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Being with the playful and sweet Nicholas is one hundred percent much better than the mad Nicholas, that's for sure, Roxanne thinks. Nikko looked freaking scary getting mad. Pakiramdam ni Roxanne ay biglang napunta sa ibang dimensyon ang sweet at playful side ni Nikko that time.
Pero ano ba ang magagawa nya? Possessive ito when it comes to her. Nasasanay na sya, pero hindi pa rin sya ganun nakakapag adjust. May side pa rin sya na nasasakal, but she really liked it when Nikko's being sweet and all.
She saw the frustrations in his eyes when she told him na i drop o ihatid na sya sa apartment nila ni Yna. She wanted him to think of things ng wala sya sa tabi nito. Ayaw nyang maging dependent si Nikko sa kanya. Ayaw nyang kapag magdedesisyon ito ay palaging nandun sya dahil pareho nilang alam na maiimpluwnsyahan at maiimpluwensyahan ng presensya nya ang desisyon na gagawin ng lalaki.
"You came home early." Naka ngiti na sabi ni Yna ng pagbuksan sya nito ng pinto.
She sighed at pasalampak na naupo sa gilid ng kama nila. "You won't believe what happened." Naiiling at para pa rin na wala sa sarili na sabi nya.
"Woah. Bakit? May LQ na naman ba kayo?" Binitawan ni Yna ang hawak na baso at umupo sa tabi nya.
"Not really. We went to their house. I told Nikko that I wanted to see Raven and to meet Astor."
"Oh, na meet mo naman ba?"
"Y-yeah.. in a different way. Nilalaro ko si Raven ng bigla syang sumulpot sa likod ko. Nagpakilala sya. I was a bit stunned since swear, ang gwapo nya. Tapos biglang tinawag ako'ng mama ni Raven. Bigla na lang lumapit si Astor tas sinabi na pwede daw ako'ng maging totoong mama ni Raven and that i should marry him. Hinawakan pa ako sa pisngi." Mabilis at parang aligaga na kwento nya.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Yna. "What? Uh.. where's Nikko? What did he said?"
"Eto na nga. At that scene, bumalik si Nikko. Pumunta sya ng kusina para uminom tapos sabi ko dalhan nya ako ng juice. Nabasag yung dalang baso na may juice ni Nikko tapos bigla nyang tinulak si Astor. You don't know kung gaano ako kakabado that time."
"What happened then?" Halatang hindi na rin makahuma si Yna.
"I swear, i really thought na mananapak na si Nikko noon. He's mad. Hella mad. Buti dumating si Erah. Then hinila na ako paalis ni Nikko. Hanggang sa kotse, nanggigigil pa rin sya. I calmed him down a bit tapos nagpahatid na ako dito."
Yna sighed. "I thought pa naman na magiging okay samahan nila nung Astor."
"Well, Nikko already warned me na may kakaiba daw talaga dun sa kapatid nya."
Yna's eyebrowse furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Something dark. I almost laughed when he said that, pero ngayon, ewan. Nagawa pang ngumiti nung Astor sa ganung sitwasyon."
Hindi nya na sinabi kay Yna yung pagpunta ni Lauren sa condo ni Nikko nung Sabado.. and how Nikko said he thinks she's always holding back.
She just focused on the thought na isang linggo na lang ay malaya na sya sa ojt nya. Magiging normal na kahit papaano ang buhay nya since madalas na naman syang pupunta sa school. Hindi nya na iniisip na maaaring makita nya ulit si Alex dahil hindi naman iyon maiiwasan.
But she moved on, and she found a much better person to be with.
Kinabukasan, hindi nya natiis na hindi tawagan si Nikko. Hindi ito nagtext sa kanya o tumawag mula ng ihatid sya nito sa apartment nila ni Yna. She gave him time that day, pero hindi pa rin ito nagparamdam hanggang Monday ng umaga.
So ng makaalis na si Yna at ready na sya paalis, she calld him.
"Babe.." He groaned as he answered her call.
"Uh.. Good morning." She bit her lip after realizing how stupid she sounded.
She heard him chuckle on the other line. "That's lame. You're not with me so it's really not that good.." Pansin nya na parang groggy ang boses nito.
"Uh.. hindi ka kasi tumawag simula kagabi so I was wondering kung okay ka na ba.." Pahina ng pahina ang boses nya habang sinasabi nya iyon.
"I'm sorry babe. I-i went out with some friends. I thought you're mad so hindi na muna kita kinulit."
"San ka pumunta?" Parang biglang bumalik sa kanya yung eksena na nakita nya sa bar bago maging sila.
"Bar hopping. I'm sorry hindi na ako nakapagpaalam-"
"No it's fine. Unless.. may nilandi ka na naman kagabi." Again, pahina ng pahina ang boses nya while saying it.
"Of course none! I just thought that i needed to go out last night.. Galit ka pa ba?"
"No. Hindi naman ako nagalit. I just.. i just thought na kailangan mo talaga mag loosen up."
"Whew. Akala ko galit ka kasi poker face ka nung nagpahatid ka yesterday.."
It's her turn to laugh. "No. Mangungulit ka pa kasi kapag hindi ako mukhang seryoso."
