Mr. So Wrong (Published)

7. 3rd parties

"Do you know what I hate?"

I asked Juan Miguel that night after Danni took off. The nerve of that woman to tell me that she is actually seeing somebody other than me. In the first place, siya naman ang may gusto na maging mag-boyfriend kami. She led me on to thinking that I am the only man in her life at this moment and right when I thought – rather – realized that I am in love with her saka naman niya sasabihin na she's seeing someone else?

The fuck?

"How should I know?" Juan Miguel said. Nasa verandah kami nang mga oras na iyon. Mom was already asleep, I just found my brother sitting at the verandah with a beer on his hand so I joined him. I thought that it would be a good way to release all my angers. Oo galit ako. Right when I realized that I am in love with her, saka niya pa sinabi iyon.

Oo, aaminin ko na. I am in love with Danni. Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagsimula pero malinaw sa isip ko na hindi ko kakainin ang sunog na bacon and eggs niya kung wala akong nararamdamang iba sa kanya. I never did that to my women, sa kanya niya. So I realized that maybe she was really special to me. Kanina habang tinitingnan ko siya, naisip ko na iyong possibility na iyon, when she told me she was seeing someone else, I felt pain in my chest, and that was when I realized that I love her.

I love her.

"I love her."

"Si Dandelia?" Tanong ni Juan Miguel sa akin. I just looked at him. "Why?"

"Kailangan ba kapag mahal mo may dahilan?" I asked. "Hindi ko alam. I ate burned eggs and bacons for her, I am going crazy just thinking about the fact that she might fall in love with that man she was dating." Sabi ko pa.

"Akala ko ba kayo?" Tumango ako. "And you're letting her see someone else because?"

"I don't know!" I exclaimed.

"You're screwed brother." Juan Miguel said.

"I know, what should I do?" I cannot believe that I am actually seeking my brother's advice. Juan Miguel seemed to be thinking of something. Nag-iisip rin naman ako.

"Let's go clubbing." Sabi niya sa akin.

"Ayoko!" I said. I never like night life. It's not like I am a home buddy pero hindi ko kasi makita ang logic ng pagpunta sa club para makakilala ng mga babae. I mean there's a safer place for that, like the mall, restaurants and bookstores pero sa club? No way!

"Okay, then magmukha kang tanga diyan sa Dandan mo." Sabi pa ni Juan Miguel. I made a face.

"Fine. Let's go!" Sabi ko sabay tayo. I went to my room to changed clothes, matapos ang ilang minuto ay sakay na ako ng Ferrari GT ni Juan Miguel. I never liked the way he drives pero wala akong choice. Bigla kong naisip si Nathan. Kung kay Nathan siguro ako nanghingi ng advice, siguro matino ang sasabihin niya sa akin hindi ganito.

"I know what you're thinking, little brother." Sabi pa ni Juan Miguel. "Hindi lang naman si Nathaniel ang kuya mo. Ako rin, please let me be a brother to you."

"Fine." Sabi ko.

"Alright." He smiled. A little while later, huminto na kami sa isang underground club. I really have a bad feeling about this, but I don't want to disappoint my brother so I just shut my mouth. Pumasok kami. I noticed na kilala na si Juan Miguel sa bar na iyon.

"JM!" sigaw ng mga babae nang pumasok ang kapatid ko. Inakbayan niya ako.

"Everyone, this is my little brother, be nice to him. His name is Ed." I just smiled. Maya-maya ay pinutakti na ng babae ang kapatid ko. Five women came to him and the two started kissing him – I shrugged. He seems to like it.  I looked around the place, I saw many women. So, ito pala ang hang out ni Juan Miguel.