#BHOCAMP #BlaRis #BHOCAMP10TWC
A/N: Feeling ko hanggang chapter 40 ang libro na 'to. Enjoy pa ko masyado :3
CHAPTER 13: DISTURBANCE
ERIS' POV
Napapahikab na nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagpindot sa hawak ko na spray bottle. Pakiramdam ko nakahawak na lang sa dulo ng hintuturo ko ang kaluluwa ko na anytime ay lilipad na palayo sa akin. My head feels so cloudy and my body just want to curl and lie down somewhere.
Halos dalawang oras lang ata ang tulog ko. Pinagod ko naman ang sarili ko kahapon at ilang KDrama na rin ang napanood ko pero walang naitulong ang mga iyon. I still found myself looking at the ceiling of my room replaying the things that happened at the gym yesterday morning.
"Neng, kahit anong gawin mo na spray sa halaman na iyan hindi mabubuhay 'yan."
I forced my heavy eyelids to open to look at the direction of the voice. Nakita ko si Hera na tulak ang napakalaking stroller kung saan naroon ang apat niya na anak. Her skin has a pinkish glow and her eyes are shining. How is that possible? Isa pa lang sa mga anak niya ang umiyak magigising na kahit ang patay. She just look really happy.
"Huwag mo akong kausapin," masungit na sabi ko.
"Bakit?"
"Ayoko sa taong masasaya ngayon."
Lumawak ang pagkakangiti niya. Tinapik niya ako sa balikat at sinipat-sipat niya ang halaman na kanina ko pa binabasa. "Ganiyan din ako noong bitter pa ako sa buhay at wala sa tamang hulog ang utak ko na parang out of commission that time." She tapped her temple lightly with her forefinger. "This has no use when the heart is sick."
"I'm not bitter and my brain and heart is in perfect condition."
"Akala mo lang 'yon." Tinuro niya ang halaman na nasa harapan namin. "You're watering a plastic plant, girl. You're far from okay much more from being perfectly okay."
Hinawakan ko ang dahon ng halaman at nanggigigil na nilamukos ko iyon nang mapagtanto ko na totoong peke nga iyon katulad ng sabi ni Hera. "Bakit kasi naglalagay sila ng peke na halaman dito eh may iba rin dito na totoong halaman? Bakit ba kasi hindi magawang linawin ang lahat hindi iyong ganito na lalong nagkakagulo! Tapos ako itong nagmumukhang tanga kasi hindi ko maintindihan ang mga nangyayari?!"
Hera's mouth gaped as she stood there blinking at my outburst. Nang magawa niyang pakilusin ang katawan niya ay lumingon siya sa isang direksyon at ginalaw niya ang kamay niya na parang may tinatawag.
Lumapit sa kinaroroonan namin si Thunder. "Yes, princess?"
Itinulak ni Hera ang stroller sa direksyon ng lalaki. Kunot ang noo na nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa amin ni Hera at nang kung may ano siyang nabasa sa mukha ko ay nakakaunawang tumango siya bago sumaludo sa asawa niya at itinulak na ang stroller palayo sa amin. Tinahak nila ang daan papunta sa Craige's.
Nasa lobby kasi kami ng BHO CAMP. Naka-duty ako na maging hardinera ngayon at naatasan akong diligan ang mga nakapasong mga halaman dito. Na may kahalong peke. Feeling ko may isa sa agent na napagod ng magdilig sa sandamakmak na halaman dito kaya pinalitan iyong iba.
Nakatas ang isang kilay na tinignan ako ni Hera. "Halaman pa ba ang pinag-uusapan natin o may iba pa?"
"Of course it's about the plant," I mumbled.
Bumuntong-hininga ang babae at humalukipkip siya. Halatang hindi siya naniniwala sa akin. "Alam mo magkaiba man ang sitwasyon niyo na magkapatid pero kambal nga kayo. Parehas kayong takot na takot sa nararamdaman niyo."
