To be loved by a woman

Aiko's POV "Tangina! Late na ako." I woke up late, because I stayed up last night, thinking if i should go to the event that i was invited to. It was a senior high school reunion. I can't believe that it's been 6 years already, it felt like it happened yesterday. The bond, the achievements, and my first love it all happened in a year. I got inside the car when i realized i was out of gas. "Ah pucha! wala nga pala akong gas! piste naman oy." I stumped out of anger. Kasalanan ko rin naman kung bakit walang gas yung kotse, mahilig kasi akong magmaneho at ikutin ang area where i live at kapag alam kong paubos na iuuwi ko na rin. So i decided to book a grab and tinanggap ko na na late na ako from a meeting. When i got there natagpuan ko silang lahat na nakatayo for sure they were waiting for me. And my friend Sarah came up to me and whispered. "You little s**t you're 1 and a half hours late." Sabay kurot sa tagiliran ko. "Ouch." I whispered. "Good day everyone." I greeted them and sat down immediately. "Ano pang inaantay niyo? pasko? start the meeting alam kong kanina ko pa kayo pinag-aantay, im sorry i over slept. Now show me kung anong design yang nagawa ninyo." I said without showing any sincerity. "Well apology accepted kahit hindi mukhang genuine." Bulong ng isang arkitektong three chairs apart from me. "An-" Sarah kicked my feet to stop me talking back. "Okay go on start." Sarah said. "So here is the design that we've come up with. Sabi niyo gusto niyo ng very welcoming na resto so we've-" I stopped Archi Mila their head before she wasted her time although she already did. While looking at the paper that they gave me i shook my head and said. "No." I sigh. "That's not welcoming, I don't feel welcomed at all by just checking your designs, it's a big no for me. You didn't listen again, diba nga ang sabi ko a restaurant that feels like a home? and i told you not to change everything about the house kasi i like it the way it is? but ano to bakit ginawa niyong modern?" I looked at her straight in the eye and raised my eyebrows waiting for her response. "We're trying to make it modern but in- " I cut her off again. "In? In what?" I stood up and looked at her dead in the eye trying to intimidate her. "Just stop okay? stop convincing me, i already made up my mind months ago, alam niyo naman yan diba? but still you insisted on trying to change my mind. You begged me for another chance binigay ko ulit. Hindi ko nanaman nagustuhan and begged for another chance still a no tas ngayon no parin, Come on guys take no as an answer. Give up already, " I looked at them with a cold stare and tone. "I'm sorry, but i think we're going to decline your offer, because she's looking for a specific design and the designs that you've given to us are not meeting her expectations." She smiled at them and looked at me. After the meeting Sarah made everyone leave and sat beside me. "What's wrong?" She asked and handed me a beer. "Aga para mag beer ah." Kinuha ko naman but i placed on my neck, grabe umiinit ang ulo ko sa mga ayaw makinig. "Sus! ano nga problema mo? seems like you're thinking about something." She laughed and drank. "I received an email invitation sa batch natin, a reunion. Are you going?" I said and just looked at the floor. "Oo naman, Ikaw? oo na hindi kana pupunta i already know the answer, i know its not your thing kaya okay fine." She looked at me and smiled. "Oh what's with the face bro omg don't tell me natatakot ka makita siya if ever pupunta ka? di moved on yern?" She raised her eyebrows and look disgusted. "Not because of her no'. Sa iba nating ka-batch, you know them they're judgy." "Tangina? so what? Feel ko kay Riley yan." She said. "Hell no!" I answered without hesitations. "f**k you liar!" She chuckled and lightly pushed me. "i haven't moved on, is that what you want to hear? I've already moved on It's just the memories that keeps me nervous." i said. I have already moved on It's just hard for me to face her after what happened to us. I don't know how I would handle the