The Devil's One and Only Love ★

TwentyNine-The Rest

"alangan naman She." i let out a humorous laugh.

"bat hindi nalang ikaw?" he asked.

"because i dont want to."

"scared of being with me?" nakangising sabi nya. i chuckled softly.

"scared? dont think so. wala ka namang magagawa sakin na hindi ko gusto. but the thing is. i'm not just busy with Steadlex. i have

Lexecon. my riding club and the renovations of SFH stores. kung ako ang mag aalaga sayo parang wala lang. i wont be around always. dont raise your hopes Steven. youre presence wont stir me." matabang na sabi ko.

"Jeez! youre brutally honest." mapait na sabi nya.

di na ko nagsalita. pagkadating namin sa Empress Tower pinark ko yung kotse nya saka inalalayan sya papunta ng elevator.

"bat di ka na pumupunta dito sa unit mo dito?" tanong nya pagpasok namin sa unit nya.

"Its no longer in my name. kay Vincent na yan." pinaupo ko sya sa sofa. "what do you want for dinner?"

"You." tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nya.

"Me?"

he cleared his throat. "i mean, ikaw na ang bahala. may groceries naman dyan sa ref." tumango lang ako saka pumunta sa kusina niya. nilabas ko yung frozen chicken saka binabad sa tubig. magluluto ako ng Tinola.

"di ba dapat last year ka pa nakabalik? bat hindi ka bumalik?" he asked. nasa likod ko na pala sya nakaupo sa stool.

"kasi hindi ko naman kailangan bumalik agad. wala akong babalikan." simpleng sagot ko saka hinalo yung niluluto ko.

"o hindi ka lang bumalik kasi nandito ako?" tanong nya. i gave him a lopsided grin.

"wag kang feeling Steven. kahit isa sa desisyon ko ngayon wala kang kinalaman. hindi ako bitter."

"pero ako oo." he whispered something na hindi ko naintindihan.

"Huh?"

ngumiti sya. "You've changed." puna nya.

"everybody does."

"i miss the way you are before." mahinang sabi nya. i threw him a glance and did not answered him.

"and those times that we-"

"And are we going on a trip down the memory lane?" matabang na putol ko sa sasabihin nya.

"No, i'm just telling you how i missed that old you." tumingin ako sa sahig bago ko sya tinignan.

"well. you can miss the old me. just dont share it with me." matabang na sabi ko.

"why? scared of falling in love with me again?" nakangising sabi nya. i chuckled and faced him.

"dont flatter yourself Mr.Gonzales. once i finished my business here i'm flying back right to Italy." tumigas bigla yung anyo nya.

"that doesnt answer my question." he hissed.

"i'm not scared of falling inlove you, Steven. i'm done with that part. and promise. it wont happen again. not if i can help it." ngumiti ako sa kanya saka pinatong yung niluto ko sa harap nya. "Kumain ka na."

***

nakaupo ako sa mini garden ni Steven. kanina pa actually simula nung umalis ako sa kusina. hindi man kasi ako gutom.

what he is doing really puzzle me a lot. umaarte syang mahal nya ko.

at bakit nya gagawin yon? anu bang mapapala nya? he thinks i'll buy it? ganun ba? well news flash. he can stop doing whatever he's doing kasi tapos na ko sa kanya. i dont have anything to do with him except with Steadlex.