nova. "Tara na."

"E, paano siya?" Nginuso nito si Lilia na ayaw pa ring umalis. "Mukhang hinihintay ka niya. Sino ba siya?"

"Just someone I met in a bar," he replied. At dahil ilang taon na rin silang magkaibigan ni Nova, agad nitong naintindihan ang gusto niyang iparating.

"Ayaw mo?" she asked while looking at him.

Apollo shook his head. "It's just a one night stand. Napag-usapan naman naming dalawa na hindi na dapat maulit 'yon."

"E, ba't hinahabol ka pa rin?"

"Takam pa, e."

Malakas siyang hinambalos ng dalaga. "Gago ka talaga. Ga-graduate na lang tayong puno ng kalat mo ang St. Michael. Kung ako sa 'yo, itigil mo na 'yan."

Apollo laughed while caressing his arm where Nova threw her punch. Bumaling siya kay Lilia at nakahinga nang maluwag nang makitang wala na roon ang dalaga. Mabuti naman. Hindi na siya mahihirapang mag-isip ng dahilan para lang paalisin ito. As much as possible, he didn't want to hurt their feelings if he was rejecting them.

"Tara na," aya niya ulit kay Nova. "Dalawin natin si Justice sa ASDG."

Biglang na-excite ang mukha ni Nova. "Puwede?"