One Night Mistake

Chapter 2

Serene's POV

Halos matumba ako dahil biglaan kong pagtayo dahil sa sobrang gulat. My drunk ass was just removed from my senses and what...the hell!

"s**t!" mura ko saka tinakpan ang sarili gamit ang unan.

Aeron looked tired to even look at me but he managed to. Did he took advantage of my drunkness? Oh my! What the f**k!

Halos hindi ako makapag-isip nang mabuti. I am too shocked! What the hell! At ako naman? Hindi ko man lang nakilala?! Oh my!

"Aeron! f**k you! Did you just took advantage of me?" I hit him with my pillow, making him sit.

He looked at me and was about to glare when he looked like he realized something. His eyes widened and covered his naked body.

"s**t! Serene?!" he looked shocked.

"Yes, you fucker! You took advantage of my drunkness, didn't you?!" sinampal ko siya.

He held his face and faced me, still with his shocked face. "Tangina, hindi," he calmly said, but shock was still visible in him.

Hinampas ko siyang muli gamit ang unan kaya napatalikod siya. "Serene, calm the f**k down. We're both f*****g drunk. Now, kindly cover yourself. You're f*****g naked for f**k's sake." nakatalikod niyang sabi kaya napatingin ako sa aking katawan.

That's when I realized that the pillow was the only one who covered me. Yeah! We just did it! Oh my god! This is a sin!

Nakatalikod niyang binigay sa akin ang kanyang suot na damit kanina at saka ko iyon sinuot. Tangina, yung dress ko nakakalat sa labas!

Medyo nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang umabot hanggang tuhod ang kanyang dress shirt sa akin, but still, my peaks were still visible.

"Ayos na?" tanong niya, nakatalikod pa rin at nakasuot na ang boxers niya.

"Oo!" sagot ko, pagalit.

Humarap siya sa akin at saka pinagmasdan ako mula itaas paibaba kaya tinakpan ko ang sarili ko gamit ang unan.

"You took advantage of me, didn't you? May boyfriend ako, Aeron!" I said madly.

Napaupo siya sa kama muli. He licked his lower lip while pushing his hair back and faced me, frustrated.

"I didn't. Masyado akong gwapo para sa bagay na iyon." he said.

I rolled my eyes and looked at him hysterically. Ha! I can't believe him! Hanggang dito dinadala niya ang kahanginan niya?!

He was calm when I turned my gaze back at him. "Tangina! Bakit sa lahat ng babae, ako pa?" bulong ko, parang nababaliw.

Aeron sighed. "f**k, I told you I was drunk, Serene. If you didn't want this thing to happen, so am I." he stated, clenching his jaw.

Napasabunot ako saka siya tiningnan muli. "Talaga," I said.

"Hindi ba kinama mo ako bilang ganti dahil hindi kita sinagot noon?" mas kalmado na ako ngayon kaysa kanina pero halata pa rin sa tono ng boses ang galit.

He chuckled without humor. "The f**k I won't. Hindi ako ganoong tao." aniya.

"Alam mo naman na may boyfriend ako, hindi ba?" I said.

Tumango siya. "Malamang,"

He rolled his eyes and so am I. "God knows how drunk I am, Serene. Alam kong ganoon ka rin so don't you act like you're f*****g innocent. Parehas tayong may kasalanan dito." Aeron said.

"No, you're the only one! Kung hindi mo ako hinalikan, edi tahimik tayo!" I yelled.

"Look at you being childish. You won't kiss back if you don't like it, Charlotta Serene. Ni hindi nga kita nakilala dahil sa dilim kanina, eh. Huwag kang feeling inosente riyan." he said seriously, licking his lower lip.

Natahimik ako. Yeah, right. I kissed back.

Napapikit ako nang mariin. "Oh my, I cheated on Zero. How will I say this to him? What will I do?" I asked myself.

He answered. "Say it directly, then. 'Hey, Zero. I f****d other man while I was drunk.' like that." he raised his eyebrow and clenched his jaw.

"Palibhasa kasi wala kang jowa kaya akala mo madali." I responded frustratedly.

