Chapter Sixteen
"Where Have You Been?"
Daniel Rouge Gustilyo's Point of View
I slapped him in the face.
It was a resounding slap pero 'di siya nabigla, instead he just touched his cheek. Padabog akong umalis sa harap nito at bumalik sa classroom.
How dare Eric kiss me?
PUBLICLY?
...
After class, I texted Theo if he can pick me up pero hindi ito nagrereply sa akin. I tried calling him but he wasn't even answering my calls. Kaya napag-desisyonan ko na lamang na tawagan ang sundo namin. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes." Ani nito sa akin kaya wala na akong nagawa kun'di ang maghintay sa park sa school.
Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa isang lalaki na pamilyar, when I took a good look at him. I realised it was Romeo, he wasn't wearing any uniform. "You're alone?" Tanong sa akin ni Romeo. He was with a guy, tiningnan ko naman ang kasama nitong lalaki, naka-uniform ito tapos matangkad at maputi na leaned body at stoic din ang pamumukha. He looks like an expressionless being.
"What do you expect from a Gustilyo?" I scoffed. Napatawa naman ito at nakapamulsang naupo sa tabi ko. "What do you want Romeo?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. He's actually quite annoying for me. Yeah, his skin is as clear as porcelain and he looks so perfect to the fact that he's being narcissistic. It annoys me. His narcissism is what annoys me.
"Say, Daniel we're actually recruiting models. Do you want to join?"
"Me?" I asked him, pertaining to myself. He just nod at me.
"Yeah."
I scoffed again. "Ba't naman ako?"
"You've got a perfect body. Maganda." He said the latter in a hesitating tone. "You're perfect for modelling." He added.
I rolled my eyes at him, "At saan mo naman ako gustong mag-model?"
"My agency found you, and they were asking if you want to join. At first ayaw ko naman sana kasi I don't like you pero they keep on insisting so here I am." Ani Romeo, habang nakatayo na nakapamulsa sa harap ko. Meanwhile the guy next to him is just silent.
"Trust me I don't really want you to be in my agency. So I'll be happy if you say 'no'." He added, this guy really hates me. Well same sentiment.
I opted for a smirk instead. "I'll be joining." Ani ko rito at napalunok naman ito sa sinagot ko.
"You're serious?!"
"You asked me." I nonchalantly answered. "In fact, it'll be fun seeing you being intimidated." I answered and left them with the guy. Narinig ko pa nga itong tinawag ang pangalan ko pero nagsimula na akong maglakad papalayo sa kanila.
I walked my way out of their view at tiningnan ko ang phone ko, 'di parin nakakarating ang sundo ko. Wala rin akong text na nare-receive mula kay Theo. Sa'n ba pumunta si Theo? Ba't 'di parin siya sumasagot sa tawag o sa text ko man lang?
Naghintay ulit ako ng ilang minuto sa parking lot until it occured to me that I spent almost forty minutes waiting and not even a single message from Theo nor the driver arrived. So I tried calling the driver instead.
"Pasensya na po, nasiraan kasi ang sasakyan habang nasa daan." Pagpapasenya nito sa akin sa kabilang linya. I got annoyed to the fact that I started stomping my feet on the ground.
"UGH!" I yelled. Naiinis na ako kasi kanina pa ako naghihintay dito sa parking lot, wala na ngang sasakyan dito na nakapark at tanging ako na lang ang nakatayo rito naghihintay sa kanila. I even noticed it's already 7 in the evening.
I was in the middle of throwing tantrums when a car beeped in front of me, it was a black Hyundai. Agad naman nitong binaba ang kaniyang bintana dahilan para makita ko si Eric.
Nabigla ako kasi ang lumabas si Eric. He was smirking at me as he opens his window. "Hop in." He offered.
"Nah. I'd rather spoil myself here." Turan ko naman sa kaniya habang nakapulupot ang mga kamay ko.
"Well suit yourself." Ani nito atsaka tinaas ang bintana ng kaniyang sasakyan. I rolled my eyes at him, then he drove off. Leaving me gasp.
That guy!
He must know I was kidding!
Bulls-hit.
Wala na akong nagawa kun'di ang lumabas nalang ng school at naghanap ng taxi. Ugh. Kainis. I walked my self out then I started searching for taxis pero walang may pumapara para sa akin. Kung hindi naman, merong pasahero, mga nakabook naman na taxi ang nakikita ko. I hate this.
Ugh.
Naglakad-lakad ako palayo at nabigla naman ako nang may sumusunod sa akin na isang sasakyan. Kaya napalingon ako. To see his Hyundai. To see Eric smirking while following me with his godamn car.