issue about us before, how I would react when I see her, and how I would greet her if she tried to greet me. But who am i to overthink, I'm the one who decided to end it. "Hey? nandyan kapa ba? tulaley kana diyan. Nasa ibang lupalop kana ata ng mundo." Sarah snapped her fingers to try and get my attention. "Uhm ano ulit sabi mo?" I ask and smiled. "Sabi ko, no one's expecting you to come, they've already talked about you and they think you're not going." She said and showed me their group chats. "What the f**k? you have a gc without me!" I grabbed her phone and scrolled through the chats. Nako asa kapa wala yan si Aiko di yan dadalo! Wala naman masyadong kaibigan yan dati sa batch natin paano pupunta yan, eh hindi nga malapitan yan bukod sa girlfriend niya. Nako di mahilig sa ganyan yon diba nga tuwing may parties pilit lang siya dahil kay RR Sila paba ni RR? oo ata wala na sila tanga tagal na may girlfriend na si Aiko eh, si Sarah Weh tangina sa tropa pala ang bagsak nagcheat siguro! Hahahaha! For sure what else eh wala naman ibang nakakasama yan si Aiko kundi si Sarah diba @Riley Carmona "The f**k are they saying?" Pasigaw kong sinabi. "Saan nila napulot to sa kangkongan? mga ku-" Sarah covered my mouth to stop me and took the phone back. "Don't worry about it mag memessage ako. I'll tell them we're not together and you did not cheat." She took a sip and started typing. Wow, mashoshonders na kayo and still gossiping when you guys are supposed to be looking out for your kids? damn di pa nakamove on? FYI WALANG KAMI NI AIKO! and stop mentioning riley here because we're on good terms, magkaibigan pa kami at wala akong inaagaw. ayan chismisan pa more! Hahahaha "You tell them that!" I said. "Omg Riley saw it nagseen siya!" Sarah stood up and laughed. When i try to check if it's true a familliar name popped up on Sarah's phone. RR Carmona sent you a friend request. Sarah and i looked at each other shocked. "Gago!" Sarah shouted and nervously laughed. "Accept mo." I said acting like i don't care and chill with it. "Even if you say no I'd still accept her no'." She said while smiling and clicked the accept button. I just sat there and opened the beer, I laid my back on the chair and just stared at the ceiling. "Hey, she sent a message." Sarah poked me. "I don't care. I'm going home, bye" I stood up and took my things and left. I decided to walk and look for a taxi because I don't have a car nang biglang umulan. "Ah puta malas! malas! malas!" I shouted and tried to cover my head with my coat and ran. When i got home i got in the shower immediately with my clothes still on, I let the water flow on my body and unbuttoned my blouse and trousers and took it off and left me with my undergarments. I closed my eyes and y mood switched, my heart aches, my thoughts are loud. I sat down and just left the water running and closed my eyes. "Please answer me wala naba tayo ai?" She kneeled and grabbed my wrist crying. "Oh stop! Sadyang makasarili ka ai you love being loved." Her voice broke. "Buksan mo yung pinto, wag mong gawin to please! please! please! please!" She tries to open the door. It shouldn't end that way, i shouldn't have left her without saying goodbye, it was so low of me for doing that. Running away from the smallest thing, she was there ready to surrender herself for me and i was there scared to face her. I found myself crying, i put my palm of my chest to feel my heart pounding. I carefully stand up and finish up showering. When i got off the shower i got a lot of text from Sarah. HEY! ANSWER MY CALL! YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GUESS WHAT RR ASKED ME! AI! AIK!?! BRO LOOK! dadumbass sarah sent a screenshot. RR Carmona: Hi Sang! Sorry about what they've said. I mean it im really sorry sang :( i know you got offended. Sarah Cuenco: Nah bro all goods, how have you been? RR Carmona: I'm well :) are you planning on going? Sarah Cuenco: Yeah! Ofc i wouldn't want to miss their faces when they see me hanging out w u. Hahahaha! RR Carmona: Is she going? :) - Prologue ends here