No Better Ending

Chapter One

♥️ ♥️ ♥️ LUKE'S POV ♥️ ♥️ ♥️

I OFFICIALLY hate him.

I specifically hate his guts, his stare and his smirk. I don't like his stare kasi para niyang hinuhusgahan ang buong pagkatao ko. His stare was piercing through my soul. I don't know what it was that made me feel so drawn to him either. He wasn't my type. No, definitely not.

Trevor Mondragon wasn't a boyfriend material. Aside from the fact na feeling ko straight siya at hindi papatol sa isang bisexual na katulad ko, I just couldn't imagine him as my boyfriend. Hindi kami magkakasundo kahit pa mag-bestfriend ang daddy ko at ang mommy niya.

"Ito na ba si Luke? Ang laki-laki na ng batang 'to, ah," magiliw na sabi ng Mommy niya na si Patricia Mondragon. She's just in her mid 30s but she looked younger than her age because she's so glamorous and fashionable. She looked expensive mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Hello po, Tita Patricia," magalang na bati ko.

"Silly boy. Ang haba ng Tita Patricia. Just call me Tita Patty, okay?"

Kahit sosyal, naramdaman kong magkakasundo kami. She was quirky and young-at-heart. Siya na yata ang perfect example ng isang cool 'mom. Too bad, her son was her exact opposite.

"O, pasok na tayo sa loob. We've prepared lunch for you," masiglang paanyaya naman ng daddy niya na si Alfred Mondragon.

"Naku, salamat, 'bok. Nag-abala pa kayo," ani mommy.

Bok ang tawagan nila, in short for tambok sa Bisaya na ang ibig-sabihin ay mataba. Magkababata sila sa Cebu at parehong chubby mula elementary hanggang college. They'd been inseparable until Tito Alfred received a job offer abroad. It was a big opportunity that made him who he was but also created a distance between him and my mother. Pero hindi naman sila nawalan ng communication. They remained bestfriends hanggang sa naikasal at nagkaanak na sila.

Their dining area was jaw-dropping. There was a long table na parang sa mga royal-themed movies ko lang nakikita. Naka-hang rin ang isang malaking chandelier sa ceiling na nagbigay ng napakagandang effect sa paligid. Maraming masasarap na pagkain ang nakahain sa mesa. Lumaki akong mayaman but I'd never seen this type of extravagance eversince.

Si Tito Alfred ang umupo sa pinakasentro habang nasa kanan niya si Tita Patty. Ako naman ay pinagitnaan ng mga magulang ko-Ronald Alfonso and Vanessa Alfonso. They were the perfect example of a perfect couple. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko sila narinig na nagsigawan. Kapag may issues, palagi nila iyong pinag-uusapan ng maayos at mahinahon. Kaya nga naaawa ako tuwing naririnig ko ang mga classmates ko na nagsi-share tungkol sa away at minsan ay paghihiwalay ng parents nila. Hindi ako maka-relate because I grew up in a very loving and affectionate household. I considered myself lucky because of my parents.

"Kumusta naman kayo sa bagong bahay ninyo? Did you like it?" Tito Alfred asked while we were having dinner.

"Yes, nagustuhan namin. Parang kagaya lang iyon ng bahay namin sa Cebu, mas malaki lang ng konti," sagot ni Papa.

"Kung kailangan n'yo ng interior designer, please tell me. May ire-recommend ako," ani Tita Patty sa magaang tono. She was very warm and welcoming talaga.

I felt uncomfortable dahil ramdam ko ang titig ni Trevor na nakaupo sa kabilang side ko. Ano ba ang problema niya? Mula pa no'ng bumaba kami sa kotse ay nakatitig na siya sa'kin.

"I'm glad na narito na kayo sa Manila. Finally," masayang sabi ni Tito Alfred.

Matagal na kasi niyang kinu-convince ang parents ko na lumipat na kami dito. Until a perfect business venture came which made my parents decide na lumipat na nga kami. It wasn't an easy decision dahil nasa Cebu na ang buhay namin. Naro'n ang ibang relatives namin at marami rin kaming kaibigan doon. But they couldn't let this opportunity pass. Magiging mag-business partners na ang pamilya namin at hindi ko alam kung dapat ko ba iyong ikatuwa o hindi.

After kumain ng lunch ay nagusap-usap kami sa sala. Pareho kaming tahimik ni Trevor dahil hindi kami maka-relate sa business-related topics ng parents namin. The Mondragons were into food and beverages. Pareho ring sikat na journalists ang parents ni Trevor. His father was a famous news anchor habang ang mommy naman niya ay isa sa mga tinitingalang talk show hosts sa bansa.

