Badboy's Addiction (Badboy Series 2)

Chapter Thirteen

Ashley

Hindi ako mapakali sa kwarto dahil sa pag-aalala. Gusto kong sabihin kay Emmanuel pagdating niya pero hindi ko alam kung paano. Hindi kadali na isumbong 'yon, kaylangan ko munang kolektahin ang sarili ko at kumalma.

Kanina ko pa narinig na pumarada ang motor ni Emmanuel sa labas at ang pagsarado ng gate. Siguradong nasa ibaba na si Emmanuel, baka nasa salas ito at naghihintay sa akin. Matapos ang ilang minutong pakikipagtalo sa subconscious ko napagdesisyonan ko na bumaba.

Pero mukhang maling desisyon yata iyon nang bumungad sa harapan si Emmanuel na may kasamang ibang babae sa salas, hindi kaakit-akit ang pwestong kanilang kinalalagyan. He's sitting on the couch with his back on the backrest while the woman is sitting on the armrest, leaning closely and almost hovering Emmanuel's body.

It looked like they are both busy with each other that they didn't even realized my presence. Their position and that woman alone is an eyesore, I suddenly felt irritated and there was a slight pang on my chest that's stranger to me.

"Nuel?" Dahil sa kagustuhan na tapusin na nila kung anong ginagawa nila ay kinuha ko agad ang atensyon nito.

His eyes found mine, he looked startled and then rose from the couch to approach me. Hindi rin nagtagal ang gulat na ekspresyon sa mga mukha niya at napalitan din ito agad ng usual niyang ekspresyon.

"Ash... have you rest well?" His feature soften a little as he asked the question.

I nodded awkwardly, "y-yeah."

"Did I wake you up?"

I shook my head. "I was already awake before you got home. I was just chillin' in the room... waiting for you." Sumilip ako sa likod niya kung saan naroon ang babae na nakatayo na at nakatingin na rin sa akin. "Am I disturbing something?"

"No, you're not." He answered with a furrowed eyebrow. "Why would you think that?"

"N-nothing. I just thought..." I looked away, "n-nevermind. I—"

"I'll be going now, okay? Since it looks like you're still not done with your new toy." Maarteng pagkakasabi ng babae, maarte rin ang bukas ng mukha nito subalit may itsura siya at maganda siya. She has a beautiful features and her outfits hugs her sexy curves perfectly.

"T-toy?" I asked, confused.

Emmanuel didn't look pleased, he faced the woman and I could pretty much tell that he's glaring at her.

"I'm warning you right now, Monique."

The girl named Monique rolled her eyes, waving her hand on the air in a bored way. "Okay fine, whatever, do whatever the hell you want. I'm just checking on you because your dad said so. I mean what's wrong in visiting my fiance once in a while?"

My eyes widened from what she said, I shifted my gaze to Emmanuel who is still facing her.

"N-nuel, you're getting married?" I asked, my lips parting in pure shock.

"No, I'm not." He answered straightforwardly, his head turned my way and looked at me straight in the eyes as if he was trying to convince me to believe his words.

"Everything is already prepared back home, ang hinihintay nalang ay ang groom ko. It's not like we can do something about it, right? Can't you just go along so that we can settle this stupidity already?"

"Who the hell gets married at the age of twenty-one? Tell Dad I said f**k off." He grabbed my arm without a warning and pulled me with him up the stairs. "Kapag bumaba ako at naabutan kitang nandito pa, ako mismo ang kakaladkad sayo."

"Emmanuel!" Napasinghap ako sa lumabas sa bibig niya.

Ngayon ko lang nakitang ganito kalamig si Emmanuel. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagbitiw siya ng marahas at bastos na pananalita, lalo na't para pa ito sa isang babae. Palaging nakangiti at mabait sa akin si Emmanuel, pero ang Emmanuel na kasama ko ngayon ay hindi ang Emmanuel na nakilala ko.

Nang makapasok kami sa kwarto ay saka niya lang binitawan ang braso ko. Sinarado niya ang pinto at saka humarap sa akin, sandali pang naglandas ang mga mata niya sa buong mukha ko bago lumambot ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

"Ash... I'm sorry that you have to witness that."

"H-hindi, okay lang 'yon." That wasn't a lie, but that also wasn't the truth. I believe him when he said that he's not getting married, but it still bothers me somehow. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit.

"Huwag mo na siyang alalahanin, hindi ko siya fiance."

Bahagyang kumalma ang mabigat na pagtibok ng puso ko sa sinabi niya.

"Are you okay?" I asked him. "You know, you kinda look scary back there."

He smiled awkwardly. "I didn't mean to show you that."

"You mean your badboy side?" I teased him to lighten the mood.

He smiled and placed his hand over my head. "Sort of."

"Nuel, you don't have to smile in front of me if you don't feel like it."