"Bakit? Ikaw ba hindi ka natakot?" hindi ko mapigilan na tanong.
"I was. But I was more afraid of losing the person that I love with all my heart."
Hindi ko nagawang makasagot sa tinuran niya. I know how hard everything was for her and Thunder before. Baka nga ang babaw lang ng pinoproblema ko kumpara sa mga kinailangan nilang pagdaanan.
"But fear is fear, you know? When you have it, whatever it is about, it will always find a way to cripple you."
"And how did you overcome it?" I asked hesitantly.
"You overcome fear by accepting that it exists because what you're facing matters. Kung wala kang pakielam bakit ka matatakot? Bakit ka magiging apektado kung hindi importante sa'yo ang isang bagay?" Nilagay niya ang isa niyang kamay sa bewang niya at pinagmasdan niya ako. Alam kong nakarehistro sa mukha ko ang siya rin na nararamdaman ko. "Do you want my advice? Minsan lang 'to kasi 'yung susunod may bayad na."
Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata at niyakap ko ang sarili ko. Hindi ako nagsalita pero alam kong nakikita niya sa akin ang sagot sa tanong niya.
"Right now, your mind is not ready to accept all the things that are happening. Ganoon din ang puso mo. That's how it is for everyone that's been on where you are standing right now. Love is not as easy like everyone thinks it is. It contradicts your natural instinct to protect yourself. It leaves you vulnerable. Kaya kahit anong sabihin sa'yo ng kahit na sino at kahit ipilit sa'yo na harapin ang katotohanan na abot kamay mo na lang, hindi mo iyon madaling matatanggap. Madaling sabihin kung anong kailangan mong gawin pero para sa taong katulad mo na nasa gitna ng isang sitwasyon, hindi iyon isang pitik lang."
She was right. It wasn't easy. I could lay in front of me all the facts and the simplest way is just to accept it, and yet it's not that easy to do. It's like being in front of a body of water knowing that you can swim and yet you're afraid to jump.
"Why don't you let everything just determine its own course? You're holding your control tightly right now. It's the most natural response. Just slowly let it be. Let the days that will follow go on how it should be. You'll be surprise how a lot of your questions be answered without forcing yourself to come up to a conclusion."
"You mean I shouldn't try to make sense of everything? To not ask questions?"
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Kung may magsasabi ba sa'yo ng sagot matatanggap mo agad?" The answer to her question might have been easy to read on my face because she just smiled. "The more you try to make sense of it the more you'll find a way to twist things. Just take one step at a time, Eris. Kaya kung gusto mong iwasan si Blaze kasi hindi ka pa handa na harapin ang mga bagay-bagay then do it. You want to deny what ever happened? That's fine too. Just let it all go. What's meant to happen will happen. You don't need to make a decision right now."
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko sa sinasabi niya. "You're telling me to what? Umaktong parang walang nangyari?"
"It's more fun that way believe me. Kapag pinipilit mo ang dalawang tao na maglapit, nakakahanap sila ng paraan para maghiwalay. But when you try to run away from the things that are meant to be, you end up together. Kasi paghinahanap mo ang sagot nakakahanap ka rin ng dahilan para matakot. Pero kapag iniiwasan mo ang sagot, ang mundo na mismo ang nagbibigay sa'yo ng rason para tanggapin ang katotohanan. That's why if your heart is telling you that it's not ready yet and it wants to hide then let it be. Iyan din naman ang puso mo ang hihila sa'yo pabalik sa kung ano ang nakatadhana sa'yo."
Nang manatili lang akong nakatingin sa kaniya at hindi nagsasalita ay ngumisi siya at tinapik niya ang sarili niyang balikat na para bang proud na proud siya sa sarili niya.
"Ito na ba ang epekto ng laging nadidiligan? Nagiging matalino ako masyado."
Nalukot ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. As always Hera can't help her vulgar side. "Kadiri ka!"
