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Chapter 12
I should have expected this reaction from her. Magugulat dahil hindi inaasahan. Ako man mismo ay nabibilisan sa mga nangyayari. Pero sumugal pa rin ako dahil masaya ako sa nagiging resulta ng desisyon kong ito.
What I didn't expect was the anger I saw in her eyes.
Bakit? Dahil ba may relasyon kami ng lalaking gusto niya? She only has a crush on him. Ni hindi siya kilala ni Terrence. Sa tuwing magkukwento siya sa akin ng tungkol dito, hindi naman ako nakikinig. Wala rin talaga akong alam.
"You're in a relationship with him, Priscilla?" she let out a sarcastic laugh. "I thought you don't like men who are younger than you."
Pasimple kong sinulyapan si Terrence. Mataman itong nakatitig kay Ruth, tila sa isang walang kwentang tao nakatingin. His hawk-like eyes were even cold and taunting for some reason.
"I'm an exemption. I hope it's not a problem for you." sagot ni Terrence sa mapaglarong boses.
Hindi ko akalain na siya na mismo ang sasagot kay Ruth. Sa tono pa ng boses niya, tila ba sinasarkastiko niya ang kaibigan ko dahil maaaring hindi niya nagustuhan ang naging sagot nito.
It's honestly rude. Ako man ay nabigla na ganoon ang naging litanya niya sa harap mismo ni Terrence. Kahit pa gusto niya ito, at kahit pa nalaman niyang may relasyon kami, hindi ba at kahihiyan para sa akin na sa harap nito mismo ako kinompronta ng ganoon?
Ruth blinked her eyes and stared at Terrence. Para bang hindi niya akalain na kakausapin siya nito. Na sa wakas ay kaharap niya na ito.
"O-Of course not. Naisip ko lang na baka... masaktan siya... kung sakaling hindi mo alam ang totoo."
"Kung hindi ko pa man alam ang tungkol doon, hindi ba at siya mismo dapat ang magsabi sa akin at hindi ang ibang tao?"
Sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap ni Terrence sa kaniya, para bang wala siyang pakialam kung masaktan niya ito o mabastos niya ito.
I read in an article that most of the Monasterio men are rude and cruel. Na walang pakialam ang mga ito kahit nakakasakit na ng ibang tao. They don't show mercy. They don't easily make friends. It's even hard to please them yet women are still willing to do everything just to be noticed by them.
"As for your concern that she might get hurt," sabi ni Terrence bago ako nilingon. "I assure you that I won't even dare."
Sa kabila ng tensyon na ibinigay sa akin ni Ruth, hindi ko magawang pigilan ang ngisi sa labi ko sa sinabing iyon ni Terrence. He tilted his head and inched his face closer as if he's gonna whisper something in my ear.
"The first and last time that I hurt you, you were screaming my fucking name." he whispered sensually.
Nakagat ko ang labi at marahang pinalo ang kamay niyang nasa ibabaw ng hita ko. He chuckled against my ear and boy, his husky voice along with his handsome face made me drool over him.
Idagdag pa na ngayon ko lang siya nakitang nakasuot ng formal attire sa personal. Puting long sleeve na nakarolyo ang mga manggas hanggang siko at itim na slacks, pakiramdam ko ay isa ako sa mga babaeng luluhod sa kaniya mapansin niya lang ako.
Pero siya naman ang lumuhod. Maraming beses pa nga. Sa kusina. Sa banyo. Sa sala.
Nahagip ng mga mata ko si Ruth na matalim na nakatitig sa akin habang umiinom mula sa shot glass niya. Nang makitang nakatingin ako sa kaniya ay mabilis niya iyong pinalitan ng ngiti pero huli na para maniwala pa ako.
Nasisiguro kong hindi pa kami tapos sa usapang ito. If there's a chance, she will surely bring this topic up.
"Is she really your friend?" bulong ni Terrence sa akin.
