Badboy's Addiction (Badboy Series 2)

Chapter Sixteen

Tulad ng plano ko kahapon ay nag-over time ako sa trabaho ko sa cafe. Somehow, it feels good to be back working and it felt like everything is already back to normal. I'm relieved that I finally feel better from my fever and headache.

Nilunod ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho, nagpabalik-balik sa counter at mga tables, naglista ng mga orders at nag-serve, nang sa gayon malimutan ko rin ang mga naganap kagabi.

After what happened last night, Emmanuel drove me back to my house, I ran inside without saying my goodbye to him but I did messaged him that and also apologized for dashing off like that. Hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang mga nangyayari sa akin, ang pagiging awkward at praning ko.

Emmanuel is still the same person and he still acts the way he usually does! What am I panicking and scared for? Why am I always getting flustered whenever I think of him? I'm the one who's not being myself here!

Baka isa sa mga bagay na nagpapabahala sa akin ay ang 'date' namin mamayang gabi. Tama ba na pumayag akong makipag-date sa kaniya? Hindi niya naman siguro mamasamain kung bawiin ko iyon 'diba? Wala akong experience sa mga ganoong klaseng bagay, wala akong ideya kung ano bang dapat kong gawin at baka mapahiya ko lang ng sarili ko.

Pagkatapos ng trabaho ko sa cafe ay imbis na si Emmanuel ang makita ko sa parking lot ay si Addison ito na may suot na backpack sa likod niya at kasama ang magara niyang kotse. Nakasandal siya sa pinto ng kotse niya habang nasa phone, nang makita ako ay lumapit siya sa akin at magkasalubong ang kilay.

"Addi, bakit ka nandito?" Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid habang kinakagat ang daliri ng hinlalaki ko sa kanang kamay ko.

"You're expecting Emmanuel, aren't you?" She asked with a teasing tone.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa pahayag niya. "S-siya naman palagi 'yong sumusundo sa akin eh." Kinuha ko sa phone ko sa bulsa at tinignan kung may text ba akong nakuha mula kay Emmanuel.

May isang mensahe na galing sa kaniya at binuksan ko ito agad, umaasa na baka may katanggap-tanggap siyang rason para hindi niya ako masundo ngayong araw.

Syempre, hindi sa nagtatampo ako at disappointed, curious lang naman. Curious lang.

Seriously, I'm not acting like myself ever since last night. I don't usually deny my true feelings towards Emmanuel because I'm already that comfortable around him, but now I'm being fidgety, denial and awkward which is not me.

'I can't pick you up today, I need to prepare for the date—," I paused reading after he mentioned the date. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagbabasa sa text niya. '—but I asked Addison to pick you up after your shift, just so to make sure you're safe.'

Hindi naman siguro siya magagalit kapag binawi ko ang sagot ko sa kaniya na payag akong makipag-date, 'diba? Kasi hindi ko alam kung handa ba ako duon, ayokong ipahiya ng sarili ko at ipahiya na rin siya nang sabay. Wala ako sa sarili ko ngayong araw, at isa pa ay kakaylanganin ko na namang um-absent sa trabaho sa Forever Young bar.

"He demanded that I should come pick you up after you work," Addison grumbled.

"Demanded?"

"Yes, he fuckin' demanded. He didn't ask for a favor or said please."

Napanguso ako. "I don't think Emmanuel would do that."

She looked at me shock, she suddenly laughed sarcastically. "I'm not talking about the Emmanuel you know, I'm talking about the Emmanuel that I know."

Tinikom ko nalang ang bibig ko, kahit anong pag-intindi ko sa kaniya ay hindi ko magawa. Emmanuel has only been nice to me, he treated me well, he's sweet and caring. Kahit anong pag-intindi ko sa kaniya o kay Kosovar na ang tingin din kay Emmanuel ay isang masamang tao ay hindi ko magawa.

Both Addison and Kosovar thinks that Emmanuel's a bad person, but the difference between them is that Addison supports me being close to Emmanuel while Kosovar doesn't, she even teases me with me him and makes jokes about us being a couple.

"The band took an off nga pala sa pagtugtog sa bar since wala kayong dalawa ni Emmanuel, na mga vocalist pa naman, ngayong gabi lang." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

"A-are you guys okay with that?" I asked, worried.