Tinawanan niya lang ako at kumindat. Mukhang may sasabihin pa siya nang parehas kaming matigilan dahil sa narinig namin na boses. To be exact, wala kaming choice kundi marinig dahil ang lakas ng boses ng taong nagsasalita.
"I know he's here! Why don't you do us both a favor and call him bago ka magsisi na hindi mo ko sinunod?"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Hera. A woman wearing the tightest skirt I have ever seen and a top where her boobs looks like it's about to explode is currently harassing the receptionist for today. A receptionist that is also a trainee for the organization.
I haven't talked to her personally but I have seen her on the Grounds; BHO CAMP's headquarters for trainees. She's on the short side, she's always quiet, there's a look of innocence on her face, and her name is Allessandra.
I also know base on seeing her from a sparring session that her temper is the exact opposite of how she looks.
"Sa tingin ko hindi ang pagdidilig sa mga halaman dito ang dapat nating problemahin. I bet Dawn wouldn't like it if we have to clean blood this early in the morning," Hera whispered.
"Kung wala po kayong reservation pwede kayong mag walk-in. Sa ngayon wala kaming villa na mabibigay dahil full capacity kami kung gusto niyo po na mag-stay. We can let you go in to access some of the establishments like the restaurant, but we are not allowed to disclose information about our employees."
"Tell Blaze that I'm here. Now!"
Umabot ata hanggang kisame ang pagtaas ng kilay ko sa narinig ko na pangalan na kumawala sa mga labi niya. Beside me, I felt Hera shifted, but my eyes didn't leave the woman.
"Ma'am-"
"Tell her Bambi is here. Bambilina. He knows who I am."
Hera snorted quietly and despite the irritation rising from me I can't help but join her on what she's finding hilarious. Kung makapagsalita kasi ang "bwisita" ngayon ng BHO CAMP ay parang ginto ang pangalan niya at dapat yumukod ang mundo sa kaniya. Mukhang nandito na ang B sa alphabetical order na mga babae sa buhay ni Blaze. At base sa ugali na ipinapakita ng taong ito, I doubt na isang date lang ang namagitan sa kanila ni Blaze. Isa panigurado sa mga babaeng nalawayan ang taong 'yon.
Sandaling natigilan ako pero pagkaraan ay pinilig ko ang ulo ko. Correction. Fallen angel.
"Kung inaasahan niya po ang pagdating niyo dapat kanina pa kayo nasa loob. You are not expected and I can't let you in."
Ooh burn. Parang gusto ko biglang i-recommend si Allessandra para sa promotion. She looks like she's bored and rather be anywhere else than to talk to the person in front of her. Except I can see a glint in her eyes that is telling me that she can and she will throw down with another woman right now if she's provoked. She's like a mix of Freezale and Dawn.
"Bring him here!"
Hera shifted again and I looked at her. Nagtatakang tinignan ko siya nang makita kong sinisipat niya ang suot niya na sandals.
"What are you doing?"
"Tinitignan ko kung kaya ng takong ko ngayon na manira ng cellphone o mukha ng tao." Her eyes went to me and she studied me for a moment. "You don't look bothered."
"I'm not."
May pagkalito sa mukha na tinuro niya ang babaeng nakikipagtalo pa rin kay Allessandra. "Hello? Earth to Eris? May babaeng hitad na hinahanap si Blaze. Sa mga ganitong moment baka naninira na kami ng cellphone at nananabunot ni Athena."
Hindi ko na tinanong kung anong kinalaman ng cellphone sa sinabi niya. Knowing her and her best friend Athena, I shouldn't be surprised about anything.
"Hindi mo nga sigurado kung ex or dating dinate lang 'yan ni Blaze," sabi ko kahit may duda na ako kung ano ang babae sa buhay ng lalaki.
"May pagkakaiba ba iyon?"
"Sa fallen angel na 'yon? Oo."
Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso niya. "It still doesn't explain why you're not bothered. Hindi ka ba naiinis na nag a-attitude ang taong iyan dito? May gustong lumandi sa taong dapat ikaw lang ang hinaharot."
Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata sa huli niyang sinabi. I decided to just ignore that part. "Serial dater man ang isang 'yon, and who knows how many notch he has on his bed post, but Blaze is not a two timer. He's not the kind of person to entangle himself on a situation when he's still hung up on his past."
Umangat ang isang kilay ni Hera at pinakatitigan niya ako. She's looking at me as if she's pointing something obvious to me. Nang mapagtanto ko kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tingin na ibinibigay niya sa akin ay naramdaman ko ang kaagad na pag-iinit ng magkabila kong pisngi.
"You'll be surprise how a lot of your questions be answered without forcing yourself to come up to a conclusion."
"Hindi ako aalis dito hanggang hindi niyo siya inilalabas!"
Napapabuntong-hininga na inabot ko ang spray bottle kay Hera na napilitang kunin iyon. "Ikaw muna ang magdilig. Tutulungan ko na si Allessandra bago pa makapatay ang isang iyon."
"Ayoko. Sama ako."
Naiiling na hinayaan ko na lang siya na sumunod sa akin. Naglakad ako palapit sa kinaroroonan ng front desk kung saan basang-basa ko na sa mga mata ni Allessandra ang balak niyang gawin sa babaeng kaharap.
"Alam mo naaalala ko siya sa'yo," bulong ni Hera.
Namilog ang mga mata ko. "That woman?" I asked, felling offended.
Nalukot ang ilong niya. "Ew. Of course not. Si Allessandra ang tinutukoy ko. She reminds me of you."
"Ako? Bakit ako? Parang halo nga siya nina Freezale at ni Dawn."
"I don't think so. Those two is another different level. But that trainee is more you. Iyong cute kayong tignan pero may nakatagong psycho sa loob niyo."
"You're kind of insulting me."
"It's a compliment."
I just rolled my eyes at her before I crossed the remaining distance left from me and the front desk. Kaagad dumako sa akin ang mga mata ng trainee at mukhang nakahinga siya ng maluwag ng makita ako at mapagtantong hindi niya kailangan kumitil ng buhay ng ganitong kaaga.
"Why don't you call, Blaze, Allessandra?" I asked the trainee with a small smile.
"Yes. Why don't you make yourself useful?" The other woman asked cattily. She even pursed her lips as if she's a six year old girl than a grown up woman.
"I would stop insulting our employees if I were you, Miss." Itinuro ko ang isa sa maraming camera na nandito sa lobby. "Everything here is being monitored. Hindi mo gugustuhing bumaba ang isa sa dalawang tao na nasa taas para harapin ka."
"Are you threatening me?"
"No. I'm trying to help you."
She looks like she's about to say something but I turned my eyes to Allessandra. Umiling siya at binaba niya ang telepono na kanina ay nakatapat sa tenga niya.
"Hindi po sumasagot," sabi niya.
I'm not surprised. Wala naman kasi sa kahit na sinong agent ang sanay na may naghahanap sa kanila sa front desk. Kung meron man silang bisita ay sila na mismo ang sumusundo sa mga iyon. Even the public establishments of BHO CAMP have high security. May mga walk-in man na nakakapasok pero the moment na tumapak sila sa loob ay binabantayan na sila at ginagawan ng background check. To lessen the hassle, most agents that is expecting a visitor will schedule it ahead of time.
"Try kong tawagan," narinig kong sabi ni Hera. Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong nailabas na niya ang cellphone niya.
"And who are you?" the woman asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hera smiled sweetly. "Your worst nightmare if you don't drop that attitude."
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. May pakiramdam ako na naghahanap talaga ng away si Hera. Hindi na ako magtataka. The agents here feed on others love life and dramas. Pagsamahin mo ba naman sa iisang lugar ang mga taong nanalaytay sa dugo ang pagiging blood thirsty. The only thing that will satiate their boredom aside from other people's personal lives would be a mission that will entertain them for awhile.
Binaba ni Hera ang cellphone at tinitigan niya iyon. "Wow."
