The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16
"Kissed"

"Laviña, nakikinig ka ba?" tanong ni Yancy pagkatapos ng mahabang sinabi. "Hindi ka naman yata nakikinig, e."

Honestly, no, I am not.

I can't stop thinking about what happened after the party, sa club, noong malasing na ako. I woke up the next day feeling in hell for my throbbing head and upset stomach. Init na init pa ang pakiramdam ko at nanghihina, a bath and meal couldn't make amends. It was terrible. I was in a foul mood the whole day. Mapapasabi ka na lang na hindi na uulit pa.

I black out kaya malamang na kulang ang memories ko. Putol-putol at malabo na ang mga pangyayari. But I am sure Aris came! Na totoo naman. He took me to the hotel. Nag-away lang yata kami, 'coz I have fuzzy images of us like talking or maybe I was yelling.

Dumating nga talaga siya.

"Gotta go," tumayo na ako pagkasabi no'n.

Yancy groaned. Hihintayin dapat namin si Terrie para sabay na mag-lunch kahit half day lang ang klase ngayon.

"Hoy! Akala ko ba wala kang lakad?"

"I have things to do, I forgot." I put on my backpack with my laptop in it and looked around before glancing at Yancy for the last time.

"Grabe ka na talaga."

Hindi ko na pinansin ang reklamo ni Yancy. Iniwan ko siya at naglakad na. Nakasalubong ko pa si Terrie na napahinto.

"Oh, sa'n ka?" nagtataka niyang tanong.

"Home."

Nilagpasan ko siya at nagpatuloy kahit naririnig ko pa siyang tinatawag ako.

It's been a week since my debut. At hindi pa rin ako mapakaling may hindi ako maalala. I was drunk, I should really let it go, but no, pakiramdam ko hindi mapapanatag ang kaluluwa ko kung may hindi ako alam o matandaan.

Nang patawid na ako, isang itim na kotse ang huminto sa tapat ko. The car's window rolled down. Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang makita si Tita Caroline. Kailan ba noong huli ko siyang nakita? Hindi ko na maalala.

I have very few interactions with her, and truthfully, I never feel comfortable with her presence. Not being judgemental, but I think my view of her will always be tainted nang ginawa niya dati. Wala man akong malinaw at buong alam sa kwento ng mga magulang ko and her, my intuition will always tell me to not trust her. Nakaraan naman na 'yon, and my parents might have moved on from it, I won't—I can't. The chaos she caused cost something that until now someone still suffers... I still suffer.

Akala ko magtatanong lang, but she actually opened the door and went out. Dressed in plaid coat coordinates and white high heels on, no doubt she's a supermodel. Nakataas ang ponytail niya na nagpa-emphasize well contoured face niya.

I keep my blank face para h'wag tuluyang mapakunot ang noo.

"Hi, Laviña." She smiled and looked around a bit.

Tipid akong ngumiti.

"Where are you going?"

"Uuwi na po," I replied, trying to be polite as much as possible. "Are you looking for Aris po?"

She shook her head. "No... Actually, ikaw ang sadya ko."

Mas lalo akong nagulat.

"I presume you haven't eaten lunch yet. Mind joining me?"

I wasn't given a choice. In a conversation, I am always quick to sense things. I observe and interpret so much, na hindi ko alam kung mabuting bagay ba. So go with her. I remained calm and collected sa kabila ng nag-uunahang mga ideya ng paglapit niya. I am also bracing myself, alert and quick to think things through.