"Of course we are, I mean 'diba may date kayo ni Emmanuel?"

Nabulunan ako sa sarili kong laway dahil sa saad niya, napaubo ako habang tinatakpan ang bibig. Hindi ko makita ang punto kung bakit kaylangan pang sabihin ni Emmanuel sa kanila na may date kami mamayang gabi. Paano na ang plano ko na kanselahin iyon ngayon na alam na nila Addison ang tungkol duon?

"The boys are helping him to set the date up. God, never in a million years I thought that Emmanuel would ask for someone's help. Baka gumuguhu na ang mundo, hindi ko lang alam?" Pagkikipagbiro niya pa.

"Emmanuel is a good person, Addi, he's really good to me." I explained, trying to convince her that that is the truth but she just cringed and shook her head repeatedly in disapproval.

"Enough with that, let's talk about the date!" She excitedly clapped her hands together in glee. "If Emmanuel didn't mention that you guys are going on a date, baka hindi kita sinundo. I waited an hour waiting for your work to end, hindi man lang ako na-inform na may o-over time ka pala."

"I-i'm sorry, hindi ka na dapat pa inabala ni Nuel." Nagbaba ako ng tingin, nagi-guilty dahil matagal ko siyang pinaghintay.

"But that's fine, it's totally worth waiting since kapalit non ay matutulungan kitang maghanda para sa date niyo ni Emmanuel." She connected her arms around mine and dragged me to the passenger side of her car. "Hinihintay ko talaga 'yong moment na 'tong tutulungan kitang maghanda sa date niyo ng boyfriend mo."

Natigipan ako sa saad niya at kumalas sa hawak niya, nanlalaki ang mga mata. "B-boyfriend?"

She looked at me flatly. "Your boyfriend? Emmanuel? Ano 'to? May amnesia ka na?"

My cheeks are flaming in embarrassment, I looked away and cleared my throat. "H-he's not my boyfriend, he just asked if he can take me out on a date last night after he confessed to me."

Hinintay ko ang sagot niya pero walang dumating, naging tahimik sa paligid at mas nailang lang ako. Bakit niya iisipin na nobyo ko na si Emmanuel? Dapat lang bang nagde-date ang isang lalaki at babae kapag sila na? Hindi ba pwedeng nanliligaw pa lang ang isang lalaki kaya nag-aya siyang makipagdate sa nililigawan niya?

"What are you saying, Ash?" She asked in gasp, like she couldn't believe that Emmanuel and I aren't dating like she thought we were. "Are you telling me that all this time, hindi kayo ni Emmanuel?"

"H-huh?"

Kinagat niya ang ibaba niyang labi, nakangiti at tila nagpipigil ng tawa. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at mahinang sinipa sa tuhod, saka lang siya malakas tumawa at masuyo akong niyakap.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Akala kasi namin kayo na ni Emmanuel, para kasi kayong magjowa umarte eh. Akala namin tinatago niyo ang relasyon niyo kay Kosovar, I mean what else will you be hiding if there's nothing going on between you two?"

"We're just friends! Paano ba kami umarte, ha?"

"You're close, you cuddle, you spend a lot of time together and you go to his house. Oh my god, I can't believe you guys aren't dating yet. Alonzo and Reece will be shock to hear this, I'm pretty sure they already know now at this point."

Bumibilis ang t***k ng puso ko, hindi makapaniwala na akala nilang magjowa na kami ni Emmanuel. Ganoon ba talaga kami kalapit sa isa't isa para pagkamalan nilang may relasyon kaming dalawa?

Addison opened the passenger car door for me, pushing me in in excitement.

"We don't have much time left, we're going to your house. Your mom's not home around this time, right? Because if she is, we'll go straight to mine."

"Wala siguro ngayon si Mama." Pagkukumpirma ko.

"Great! Then we're off to your house!" She slammed the door and went inside the driver's seat, she also closed her side of the door, started the engine and stepped on the gas pedal, driving off.

I played with my fingers, trying to sooth myself that everything will be fine and telling myself that I shouldn't be nervous. At this point, I can't cancel the date now since our friends are involved in the preparation of it. Emmanuel shouldn't have bothered them, and he shouldn't have bothered himself to prepare for something that isn't even necessary.