"What?" I asked.
"Binabaan ako."
Kung sa ibang pagkakataon siguro tinawanan ko siya. Pero may duda ako na may kinalaman ako kung bakit mukhang mainit ang ulo ni Blaze sa mundo at ayaw niyang magpaistorbo.
Napapabuntong-hininga na kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at tumipa ako roon.
TO: FALLEN ANGEL
Huwag mo akong ipahiya
at sagutin mo ang tawag
ko.
Once I sent it, I pressed his caller ID to call him. Inilagay ko iyon sa tapat ng tenga ko. I was expecting him to take a long time before answering. So to say I'm surprise when he answered on the first ring is an understatement.
"What?" he growled.
And he calls me Grumpy? Eh sino siya? The Grinch? "Good morning to you too. Pumunta ka rito sa reception. May bisita ka."
"Tell whoever it is to go away. I'm not expecting anyone."
"Well, sorry to say pero ang letter B sa listahan mo ay nasa harapan ko ngayon at wala siyang balak umalis. Base na rin sa pinapakita niyang ugali, hindi siya isa sa mga casual date mo. This is your ex-girlfriend and she's your problem. Pumunta ka rito bago pa maisipan ni Dawn o ni Freezale na dalawin kami."
"I'm his girlfriend!" Bambi said with her shrill voice.
"I stand corrected," I said to Blaze. "Ex-girlfriend mong hindi pa matanggap na ex mo na siya."
I decided to ignore the woman when she started spouting attitude again. Tinakpan ko ang isa kong tenga at bahagya ko siyang tinalikuran.
"Who?"
I rolled my eyes at Blaze question. Mukhang katulad ni Alize at Addie ay may iba pang letter B sa listahan niya.
"Bimbolina," I told him with a bored voice.
"It's Bambilina!"
I heard Allessandra cough to hide her laugh, but Hera's flat out laughing. Alam kong alam nila na sinadiya ko ang pag-iiba sa pangalan ng babae.
"Give her your phone. I'll talk to her."
"Ayoko nga. Mamaya ibato niya pa."
"I'll replace it with a new one."
"Ayoko."
"Oh my god!" Nilingon ko si Bimbolina na nagliliyab na ngayon ang mga mata pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay sa akin nakatingin 'yon. "You're his new slut, aren't you? I can't believe this! Ipagpapalit niya ako sa katulad mo? You're what? A chambermaid or something? I'm a governor's daughter!"
"I changed my mind. I'll be there in five."
Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa cellphone ko nang marinig ko ang pagkaputol ng linya. Ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang iyon at hinarap ko ang nanggagalaiti pa rin na babae. Money can't really buy class.
I'm all up for women protecting women, but sometimes some women doesn't really deserve it. A relationship is between people that consented to committing to each other. But how it ends could go differently. Dahil hindi mo pwedeng itali sa relasyon ang isang taong ayaw na. Unless that someone has a responsibility that is still tied to you. In that case, that person can leave the relationship, but still commit to the responsibility.
Knowing Blaze, he probably made it clear what should be expected on whatever relationship they had. I don't think he's the kind of man that will end it without a real reason. He's an asshole, but he knows how to respect women.
"Now I remember you. I saw a picture of you and him years ago. If he decided to be with me, that means he left you." Tinignan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "I can't blame him. You look like a child than a woman. He's probably imagining another person when he was with you. If I were you, I will stop on pushing yourself to him."
Hera choked, her eyes blurry with tears. Binigyan ko siya ng masamang tingin. Mukhang enjoy na enjoy pa siya sa nangyayari.
"Kapag narinig ni Enyo ang sinabi niya, a bloodshed would be a sure thing," natatawang sabi ni Hera. Alam naman namin parehas na ang kapatid ko ang tinutukoy ni Bimbolina. Nagkataon nga lang na parang kaharap niya na rin si Enyo.
"Who's Enyo?" The bimbo asked.
