CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MARI'S POV

"T-Tama na, p-please..." Hindi ko mapigilang umiyak.

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Max sa dalawang braso ko. "Sige na, Mari... Alam ko namang magugustuhan mo rin 'to."

Pilit akong nagpupumiglas pero ayaw niya talaga akong pakawalan. Sinimulan niya akong halikan sa leeg.

Iyak na ako nang iyak pero ayaw niya pa ring tumigil. He pinned me harder against the wall. Nawawalan na ako ng lakas. Gusto kong sumigaw, gusto kong humingi ng tulong, pero walang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

"Hmm... Ang ganda mo talaga, Mari..." Kinilabutan ako nang halikan niya ang tenga ko. Nandidiri na ako sa sarili ko.

Tulong...

Nakapikit ako nang maramdaman kong napabitaw sa akin si Max.

"Put*ng—" Nakita kong may lalakeng sumuntok kay Max. At nang hindi pa nakuntento 'yung lalake. Tinadyakan pa niya at sinuntok ulit si Max hanggang sa hindi na siya makatayo.

Bigla naman akong hinatak nung lalake papalayo, saka dinala sa isang bench.

"Are you hurt?" Tulala lang akong nakatingin sa kanya. "Stay here." Ayoko sana siyang umalis kasi baka biglang dumating si Max pero bago ako makapagsalita, nakaalis na siya.

I can't believe that Max would do that to me. We've only been in a relationship for five months! He f*cking molested me! Akala ko pa naman mahal niya ako. How dare he do that‽

I started crying again. Ilang saglit lang, may nakita akong kamay na nag-aabot ng panyo sa akin. Bumalik na yung lalake at may dala siyang yelo. I took his hanky and wiped my tears off my face. "May I sit beside you? And if you'll let me, I'll put a cold compress on your arms. Mukhang magkakapasa eh. But if you're uncomfortable, ikaw na lang ang mag-apply sa braso mo, and I'll get a cab for you." Aalis na naman siya nang pigilan ko na siya.

"O-Okay lang... Dito... ka lang muna..." Tumango lang siya saka tahimik na umupo sa tabi ko. He softly placed the cold compress against my arm. I hissed when I felt the coldness of it.

Tahimik lang kami. Mukhang parehong nagpapakiramdaman. I can't help but adore him. I asked for help, and he came... my hero.

"Umm... anong... anong pangalan mo?" hindi ko napigilang magtanong.

"Nathan." He wasn't even looking at me. He was busy with the cold compress.

"I-I'm Mari. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Ilang saglit lang ay lumayo na siya at tumingin sa akin. "I'll get you a cab. I still have to go somewhere."

"S-Saan? Sorry if this is too much, but I'm still scared. Pwede mo ba akong ihatid sa bahay ko?"

Halata namang napaisip siya. "I'll... I'll check." Kinuha niya yung phone niya saka may tinawagan. Medyo lumayo siya kaya naman hindi ko marinig kung sinong kausap niya. Minutes later, he came back. Still with his stoic face. "Let's go. Malapit lang ba rito yung bahay mo?"

"Yes. Thank you." Tumango lang ulit siya saka kami naglakad papunta sa... kotse niya?

And that was the first time we met. Ever since that day, I knew I fell for him. Ang hindi ko lang inaasahan ay yung may girlfriend na siya.

Tiningnan ko ang kwintas na binigay sa akin ni Cyril. But I can easily remove Xei from the picture. And Nathan will be mine. He'll love me as much as I love him.

I finished my hair and makeup. Today's the SU Feest and Nathan and Xie's anniversary. A great day to take what's supposed to be mine.

I am wearing a dark pink gown. Mom said that I Iook like barbie but with brown hair. That's how pretty I am.

Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit hindi 'yun makita ni Nathan‽

And then I wore the necklace. Oh well, I'll have him by hook or by crook.

I went inside our car and let my driver take me to school. A pretty girl like me shouldn't drive by myself.

When the car stopped, my driver opened the door for me and guided me to get out of the car, and then flashes of cameras welcomed me. Oh my! Ang ganda ko naman talaga.

I slowly went inside the ballroom. Across the room, I can see Cyril together with Nathan. Mukhang silang dalawa pa lang sa grupo nila ang nandito. I saw Cyril glance at me, and then I felt my phone vibrate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Cy

Xei is in the ladies' room. Now's your chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course, I don't wanna mess this up. I walked towards their table. Cyril left Nathan alone, the plan was going well.

"Hi." I smiled at him.

"Mari... You look great, but why are you here?" he asked as he gave me a friendly smile. But I don't want to be just a friend! I want something more!

Naglakad ako papalapit sa kanya at umupo sa katabi niyang upuan. "Wala pa 'yung mga kasama ko. I'm lonely. You wouldn't mind me staying here for the meantime. Right, Nathan?" I got his attention. You have to say his name three times while wearing the necklace.

"N-No, I don't—" He cleared his throat.

"Nathan..." That's two. He looked at me. Nilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kanya and said the final words. "Love me, Nathan." Then I sealed it off with a kiss.

~•~

XEI'S POV

Phew! I looked at myself in the mirror. You can do this, Xei. You'll just give him your gift, that's all. But remember to be sweet. Nathan likes it so much. I smiled. Hay! I'm so lucky to have him.

I took a deep breath, held my gift for Nathan, and went out of the ladies' room. Agad ko namang nakita si Cyril na mukhang may hinihintay.

"Hey..." Lumapit siya sa akin.

"Hey... Are you waiting for someone?"

He looked into my eyes. "Yeah... and I've been waiting for her for thousands of years."

"Sobrang tagal naman nun." Mahina akong natawa.

He smiled at me. "Tara, sabay na tayong bumalik sa table." I nodded and we started walking.

Napansin ko namang may babae sa table. Si Tine ba 'yun?

I excitedly walked towards the table, but I was surprised by what I saw. Sa pagkagulat, nabitawan ko yung hawak kong regalo. I knew it broke. The glass made a sound pero wala roon yung atensyon ko.

I'm staring at my boyfriend and Mari kissing.

Napatingin naman silang dalawa sa akin dahil sa pagkakabasag ng regalo ko. Mari smirked. I saw her f*cking smirked. Nathan stilled. There was confusion in his eyes. I saw him shake his head as if he was trying to get something off of him.

I can't help but run away. I have to run away from the pain. I need to get out of here. What an amazing anniversary.

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