"Hmm. She's my best friend."
"Doesn't seem like it. She looks irritated with you right now."
Pilit akong natawa dahil alam ko sa sarili kong tama siya.
"I'll tell you later why."
"Hmm. But you still didn't tell me about this hang out. I thought we're gonna be open about our whereabouts."
Oh, he's serious with that? Napag-usapan namin iyon sa Baguio. We have to be communicative. Saan man magpunta ang bawat isa, kailangan ipapalaam. I think having communications is one of the key for a healthy relationship.
It's funny how I was able to think about this already when we're not even sure what's going on in us despite having a relationship.
I brought my hand to his jaw and gently caressed it. His eyes somehow followed it but immediately anchored it on my eyes.
"I forgot. Next time."
"Hmm, you can go clubbing any time you want. Just make sure you won't dance with any other man..." he said it low and precise. "I can be very possessive, Priscilla."
The edge of my lips raised. "The same goes with me. If you still decide to do your old habits, I'm not going to stop you. But you will never see me again."
He brushed the tip of his nose against my cheek that sent shiver deep down my spine. Terrence doesn't feel bothered if people might see us being this intimate in public. The way he hold me felt like he's proud to tell everyone that we have something going on between us.
"No plans," he replied. "I'm all yours."
Hindi na ako sumagot, nakuntento na sa naging sagot niya. Isang ngisi pa ang pinakawalan niya sa akin bago umayos ng upo. Dahil nahaharangan niya ako kanina ay hindi ko na nakita pa si Ruth. Wala na ito sa pwesto niya.
Luminga linga ako.
"Where is she?"
"Might be in the comfort room." sagot ni Terrence.
Wala siya sa dance floor. Baka nga nasa banyo. Pero para masiguro ay titingnan ko na rin. Hinarap ko si Terrence.
"I'll just check if she's there."
He crossed his legs and spread his right arm above the head rest. Tumango siya.
"Tell her we'll leave now. Sleep in my penthouse tonight."
"Maaga pa."
Tumayo na ako. Tiningala niya ako bago hinagod ng tingin ang kabuuan ko. His thick brow raised when it stop of my ass. Dinala niya ang kamay sa hita ko at marahan iyong hinaplos pababa. He bore his eyes back on my face again.
"You've been here for hours. That's already enough."
Natahimik ako, ramdam ang wirdong kiliti sa aking tiyan. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng pinagbabawalan. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag may naghihigpit at tila ba wala kang magagawa kung hindi ang sumunod.
I love how he's being authoritative and dominant at the same time. I love it more when I'm being a submissive in front of him.
Damn it. This is bad.
"Fine. Kapag nakita ko, kakausapin ko at magpapaalam. Kung sa penthouse mo ako matutulog, wala akong damit. Dadaan muna ako sa-"
"No need for any clothes. You will be naked all night anyway." the corner of his lips raised in an evil smirk.
Pinangdilatan ko siya ng mga mata, natatawa rin naman. Nagpaalam na ako at tuluyan nang tumalikod. I went to the comfort room. Pagpasok ko pa lang ay natanaw ko na si Ruth na nakaharap sa salamin at nagpapahid ng pulang lipstick sa labi niya.
I know for sure that she has already seen me through the mirror. Kaya lang... ayaw niya akong pansinin at alam kong si Terrence ang dahilan.
Huminga ako nang malalim at dumiretso na sa pagpasok. Wala namang tao kung hindi kaming dalawa lang. Kung mag-usap man kami, walang makakarinig.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked.
I stared at my own reflection doing nothing. Habang siya, nakatitig lang rin sa sarili niya sa salamin.
"Why would I get mad? Kasi nagkarelasyon kayo ng lalaking gusto ko?"
