"Trust is a greater compliment given to you than love itself."
°°°
Alex (girl)
I wake up from my restless sleep. Tossing and turning was all I did last night. It's been a week since that hot kiss we did.
At hanggang ngayon hindi ako mapakali. That night, Richard texted me saying he wanted to see me.
Ofcourse I didn't want to so I told him ti fuck off. Natatakot ako sa pwedeng mangyari pag nakipagkita pa ulit ako sa kanya.
He said someone was looking for me and that he wanted to see if I'm okay. Andami niyang alam.
I faced palmed and sigh heavily.
I am going to give in? Am I going? Richard is giving me head ache this early in the morning.
On cue, my phone rang.
"Hello?" sagot ko kahit hindi ko pa tinitignan yung caller ID.
"Lexi," Richard.
"Sino to?" tanong ko kahit alam ko na kung sino.
"It's me, Richard. Please I want to see you,"
"Bakit mo naman naisip na papayag ako?"
"I don't, that's why I'm begging,"
Begging? I scoffed.
"No," I answered firmly.
"Nasa labas ako ng bahay niyo. Kakatok ba ako or are you going to see me out," what the.
No! Tita's not suppose to see him. Patay ako kay dad nito.
Bago pa ako makapag-isip, tumakbo na ako pababa. Pagbukas ko ng pinto nanduon siya, nakasandal sa gate.
Parang tumigil lahat ng nasa paligid ko pati na rin yunh puso ko.
He's here, wearing his favorite hoodies and vans with tight jeans.
Suddenly it hurts everywhere. I just sunk in my spot watching him hurry to where I am helping me up.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
No!
Don't touch me!
I'm screaming inside but nothing comes out. I can't open my mouth.
As if on cue, biglang umulan.
"Don't touch me," I spat.
"Please, let me help you," he begged.
Alex (boy)
"What are you doing here?!" sigaw ni Alex.
Naglalakad ako pauwi nang may nakita akong kotse sa tapat ng bahay nila.
Curiositygot the best of me kaya lumapit ako. Gusto kong pumunta sa kinaroroonan nila pero pinigilan ko sarili ko. This is not my business so I don't have the right to meddle with this.
I remained grounded under the rain.
"Please Lexi, makinig ka," sabi nung lalaki. Nakatalikod siya kaay di ko makita mukha niya.
"Bakit pa ako makikinig sayo Richard eh wala ka naman dapat sabihin! Everything is done and settled when you chose to bet me in that freaking game of yours!" her hands came flying in her hair pulling at the roots hurting me even more.
Hindi ko pa siya nakitang ganiti. She must've really been hurt by him kaya siya nagkakaganyan.
Nagsimulang tumulo luha niya ang before I know it naglalakad na ako papalapit sa kanila.
Her eyes locked with mine and as if on instinct, I wrapped my arms around her. Alam kong basang basa ako but I couldn't care less.
"Pare, I think you need to go," I bit looking straight in his eyes.
Tumango lang siya and turned to his heels leaving.
Umiiyak lang si Alex sa yakap ko. Good thing it's raining, kundi narinig na nila tita mga sigaw niya.
"Wanna go in?" I whispered.
Tumango lang din siya and I led her in.
"Oh! Bat ka basang basa Alex?! Bat umiiyak si Alex?" tarantang tanong ni tita.
Dali dali siyang kumuha ng twalya at binigay sa akin. Pinaupo ko naman si Alex sa sofa.
''Ayos ka lang Alex?" tanong ni tita sa kanya. Tumahan na siya at pinupunasan ang mata.
"Okay lang po tita. May hindi lang po kami napagkaintindihan ni Alex," oh, right.
Tita turmed to me and looked at me expecting something.
Buti nalang nagsalita si Alex.
"Tita okay lang po ba na mag-usap muna kami ni Alex sa kwarto? May dapat pa po kasi kaming pag-usapan eh," paalam niya.
"Oo naman, ayusin niyo kung ano man yan ha? Ayokong nag-aaway kayo. Mag-aakyat nalang ako ng tuyong damit at kape," pumayag naman agad si tita.
Alex led me up her room barely touching me.
--
Once I've changed and dried, I settled myself on the edge of her bed sipping in my coffee.
Hindi nagsasalita si Alex. Nakaupo lang malapit sa may headboard.
"Are you okay baby?" I cooed.
"Oo, pagod lang," sagot naman niya.
"You know you can talk to me," I urged.
"I know," sagot niya.
"Richard, ex ko. Pumunta siya dito and he wanted to mend things between us," she sniffled.
Alam ko naman na ito na kalalabasan ng pagpunta ng ex niya dito eh. I kind of prepared myself. But this hit me 10 times and I can't put myself to understand.
"Ikaw, ano ba gusto mo?" tanong ko sakanya. Naririnig ko tibok ng puso ko, getting ready for a hit from her answer.
"He's also mg ex OG," oh.
"So you mean....." hindi niya ako pinatapos.
"Yes, I'm a former gangster. I really don't want to tell you pero lagi akong nagiguilty sa tuwing kasama kita. You don't know me well and I don't really know you well kaya nung una akala ko quits lang tayo pero alam ko din na hindi maganda kalalabasan pag naglihim pa ako sayo," sabi niya sa akin na nakayuko.
"Sorry," tuloy niya.
"Sshh," I cooed. "You don't have to be sorry. I have nothing against you being an ex G hell I don't even care if you're still a gangster. The day I decided that I love you is the day I said to myself that no matter what I learn about you, tatanggapin ko. Now I'm asking you what you want to do, since your ex wanted to fix things between you," I said my last words forcefuly.
"No, no, please Alex, ayokong maayos yung sinira niya. I've forgiven him already but that doesn't mean I want us back," she quickly threw her arms around my neck behind me.
A sigh of relief was released from me dahil sa narinig ko. She still wants us.
I faced her, held her gaze and kissed her. Like my life depends on that kiss.
I wanted her to feel na hindi ko rin gusto na mawala kung ano mang meron kami.
Gusto kong maramdaman niya na pwede niyang sabihin sa akin lahat ng mga sikreto niya and I won't judge her for that.
She kissed me back wanting to more. I want more too but I know she's not ready and I'm willing to wait so I pulled out of the kiss kissing her forehead.
"I love you," I whispered.
"I love you," she breathed.
**