Oh, god. How will I say this to him? My gosh. Will he leave me? Oh my! I can't make that happen! I love him.

"Whatever you say," aniya at tumayo.

He was about to leave the room but I stopped him. "Hey, wait, what should we do?" tanong ko.

He looked at me. "Ewan ko. Ayaw mo naman makinig sa mga sinasabi ko." nagkibit-balikat siya at seryosong lumabas kaya napatayo ako at hinabol siya.

Napangiwi ako nang makaramdam ng kaunting sakit.

Hinawakan ko ang kanyang palapulsuhan nang mahabol ko siya. "Hoy!" I said.

Liningon niya ako saka tinaasan ng kilay. "Hindi kita iiwan. Bibilhan lang kita ng damit. I can see your goddamn peaks from here." he said at umiwas ng tingin.

Napabitaw ako sa kanyang kamay at saka hinayaan siyang umalis.

It didn't last an hour when he came back with a paper bag. Hinitsa niya sa akin ang dala at saka tumalikod.

"Magbihis ka at saka tayo mag-uusap."

Sinunod ko ang kanyang sinabi at dali-daling nagpalit. I wonder where he bought these clothes. Anong oras na kaya. Even the size of my underwear was exactly my size.

He bought me a white shirt and dolphin shorts. "Sa kapatid ko yan, huwag kang assuming." he said when I stared how exact the size is for my body.

Umirap ako. That doesn't matter! Ang importante ngayon ay magkalinawan kaming dalawa. I even prepared questions! Kailangan niyang sagutin iyon.

I felt sore but I managed to come in front of him. Hinarap ko siya at tinaasan pa ng kilay.

He was serious when I saw him there, waiting for me. He threw a glance from my head to my toe before his eyes came back to mine.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako bago nagsalita.

"First of all, what happened is a mistake," I declared.

Tumango siya at sumang-ayon. "Yeah, this is a mistake. You have a boyfriend and I have my girls, so to be frank, this is cheating." he said.

I nodded, agreeing on what he said. "After what happened tonight, I hope we won't cross paths again. I'll deal with my business, and so are you." sabi ko na kanyang tinanguan.

"Whatever you want. I have my own business, wala akong pakialam sa buhay mo." he said harshly.

I raised an eyebrow. "Same,"

I was about to stand up when I remembered something. "And oh, I hope what happened tonight won't spread on our batch, lalo na at nasa iisang squad lang ito," saad ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya at kalauna'y nagkibit-balikat at tumango.

But how will I say this to Zero? I'm scared. I cheated, and I admit it. What I and Aeron did was a mistake. Can he still accept me?

The thought can make me die in conscience. Like, we were together for more than a decade, will I ruin this? We're almost getting married! Just...the ring! At mukhang mauudlot pa dahil sa kasalanang ito!

What if I don't tell him? I am pretty sure Aeron won't tell him dahil magkaibigan sila at bestfriend ng kambal niya si Zero, alam kong hindi niya sisirain ang pagkakaibigan nila.

This is frustrating!

Napatingin ako sa tao sa aking harapan nang tumayo ito. He looked at me with his humorless reaction. "If you doubt me about it, cut my hair clean if I break it." aniya.

"Excuse me?" mataray ang pagkakasabi ko.

"Ikaw lang naman ang madaldal." aniya saka tumalikod at akmang magsisimulang maglakad nang pigilan ko siya.

I held his wrist. "Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko.

He rolled his eyes. "Ayaw mo bang umuwi?" pabalang niyang sabi.

My mouth mimicked what he said to mock him but I followed him after dahil baka he'll leave me dito!

Ilang akong napaiwas ng tingin nang makita ang kalat kalat kong damit sa labas ng tree house nang makaapak ako sa hagdan. The f**k, my conscience is eating me alive!

Dali-dali ko pinulot ang mga iyon saka sumunod sa kanya sa sasakyan, iniiwasan ang mga parteng may nangyaring kababalaghan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Naging matahimik ang aming biyahe pabalik sa aming lungsod at ikinalulugod ko iyon dahil mas mabuting hindi kami nag-uusap dahil bukod sa nangyaring pagkakamali sa pagitan naming dalawa, pumapasok na naman sa utak ko ang imahe niyang nasa kabaong at nakahimlay.