"Excuse me lang po," sabi ko at tumayo.

Kailangan kong lumayo muna kay Trevor because I wasn't comfortable around him. Hahanapin ko lang dapat ang banyo pero nakakita ako ng isang pinto patungo sa garden. Do'n ako dumiretso para magpahangin.

The garden looked very relaxing. Napakaraming roses and orchids na makikita sa paligid. There was a wooden hammock na kaharap ng isang matandang puno. Do'n ako pumwesto upang makapag-relax. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko mula sa bulsa and dialed Denver's phone number.

"Hello, Luke?" bungad niya sa'kin. God, I missed his voice! Isang araw pa lang kaming hindi nagkikita pero miss na miss ko na siya.

"Hi, how are you doing?"

"I miss you," malungkot niyang sagot.

"I know. I miss you too."

He was the main reason kung bakit nahirapan akong tanggapin ang balitang lilipat na kami sa Manila. I couldn't leave my boyfriend. Isa rin siyang bisexual pero hindi pa siya nag-out sa family niya dahil natatakot siya. In my case, matagal ng alam ng parents ko ang tungkol sa s****l preference ko. They didn't take it well. In fact, hanggang ngayon ay in denial pa rin sila. They keep on insisting na isa lang daw 'tong phase, na confused lang ako at later on ay mare-realize kong straight talaga ako. That's the reason kung bakit hindi ko sinabi sa kanila na may boyfriend ako. They would certainly freak out.

"Bakit kasi kailangan n'yo pang lumipat d'yan?"

"Napag-usapan na natin 'to, 'di ba? Hindi rin 'to madali para sa'kin. Eh, ano ba'ng magagawa ko?"

"Yeah, I know. This is not your fault. Ang hirap lang kasi ng long-distance relationship."

Sumikip ang dibdib ko nang narinig ko ang sakit sa boses niya. Hindi pa nga kami umabot ng isang taon 'tapos nagkalayo na kami.

"Mahirap, but we'll make this work, right?"

"Yes. I love you, Luke."

"I love you too, Denver."

We talked some more about his summer plans. Magbabakasyon raw sila ng family niya sa Boracay at magiging busy rin siya sa mga church activities nila. He came from a very religious family and it was the major reason kung bakit hindi niya masabi-sabi sa parents niya na hindi siya straight. He didn't want to disappoint them.

Nagkwento rin ako sa kanya ng tungkol sa bago naming bahay. I also mentioned Trevor and how I felt uncomfortable around him. Napansin kong medyo nagselos siya but I assured him na hindi ko type si Trevor at straight rin ito kaya malabong maging kami. Siguro ay umabot rin ng halos fifteen minutes ang pag-uusap namin bago namin iyon tinapos.

"I'm not your type, huh?"

"Oh my gosh!" Nagulat ako nang may nagsalita mula sa likod ko. Tumayo ako para malaman kung sino iyon at laking gulat ko nang nakita ko si Trevor. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo d'yan?"

"Am I not allowed here? Bahay namin 'to."

"Pero nakikinig ka sa isang private conversation."

Kung may kaharap lang siguro akong salamin, sigurado akong namumutla ako.

"Private? Alin do'n ang private? Na ang lakas kong tumitig sa'yo and I'm creeping you out o 'yong hindi mo ako type at tsaka straight ako kaya imposibleng patulan kita?"

"So, narinig mo pala talaga ang buong–"

"Alam ba ng parents mo ang tungkol kay..." Kunwari'y nag-isip pa siya habang nakangisi. Damn, he's so evil. "Denver ba 'yon? Yeah, it's Denver. So, alam ba nila na may boyfriend kang iniwan do'n sa Cebu?"

"I don't need to answer your question."

Iritadong tinalikuran ko siya. Sabi ko na nga ba, eh. Hindi talaga kami magkakasundo ni Trevor. He officially earned the top spot on my hate list dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Do you believe a long-distance relationship would actually work?"

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad at hinarap siya. He stood there, cool na cool lang habang nakapamulsa. He smirked na para bang iniinis ako.

God, I really hate his guts!

Huminga ako ng malalim upang kalmahin ang sarili ko. He was obviously trying to piss me off at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Pero hindi ko siya hahayaang magtagumpay. Kailangan kong ipakita sa kanya na hindi ako affected.

