Chapter 10 – Again?
Rein’s P.O.V.
Nagising ako the next day in my room. Siguro dinala ako ni Papa papunta dito. Nakatulog kasi ako habang nanonood kami ng movie ni Papa. Haha. Parang bata lang ako.
I took a bath and nagayos. Wala naman akong pasok sa office today pero gusto mamasyal. And gusto daw ako makita ni Kuya Nico and Kuya Franco, my 2nd cousins from my mother side. They’re twins and 4 years older than me. They’re Tito Alfred and Tita Kath’s sons. They also treat me as their baby sister.
I went down to the dinning room to see that Papa has prepared breakfast for me and left a note.
Pinatawag ako bigla sa office. I prepared breakfast na for you. I’ll go home before you even notice. Love you my Princess.
~Papa.
Kumuha ako nang juice and before pa ako makaupo to eat, may nagdoorbell.
I went out to see Alex waiting by his Jaguar XL Luxury. I ran towards the gate and opened it. I asked him na pumasok sa house.
“Sorry if I went here without permission. I just wanted to see you before I start my day.” Then he handed me a boquet of roses.
I’ve been receiving flowers from him and from people I don’t know constantly. Almost everday, may naghihintay na flowers sa office ko or sa harap ng bahay ko. I just end up giving them to my friends kasi nga ang dami na.
“Talaga lang ha? No, it’s okay. Did you eat breakfast already? Kain tayo.”
While we were eating, I received a phone call from my sister asking me if I could go to her school because she needed someone who could talk to her school’s guidance councelor. May nagawa daw kasi siya and nakita nung professor na sobrang strict tapos sinabi daw agad sa concelor. Ayaw niya guluhin si Dad at si Mom tapos ayaw niya daw kila Seth o kay Safe.
I just canceled yung meet-up namin nila Kuya Franco and Kuya Nico and decided na pumunta nalang sa school nila Bliss.
While I was washing the dishes, Alex came to me by the kitchen counter…
“I see that you’re going somewhere. Can I go with you?” He asked.
“I’m going to my sister’s university. The councelor wants to talk to me.” I told him habang hinuhugasan yung last na plate.
“Oh? Why? Where does your sister study ba?”
“Princeton Unviersity. Sama ka?”
We decided to use my car pero siya yung nagdrive papunta sa Princeton. While we were on our way, nakuwento niya saakin na his uncle is the owner of Princeton. Sabi niya pa na if my sister has problems about sa school, I can ask for his help daw.
He toured me around the campus first when we got there. My sister texted me na she will be waiting near the faculty room kaya pumunta na kami doon. Naabutan namin si Bliss na may kausap na guy around her age.
“Ate! Oh my gosh! Super thank you! Sorry if I ruined your appointments for today. Meron ba?” She asked me habang nagbebeso kami.
“I was suppose to meet Kuya Franco and Nico but I canceled it. Ano ba ginawa mo? And who is he?” Then tinuro ko yung lalaki na katabi niya. The guy was cute. He was tall, his skin complexion is really white, and he wears glasses.
“Sorry. Kasi naman yung bwiset na guidance yan eh! Anyway, this is Bryan Jared Bustamante. My boyfriend.”
“What?! Why didn’t you tell us? How long na?! Ow, and watch your words.”
“Nearly 3 months. Ayoko sabihin kasi baka magalit si Dad. And who’s with you?” Habang tinuturo niya si Alex.
“Bliss, this is Alex. He’s the one whose been sending all those flowers sa bahay and sa office. Alex, this is Bliss, my sister.” They shook hands while Bliss while grining at me.
Biglang may lumabas na Girl around 50 years old+. She looks really strict. “Mr. Vergara! What brings you here?”
“Ma’am! Long time no see. I’m here with my friend.” He answered. Si Bliss naman parang lumaki yung mata sa gulat.
“Oh, I see.” Then girl looked at me intensely. “So, Ms. Yllustre, this is your sister. Am I right?” Bliss just nodded. “Where are your parents?”
Ako na mismo ang sumagot. “Ma’am our parents are busy that’s why they sent me here.”
Sinungitan niya lang ako nang tingin. She shifted her eyes to Bryan who was looking very relaxed. “Mr. Bustamante, don’t tell that your gurdian is going to be late again.”
“He’ll be here in a minute, Ma’am.” Bryan answered shortly.
We waited 20 minutes in the professor’s office yet wala parin yung kapatid ni Bryan. Alex and the guidance counselor just ended to have a little chitchat. Napakiusapan naman ni Alex na hindi na palakihin yung issue, so we ended up having lunch ng sabay-sabay.