"How are you alive?" I said out of nowhere.

"Because I am alive." maikli niyang sagot, nakatingin lang sa daan.

Hindi pa rin pala talaga siya nagbago. He's playful and sarcastic. I really wonder what changed after he came back. Mas bastos? Psh. Pwede.

Lumabas ako kaagad sa kanyang sasakyan nang matapat kami sa aming bahay dahil hindi ko maatim na kasama siya sa isang lugar, lalo na kulob.

Walang sumalubong sa akin sa sala kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil hindi ako aasarin ng mga magulang ko.

I am too exhausted for the things that happened today, masarap lang itulog. But in the end, I ended up crying while thinking about how I would confess it to Zero.

Kung hindi ako ginising ni Mama na kakain na, hindi pa ako babangon. I took a brunch meal with them and after that, I decided to call the squad to do malling since Zero has other priorities for today.

"Okay! Tawagan ko si Aeron! Panigurado ay hindi pwede si Aerin." sabi ni Michael habang nasa voice call kami.

Natigil ako nang marinig ang pangalan ni Aeron. I crossed my fingers, wishing he wouldn't join us because if he joined, I won't enjoy.

"No, I have other plans for today." narinig ko ang malamig na boses ni Aeron sa tawag.

I muted my microphone before sighing loudly. Mabuti naman at hindi siya sasama! Baka magulo niya lamang ang isip ko.

Our call ended and we'll meet before lunch at some mall.

Well, our town isn't really that rural but there are some parts of it na baryo pa talaga kung maitatawag. We also have big malls with designer brands and we also have amusement parks like the urban city.

Simula kagabi pa ay hindi ko pa tinatawagan si Zero. I don't think I can call him at this state. Besides of him being busy, sariwa pa rin sa akin lahat ng nangyari kagabi.

I admit that I liked it, pero that is purely a mistake. My body reacted, pero kung hindi ako lasing sa mga oras na iyon, I wouldn't make that mistake.

Nagsisisi ako sa nagawa ko. Just...I just don't know how to confess it to him. We're near from getting engaged, I am scared that he might leave me if he learns about it.

Huminga ako nang malalim saka ipinagpaliban na lamang ang mga nasa isip ko at gumayak na dahil anong oras na rin at mabagal pa akong kumilos.

Ang sumama lang ay sila Meg, Trixie, at si Michael. Amber went back to her condo in the city because she has things to do in there.

"Saan ka napunta kagabi, Serene? My god! Pati si Aeron ay nawala rin!" Meg said hysterically.

My eyes widened a bit pero hindi ko iyon pinahalata. What should I say? Oh my gosh. Nakagawa kami ng kasalanan? Whatever!

I tried to act normal, "Uhm, I told him to take me h-home. Baka malasing ako, eh." palusot ko at umaktong normal.

Mukha namang naniwala sila sa aking sinabi at tumawa pa. "Hindi ka pa ba lasing sa ganoong lagay? You almost made yourself naked on the dance floor! Nakita ko pang may sumasayaw sa likuran mo! Mabuti nalang pala at hinatid ka ni Aeron!" saad naman ni Trixie.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. "Huh? Meron?" painosente kong tanong.

Humalakhak si Meg, "Oo! Di ko alam pero kaparehas ng katawan ni Zero at Aeron! Mukhang barumbado pa naman! Di ko na maalala nangyari sumunod dahil hinarot na ako ng kausap ko!" tumatawang sabi niya.

Halos mabuga ko ang iced latte nang marinig ang kanyang sinabi.

Si Aeron iyon! At barumbado talaga, sinabi mo pa!

Kumunot ang noo ko at pekeng tumawa. Napatingin pa ako sa paligid at mabuti nalang dahil nasa terrace kami ng café at wala nang iba pang tao roon.

"H-Hay, mabuti nalang talaga at naiuwi ako ni Aeron!" peke akong ngumiti.

