Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 13

I was busy with my cardio while he was busy with his weights. Nakasuot ako ng simpleng pink na racerback top at itim na leggings samantalang naka-topless siya at gym shorts. We made up after what happened last year. We're cool now. Klinaro namin sa isa't-isa na hanggang magkaibigan lang kami.

"Where are you off to after this?" he asked when he was done with his thing. Isinandal niya ang siko niya sa nguso ng treadmill habang tumatakbo ako roon. "Let's have lunch?"

"Libre mo ba?" Duh? It's the million-dollar-question!

He smirked. "Siyempre."

"G."

I took a shower and changed into a more casual dress when I was done. Dahil naunang natapos si Sextus ay nasa lounge area na siya at hinihintay na lang ako. I came up to him. Nasa harap kami ng entrance kaya nang may pumasok na magandang babae ay naagaw kaagad nito ang atensyon ko. She was beautiful so I looked her way.

Nalaglag ang panga ko nang matantong si Hazel Valderrama pala ang babaeng 'yon! Bakit siya andito? Wasn't she supposed to be in Manila getting all lovey-dovey with Ico? Namilog ang mga mata ko nang may matanto. If she's here... then Ico's here too?! I wasn't ready to bump into him! Ang liit pa naman ng La Fortuna para 'di kami magkita!

"Ma'am Hazel! Mabuti naman at nakabisita kayo!" the guy on the counter greeted her. "Kamusta ang Manila? Mas pumayat po kayo, Ma'am, ah?

She laughed softly. "I got sick, e."

"Ayos na po ba kayo?"

"Siyempre naman. Doktor ang boyfriend ko, e."

Umasiwa ang timpla ko. Sextus and I exchanged glances. When his brows furrowed, I knew then that he knew why I was sulking. Hindi ko tuloy na-enjoy ang libreng lunch ko sa kaniya sa kakaisip kay Hazel at Ico! They were free to do whatever they wanted and I honestly had nothing against Hazel. Kay Ico ako naiinis!

Imagine, last year, he made it sound like he wasn't down with dating any human being! Tapos ngayon, may girlfriend na siya? It didn't add up! Pakiramdam ko'y pinagtripan niya lang ako last year! 

Besides, Hazel had been ogling over him since time immemorial! Sana ay pinatos niya na ito noon pa para 'di na namin kinailangang magpanggap! He wasted my time! What a first-class asshole!

"Affected much?" Sextus teased when he saw me pouting.

I grimaced. "Affected? Saan naman?"

"Kay Hazel at sa ex mo?"

"'Di ko 'yon ex, 'no," I clarified right away. "Alam mo namang nagpanggap lang kami. It was all fake."

Because it was. It should be. Kahit na ang totoo'y 'di naman peke ang lahat ng 'yon para sa 'kin. What transpired between me and Ico was, well, real. At least in the way we treated each other privately.

It still pissed me off that he went all douchebag on me but to be honest, it wasn't all bad. I thought he understood me in one way or another. I believed he did. Siya 'tong hindi ko maintindihan. Our last encounter was an utter mess. It was a big petty misunderstanding and it didn't have to go down in flames like it did. Pero gago kasi siya. His fault, not mine!

"Sunny, please look at the camera," the photographer reminded. Nawala kasi ang tingin ko sa lens nang gumalaw ang kabayong nasa tabi ko. "Again with that pose, please."

It's about three o'clock in the afternoon so it was quite hot. Maliban sa mga crew na kinukunan ako ng litrato ay puro berde ang nakikita ko mula sa pwesto ko. The photographer this time was a middle-aged man, 'di tulad kay George noon sa villa na bata pa. He was giving me malicious glares. It was making me feel uncomfortable but since Kit was directing the whole shoot, I wasn't that worried.