Jade's POV
"H-Hello?" I can feel my heart thumping wildly inside my chest as I answer my phone. After three miserable days, Althea finally called me.
Or so I thought.
"Hello? Althea?" I repeated but still no answer from the line. All I can hear were loud music and crowd shouting.
Is she at a bar?
I removed my phone from my ear and took a glance at the screen to check if it's really Althea who's calling me. After making sure it is her, I rested my phone back against my ear.
"Althea?" I called her name once again but she's still not responding. Baka napindot lang.
I sigh with the thought and decided to end the call. But when I was about to push the end button, I heard a girl spoke from the other line.
"Hey. Need company?" She asked with a sultry voice and I can't help but to raise an eyebrow.
Someone's trying to flirt with my baby. I thought and even if I can't see the bitch's face, I've already killed her multiple times. I'm waiting if Althea will respond and I mentally grin when she didn't.
"We can have fun if you want me to. Dadalhin kita sa langit." The whore added. I can feel my temper starting to rise that made me grip my phone. Hard.
Still, Althea remained silent.
"Huwag ka ng mahiya, hottie. This will going to be the best night of you life, I promise."
Really? That's the best line she can throw? How pathetic. I retorted mentally as I try to keep myself cool but my insides are already boiling.
"Fuck off. Hindi ako nakikipagsex sa hipon." Althea snorted and I softly chuckled because of her statement.
Hahaha! That was a good one. I thoughtfully gave my baby a round of applause and a reward kiss.
"Hmp. Pakipot." I heard the bitch's faint voice and I'm sure she's already marching out. I heave a sigh of relief but that does not dwindle my longing for her.
I'm still feeling worried about her lalo na dahil nahalata kong lasing na ito dahil sa boses nito kanina. It pains me to think na ako ang dahilan bakit nagkakaganito ngayon si Althea.
Hindi 'ko na muna tinapos ang tawag because in that way, I have a chance to hear her voice. Kahit hindi 'ko siya kasama ngayon, parang nasa tabi 'ko na din siya. Kahit hindi naman niya ako kinakausap, okay lang basta naririnig 'ko kahit lang ang paghinga niya.
Half an hour had past at wala akong pakialam kahit maubos ang battery 'ko dahil sa haba ng duration ng tawag niya. Sinaksak 'ko pa sa charger 'tong phone 'ko para hindi ako ma-lowbatt. I even put her on a loud speaker para rinig na rinig 'ko kung ano ang nangyayari sa paligid niya.
After a couple of minutes, the music was suddenly replaced by acoustic and sweet one kaya mas lalo kong naririnig si Althea. I listen to her faint breathing and pain instantly whipped my heart when I heard her sobs quietly.
"I miss you, baby. I miss you so much." She mumbled on the other line and I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip.
"I miss you too, Althea." I answered softly though I know she wouldn't hear me. Tears now brimming in my eyes and my chest beginning to hurt.
I can feel how miserable she is right now and so am I. Sobra 'kong pinagsisisihan yung gabi na ipinagtabuyan 'ko siya. Nagkamali ako noong mas inintindi 'ko yung galit na nararamdaman 'ko kaysa sa kanya.
Alam 'ko na sobra 'ko siyang nasaktan kaya lahat gagawin 'ko para makabawi ako sa kanya. Kung kinakailangan na ako naman ang manuyo sa kanya, gagawin 'ko para lang bumalik siya sa akin.
"Jade, mahal na mahal kita pero ang sakit-sakit na."
And my heart was broken once again.
(A/N: There will be switching of POVs here. Gusto ko sana kay Jade lang kaya lang ang hirap. Lol. Peace)
Althea's POV
"Isa pa ngang vodka dito!" I shouted with my slurry voice.
Kanina pa 'ko umiinom at ramdam na ramdam 'ko na yung lakas ng tama sakin ng alak pero wala akong pakialam. Gusto kong maging manhid kahit sa ganitong paraan lang. Gusto 'ko munang takasan lahat ng sakit kahit sandali lang. Gusto 'ko muna kalimutan ang lahat kahit alam 'ko, paggising 'ko, babalik ang lahat.
This was my daily routine since that day.
The day I died once again.
Dapat nga sanay na 'ko sa ganito pero hindi. Ilang beses na 'kong nasa ganitong sitwasyon pero ganito pa din.
I wonder what I did wrong.
Ironic isn't it?
Parang kahapon lang sobrang pasasalamat 'ko sa mga bagay na meron ako kahit wala naman akong ginagawang tama. But here comes the time when you're wondering otherwise. Tinatanong mo naman yung sarili mo kung ano bang nagawa mong mali para mapunta ka sa sitwasyong ganito.