"Pero nakakagulat lang, ano? Paanong buhay siya, ano? Like we saw him being buried in his grave pero paanong buhay siya? Hindi kaya triplets talaga sila?!" singit ni Michael.

Halos humagalpak naman ang dalawa ko pang kasama nang marinig ang huling sabi ni Michael kaya ang tanging nagawa ko ay pumeke ng tawa kahit hindi ako natatawa dahil siya ang topic namin.

"Alam ba ni Zero na buhay siya noon pa man?" tanong sa akin ni Trixie.

Kumunot ang aking noo bago nagkibit-balikat. "Hindi ko alam. Wala naman siyang nababanggit sa akin. Baka ang kuya niya lang," I said honestly dahil hindi ko naman talaga alam.

"Tsaka why are we talking about him ba? It just creeps me out! Patay pa rin siya sa paningin ko!" dagdag ko pa. It's true, though, but may part na palusot dahil ayaw kong naririnig ang pangalan niya!

Iniba naman nila agad ang usapan dahil they were crept out also. I sighed.

Matapos naming magkita-kita, dumiretso agad ako sa kotse at saka tiningnan ang aking telepono kung nakatanggap ba ako ng mensahe o tawag kay Zero pero wala pa rin. Naiintindihan ko naman so it's fine. Siguro'y hindi pa sila tapos sa medical mission o di kaya'y nagliligpit na sila, anong oras na rin kasi, magggagabi na.

Buntong-hininga kong binuksan ang aking inbox para padalhan siya ng mensahe. I don't plan on telling it now, though. Hindi ko pa kaya.

I asked him his situation and as expected, hindi kaagad ako nakatanggap ng mensahe pabalik.

Sinaksak ko na ang susi ko ng sasakyan sa kung saan ito nilalagay at saka lumarga na.

Kinabukasan ay nagising ako dahil sa isang halik. There I saw Zero on the edge of my bed, reaching for my face.

"Good morning, Babe." he whispered and kissed my forehead.

My blurry vision was stuck into his angelic face.

Kung ang kuya niya ay mukhang marahas, siya naman ay parang anghel kung titignan. Moreno siya kung mapapansin pero mas toned ang sa kuya niya.

Hindi ako makangiti nang makita siya. I feel guilty.

Paano ba ngumiti?

Kahit hindi ko magawa, pinilit ko para magmukhang normal ang lahat. "Morning..." I whispered.

I covered my face from him, conscious that I may look ugly in front of him, lalo na it's morning. He chuckled on what I did.

"We've been doing this for 12 years, Serene. Ngayon ka pa ba mahihiya?" pabirong aniya.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. I am afraid to look at him. I am afraid I might see his happy because soon, I'll ruin it.

Kung ako ang dahilan bakit siya ngumingiti nang ganyan, paniguradong ako rin ang dahilan para mawala iyan ng parang bula.

I am the worst part of him.

Nang mapansin niyang hindi ako natuwa ay hinawakan niya ang aking pisngi at hinarap ako sa kaniya. "Hey, what's wrong? Did I wake you up so early? I'm sorry." he said softly, caressing my jaws, concerned with my state.

I didn't notice that I was tearing up. I smiled at him, assuring him that I am fine.

"Baby, why are you crying? Is there something wrong? What did I do wrong? Tell me, please." he wiped the tears that kept falling down but I was still smiling at him.

I kissed his lips while my tears still kept falling.

"Serene...what is it? May mali ba akong nagawa?" he said in between our kisses, still wiping my tears.

"W-Wala, I just missed you. Bukod sa noong Biyernes, matagal din tayong hindi nagkita. I miss you so much." I whispered.

He chuckled and kissed my lips, nose, and both of my eyes, then to my forehead.

"I missed you too, Serene. I am sorry I wasn't able to join you yesterday." Then he kissed my hair.

He stood up and fixed his creased shirt. "Let's go and eat breakfast with your parents? We have a long day today." Zero stated.

I nodded. Yeah, right. I need to go back to my condo dahil marami pa akong gagawin at iniwan na trabaho.