"What do you want?" I yelled at him, binaba naman nito ang kaniyang bintana at tiningnan ako.
"I think it's fun seeing you being miserable." I glared at him and rolled my eyes at him.
"Papasakayin mo na ba ako O manunuod ka muna kung paano ako maging miserable?" I asked him.
"I'll let you get in, in one condition." He smirked at me.
"Okay. Ano?!" I yelled at him.
"Just get in. We'll talk about that later on." I rolled my eyes again at him for the nth time and I let out a deep sigh as I sat myself on the front seat.
"Oh, happy?" I asked him, finally giving up. Parang hindi lang 'to nakatikim ng isang sampal sa akin kanina ah?
Napapailing na lang na ewan si Eric sa akin at pinagpatuloy na ang pagda-drive.
It was a tiring night at idagdag mo pa na grabr ang traffic along the way. Kaya hindi ko pala alam na nakatulog na ako sa sasakyan nito at nagising na lamang nang halikan nito ako sa noo. "What the f-uck?" I yelled at him, not even minding how disrespectful that curse I let out at him. I know he's the same age as Theo pero wala naman akong paki-alam sa edad niya.
"Hey, mind your words." he exclaimed. "Andito na tayo." Ani Eric sa akin at bumaba na ito ng kaniyang sasakyan at pinagbuksan ako para makababa narin.
Abeline was waiting for me outside and she looks worried kasi nagabihan ako sa pag-uwi at wala pa ang sundo namin. Kaya laking pasasalamat nito dahil hinatid ako ni Eric.
"It's okay tita. It's my pleasure na hinatid dito si Dani." Ani Eric sa kaniya at hinalikan ito sa kaniyang kamay na parang prince charming. I rolled at his own cringe ways. Just —ugh.
"Mom, is Theo already home?" Tanong ko sa kaniya nang makapasok na kami sa loob. Nagtaka naman ito sa tinanong ko.
"I thought susunduin ka din niya?" Tanong nito sa akin kaya nagtaka na ako.
"He never answers my calls." I retorted, frustration visible in my tone. "Si Lolo nandiyan na ba?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.
"Your grandpa is in the States Dani, dear. Last wednesday pa. Why? What's wrong?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito.
But Theo told me that he'll be playing golf with his grandfather.
So saan si Theo pumupunta?
Kumibit balikat na lamang ako sa kaniya atsaka pumasok na sa loob ng bahay. But then a car just came and it was Theo's.
He came out in his car na parang wala lang, tapos pumasok sa loob at hinalikan ang Mom nito.
"Where have you been?" I asked him. "I have been calling you, texting you. Yet you never pick them o reply man lang." I asked him, agitated already.
Naglakad lang ito papasok sa loob ng bahay at sinundan ko naman ito. He didn't even mind my questions, he thinks I was just a ghost following him around.
"Theo, I'm asking you!" I yelled at him. Galit na ako.
He stopped walking at napalingon naman ito sa akin. "Bakit ang paki-alamero mo?" Tanong nito sa akin. "I went with Lolo okay?"
"Grandpa is in the states. How would he be here playing golf with you today?" Turan ko sa kaniya. Kumunot naman ang noo nito atsaka napakamot ng kaniyang ulo. "Where have you been?" I reiterated.
"What's up with you Dani?" Galit din nitong tinanong sa akin. "I went somewhere and I don't even want to tell you about it." Iritado nitong sinagot sa akin.
"Ba't ayaw mong sabihin? You don't trust me?" I ask him.
"Bakit? Ano ba kita? Stop acting like you have the right to know kung saan ako nanggaling. We're not even in a relationship so stop assuming." He yelled at me, in his usual nonchalant tone.
I was taken aback with what he just yelled infront of me. His taunting words hurt. Nasaktan ako sa sinabi nito.
Maybe he's right.
That I don't have the right to know. Kasi sino ba naman ako sa kaniya diba? Who am I to Theo Marco? Aren't I just a replacement for someone he lost?
Napalunok na lamang ako at naglakad na lang ako papasok sa loob ng kwarto ko.
Now I'm breaking down — again.
Umiiyak akong nahiga sa higaan ko, I kept on crying and it just frustrates me that I keep having feelings for Theo and I couldn't even stop myself.
"I told you, you don't know Theo well." Sabi ng pamilyar na boses sa akin. "One minute he'll be good to you the next minute he'll be acting like he doesn't even know you."
Maybe you're right Eric.
Maybe you're right.
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