Life's really complicated.. And a bitch.
"Miss, mukhang lasing na po kayo. Pasensya na po pero hindi 'ko na po kayo mapagbibigyan."
Pucha. Hanggang dito ba naman? Quota na ah.
"Tinatanong ba kita? Ano ka ba dito?" I sarcastically retorted. Nagsisimula ng uminit ang ulo 'ko. I don't want to cause any trouble but this bartender is starting to get into my nerves.
"Miss, pasensya na pero hindi na po talaga pwede. Na sobrahan na po kayo sa alak. Umuwi na lang-" He wasn't able to finish his sentence when I slammed the glass on the counter which made him flinched.
Nararamdaman 'ko yung bubog sa palad 'ko at ang pag-agos ng dugo but I couldn't care less. Mas masakit pa yung inabot 'ko dito three days ago.
"Wala kang paki-alam. You'll give me another shot o babasagin 'ko tong bote sa ulo mo?" I'm no longer in control of myself. Parang anytime, sasabog ako. Lahat ng inis, frustration, lungkot, galit, disappointment, parang sabay-sabay kong nararamdaman ngayon. Idagdag pa ang alak sa sistema 'ko.
"M-Ma'am, huminahon po kayo. Tatawag po ako ng gwardya kung ganyan po kayo." Tila ba nagpantig ang tenga ko narinig. That's all I needed to hear para sumabog ang galit sa loob ko. My mind went into chaos and my body got a life of its own.
Wala na 'ko sa sarili.
Parang nabuhay na naman ang demonyo sa loob 'ko.
The next thing I knew was the stinging pain on my torso and I'm curling on the floor. Parang nakantohan ata yung tagiliran 'ko. I reached the edge of the counter, for support as I rested my back at the counter. I'm dizzy and it seems like the world is literally spinning.
I licked the blood on my side lip and I had to squint my right eye when I felt blood cascading down my cheek. My left jaw is practically numb and when I touched it, I felt a searing pain at the contact.
I roamed my left eye around the bar and I saw the crowd looking at me. Kahit madilim at hilong-hilo ako, nakita ko kung paano sila nagbubulungan habang nakatingin sa akin.
What the fuck is happening?
I tried my best to stand up but my side torso is hurting as hell as well as my left foot. I grabbed the stool beside me but to my luck, it fell down and my body crashed on the floor then everything went blank.
---------------
Jade's POV
"Hello?! Althea?!" And the line went dead.
Shit!
I hurriedly grab my car keys and went to the bar where Althea is situated. Kanina 'ko pa ito gustong puntahan noong narinig 'kong parang nagkakagulo sa kabilang linya. Mabuti na lang nabanggit ng isang customer kung ano ang pangalan ng bar kaya hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng panahon para puntahan si Althea.
I can feel my heart racing and my palms starting to sweat. My hands are shaking uncontrollably against the stirring wheel. The odds must be in my favor right now when the guards on our gate were sleeping soundly kaya napadali ang paglabas 'ko sa mansion.
I'm still wearing my strawberry onesie but the hell I care. All I want is to be with Althea right now. I hope everything's okay - that she is fine.
I don't know what happened because after Althea shouted at the bartender, narinig 'ko na lang na parang nagkakagulo. May mga bote na nababasag, taong nagsisigawan then suddenly the line was cut off. I'm lucky enough because I'm familiar with the bar at malapit lang ito sa bahay.
Halos paliparin 'ko na yung kotse 'ko sa bilis ng takbo. Tatlong beses na din ako nag-beat ng red light. Buti na lang, hatinggabi na at wala ng halos sasakyan sa daan.
After fifteen minutes, narating 'ko ang bar. I quickly parked my car and walk straight at the entrance pero bago pa man ako makapasok, I spotted a familiar figure limping its way out.
My heart was pricked by invincible needles and my whole body froze when I saw how disheveled and broken she were. Blood all over her shirt and her right hand was pressed on her left torso. She may have sprained her left ankle as I notice how she's struggling to walk.
I'm so sorry, Althea. This is all my fault. I cried with the thought and watched how she slowly walk her way to her car. I suddenly felt anger risen inside me and I swear to God that I will do everything para maipasara itong bar as soon as possible.
When I saw her leaned in at the side of her SUV, I ran to her as fast as I could. Naabutan 'ko siyang sumusuka sa gilid dahil siguro sa kalasingan. Her back is facing me kaya hindi niya napansin na nasa likuran niya na ako.
"A-Althea.." I tried not to break my voice but I'm giving in. I saw her body stiffened as she turned her body to face me.
I gasp the moment I sighted her face and I let my tears flow freely. She has a cut on her side lip at putok din ang kanang kilay nito. She also has a faint bruise on her left cheek. Her right hand that's pressed on her left torso was full of blood.
