As much as I wanted to ask her more about things, I didn't. Eleanor can be talkative. But the things she say are not her problems at all, the way normal girls do.
Despite everything, Eleanor is still a mystery to me.
"Tara na," I shrugged before taking her hand. I was taken aback yet again on why I held her hand. She didn't seem to mind as we walked out of the place.
Well, she's different. I guess. She got me doing things I never did for a long time―even when we're not committed. We're not even an item. We're just friends. She's just helping me move on but here I am, holding her hand like a dutiful boyfriend.
We walked silently. None of us did the talking. I was just staring at our intertwined hands. For some reason, it felt comfortable holding her hand like this. But as my thoughts drifted about her past boyfriends who get to hold her hand like this made my jaw clenched.
I was irritated and frustrated. Why can't she just act like the others? Hindi yung kung sino-sino na lang. Hindi yung puro party pag gabi. Hindi yung ganito. I don't want her being friendly and such. Mas gusto ko pang mataray siya at intimidating.
"Oy Kai! Ikaw pala yan. Boyfriend mo?" I was brought back from my thoughts when a girl greeted Eleanor. The girl has short hair and she was smiling at us, while eyeing our intertwined hands. I knew what she's probably thinking but I didn't speak. I was fighting the urge to say yes and claim Eleanor as my own.
"Hey Claire! Hehe, ito nga pala si Chance baby. Single pa yan." She said with a wink. The girl whom she called Claire, laughed at her statement before rolling her eyes.
"Single eh magkaholding hands kayo? Ang gulo mo talaga Kai. Tapos may baby pa? Ikaw ba si Chance Sandoval?" I can only nod as I watch them interact with each other. Moments later, Eleanor's friend went near me and whispered in my ears.
"Nako, pikutin mo na yan. Para matigil na sa pagpaparty." She whispered. With that, she winked and gave her goodbyes. She said she was just walking around when she was Eleanor so she thought it would be nice to say hello. When Claire left, I turned to Eleanor only to be surprised that she was looking at me suspiciously.
"What?" I asked innocently.
"Yun si Claire Yutingco. Friend ko yun. Pwede siya sayo. Thinking about it, madami naman pala akong marerekumendang girls sayo." She smiled and for some reason, my jaw clenched. It seemed like I didn't want to go out on dates anymore. Remind me again why am I trying to find someone?
I'm more bothered about this girl―this girl who can't seem to stay at one place permanently. She's the type who wants to go to different places and meet different people. Why can't she just stay? Gusto ko siyang itali or ikulong para matigil na sa kasiyahan niya.
I let out a sigh, "Let's not talk about that. You're here with me, can't you focus on that?" Napanguso na naman si Eleanor before rolling her eyes.
"Sungit mo talaga." She pinched my cheek, "Ano nga pala sinabi sayo ni Claire? Don't worry, alam naman nun na hindi tayo."
"Sabi niya pikutin na daw kita."
"She what?!" She gasped.
"She said it."
"Ano ba naman yung si Claire. Kung ano-ano ang nasa isip. Hindi naman ako magpapapikot sayo. Ang sungit mo kaya!" She inhaled sharply before dragging me back to her car. Along the way, we would walk across people and they seem to know Eleanor. They would even greet her and she would greet them back. Seriously, kilala ba niya ang lahat ng tao sa Metro Manila?
"Can you stop that?" I was irritated. Friendly girls are sweet but I didn't know why Eleanor's friendliness irritates the hell out of me. It's like you can't get her whole attention even for a while because there's a whole lot of other people in her life.
Sure, Nathalia and Monique can be friendly but Eleanor takes it to a higher level. She can be the great Miss Friendship. I won't be surprised to find her boyfriends getting jealous. I mean, who wouldn't? Parang pati ikaw may kakompetensiya sa atensyon ng sarili mong girlfriend. Now I know why they become clingy. Sino bang hindi maiinis sa daming nakakakilala sa girlfriend niya? Idagdag mo pa na yung buong male population sa kilala niya ay paniguradong interesado pa sa kanya?
Knowing Eleanor gives you the urge to lock her up as your own para sayo na lang siya, which is what I'm feeling right now.
Wait, what?
Since when did I become this possessive when I don't even own Eleanor?
"Stop what?"
"Stop being nice!" I gritted my teeth.
"To you?"
"Sa ibang tao. Nakakainis!" I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.
"Ano bang ginawa ko?" She was clueless, alright. Of course, it's not her fault. But d-amn, I'm so f-ucking annoyed.
"Hindi ba pwedeng kapag ako yung kasama mo, sakin lang muna lahat ng atensyon mo?!" I saw her swallowed. Minasahe ko naman ang noo ko.
"No, it's fine. I'm sorry. Alam ko namang you have your own life. I should even be thankful you're willing to spend time with me. Tara na," I squeezed her hand before letting it go. Sumakay na siya ng kotse at hinatid ko siya sa condo niya. Tahimik lang si Eleanor all through out the drive.
YOU ARE READING
No Strings Attached
General Fiction[For my beloved Chance Lucas Sandoval] Chance Lucas Sandoval meets Eleanor Kai Gonzales in the most unlikely place, and you can guess that the most unlikely thing happens. He agrees to date other women, as Eleanor has stated, to help him move on wit...