I sighed. "Whenever you're telling stories about the man you like so much, I admit that I didn't pay too much attention. Hindi ko naalala ang pangalan, wala akong natandaang detalye, Ruth. Nang makilala ko siya at sabihin mo sa akin na nasa Baguio rin ang Terrence Monasterio na crush mo, wala pa kaming relasyon noon. We were just plain strangers who happened to share the same room."
Tumaas ang kilay niya at sa wakas ay tiningnan na ako sa salamin.
"Shared the same room? Two strangers? What are you then, fuck buddies?"
Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kaniya ang naging simula namin ni Terrence. At nakakainsulto man ang katotohanang madaling may nangyari sa amin, naiinis pa rin ako sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya.
"The point here is that I didn't remember that he's the guy you are crushing hard on when he asked me to be in a relationship with him-"
"Wait," she laughed. "Are you seriously telling me that he was the one who wants that relationship you are talking about? I mean, that's Terrence Monasterio! He won't settle to-"
"To an older woman?" taas kilay na tanong ko. "Maging ikaw na kaibigan ko ba ay iinsultuhin ako dahil lang boyfriend ko ang lalaking gustong gusto mo? Are you that shallow and close minded, Ruth?"
Nagbuga siya ng hangin at tuluyan na akong hinarap. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ko. I can clearly see the anger and envy rolling on her smoky eyes. She even placed her hand against her waist as if she knew something that I don't and she's proud of it.
"We are friends for years, Priscilla. I care about you and you know that. Gusto ko man si Terrence pero hindi ibig sabihin ay pag-aawayan na natin siya. I'm not the cheap type, puwede ba..."
Talaga? Pero hindi ba at gagawin mo nga ang lahat para lang mapansin niya?
"I'm sorry if you feel betrayed that I'm in a relationship with the man you adore so much. Pero wala ka rin naman dapat ikagalit dahil labas iyon sa karapatan mo. You are a smart woman, Ruth. Alam kong alam mo iyan." sabi ko.
She swallowed, her lips even pursed. Ramdam ko ang galit na pilit niyang pinipigilan. Am I invalidating her feelings? I don't think so. Nauna siyang nagkagusto pero ako ang mas naunang makilala siya.
Damn it. I hate that we have to argue just because of a man.
"For sure. We're not going to ruin our friendship over this, right?" she smirked. "But let me you tell this, Priscilla. A friendly advice because I'm concern..."
She ambled towards me, closing our distance. Huminto siya sa mismong harapan ko, magkakrus ang mga braso.
"Terrence is a notorious playboy. His women were always playing around his age. Hindi pa ako nakarinig na nakipagrelasyon o landian siya sa mas matanda sa kaniya."
Ngumisi siya na bumuhay ng inis ko. She doesn't look concerned. She's obviously insulting me. At hindi ko lubos maisip na magagawa niyang umakto ng ganito dahil sa nagseselos siya.
I don't want to invalidate her feelings but she was too... immature!
"Please don't let your hopes high, Priscilla. Ayaw kitang makitang umiiyak nang dahil sa kaniya. Dahil iniwan ka niya at pagkatapos ay lalapit ka sa akin. I hate to think it but maybe... he's just seeing you as a challenge. A new flavor he wanted to taste. At sa bandang huli, pagsasawaan rin."
Coming from a friend? That fucking hurts.
I stepped forward, our faces were just a few inches away from each other.
"Ano man ang maging resulta ng pakikipagrelasyon ko sa kaniya, masaktan man ako, labas ka na doon. At kailan ako lumapit sa'yo? Ni minsan ay hindi kita ginulo sa tuwing may problema ako. Wala kang naririnig sa akin. Huwag kang umasta na para bang isa akong malaking abala sa'yo dahil hindi iyon kailanman nangyari..."
Ngumiti ako sa kaniya lalo pa nang makita ang iritasyon na bumabalot sa mga mata niya. I held a few strands of his iron curled hair and twisted around my finger.
I smirked.
"Your dream finally came true. You met him personally," the smirk on my lips grew wilder. "Can I get a thank you?"
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