Alex brought us to a simple yet elegant restaurant. Alex and Bryan were the ones who ordered because they’re the only ones who knew the specialties in this restaurant since first time lang namin makaka-kain ni Bliss dito.
“So Bryan, is Blake Bustamante somehow related to you?” Alex asked him while a was about to drink from my glass of wine.
“Yes, he’s my brother.” I almost threw up the wine inside my mouth when I heard that.
“BROTHER MO SI BLAKE?! YUNG RACE CAR DRIVER?!” I can’t keep my voice down because of the shock that came to me. Bigla nalang din ako siniko ni Bliss.
My sister is clearly dating the well-known-cassanova’s brother. I just knew that she was in a relationship but it looks like na tututol ako sa relationship nila. How can I even make sure na hindi niya sasaktan yung kapatid ko?!
Napatingin sila saakin because of my uncontroled loud voice. You can’t blame me. I was in shock!
“Honey, would you mind keeping your voice down?” I felt Alex’s breath while he was whispering in a soft and calm tone.
“Sorry.” I blushed when I noticed that almost everyone in the restaurant was looking at me. Parang gusto ko nalang iwish na the ground would swallow and hide me in this exact moment.
“Yes, Ate. But he’s not living with us anymore. And if you’re thinking that I’m like him, No. I’m not.” He said with an annoyed tone. Clearly, he doesn’t want to be compared with his older brother and clearly, he looks really different. He looked… loyal and good.
“Sorry about that. I just… I just don’t like your brother.”
“Ate, I’ve met Kuya Blake before! He’s really nice. The issues about him aren’t true. Mabait siya, Ate.” My sister said while she was holding my hand that was on the table. My sister looked like she was telling the truth but still, I don’t know him.
“Blake’s a good friend of mine. He’s not what you think. Maybe you should meet him.” Alex said naman while using his inviting tone.
I was caught off guard by the people I’m with. They’re all saying that this Blake is a good person even though he plays with girls hearts.
I just nodded and we continued to eat our lunch. When we finished eating, nagpaalam na sila Bliss and Bryan because they have classes pa daw.
**
A month has passed since I met Alex.
He started courting me the second week I met him.
I told him that I wasn’t prepared for any relationships yet pero he told me na ready daw siya maghintay.
He’s been really sweet. Lagi niya akong sinusundo, binibilan nang flowers and chocolates, he’s been a gentleman.
Naawa na nga ako lagi sakanya kasi I had no plans on taking the level of our friendship higher. Happy na ako nang ganito lang. Pero sabi niya, ipo-prove niya daw na he’s not like any other guys. Sana lang totoo.
At ngayon ay nandito kami sa isang restobar, nagde-date. Lagi nalang kasi after nang work namin, he would pick me up at the office and we will have dinner.
We were eating our dinner when someone came up to him. “Omygosh! Alex!”
A blonde girl who wore a daring mini-dress approached Alex in a shocked tone. Tumayo naman si Alex from his chair and hugged her.
“Natalie! Since when did you come back? It’s been…. A while since we last saw each other.”
Sige lang. Act like I’m not here. Nakakainis ha.
Alex asked her to join us. Hindi man lang tinanong kung okay lang saakin. Tsk.
After kumain, pumunta kami sa may bar counter to stay there and have some drinks. Hindi naman ako umiinom so I just ordered non-alchoholic cocktails. Ang magkatabi ay si Alex at si Natalie.
Hindi ko alam pero naiinis ako kay Natalie. Nakakinis talaga. It was like when she arrived here, I became invisible to Alex.
Nagpaalam si Alex na kukunin niya lang daw sa car yung naiwan niyang phone I was left there with Natalie. -.-
“So, Rein, How long do you know Alex?”
“Just a few weeks.”
“Wow. So, he’s been courting you?”
“Yes.”
“Hai nako. Careful ka dyan. Maloko yan minsan.” He said while slightly laughing.
“Why do you know him to well?” Bigla ko nalang nasabi sa inis ko.
“I’m his Ex-girlfriend.” She smiled.
EX girlfriend pero kung maglandian kayo kanina sa harap ko parang wala nang bukas! T.T
My smile faded and bigla ko nalang kinuha yung drink na naiwan ni Alex and drank it straight. Natawa siya sa ginawa ko.
“Don’t worry. Hindi ka naman dapat magselos. Hindi ko naman siya aagawain sayo.” Ang fake nang smile niya. Ang fake nang tawa niya. ANG FAKE NIYA!!
ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!
