Perfect Couple 2: Mr. Broken Meets Ms. Broke

Chapter 41

"Totoo nga kasi. I'm with my brother and his girlfriend."

"Hmmm... bakit ka pa sumama kung gan'on?"

"Libre, eh. Sayang naman."

"Hmmm. Talaga ba, Zen?"

It was my turn to laugh. She calls me by that name whenever she thinks I'm lying.

"Whatever, Gwen. Go eat."

"I want something else for breakfast though," she said teasingly.

"Then, come here and be with me."

"Can't. I actually got a date tonight."

"With who? Your jackass ex?"

"Secret. Now, go and find yourself a beautiful woman and have a good time. Don't miss me too much, alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Call me when your date decides to be a dick and stands you up."

"Don't jinx it!"

"I'm not. Anyway, you take care. Use the pepper spray I gave you if he ever does something you're uncomfortable of."

"Aye, aye. Thanks! Bye, Vann!"

"Bye, Gwen."

I let her end the call. Mayamaya pa ay tumunog ulit ang cellphone ko.

It was a text message from her.

From: Gwen

I know it's bad, but you gotta at least let your feelings out. Tell her what you feel, and you can let your brother punch you in the face later. Goodluck ;)

Napahigpit yung hawak ko sa phone ko.

Am I that easy to read? Dalawa na sila ni Sugar na nagsabi sa akin no'n.

Easier said than done.

Itinabi ko na yung phone ko at ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

I need to fucking sleep because I still have to plan for our activities today.

Guess I needed that Goodluck.

-VINCE-

Gano'n na lang ang pagpigil kong matawa sa nakikita kong reaksyon ni Myca. Nanlalaki yung mata niya at nakaawang ang bibig.

Tila hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Mine... pwedeng pakiklaro yung sinabi mo? Hindi ko yata na-gets."

Lihim na napangiti ako. Expect Myca to say something like that.

"Hmm... To make it short, I know who you are, Mine. Right from the start."

Lalong lumaki ang mga mata niya at pagkatapos ay hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat.

"What?! Pa'no?!" kulang na lang yugyugin niya ako.

Naalala ko nung gabing nakilala ko siya. Wala sa itsura niya ang nagbabanat ng buto. Her hands and fingers looked slender and beautiful.

Her luggage was of a signature brand. So, I had a hunch that this woman was a rich, runaway brat.

I got intrigued. Kaya naman I did some research.

It did not take me long before I knew all about her because she was all over the news – being the only daughter of the Lee's and the soon-to-be bride of Henarez.

"I thought you were a spoiled, rich brat and I had no plans on babysitting you, so I did some research."

Napasinghap siya at pagkatapos ay hinampas ako.

Natatawang sinalo ko lang yung kamay niya at hinalikan iyon.

"Hindi ako spoiled brat!"

"That, I know now," sabi ko.

"Kung alam mo na pala noon pa, bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Bakit hindi mo ako itinapon paalis sainyo?"

"Because you intrigued me. Based on the articles I read about you, you seemed like a shy girl who just did what was asked of her to do... Pero iba yung pinakita mong ugali sa akin, sa amin. And I was curious to know who was the real you. Bukod pa do'n, you were a great distraction for me because I forget about Sugar when I'm with you."

Tiningnan ko siya. She was pouting and there were tears brimming in her eyes.

"Then I realized na kaya pala gano'n... kasi unti-unti na akong nahuhulog sa'yo. Ayaw kong tanggapin nung una kasi nabibilisan ako. Like I have only loved Sugar all my life pero bakit pagdating sa'yo, parang nawawala ako sa sarili ko? I always find myself drawing closer to you."

I held her face and wiped the tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you, Mine. It's just that tulad mo, natatakot ako. Kasi alam kong darating ang araw na aalis ka at iiwan mo ako. So, I wanted to fix everything first. I certainly do not want you to marry that Glen. No fucking way. You belong to me, Myca. No man will marry you but me."

Lalong lumakas yung pag-iyak niya. Gusto ko nang matapos lahat ng ito para matigil na din siya sa pag-iyak.

"That's why I tried investing in your company, tried to buy some shares from the members but they won't let me, maybe because I was a nobody? But believe me, Mine... I'm doing the best I can to get you out of this."

Napahawak siya sa bibig niya.

"V-vince... B-bakit?" sabi niya at humagulgol.

Hinawakan ko yung ulo niya at inilagay iyon sa dibdib ko at marahan siyang niyakap. Ramdam ko ang pagkabasa ng damit ko sa sobrang pag-iyak niya.

"I will do everything for you, Myca. I just needed some more time, but you were the one who ran out of it. Kinutuban na ako nung pagkatapos nating bisitahin si Sugar ay parang nag-iba ka. Sa araw-araw na nasasaksihan ko ang ngiti mo, alam kong simula nung araw na iyon, may nangyaring kakaiba. Because your smiles were not the same."

"At nung mag-suggest kayo ni Vann na mag-out of town, I just knew something was up. I can feel it in my gut – you are going to leave me. You have no idea how that scared me. Kaya kahit wala sa plano ko na may mangyari sa atin dahil gusto ko sana ay ikasal muna tayo, binago ko iyon. Gagawin ko ang lahat magbago lang ang isip mo na huwag umalis at iwan ako – kahit pa ang ibig sabihin no'n ay mabuntis kita."

"Pero nakalimutan kong matigas nga pala ang ulo mo. You'd do everything by yourself, di na baleng masaktan ka. I really admire that about you. Nakilala ko ang totoong ikaw. You were definitely not shy - you were independent and bold and fearless."

I gently held her face and looked at her eyes.

"But you have me now, Mine. You can count on me anytime."

"K-kung gan'on... sasamahan mo ba akong bumalik sa amin? My family needs me. I love you, Mine. Pero mahal ko rin ang mga magulang ko," garalgal ang boses na sabi niya.

"I know, Myca. And yes, we'll go back – together. I have kept you for so long baka hindi na maging boto sa akin ang mga magulang mo," sabi ko at hinalikan siya sa noo.

And sometimes, going back means moving forward. I need to do something for myself, too.