"My sister," I said simply. "Your ex's ex."
"I told you, I'm still his girlfriend." The woman sneered. She crossed her arms together. "Ganoon kayong kadesperadong dalawa? Wala na bang gustong pumatol sa inyo na pati lalaki pinagsasaluhan niyo? Why did Blaze broke up with her? She didn't satisfy him, right? What made you think that you can? She's probably another thrash who want to climb up, but failed. I'll tell you something to help you that she should have realized before. Huwag kayong masyadong maghangad ng mga bagay na wala sa level niyo. You'll just be disappointed, sweetheart."
She doesn't know it, but she just stepped on a landmine. She just insulted my sister in front of me.
I plastered a sweet smile on my lips and I heard Hera made an "uh oh" sound. Hindi ko siya pinansin at sa halip ay humakbang ako palapit sa babae na di hamak na mas matangkad sa akin. The woman didn't look concern. Maybe she thought she could take me. What a bimbo. All boobs, no brain. Kung may utak siya, she should have enough sense to feel the change in the atmosphere.
"I could care less about what you say to me. Mas kilala ko ang sarili ko kesa sa'yo. But I won't stand aside while you insult my sister."
"I don't care about your slut of a sister," she said with a roll of her eyes.
"That's twice now. Don't go for three."
"You know what's weird? Pinagtatanggol mo ang kapatid mo samantalang nag-aagawan kayo sa iisang lalaki. What? Is this some kind of a weird threesome? She couldn't handle Blaze alone that's why she'll let you have him too-"
She couldn't finish her sentence. Napaatras siya at nanlalaki ang mga mata na inangat niya ang kamay niya para hawakan ang ilong niya. A shrill scream fell out of her lips when she looked down on her hand and saw blood on it.
I flexed my hand that I used to punched her on the face. It felt fine. "You should get an ice pack and after that call your plastic surgeon. I'm pretty sure I damaged your rhinoplasty."
"Y-You... you bitch!"
To prove that she doesn't have enough brain cells working, she lunged at me. Simpleng umiwas lang ako dahilan para sumubsob siya sa mataas na desk dito sa reception. She gasped when her chest hit the desk hard, but she straightened again to go after me. At least she doesn't need another breast augmentation.
I yawn as I keep on evading her weak attempts on attacking me. Kung makikita siguro kami sa control room ay makikita nila ako na parang nakikipaglaro lang ng taya-tayaan.
"What's going on here?"
Nilingon ko si Blaze na nakarating na rin sa wakas. I looked at my wristwatch. Five minutes nga. He's on time.
Taking advantage of my divided attention, Bimbolina pounced at me. I was ready to deflect it, but before she can go near me, a huge built blocked her from getting to me.
Blaze grabbed the hand that his ex was about to use to slap me. "I said what's going on here?" he growled.
Growled. That's the only perfect description for how he constructed that question. He sounded more than just pissed off.
"Eris woke up this morning and she decided to choose violence." Lahat kami napalingon kay Hera na nagtaas pa ng kamay. "But that's just because Bimbolina insulted her and Enyo. So she punched her on the face."
"My name is Bambilina!" the woman screamed.
"What did she say?" Blaze asked, ignoring the banshee. Nakatingin ang lalaki kay Hera na parang mabait na estudyante at willing na willing magkaroon ng puntos para sa recitation.
"About Enyo? Well-"
"Whatever she said about Enyo, my brother will handle it. Enyo will plot for her murder but she's pregnant right now. So she and Stone would be contented with a lawsuit." Hindi man lang tinatapunan ng tingin ang ngayon ay nagkukumawala na sa pagkakahawak ni Blaze na babae. I can't blame her. Blaze looks murderous. "What did she say about Eris?"
Napakuyom ang mga kamay ko kasabay ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Calm the hell down, heart, and shush.