"Of course, it could work. Depende naman kasi 'yon sa inyo kung may tiwala kayo sa isa't-isa."

He laughed sarcastically.

"Damn, you're a hopeless romantic."

"You know what? Kung bitter ka sa life, 'wag kang mandamay."

"Iyong mga magsyota nga na araw-araw nagkikita, naghihiwalay. Iyon pa kayang mga long-distance?"

He was slowly getting into my nerves. As much as I hate to admit it, may point naman kasi siya. Pero alam ko na iyon, hindi na niya kailangan pang ipamukha sa akin. Ang hirap na nga ng sitwasyon ko, dadagdagan pa niya. I didn't need discouraging words.

"Kakayanin namin," I firmly said.

"You're just like any foolish teenagers na nagpapaniwala sa love."

"Don't you believe in love?"

"Hah. Love my ass."

There was so much bitterness in his voice and I didn't know why. Mukhang pareho lang naman ang parents namin na masiyahin at mapagmahal. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka brokenhearted siya. Did he fall in love before and ended up shattered kaya nawalan na siya ng tiwala sa love?

"I respect your views about love. But just because you don't believe in it doesn't meant it doesn't exist."

"Ikaw ang bahala. Hindi naman ako ang masasaktan sa huli."

Nagtagis ang bagang ko. The nerve of him to conclude na masasaktan lang ako sa huli. Wala akong pakialam kung posibleng nasaktan siya noon which made him a love cynic. Wala pa rin siyang karapatang pangunahan ako.

"Hindi ako masasaktan."

"Sigurado ka?"

Matagal akong hindi nakapagsalita.

"Kung masasaktan man ako, it's going to be worth it."

"Nothing's worth it when it comes to pain. Bakit mo sasaktan ang sarili mo kung pwede namang hindi?"

Gusto kong isagot sa kanya na love is beautiful and it brings a certain kind of happiness in your heart na mahirap ipaliwanag. The happiness brought by love makes it worth the pain. Pero pinili kong 'wag na lang sumagot kay Trevor. He would just make fun of my beliefs in love. Tatawagin na naman niya akong hopeless romantic.

"Have a nice day."

Tinalikuran ko siya ulit. Lalayo na lang ako sa kanya dahil ayokong lumaki pa ang argument namin. Tiyak na hindi magugustuhan ng parents namin 'pag nag-away kami. Magkaibigan ang mga magulang namin and they're now business partners kaya mahirap 'pag magiging magkaaway kami. Maybe I'd just try to avoid him as much as possible and try to be civil around him tuwing magkikita kami.

"What do you think your parents will say if I tell them that you have a boyfriend?"

Huminto ulit ako pero hindi ko siya hinarap. I stiffened. Oo, tama nga talaga ako. Demonyo siya.

"Wala kang sasabihin sa kanila," seryosong tugon ko.

Kailangan kong magkunwaring matapang kahit sa totoo lang ay kinakabahan na ako. Pa'no kung isumbong niya ako? My parents would be so pissed off at hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin nila.

"Oh, don't worry. My lips are sealed."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa sinabi niya. I couldn't trust him.

"T-thanks."

"As long as you obey me."

"What?!" I faced him with an annoyed face.

"You heard me."

"What do you mean by that?"

He slowly walked towards me. Doon ko lang mas napagmasdan ang hitsura niya. He was taller than any other fifteen-year-old boy I'd met. His body was lean... you know, the boy-next-door type. He had chinky eyes, aristocratic nose and a very kissable lips. Nakakamangha rin ang kinis ng balat niya. Parang walang pores ang gago. Sa'n ba siya ipinaglihi?

Wait, why was I admiring him? He's the enemy here.

Yes, I shouldn't be admiring him. I should just focus on his bad sides para hindi ko makalimutan na magaspang ang ugali niya sa'kin.

Nag-focus ako sa ngiti niya. It was a dangerous smile that seemed to be telling me that he was about to make my life a living hell. Halos hindi ako nakahinga nang tuluyan siyang nakalapit sa akin.

Shit, he was so close to me. Gusto kong umatras pero tila hindi ko maigalaw ang mga paa ko. What the heck is wrong with me?!

"Your secret is safe with me. But I'm pretty sure you're aware that everything comes with a price," seryosong sabi niya.

"A-ano'ng kapalit ng pagtatago mo sa sikreto ko?"

"Luke Alfonso... from now on, you are my property."

♥️ ♥️ ♥️ TO BE CONTINUED ♥️ ♥️ ♥️