LOVE ON VIRUS

Prolouge

"Vie can't you just be considerate at once.. I'm just so tired of this!"

Hindi ko siya pinakinggan at patuloy na mabilis na umalis..but like what he was doing for years.. sinundan niya pa rin talaga ako.

"You just need to come with me to go home! Pwede ka namang bumalik dito eh if that's what you really want!" paghabol niya bang sigaw while following me. Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko at hindi pa rin siya pinansin. I know he'll get tired eventually, I just need to ignore him for days. He can't be here for long dahil may kumpanyang nag-aantay sa kanya sa Pilipinas.

Binilisan ko pa ang lakad papuntang hotel na tinutuluyan ko.

"Ano ba?, it's been years Vie.. Why can't you just move on and go home with me!!!" he desperately shouted.

I automatically stop and let a heavy sigh. Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kanya. Frustrations is all over his face.

"Look Jase, remember this okay.. I. can't. go. home. with.you"

His brows furrowed. Namumula na ang kanyang mukha. Maybe because of heat or maybe he's too angry right now.

"Why is that Vie? Tell me"

Pilit akong ngumiti.

"I can't go home because this is now my home.. ito na ang buhay ko Jase..kaya 'wag ka ng umasa na babalik pa ko sa Pilipinas dahil wala na akong babalikan dun".

Napabuga siya ng hangin. It's like he never expect that coming from me.

"Bakit? Ano bang tingin mo sa amin ha Vie? Wala na ba talaga kaming halaga para sayo? Si Alice, Leigh at Green..bakit ba napakatigas mo?" may galit sa bawat tanong niya. Ramdam ko ang hinanakit niya at mas lalo iyong nagpapadagdag ng sakit sa puso ko.

"Jase please!!" desperado na ako. My heart is starting to feel numb. Kaunti na lang at bibigay ulit ang mga luhang pilit kong itinatago ng ilang taon sa kanila.

"Why are you like this Vie? You're being selfish! Gusto ko lang naman na ayusin mo na ang dapat ayusin ... you left everything in wreckage Vie.. It's time to make everything right before it's too late"

Pumikit ako at muling tumingin sa kanya. I'm sorry Jase... I think I'm not still ready... And I don't even know if I will ever be ready...

"I'm sorry Jase, but I can't"

I said before I turned around and left him there. I almost run just to get away from him though alam kong hindi na siya nakasunod. Maybe he understand it now, hindi ko pa talaga kaya.

I went to my hotel room and immediately ran to my bedroom. Humiga ako agad habang nakatulala sa kisame. I put my palm above my heart and feel it beating so loudly. Ito na naman, I'm always having this feeling sa tuwing pupunta dito si Jase para sunduin ako. Halos pang sampung beses na niya itong pagpunta in the past five years para sunduin ako but the result is still the same. I walk out from him, ran away and never answer his calls. And I don't even know how he get my number samantalang nagpapalit ako ng number everytime I received messages and calls from him.

I just couldn't understand him. Why can't they just let me go. Bakit ba hirap na hirap silang tanggapin na hindi na ako ang dating Vielle na kilala nila?

A girl who is too innocent and naive.. willing to explore the world without fear... I'm not that girl anymore....

And I don't want to be that girl anymore.

Isang malakas na tunog ang nagpagising sa akin. I lazily looked at me side table to get my phone.

Three missed calls.

Hays, I overslept... sa sobrang pag-iisip nakatulog ako ng wala sa oras. I dialed Alisa's number.

Just seconds and she answered it quickly.

"What's up Alisa?"

Isang malakas na tunog ang bumungad sa akin. Napairap na lang ako sa ere, for years na kasama ko tong babae na 'to alam na alam ko na ang kabaliwan niya sa buhay.

"what the hell Ellie!! I called so many times.. Are you trying to ditch me?" she yelled as her voice was too drowned with the party music.

"What? I never said yes Ali" kalmado kong sabi sa Amerikana kong kaibigan na in-short is a bad influence.

"Oh c'mmon Ellie..don't be too boring..and by the way you're friend is here..he's looking for you.. what's the name again?.. Oh yes he's Jase"

"WHAT?"

"Goodness.. You never talk about this hot guy friend of yours to me!"

"The hell Ali.. Don't you dare lay a finger on him!, tell me where you are.. now!"

Halos paharurutin ko na ang kotse para lang makarating sa kinaroroonan ni Jase.

What the heck is he thinking? Does he even know na sobrang wild party ang nagaganap dito sa Amerika? And not to mention Ali..

She's my friend but I can't really trust her at this point. She loves to flirt and to hook up with guys. What's if si Jase ang target niya ngayon? Kunsensya ko pa.

Nang marating, agad akong pumasok sa Bar. Nakakabingi and ingay sa loob. Puno ng mga taong nagsasayawan ang dancefloor. Hinanap agad ng mata ko and maputi at matipunong lalaki na siyang pakay ko dito but the crowd is too big. Hindi ko siya mahagilap.

Tumingkayad ako at nakitang kumakaway si Ali sa akin mula sa kabilang dulo ng Bar. A familiar man is sitting beside her. Sh*t I think Jase is already drunk.

Mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa kanila when some random guy obstruct my way.

"Can I get your number?" a blonde American guy said.

Kinunutan ko siya ng noo.

"Get out of my way!" I desperate shouted just for him to hear.

Nang hindi siya tumabi ay binangga ko na lang siya at mabilis na pinuntahan si Jase.

"Ellie! What the hell is your clothes..leather jacket with jeans? Seriously?"

"Stop it Ali.. I'm just here to take Jase home."

"But we're just having fun here!"

"Ali please.. He's my friend okay.. Just let me take him"

Lumapit ako sa nakayukong Jase. Nakarami na ata ng inom. Kinuha ko and braso niya and put it around my shoulder. Kailangan ko siyang alalayan,pero bago ko pa siya maiangat hinawakan ni Alisa and kamay ko.

"Okay fine.. But atleast, drink this.. it's been months since you disapproved of coming here with me..you always say no whenever I invite you. I just want you to have fun.. I miss our bondings..just drink this and maybe you'll change your mind" she pouted. She always do that sa tuwing nagpapaawa siya sa akin. It worked though, she maybe a bad influence but still.. She's my friend.

"Fine" I said before I get the cup and drink the liquor.

Ibinalik ko ang baso kay Ali that is sweetly smiling at me the whole time I
drink.
Kinuha ko na si Jase para umalis. Isang hakbang paalis ay nakaramdam ako ng hilo. Hindi ko yun pinansin at patuloy pa ring inaalalayan si Jase..but after three more steps my vision started to get blurry. Ipikit pikit ko ang mata to clear my vision pero mas lalo lang lumalala kada segundo. I stop to walk at parang gumaan ang dala kong katawan. I looked at Jase and I really think he stared at me while smiling creepily.

I tried to speak but I just felt my whole body being numb. Everything began to turn black.

But before I totally black out..i heard him speak..

"I'm really sorry Vie, kailangan ko lang talagang gawin 'to".