We arrived at my house, I thanked God that my mother's not home and we have all the house for ourselves. We went to my room, she immediately went straight to my closet to find me something to wear for the date. I sat on the edge of my bed, still trying to calm myself.

Am I nervous or am I excited? I can't tell the difference anymore.

"Thank goodness you have decent clothings here, it's a good thing I'm your sister." She mentioned and I smiled in approval.

I have always admired her when we were little, I was jealous of her and tried to copy the way she dresses. She does have a good fashion and I'm glad that I tried imitating her, she seemed to like it too.

"How was it last night? When Emmanuel confessed to you?" She suddenly asked out of nowhere while holding two dresses, studying both and then shaking her head in disapproval before hanging them back in my small closet.

"It was... unexpected," I admitted, "I got scared and uh, I hid under his bed." I just muttered the last part to avoid further embarrassment.

"Did I just heard you, right?" She halted, looking back at me over her shoulder.

"N-natakot ako eh, nag-panik ako, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin," pagpapaliwanag ko.

She sighed while smiling. "Tell me what you're scared about."

Inabot ko ang unan ko at niyakap ito, napanguso ako at tumingin sa bintana. "Ayoko lang naman na may mabago sa aming dalawa, I mean, I blocked the thought of dating out of my head because I don't want to ruin the relationship we have now."

"And...?"

"And..." I buried my face in my pillow, "I'm kinda scared still, I don't know why."

"He did confess to you, right? He likes you, and from your reaction, I'm sure you feel the same way. Your feelings are mutual, there's nothing to be worried about."

Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango nalang bilang pagsang-ayon sa saad niya. Iyon din ang iniisip ko, wala na akong dapat na ikabahala dahil parehas naman kami ng nararamdaman.

"Do you doubt his feelings for you?" she asked and I immediately shook my head.

I lifted my head and meet her eyes. "Sure, hindi ko pa siya kilala ng lubusan at alam kong marami siyang tinatago sa akin, pero I'm not doubting his feelings. Have I also mentioned that he looked cute when he confessed last night? Her cheeks and ears are red, he was also shy like me. I know he's sincere last night."

"Then what is it that you're scared of?"

Wala akong nasagot, hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano iyong kinakatakutan ko.

"Just to mention, I never seen Emmanuel act this way in my life." Pagbanggit niya pa.

I stood up and shifted closer to her, interested and curious to know what Emmanuel is like before I met him.

"Is he really that bad like Kosovar said so?"

"Yep." She straight up answered, no doubt nor hesitation.

I pouted. "Masama ba ugali niya?"

"Oh, absolutely."

"He's rude?"

"Ruder than the devil."

Napahigpit ang yakap ko sa unan ko. "But he's changed now, he treats me right."

"He's only like that to you, that's the only reason why I like you for him."

"Oo nga no, kung sa tingin mo ay masamang tao siya, bakit gusto mo siya para sa akin?"

She rolled her eyes at me. "I never said na gusto ko siya para sayo. Ang sabi ko ay gusto kita para sa kaniya, baka ikaw makapagpatino duon at sa tingin ko mukhang gumagana. But don't get me wrong, if he ever hurts you in any kind of way, babawiin kita sa kaniya. Wala akong pakialam kung aksidente man iyon o kung hindi niya sinasadya."

I don't believe that Emmanuel can ever hurt me. Wala akong masyadong alam sa kung sino ba talaga siya, hindi ko siya masyado kilala at alam ko naman na imposibleng nagbibiro o nagsisinungaling lang sa akin si Kosovar at si Addison na isang masamang tao siya, pero sa kabila non ay naniniwala pa rin ako na hindi niya ako sasaktan.

Kahit kaylan ay hindi siya nagpakita ng masamang motibo sa akin, he never looked at me as if he'll hurt me. But then, I'm also aware of who he was before I met him and he also tried to put a hint himself by words just like when he mentioned that he has lots of connections.

What else do I know about him besides that he's a gangster and a gang leader? I'm still not even sure if Jezer is his ex yet and what he did to her, the reason why Kosovar hold a huge grudge against him.

"Found it!" Addison exclaimed making me snap out of my thoughts. She raised the dress she pulled from my closet gleefully. "I found the one for you!"

I looked at the dress and then sighed. Well, then, I guess it's time to get ready for the date.