Rule #3: Changing The Rules

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Kinagat ko nang paulit-ulit ang labi ko habang nakatitig sa sahig. Prince brought me to their car and asked their guards to leave the two of us alone. Nakasandal siya sa pinto ng kotse nila at nakatingin lang sa akin.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "If you're gonna cry... I won't judge. Just go. Cry."

My lips started to tremble as I felt my tears rushing down my cheeks. Ang kaninang mga luhang iniipon ko ay dire-diretso nalang tumulo. I can't believe that happened. I can't believe my boyfriend cheated on me...

"What did he do?" ang tono ng boses niya'y parang bang naiirita. "He cheated on you, didn't he?"

I sobbed and looked at him. Tumingala siya sa langit at naglabas ng panyo. He handed that to me as my trembling hands took them and wiped the tears that kept falling.

"That asshole..." he cursed. "I knew he was doing something behind your back! I had a hunch from the start!"

Patuloy pa rin akong humagulgol at pinunasan ang mga luha ko gamit ng panyo niya. Halos hindi ko na rin mapigilan ang pagtulo ng bawat luhang lumalabas sa mga mata ko.

"Elisse, do you want me to punch him for you? I'd be more than willing to do that!" his voice is firm and angry. Kitang-kita ko rin ang pagkuyom ng kamao niya.

"Wag na..." iyak ko at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "I'm fine. This will go away soon."

Kumunot ang noo niya at tinitigan ako.

In the end, he just sighed and sat beside me. He stared at me like he didn't know what to do. We're not that close. He's more of Kale's best friend at hindi rin naman kami gaanong close ni Kale. Madalas ko kase siyang awayin.

Niluwagan niya ang tie niya at tinanggal ang coat na suot. He wrapped it around my shoulders and watched me cry. Halos magulo na rin ang buhok ko sa nangyari.

He folded his sleeves until it reached his elbows. He started opening the buttons of his white dress shirt, making me turn to him. Our eyes met again. Nagtaas ako ng kilay dahil sa ginagawa niya.

"What?" he looked confused.

I sobbed. "Are you gonna remove your shirt in front of me, while I'm crying my eyes out here?!"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Huh? Of course not! It's damn hot, woman. What do you want me to do?" sabi niya at nagtaas na rin ng kilay sa akin. "I'm just opening some buttons! Relax, I'm not gonna strip!"

"Then open the damn aircon!"

He groaned and stood up to reach for the aircon. Sinarado niya ang pinto ng kotse at nakaupo lang sa tabi ko. Bukas pa rin ang limang butones niya at halos kita ko na ang dibdib niya.

"Does it even bother you that I can almost see your bare chest?" singit ko sa kanya habang umiiyak.

"What? It's just you." sumandal siya sa upuan at binaba ng konti 'yon. "We're friends, right? Then you shouldn't be bothered by this." tinapik niya ang tiyan niya at tumitig lang sa ceiling ng sasakyan nila.

Napailing nalang ako. He's ruining my moment! Hindi ko na tuloy matuloy-tuloy ang iyak ko dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya!

His hair is now a bit disheveled because he kept messing it up earlier. Kitang-kita ko rin ang galit sa mga mata niya nung sinuntok niya si Alex. Isang suntok lang ang ginawa niya, pero tumamba agad ito at dumugo ang ilong. Is he that strong?

He crossed his legs and rested it at the front. Binalik niya ang tingin sa akin at tinitigan lang ako. He looked like he wanted to say something but he couldn't say it.