"My smile is always genuine if it has something to do with you." His hand moved to the back of my head and pulled me closer to him. "Did you have a good sleep?"

Right... I almost forgot.

I let myself melt into his arms for a couple of seconds before pushing myself away from him. Nakatingala ako sa kaniya, pinipilit ang sarili na salubungin ang nagtataka nitong mga mata.

"May tao kanina rito, Nuel." Diretsuhang sumbong ko.

"What?"

"May tao kanina dito sa kwarto habang natutulog ako."

For a moment there, his eyes and the aura around him darkened, but it immediately disappeared almost as if I imagined it. His expression was calm, contrary to what I thought he'll react. It's either he doesn't care or doesn't want me to worry, either way, I'm glad he seemed collected in front of me which brought ease into my mind.

"Explain to me what happened."

"Nagising ako kanina lang tapos nakita kong nakabukas ang veranda. Nahuli ko 'yong lalaki na umaakyat palabas ng gate at umalis gamit ang motor niya."

Naglakad siya papunta sa veranda at sumilip sa labas, tumingin siya sa paligid at sa taas na parang nagmamasid.

I noticed that his back was tense, same goes for his arm muscles. He was definitely angry but he's concealing his emotions from me.

"You should have told me sooner." He faced me with a calm expression on his face. Nag-aalala ako, pero mas gugustuhin ko nalang ito kaysa makita kung paano ba talaga siya magalit. "May ginawa ba siya sayo?"

"N-nawala lang sa isip ko kanina kasi..." Umiling ako para ialis sa utak ko ang babaeng inuwi niya. Hindi na importante iyon. "P-pasensya na... p-pero wala naman siyang ginawa sa akin. I think he left immediately when he realized me waking up."

"I see..." A creepy smile slowly plastered across his face, "they're really testing my patience."

"Sinong sila?" Hindi ko maiwasang itanong, huminto ang mga mata niya sa akin at kalmadong umiling.

"Can you leave me alone for awhile, Ash?" He smiled at me, but like he said earlier, it was genuine—or at least, it looked genuine to me. "Let me be for now."

"A-alright." Tumango ako at awkward na kumaway sa kaniya bilang panandaliang pamamaalam. "Sa baba lang ako, ah?"

"Yeah. If Monique is still downstairs, please drag her outside for me."

"Eh!?"

He chuckled. "But of course, you're not gonna do that. I'm sure she already left anyways."

"Ewan ko sayo. Sige, sa baba na ako, ha? Kapag kumalma ka na, puntahan mo 'ko."

Iniwan ko siya sa kwarto niyang mag-isa at bumaba ng hagdanan habang dala ang cellphone ko. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang mapagtanto na nakaalis na nga ang babae na kasama ni Emmanuel sa pag-uwi niya. Nagtataka ako sa pinag-uusapan nilang kasal, pati na ang relasyon nilang dalawa pero labas na ako duon. I shouldn't bother myself to things that I don't have relevance with.

Nag-ikot-ikot ako sa bahay ni Emmanuel, kinakamkam ang oportunidad na makapaglibot-libot sa buong unang palapag. Hindi ito mansyon pero malaki pa rin at malawak, masasabi mo talaga na mayaman ito. Modern ang interior at exterior design, payak lamang ang disenyo ng pader at sahig subalit malinis.

Kahit ilang beses na rin akong napunta rito ay hindi pa rin ako nasasanay. Kada punta ko rito ay pakiramdam ko iyon ang unang beses ko.

Napatingin ako sa gawi ng hagdanan, hinihintay na bumaba si Emmanuel pero wala pa rin ito. Umupo na ako sa couch at diretsong tumingin, gusto ko sanang buksan ang TV ngunit nahihiya ako dahil hindi ko naman ito bahay.

Nakaupo lang ako sa couch at matiyagang naghintay na maghulom kung ano mang emosyong nararamdaman ni Emmanuel. Hindi ako sigurado sa emosyong iyon. Galit ba iyon? Pag-aalala? Ano man 'yon ay sana mawala na at sundan niya na ako rito sa baba.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko at binuksan ang palad ko, napangiwi nang mapagtanto na nanginginig pala ang mga ito. Kahit sino naman siguro ay matatakot kapag nalaman mo na may nagmamatyag pala sayo habang natutulog ka. Normal lang naman siguro na matakot ako, 'diba?

Hindi ko namalayan na unti-unti na pala akong nai-idlip sa mga minutong lumilipas. Basta nalang bumagsak nang marahan patagilid ang katawan ko, ang ulo ko ay nakahilig sa braso ng couch.

...

Halos hindi ko na maramdaman ang katawan ko dahil sa sobrang pagtatrabaho simula umaga hanggang gabi, gayon pa man ay kinolekta ko pa rin ang natitira pang lakas sa katawan ko para makapagbihis sa restroom at makapag-ayos nang makapaghanda na performance namin sa entablado.