"You always amuse me."
"So.. i'll hang up. Papasok na ako."
"Alright. Pwede ba kita sunduin later?"
"Uh, wag na. Wala ka bang gagawin?"
"Meron ako schedule ng commercial later. Sana matakpan ng make up pagka haggard ng mukha ko." Natatawa na sabi nito.
"May schedule ka naman pala- Astor-" Napatigil sya ng biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa ang bulto ng tao na ni sa panaghinip ay hindi nya inakalang makikita nya.
"What? Did you just called me Astor?" She heard him said on the other line.
Astor was standing in front of her, smiling brightly as if it's really normalfor her to see him at that time at that place. He was wearing a cream slacks and a black polo tucked beneath his slacks. He looks royal, but still creepy.
"I-I'll call you later. Bye. I love you." Nagmamadali nyang sabi bago pinutol ang linya. "W-what are you doing here? How did you-" Naputol na naman ang pagsasalita nya ng mabilis itong naglakad palapit sa kanya.
"You're pretty, Mademoiselle." He was looking at her like he was mesmerized. Malamlam ang mga mata nito.
Mabilis syang umatras. Biglang nag iba ang kanina ay maliwanag na umaga. "Don't come near me!" She said.
He smiled. "I did not come here to harm you, Mademoiselle."
Biglang nag vibrate yung cellphone nya. Si Nikko. She had to drop the call. Pero umulit ito hanggang sa hinayaan nya na lang.
"Then why did you come here? How did you know where I live?" it's really frustrating and amazing at the same time.
He grinned. "It's really not that hard finding someone with their cellphone being used by them."
Bigla nyang tiningnan yung cellphone nya na patuloy pa rin sa pagba vibrate. "What do you want?" Angil nya dito.
He chuckled. "I really like the way you react at things. It make me want to protect you."
She sighed, wanting to take control of the situation. "Look, i'll be late. I have to go to work."
"Ah, i know. That's why i took the chance to fetch you."
"What?"
"I brought my car. And, please do not worry if I'm not familiar with the place because i got a smart car. With navigation thing." He explained.
Okay, mas lalo syang nakaramdam ng pagka creepy.
"A-are you stalking me?" No matter how ridiculous it sound, iyon ang tanging naiisip nya.
"I'm afraid that the word stalking is a strong word."
"I- please, I have to go." wala na syang maisip sabihin dito.
"No one's stoping you, Mademoiselle. Just let me escort you then." Gumilid ito at tila gentleman na ihinawi pa ang mga braso paturo sa pintuan.
Wala na syang nagawa kundi ang sumakay sa drama nito. Diretso syang naglakad matapos i lock ang pinto. Sumusunod lang sa kanya si Astor.
Pinagbuksan sya nito ng pinto ng kotse nito. She was really thinking kung hanggang doon ba ay sasakyan nya ito o baka mapahamak sya at saan sya dalhin nito pero nangibabaw ang tapang sa kanya. May dala syang pepper spray.
Bagong bago ang sasakyan nito. At kagaya ng sinabi nya, may navigation system nga ito. Nilingon nya ang lalaki ng sabihin nito sa navigation system ng sasakyan nito kung saan sila pupunta. The freaking exact location of the building. Logarte building.
He just grinned at her.
"Aren't you going to tell him?" Nasa kalagitnaan na sila ng byahe ng magtanong ito.
"Tell who?" Tanong nya ng hindi ito tinitingnan.
"Nicholas."
Hindi sya sumagot.
"He might be worried.." Hindi nya alam kung ano ang gusto nitong ipahiwatig.
"He'll definitely be." Sagot nya.
"Why don't you call him then?"
"He's not my mom for me to report all of my activities." Iritadong sagot nya.
Tumawa ito. "You have that attitude that makes you look sexy."
"Thanks." Walang gana na sagot nya. "I really don't know why you're doing this, or what you really plan, but-"
"I don't plan anything. I just do it."
"Then why did you do this?"
"I need to meet you."
"Why?!" This time ay nilingon nya na ito habang nagdadrive.
"Just to meet you. Can't we be friends?"
"How do you want me to be your friend after asking me to marry you the first time we met?"
He chuckled. "Oh, that. That wasn't really the intention.. but i do mean it. You standing there, carrying Raven felt like we should really be a family."
Hindi sya nagsalita.
"But yeah, you're my brother's girl. Who would have thought that we'd have the same taste in a woman?" Umiling iling pa ito.
Hanggang sa makarating na sila sa labas ng gate ng building ay hindi nya ito kinausap. She just muttered a simple 'Thanks' then left him.
Kumaway lang ito bago pinasibad ang kotse nya.
Kumalma na sya ng makalabas na sya ng kotse nito. Sumakay na sya ng elevator.
Papasok na sya sa office ng departmen nila ng may biglang yumakap sa kanya mula sa likod nya that stopped her from walking.
Kitang kita nya ng mapasinghap ang mga katrabaho nya sa eksenang iyon. They were all looking on her and whoever hugged her.