Bigla tuloy ako napaorder nang vodka at napainom nang napainom. Bigla nalang pumasok sa isip ko kung bakit ganito yung reaction ko. Wala naman ako sa lugar para magselos.
Hala? Selos?
What the.
SELOS? Srsly, Rein.
“Did I miss anything?” Bigla nalang sumulpot si Alex at inakbayan si Natalie.
Nilapit naman ni Natalie yung face niya sa face ni Alex at may binulong. Parehas silang tumawa. Yung tawa ni Natalie, halata mong fake.
LANDI MO!! T.T
Maya-maya pa, pumunta sila sa dancefloor at sumayaw. Iniwan nila ako dito.
Kahit magmukha akong tanga, lumapit ako kay Alex habang sumasayaw sila.
“Alex, let’s go home. Please?” Binulong ko lang sakanya.
“Ano?” Instead na magstop sumayaw sumigaw lang pabalik saakin. Hindi kasi marinig. Ang lakas nang music.
“Sabi ko, UMUWI NA TAYO!!!! BAKA MAKAPATAY PA AKO NANG MALANDING BABAE DITO EH!!!”
“Ha?! Sinong malandi?! Wala naman ah! Basta mamaya nalang tayo uwi! Upo ka nalang muna doon!”
Aba at anong karapatan mong utusan ako?
At sinong malandi? Ayan oh. Nasa harapan mo. Yung nakayakap pa sayo habang sumsayaw sayo! Gustong-gusto mo naman!
Bumalik nalang ako sa upuan ko dahil no choice din. Wala akong kotseng dala so hindi ako pwedeng umuwi magisa.
Kanina pa sila sumasayaw habang ako kanina pa inom nang inom dito sa inis ko sakanila. I don’t usally drink pero dahil sakanila… -.-
Nagsimula na din akong mahilo.
Alex’s P.O.V.
Hinatid ko na si Rein sa bahay nang parents niya. Wala naman kasing magaalaga sakanya pag sa bahay niya siya umuwi. She’s really drunk. Napadami yata yung inom niya.
She looks cute when she gets jelous. Halata naman eh. Haha.
I just can’t forget how peaceful she looks when she’s asleep. In this past few months, I never thought that I would fall for her. Parang nung una kasi she’s just not my type.
Pero hindi ko maiwasang mabagabag sa mga sinabi nang mga kapatid niya saakin kanina. Is it possible na alam nila yung true motive ko?
[Flashback]
I carried Rein papunta sa room niya. Agad siya inasikaso nung younger sister niya.
Nung nasa may gate na ako nung bahay nila, kinausap ako nung brothers niya.
“Alex, let’s just get this straight. We don’t like you for our sister.” Said Seth.
Hindi ko alam sasabihin ko. I was just shocked. I never expected them to say that.
“We know you well. Before our sister starts to fall, tigilan mo na kapatid namin. Please lang. She couldn’t afford to be hurt again.” Said Safe. At least Safe was more gentle with what he said.
Rein’s P.O.V.
I woke up the next day with my head pounding. Papasok pa naman ako sa office. T.T
Pagkatingin ko sa paligid ko, that’s when I noticed na wala ako sa bahay ko.
Pagkaupo ko sa may dulo nang bed, naalala ko yung nangyari last night. ARRRGGGGHHHH! -.-
Naalala ko nanaman si Alex pati yung EX niyang malandi!!!
“Oh, why are you crying?” Bigla nalang bumukas yung door at pagkatingin ko si Alex. It was also the moment when I realized a tear dropped from my eyes. -.-
Alex was carrying a tray with food, juice, medecine. Tapos may rose pa.
“Wala. Alis ka na. Ako na bahala sa sarili ko.” I told him bitterly while taking the tray from his hands.
“No. I’m going to take care of you. I called your Dad, pwede ka na daw hindi pumasok today if you don’t feel well.”
“Kaya ko na sarili ko. Doon ka na sa Natalie mo.”
“Wait. What is this all about? Are you jelous?” He asked me. Kinuha ko nalang yung juice na nasa tray while he gave me an amazed look.
I didn’t answer back. Instead, I just ate yung mga dinala niya. Tumabi siya saakin and hugged me. I just continued eating.
“Look. Ganon lang talaga kami, okay?” Pinilit niya na humarap ako sakanya. Umiwas lang ako nang tingin.
“Siguro may gusto ka na din saakin no? Aminin mo.” Sabi niya saakin habang kinikiliti ako.
And nagkulitan na kami buong maghapon.
I’m just not sure what is this all about.
But please don’t tell me that I’m falling in love… again.