I stayed in the restroom for a little while to restore some of the energy in my body. I don't want to ruin our performance because of me, that would be selfish of me.

I left the restroom, stretching my arms and unstiffing my neck. I went to the backstage where everyone is gathered, talking and chatting comfortably with each other.

"Ash! Finally, you're here. Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay!" Lumapit si Reece sa akin at tinaas ang kamay niya. Nagtataka kong tinignan ang kamay niya, nagtataka kung bakit nakataas ito. "Ash?"

"H-huh?" I was startled when Alonzo called my name, his eyes gazing at me suspiciously.

"Your hand gesture?"

"Oh! Sorry!" Natawa ako sa sarili ko at ginawa ang hand gestures namin ni Reece. Puro hangin nalang yata laman ng utak ko dahil sa sobrang pagkapagod.

"Okay ka lang ba, Ash?" Reece looked worried, he didn't let go of my hand and held it tightly instead. "Bakit parang mainit ka yata?"

"Ha?" Hinikap ko ang noo at leeg ko, tama nga siya na mainit ako pero hindi ko aaminin iyon. "Hindi naman eh, huwag ka ng mag-alala. Okay lang naman pakiramdam ko."

"How can you say that with that face? You look like a zombie!" Padabog na tumayo si Addison sa kinauupuan niya. "I-cancel nalang natin performance natin, kaylangan ka naming dalhin sa hospital. Sa itsura mong 'yan, para ka ng hihimatayin."

"Hoy, grabe ka naman! Pagod lang ako kaya ganito itsura ko, okay lang naman mukha ko ah, nag-o-overeact ka lang."

"Let's cancel," Alonzo suddenly said.

Mabilis akong umiling sa kanila. "Pero guys—"

"Kilala ka namin, Ash. Minsan ka lang magkasakit pero malala. Kung ayaw mong magpa-hospital, iuuwi ka nalang namin."

"P-pero..."

"Don't be stubborn, Ash."

Napanguso ako at tinignan silang lahat pero lahat sila ay mukhang desidido na sa desisyon nila.

"Fine." Huminga ako ng malalim at pumamewang.

Bukod sa kanila ay naroon din si Emmanuel, nakaupo sa couch at titig na titig sa akin na parang binabasa ako. Iniwas ko ang mga mata ko sa kaniya at binigay ang atensyon sa tatlo.

"Pero ayokong i-cancel 'yong performance natin. Wala akong nakikitang dahilan para hindi niyo iyon pagpatuloy nang wala ako."

The four looked at me like they're asking me if I'm out of my mind.

"Nagbibiro ka, 'diba?" Addison laughed in disbelief.

"Nope... I mean, come on, you guys! Dalawa vocalist natin, and that's me and Emmanuel. We can't lose him, that's for sure because he uses an intrument, but if it's me, then it's fine, right?" Tuwid akong tumayo at nilagay ang kanang kamay ko sa dibdib. "I promise, mananahimik lang ako dito sa sulok habang tumutugtog kayo, so please, play."

"You'll rest?" Addison repeated and I nodded while smiling. "Fine, fine, but make sure you stay put or else!"

"Yes, Addi, I promise!" I chuckled then strolled my way towards Emmanuel on the couch. He immediately threw away his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. He moved left to give a space to install and touched my forehead with the back of his hand.

"You really are hot," he muttered.

"Of course, I'm hot! But Addi said I look like a zombie." I pouted, trying to sound like I'm sulking.

"Stay here and rest for awhile while we play. Ako na maghahatid mamaya sayo sa bahay."

"I see you've cooled your head now," I commented.

"Yes and I'm sorry about yesterday. I was going to apologize but I found you asleep on the couch like a baby. I couldn't bring myself to wake you up, and when morning came, you just left without telling me."

"That is because I'm late for work! I woke up 9:00 AM! Eh tulog ka pa eh, ayaw rin kitang gisingin kaya umalis nalang ko nang walang paalam. Ikaw kasi eh, hindi tuloy tayo nakatugtog sa Plaza."

Our bickering continued just like always. Emmanuel and the band went on the stage when they're up next to perform. I stayed on the couch, my hand fidgeting, wanting to be on the stage with them, too. But at the same time, I also want to just lie on my bed right now.

"Is there somebody who can help me?

It's like the walls are caving in

Sometimes I feel like giving up

No medicine is strong enough

Someone help me

I'm crawling in my skin

Sometimes I feel like giving up

But I just can't

It isn't in my blood."

The pain all over my body lessened a bit after hearing Emmanuel's soft and cold voice. It was like a lullaby singing me to a deep slumber. My head and my soul felt like their in heaven until the song ended which disappointed me.

"I need somebody now

I need somebody now

Someone to help me out

I need somebody now

Help me

It's like the walls are caving in

Sometimes I feel like giving up

But I just can't

It isn't in my blood."