"Bwisit 'yon!" Iritadong anas ko. "Bwisit! Bwisit! Bwisit!" Paulit ulit ko pang anas.
Naiirita talaga ako.
"Relax, babe. Umuwi na tayo. Bukas na tayo mag bayad ng bills. Masyado nang mainit 'yang ulo mo."
Inalalayan niya ako pababa sa escalator.
Iritado man, mas pinili ko na lang na hindi na magsalita kahit hanggang nung makapasok kami parehas sa sasakyan.
"What did he tell you before I came?"
"He... just asked for my number," nag iwas siya ng tingin.
Something is wrong. Alam kong hindi lang 'yon ang nangyari.
"Althea," umayos ako ng upo paharap sa kaniya. Hinuli ko yung kamay niya. "Please, tell me the truth."
She sighed. "Promise me that you won't get mad." Diniinan niya ang hawak sa kamay ko.
"Okay,"
"Promise me, Mariz."
"Ano ba kasi yung sinabi niya?"
"Well... he asked for my number because he wants to have some fun, daw. You know... err, sabi niya, 'just some typical one night stand,' of course, I refused. Tapos hiningi niya ulit yung number ko and then you came."
"No," pigil niya nang buksan ko ang pinto sa side ko.
"Baby, please. Don't do anything. He's a customer and siguro naman biro lang?"
"Fuck, Althea. Saan ka nakarinig ng ganong biro?" Hindi ko na naiwasan yung pagtaas ng boses ko. "Let me go." May diin kong sabi.
"You'll just talk to him." She said that with finality.
No, baby, you know me.
"Yes."
"Oh, gosh." Hinabol niya ako dahil mabilis ang lakad na ginawa ko papuntang elevator.
"Halika na. H'wag mo nang kausapin. Wag mo na pagsalitaan ng kahit na ano."
Kusang tumaas yung isang kilay ko. She doesn't want any trouble. I know. It's just that... nobody has the right to disrespect my girlfriend. No one.
"Hindi ako magsasalita ng hindi maganda."
Aware ako na nagsasalita siya pero hindi ko na alam kung ano ba yung mga sinasabi niya. She's talking too fast and my mind is locked up.
A smirk automatically formed in my lips when I saw the guy standing with a glass of an iced tea. Uminit ang dugo ko at agad na naglakad para lumapit sa kaniya.
"Bro, bumalik." The guy he's with, said.
Ngumiti siya at nilapag ang baso na hawak niya. When I'm finally standing just inches away, I slapped him so hard. Harder than what I thought I would.
Nakita ko yung gulat sa mga mata niya. I smiled, "don't mess with my girlfriend. H'wag ka nang babalik dito."
"Let's go," hinawakan ko si Althea at marahan siyang hinatak pababa sa parking lot.
"Mariz," she frustratedly said while closing her eyes.
"What?" Patay malisya kong tanong. "I didn't say anything," nagkibit balikat lang ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. "I love you." I said.
"I know. I love you too," she sighed. "It's just that... you slapped him too hard." She looked away.
"I know. But he doesn't deserve an apology. Hindi naman puwedeng sabihan ka ng ganon tapos hahayaan ko lang." napairap ako. That guy! He's getting into my nerves. Kahit ang larawan ng mukha niya sa isipan ko, kayang-kayang pakuluin ang dugo ko.