Oh God, what have I done?
---------------
Althea's POV
"What are you doing here?" I asked her coldly the moment I turned my body to her. She looked at me with all tenderness, ignoring my rising anger.
How the hell did she find me here?
She slowly walked near me but I took a step back. Pain instantly washed all over her face from what I did.
"Jade, what are you doing here?" I asked once again with rather low and warning tone. Para naman siyang natauhan ng marinig ang boses 'ko. She cleared her throat and wiped the tears with the back of her hands.
"I'm here to take you home." She answered casually. I looked at her intently. No one dared to speak. We just stayed like that until my side torso started to throb in pain. She might have notice my discomfort so she dared to take a step forward to me but I lift my hand to stop her.
"N-No. I can take care of myself. Umuwi ka na." I said while panting. I'm trying to look tough but my head started spinning. The alcohol effect and continuous flow of blood from my right hand are taking its toll on me. Napasandal na lang ako at napahawak sa pinto ng kotse ko.
"Althea, please. Look at you! I won't leave you like this! Let me take you home." She exasperates. I can sense her growing impatience.
"Umalis ka na. Kaya kong umuwi mag-isa." I stubbornly refuse. I'm clearly not fine to drive all by myself but I'm still mad at her. I miss her but I'm fighting it. With just the thought of her accepting her engagement with David, is enough to fumed me up.
I harshly stood up from leaning on my car that I forgot my sprained ankle. I shouted in pain and I almost fell on the ground if Jade wasn't able to catch me.
"That's it! I'm going to take you home whether you like it or not." She said through gritted teeth. She carefully snaked my left arm on her shoulder. I wanted to push her away but I'm too weak and the pain I'm feeling is taking my whole body over.
I can hear her whispering cuss words while sobbing. I don't want her to see me like this. I don't want her to think that I'm weak and miserable without her. I don't want her to think that I'm a wreck all because of her.
Because even though I'm still mad at her, I can't stand seeing her cry.
Kapag umiiyak siya ng ganito, mas nasasaktan ako. At mas masakit dahil ako ang dahilan ng mga luha ngayon sa mata niya.
Her pain is my pain just as her happiness is mine.
She opened the passenger door for me and slowly let me go. I had to catch my breathing because I feel so drained with just walking around my car. Jade just stood beside me and hold the door so it won't slam.
After my breathing get steady, I gather all my strength to lift my self up and got in. Dahil medyo mataas ang SUV ko, nahirapan ako. My body felt numb from heat to toe. Pakiramdam ko anytime, magcocollapse na 'ko.
Jade tried to buckle my seatbelt but the moment it made contact on my left torso, I felt a scorching pain that made me cried mercilessly. I never felt so useless and vulnerable not until now. Jade ran to the driver seat after closing my door. Hindi na rin niya ikinabit ang seatbelt ko dahil hindi ko rin kaya.
As soon as she settled herself in, she took my right hand that's dripping with blood. She gasps upon seeing how deep the cuts were. She lightly trace every cut and carefully removed the remaining shards of the glass I slammed earlier. Though her head is bowed down, I can tell that she's crying. I just watched her clean my wounds and cried with her silently until she wraps it up with her handkerchief. I looked away to wipe my tears and I'm aware she did the same as I heard her sniff before clearing her throat.
"Dumaan muna tayo sa drugstore para bumili ng disinfectant bago kita iuwi. Kailangan malinis mabuti yang sugat mo." She said in a rather monotonous tone.
"Okay." I answered still looking at the window. I heard her sigh before she started my car's engine.
"Hatakin mo yung seatbelt mo." She ordered.
"Huh?" I glanced at her with confusion.
"Ang sabi 'ko-"
"I heard what you said. What for?" I cut her off that clearly pissed her off. She gripped the steering wheel and heave a sigh. I can't help but to look at her in awe and smirk. She looks so sexy when she's mad that I want to ripped her strawberry onesie off and devour her whole.
Right here. Right now.
Say what, Althea? You should be mad at her, right?
Fuck this hormones.
And that vodka.
And to top it all, this Jade effect.
Bago pa man ako may magawa sa babaeng 'to, hinatak 'ko na yung seatbelt 'ko gaya ng sabi niya at iniabot sa kanya. Sinuot niya yung seatbelt sa wrist niya kaya parang nakaseatbelt na din ako pero ang nasisilbing lock, ay yung kamay niya.
I looked at her but her eyes are on the road. Hindi din siya nag-aabalang tignan ako pero nararamdaman 'kong dama din niya yung titig 'ko. After a while, I tore my gaze off and smiled. This girl.
And that's all it takes to win me over once again.