"Let me see," Hera looked at the ceiling and counted using her fingers. "Bimbolina called her a slut. You heard that one on the phone. Second, she said that Eris looked like a child than a woman. She also called her desperate. But actually it's not much of the insults but rather on how crass she was being. She even talked about a threesome." Nilakihan ni Hera ang mga mata na parang naeeskandalo siya. "I mean... this is a child-friendly place. How mortifying."
Naiiling na naglakad ako palapit kay Hera at kinuha ko sa kaniya ang spray bottle na hawak pa rin niya. Kung makapagsalita akala mo hindi siya reyna ng kalaswaan.
Nilingon ko si Blaze at pinaikutan ko ang lalaki ng mga mata. "I don't care about what that woman said about me. Just get her out of here will you? Ang aga-aga ang gulo niyo. Hindi pa nga ako nag-aalmusal. I don't have energy for this."
Blaze keep on looking at me as if the answer to every mystery in the world could be found on my face. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sandali pang nanatili ang atensyon niya sa akin bago siya nagbaba ng tingin sa babaeng nasa harapan niya.
"I clearly ended things with you," he said with a dark expression on his face.
"Blaze darling-"
"Months ago."
"Julia messaged me. She sent me a picture of you and a woman at the equestrian. Akala ko si Addie na naman but she said there was a new woman."
"Whoever was with me is not your concern."
"But-"
"I ended things with you when I realized how vile you can be. I went out on one date with Addie after that because she's the woman that you and your friends were making fun of. She's a good woman that doesn't deserve your shit and I made that clear when I broke off things with you and I chose to spend the day with her than you during that event. That humiliation should be enough for you to understand that I don't want you showing yourself in front of my face again."
"I know you were angry, but you can't just leave me like that. We were together for so long and I'm a better choice than her."
Hinilot ko ang sentido ko habang pinakikinggan ko ang pag-uusap nila. Ano kayang tubig ang iniinom ng taong 'to at ang taas masyado ng confidence?
"I was with you for three weeks, Bambi. I don't think you can't call that long."
Tatlong linggo? Tatlong linggo pero kung umakto siya parang pinangako na ni Blaze sa kaniya ang buong mundo?
"And those three weeks you showed me not one reason to continue the relationship. Your namesake should be ashamed of you. I rather date Bambi the deer even if he's an animal and he's a he than your entitled ass."
Napa-ooh kami nina Hera at Allessandra. Matanong nga sa control room kung pwede silang gumawa ng kopya ng footage mula sa CCTV dito. Kailangan makita ng kapatid ko 'to.
Natigilan ako. Wait. Ang alam ko naka-duty si Kuya Stone sa control room ngayon. Gaano kaya kalaki ang chance na hindi sila magkasama ng kapatid ko? Kasi kung magkasama sila...
Napatingin ako sa pinakamalapit na camera sa akin dito sa lobby. Oh no.
"How dare you talk to me that way?! You love this ass!"
"I showed you nothing but respect during our relationship. We slept together with a consent from each other. I didn't promised you anything. Not a ring, not a long term relationship, and specially not the world that clearly your daddy made you believe should be given to you. I started a relationship with you because I won't sleep with anyone without exclusivity. I don't believe in dipping my dick on a woman and kicking her out of the bed the next day. We agreed to be casual, but we also agreed that we won't be seeing anyone while our agreement is on-going. We're grown-ups, Bambi. You know the score between us."
"You dated Addie the same day you broke up with me!"
"We broke up," may diin sa tono ng boses ng lalaki. "We broke up and I went out with a woman you were trying to dig your claws in to. I have the decency to break it off with you when I could have leave you without notice."
"W-What?"
"Remember when you said you were visiting your parents a week before we ended things? You were not at your parents' house. You were partying in Las Vegas with your friends and you fucked the fiance' of your friend that was about to get married. She left his sorry ass and she's kind enough to advice me about your stunt."
Inilayo niya sa kaniya ang babae at binitawan niya ang kamay no'n. I have the urge to give him a sanitizer or alcohol but I restrained myself.