Pinauna ko siyang bumaba sa dining habang ako ay nag-ayos na ng sarili, nagbihis na rin ako ng pang-alis para diretso na kami ni Zero mamaya paalis.

Mabuti na lamang at kaunti lamang ang dinala kong damit pauwi rito at hindi ko na kailangan pang magdala ng maleta.

I took my longchamp travel bag with me downstairs and sailed through the dining room.

Nadatnan ko silang tatlo roon na nagtatawanan. They threw their gazes at me when they saw me. Zero scanned my outfit and raised his eyebrow. I matched my outfit with him kaya siguro ganoon ang reaksyon niya.

"Sit." Zero tapped the other chair beside him.

Sinunod ko iyon at saka kami nagsimulang kumain.

"Sinong naghatid sa'yo nung nakaraan, 'nak?" tanong ni Papa habang kumakain kami.

Natigil ako ngunit hindi ko iyon pinahalata. "Yung kaibigan po namin ni Zero, Pa. May duty si Zero kaya ayaw kong abalahin." I said.

"Ay ganoon? Ang akala ko pa naman ay bubuo na kayo ng magiging apo ko," humalakhak si Papa sa kanyang sinabi.

Natawa si Zero sa sinabi ni Papa at saka binagsak ang kanyang palad sa aking binti at hinaplos iyon.

"Kailan ninyo ba balak magpakasal? Hindi ako makapaghintay magkaapo." Mama giggled.

"Oo nga naman. You guys are at the right age. Hindi kayo bumabata." saad naman ni Papa.

I felt uncomfortable with the conversation but I didn't let them feel it. Pasagot na sana ako ngunit inunahan na ako ni Zero.

"I have plans anytime soon, Tito. Baka ikasal lang ang kapatid kong panganay at baka paunahin po namin sila." Zero said with confidence.

Parang nagbara ang aking lalamunan sa kanyang sinabi. With his words, he always made me feel loved. He never failed doing that.

Ako yung problema. Ako lang naman ang pwedeng gumawa ng problema.

Zero may be always busy with his profession. He never failed to make me happy, though. With his personality full of surprises, I think I am very undeserving to be his wife.

We finished our meal and Zero helped me with my things and put them in my car.

Ganito palagi ang sitwasyon namin. Sa tuwing uuwi ako rito sa probinsya, he'll be the one driving. Lalo na pag pauwi na ako sa siyudad, sa condo, siya ang magmamaneho habang ang kanyang sasakyan ay dadalhin doon ng kanilang driver.

I kept my smile while he is around and acted normal. Mukhang hindi niya naman napapansin na I feel different today kaya mas mabuti iyon.

I don't want him to feel sorry, at all.

I am the one I should be.

We drove hours before reaching the city. Hindi kami sa condo ko dumiretso kung hindi sa parke.

We usually spend our time with things and explore every place kung mahaba man ang oras o araw.

I am very much happy being with him for almost 12 years.

Nagpunta kami sa seaside without me knowing the reason why. I told you he is always full of surprises.

It was already eight in the evening so I was wondering what we're doing here.

Dinala niya ako sa isang seaside restaurant wherein the view is the moon reflecting on the water.

We were the only ones on a part of the restaurant. The place was fancy and romantic. I didn't say anything but I just smiled.

"Thank you, Babe." I said out of nowhere.

He just winked and exchanged the plate in front of him to me to give me the ready to eat one.

After we ate, he brought me to the edge of the seaside restaurant wherein the view was the sea.

He gave me a glass of wine and held my waist with gentleness while sipping on his wine.

My eyes were darted on the night sky when I heard the fireworks cracking, making the sky bright and wonderful.

The fireworks formed into an 'I love you' so I looked at Zero. When I threw my gaze at him, he was already staring at me while smiling.

"I told you I'll make it up to you," he whispered and threw the glass of wine at the sea, pulling me to him.

"I love you, Zero," I whispered while staring at his eyes full of emotions.

He smiled.

"I really do," my mouth muttered and hugged him, making my face bury on his chest.

I mean what I said, but am I enough for him?