Dali dali nyang tinulak kung sino man iyon at muntik na syang mapasigaw ng makita na si Nikko iyon. Magulo pa ang buhok nito at halatang bagong gising. Bagamat naka bihis na ito ay hindi maikakaila na kakagaling lang nito sa kama.
"S-sir.." She muttered. Yumuko sya.
"What happened? Pinuntahan ka ba ni Astor?" Wala na ito'ng pakealam kung marami silang audience ng oras na iyon, pero sya, iyon ang tanging naiisip nya.
"Ah, eh-" Hindi nya alam ang sasabihin.
Muli sya nitong nilapitan at hinila papunta sa cubicle nya.. pero wala ring kwenta dahil sinundan sila ng tingin ng mga ka trabaho nya.
"Nicholas ano ba? What the hell are you doing here?" Mariin pero mahinang tanong nya.
"Pinuntahan ka ba ni Astor? Answer me!" Tumaas ang boses nito. Napapitlag sya. "What did that bastard did to you? Did he touched you? What did he tell you?"
She sighed. Wala na syang magagawa. Malamang ay malaman na rin naman ng mga tao sa paligid ang totoong relasyon nila.
"Calm down, okay. Yes, he went to the apartment but he did nothing." Kalmado ko'ng sabi.
Lumapit sa kanya si Nikko at muli syang yinakap. Kitang kita nya ang pagka gulat ng mga tumitingin sa kanila but she couldn't care anymore.
"I thougt.. bakit ba hindi mo sinasagot mga tawag ko kanina? Hindi mo ba alam kung gaano ako nag worry? Damn it!" Sabi nito ng maghiwalay na sila.
"N-nicholas.." Saway nya.
Luminga linga ito, as if noon pa lang naging aware sa eksena na ginawa nito. "I'm sorry." Sabi nito."The thought that he came for you made me rushed to your apartment pero wala ka na dun. Sabi nung katiwala umalis ka na daw at may kasama ka."
Hindi sya nagalita.
He sighed then looked at the other employees. Umiwas ng tingin ang mga ito at nagkunwari na bumalik na sa trabaho.
"I apologize for the scene." Biglang malakas na sabi ni Nikko. "I'm sure maiintindihan nyo ako kung kayo mismo makakaranas na malagay sa panganib yung minamahal nyo." Unti unting nagsitinginan yung mga tao sa kanya.
She pressed her lips together. Eto na, one week na lang naman sya. Titiisin nya na lang ang mga chismis o kung ano pa man.
"Again, sorry." Yumuko pa ito sa harap nila bago muling bumalik sa harap ko at hinila ako palabas doon.
Pumasok sila sa isa'ng bakanteng meeting room.
Marahas nyang tinanggal ang pagkakahawak sa kamay nya ni Nikko.
"Are you crazy? Why did you do that?"
"Oo, baliw na nga yata ako thinking na sumama ka sa kapatid ko." He was panting. "Bakit ka sumama kay Astor? Bakit? You know what he did to you yesterday!"
"Ano'ng gusto mo'ng gawin ko? He was there. He offered me a ride. And yeah, he told me though not directly that he likes me. But it doesn't change a thing, okay? Ikaw yung mahal ko. Ikaw lang. You don't have to do rash things like this!"
Imbes na sumagot, he cupped her face and kissed her torridly.
Pero itinulak nya ang lalaki. "Stop it!" Inis na tugon nya.
"Let's not fight, please. No." Bigla ay nagsumamo ito.
"Look at you! Starting a mess pero takot na takot na mag away tayo. Stop acting like a child."
"I'm not!" Mabilis na sagot nito. "HIndi ko ginusto na maging ganito. I was a different person before you came, Roxanne. Kahit ako hindi ko na kilala ang sarili. Isa na lang ang alam ko at gusto kong gawin. Iyon ang ang mahalin ka. Sa tingin mo ba ginusto ko na gawin to? I was just fucking worried of what he might do to you! Pero ngayon, ako pa ang mali!"
"I am not restricting you to care, or to be worried. Pero Nicholas naman. Sana inisip mo kung ano mangyayari sa ginawa mo." She's calm but her voice doesn't waver.
"So what kung malaman nila na tayo? So what kung anak ako ng may ari ng lintek na kumpanyang ito at empleyada o nag o ojt ka lang dito? Bakit ba ang big deal sayo?"
"You don't know what they would think matapos nila malaman ang lahat.. Wala ka sa kalagayan ko. At hinding hindi ka kailanman mapupunta sa kalagayan ko." Tumulo na yung luha na kanina pa nagbabadya. Palagi na lang silang ganito.
"Why does their opinion matters? Roxanne.. nasasaktan ako kapag ganito ang usapan natin. Pakiramdam ko napaka walang kwenta ko na hindi mo man lang magawang ipagsigawan na ako ang boyfriend mo."
"You know it's not true!" Agad na sagot nya.
Mapait na ngumiti si Nikko. "Gusto ko lang tandaan mo Roxanne. Mahal na mahal kita. Hindi ko alam na magmamahal ako ng ganito sa buong buhay ko. Sana inaappreciate mo ako dahil nasasaktan ako." Tapos unti unti syang tumalikod at lumabas.
Roxanne was left stunned.