Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 12: The Chosen Ones

I SQUINTED my eyes as I try to process what Belle just said. Bukod sa masyadong vague ang sinabi niya, sadyang hindi na gaanong nagpa-process sa utak ko ang mga bagay-bagay.

“W-wait! Anong meron sa dalawang 'yan? They know each other right?” I asked out of curiosity after I recalled what happened earlier at the drug store.

Belle gave me a slight smile bago muling tumingin sa screen. “According to my research, they've known each other for quite sometime now. In fact! Magkasama silang dalawa kanina sa school when you went to the visitor’s lounge with your Dad, Allie.”

“Kanina? He's at school earlier?” The amusement in voice is very evident but at the same time, I want to feed my curiosity about the real deal between that guy and Aome.

“Justice Santiago happens to be a new scholar in our school. He was introduced by our teacher this morning when both of you were not around,” paliwanag ni Belle. “And apparently, I saw him together with Aome in the hallway noong papunta ako sa hideout natin.”

Sandaling napuno ng katahimikan ang buong living room at ang pagtikhim ni Clarkson ang siyang bumasag nito. Nilingon namin siya and he's giving a cold aura at this very moment.

Selos? I’m not sure. Who knows right?

“Oh? Anong kinalaman ko riyan?” seryosong tanong ni Clarkson. He's now leaning at the couch habang naka-dekwatro pa ang hinayupak.

“What?” Belle asked. “What do you mean, ano'ng kinalaman mo rito? You just got engaged with Allie and we all know that both of you didn’t want that to happen. Right?”

“That’s true,” sagot ko. “Pero anong ibig mong sabihin na sila ang sisira sa kasal namin?”

The frustration on Anabelle's face is evident enough pero ang hirap naman kasi intindihin ng body language ng babaeng 'to! Hindi ba siya aware na ang IQ namin ni Clarkson ay for average people lang?

Well, I'm not saying na hindi ako matalino. More like, I'm too perfect when I'm already a part-goddess tapos genius pa. That would be a huge problem.

“Ang hirap niyong kausap pareho!” iritang sagot ni Belle. “Ang ibig kong sabihin, if you really want to call off your wedding, kailangan niyo ng tulong ng dalawang 'to. It’s either Allie makes Justice fall for her or Clarkson gets back at Aome—”

“What?!"

"No way!”

Kapwa kami natigilan ni Clarkson matapos namin sabihin ang kanya-kanyang pagtanggi namin. We even glanced at each other with furrowed eyebrows — habang si Belle, pailing-iling na lang.

“Have you gone mad, Belle?” ani Clarkson. “I don’t do the reconciliation thing unless, sila ang magmakaawa sa akin—or... Allie can do it instead.”

“What?! Why should I be the only one to put an effort to stop this wedding?”

Both of them stared at me intently, like I said something very unusual for the first time. Pero kung akala nila na magpapatinag ako sa mga titig nila, they’re wrong. I squinted my eyes then throw a deadly glare at them.

“Ikaw ang may gusto na matigil ang kasal natin, hindi ba?” Clarkson asked which made me and Belle shift our eyes at him.

“Wait, ako lang?” I asked. “You want to call off the wedding too, right?”

Biglang nag-iwas ng tingin si Clarkson at tila nataranta pa sa naging sagutan naming dalawa. Si Belle ay tahimik lamang na nakamasid but I know she’s aware of what I just felt a little while ago. Mula doo’y bigla na lamang tumawa ng pagkalakas-lakas si Clarkson na parang siraulo.

“Kinabahan ba kayo?” natatawa niyang saad, he even walked towards us at tsaka kami inakbayan ni Belle. “Of course I want to break off the wedding! But, don’t you think it would be quite odd for me na bigla na lang ako maghahabol sa ex ko?”

“And your point is?” ani Belle habang ako’y busy sa pagtanggal ng akbay ni Clarkson at maglakad palayo sa kanila para uminom ng tubig.

“Since, I have a reputation to protect... bakit hindi ganito ang gawin natin, let Allie seduce that dumbass and the moment na naghiwalay sila ni Aome, I will take her back no matter what.”

Halos maibuga ko ang iniinom kong tubig sa sinabi ni Clarkson. Mabilis ko silang hinarap at pinanliitan siya ng mata.

Nabaliw na ang gago!

“Baliw ka ba?! And why would I do that childish thing just so that you can get that b***h back?”

“Why not?” he said. “That would be thrilling since mukhang bored ka na sa buhay mo. Besides, this is the first time you'll be dealing with a commoner. Right, Belle?”

Napatingin ako kay Belle and she’s nodding her head like for the first time in history of our friendship, may nasabi rin si Clarkson na may sense.

“I hate to admit it, pero may point siya, Allie,” ani Belle na ngayon ay nakatingin na rin sa akin. “It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Plus! It would be beneficial for the both of you since dalawa sila ni Aome na tutulong sa inyo to break off the wedding.”

“Come on, Allie! This isn’t the first time na ginawa mo ang bagay na 'to. If you really want to stop our wedding anytime soon, we need to do this,” said Clarkson.

My hand balled into fist as I stared at the picture of Aome at the screen. I clearly stated that I will do anything to call off this wedding and at the same time, I want to ruin that b***h. Hm, maybe this isn’t a bad idea after all. I can stop my wedding with Clarkson by making Justice fall for me and I can make Aome's life a living hell the moment that happened. Indeed, hitting two birds with one stone.

“Fine! I'll do it!” I said with full conviction. Clarkson and Belle both smiled at me as well all stare at each other.

Watch out, Aome. A descendant from Mount Olympus is bound to break you apart.