"Pull something like this again and not only you will suffer but also your father. I don't need to remind you that he's keeping his position alive through his sponsors' money, right?"
"B-Blaze..."
He inclined his head to my direction, his eyes still on the woman. "One of those sponsors is her father. I'll be very careful if I were you. You're still lucky though. She might be fun-size, but her attitude is not. Kaya huwag mo ng subukan na sagadin ang pasensiya niya." Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ng babae. Bumuka ang bibig niya para sana may sabihin pa pero pinutol lang ulit iyon ni Blaze. "I'm done talking to you, but my brother is not."
Uh oh. Napangiwi ako nang makita kong naglalakad palapit sa kinaroroonan namin si Stone na hawak ang kamay ng kapatid ko na nakangiting kumaway sa direksyon ko. My brother in law doesn't look happy. Not one bit.
Huminto sila sa kinaroroonan ni Bambi na kababakasan na ng takot ang mukha. Kuya Stone is glowering at her.
I was expecting him to say something first, but my sister beat him to it. Hera made a tsk tsk sound when we saw how the sweetest smile curved Enyo's lips. Even the bimbo's dying brain cells could probably feel the danger behind it.
"I heard you saying a lot of funny things about me and my sister," Enyo said still smiling. Sa tabi niya ay tahimik lang ang asawa niya habang si Blaze ay tumalikod na at naglakad palapit sa direksyon namin ni Hera. "You see my sister is too sweet and she has the patience that I don't have. That punched was even too kind for her. She only did that because of me. Siya kasi iyong klase ng tao na pakikinggan ka lang tapos lalayasan ka kasi wala siyang pakielam sa'yo at sa kung anong insulto ang ibabato mo sa kaniya. Unless of course you manage to drain all her patience that not many can do. If that happened then you won't be talking to me because you'll be in pieces."
Bimbolina looked like she's praying for a miracle. "I-I..."
"But I'm not as kind as her and I don't have unlimited patience."
Hindi ko na nagawang makapagpokus sa pinag-uusapan nila nang maramdaman ko ang paghawak sa akin ng kung sino. I found my wrist being captured by Blaze's large hand.
"Uhh... what are you doing?" I asked him.
He just gave me a look before he pulled me away.
"Sabi mo hindi ka pa nag-aalmusal."
I looked down on his hand that is still wrapped around my wrist. "Just so you know, I'm not going with you because I want to have breakfast with you." Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa akin pero hindi siya nagkomento pa. "It's just... it's just that breakfast is the most important part of the day."
Umangat ang sulok ng labi niya. He's probably remembering the same thing I did.
"Kahit ibang lalaki pa ang kasama ko-"
"You're having it with me and no one else."
Sa pagkakataon na ito ay parang hindi na lang may tumatambol sa loob ng dibdib ko kundi parang isang buong orkestra na iyon.
"D-Desisyon yern? Excuse me lang po ha? Hindi ako restaurant na pwede mong i-reserve para sa sarili mo. Ano 'yon? Kukuha na rin ako ng mag-re-reserve para sa lunch at dinner ko?"
"I'll be having those too."
"Hoy Blaze Reynolds, you're not the only person that wants to eat with me!"
"Yeah, you're right." He let go of my wrist and for a moment I thought he's done holding me, but he just did it so that he could flip my hand and intertwine his fingers with mine. He stared at our hands as if it's the most fascinating thing in the world. "But I can make sure that I will be the only one eating you."
Pakiramdam ko ay nahigop ko ang lahat ng hangin sa paligid sa lakas ng pagsinghap ko. I can my feel my cheeks burning. I tried to pull my hand away from him, but the asshole just laughed, and didn't let go.
"Lighten up, Bashful. I'm joking."
Binigyan ko siya ng matalim na tingin. Kanina lang parang mainit pa ang ulo niya sa akin nang tawagan ko siya tapos ngayon kung makangiti siya akala mo hindi siya galit sa mundo.
"For now."
My eyes widened. "Blaze!"
___________________________End of Chapter 13.