All For Show (COMPLETED)

Chapter 23

"Good luck on your dinner," he said. "Do it in a public place."

Napairap ako. Kahit kailan talaga napaka-arogante.

"Whatever."

"I can pick you up after or wait outside while you're dumping him."

"You're mean."

He shrugged. "It is what it is," he replied. "You can't be for everyone.'

"So, para kanino ako?"

He gave out a crisp laugh. "Oh, Cerise."

"What?"

"Nothing," he replied. "Do text me when you're done with that."

"Alright."

"Just wanna know you're fine."

"I'm gonna be fine."

"You don't know," he replied. "Some guys don't handle rejection very well."

"Really."

"Really."

"How do you handle rejection?"

"I remove myself from the situation."

"Oh, that's why you ghosted me."

Kahit wala siya sa harap ko ay ramdam na ramdam ko talaga ang pagirap niya. "Again, I didn't ghost you," sabi niya sa akin. "I was giving you time but I never really left."

"Huh..." sagot ko. "Recollections may vary then."

"Sure."

Natawa ako. "Am I pissing you off?"

"A bit," sabi niya. "But I know what I was getting myself into."

Fuck.

Bakit kahit sinabi niya na naiirita na siya sa akin, nakahanap pa rin ako ng paraan para kiligin doon?

"Just tell me when you're done talking with him?" sabi niya sa akin.

"Okay."

"I can pick you up."

"I plan to bring my car," sabi ko.

"It's fine. We can drive in separate cars then grab some dinner."

"Gusto mo talaga akong makita mamaya?"

"Obviously," diretsong sagot niya.

I bit the inside of my cheeks. "Fine. I'll just book a ride there."

"Or I can just drive you there?"

"No," sabi ko. Parang ang asshole naman if si Pablo ang maghahatid sa akin para puntahan si Paul na irereject ko.

"Alright," he replied, not pushing it any further. "I'll just pick you up in... an hour?"

"I'll text you."

"Got it."

* * *

Pagdating ko sa bar kung saan kami magkikita ni Paul, umorder lang ako ng isang cocktail. And then I kept it short and simple. I figured that there's no easy way to tell this. I used to think before na mahirap mag-confess, but I realized later on na mahirap din mag-reject. It's just awkward. So awkward. Kung hindi lang talaga bastos for me na i-text na lang 'to, I'd rather tell this via message. Kaya rin siguro maraming lalaki na nangghost na lang... Ang awkward kasi magsabi ng 'I don't think this will work. Good bye.' Pero mas mahirap din naman magisip kung matagal lang ba maligo iyong kausap mo o talagang iniwan ka na.

Ang hirap all over.

"Just one question," sabi niya nang magpaalam ako na aalis na ako. Nagmessage na rin si Pablo na nasa labas na siya.