How To Marry A Cheater?

CHAPTER 01.1

@hiraya_manawari

Thousands of poems to describe you yet I cannot be content with how I put you into my words perhaps, you’re just too much to be defined… you are always too much to be loved only with words of mine. Maybe when I get the chance, I will be able to make you believe that words aren’t complete with my actions that screams my adoration for you. Soon, you will not just be a subject of my pieces, but also the person that gives life to my dying heart. Soon, not only my words would value you, but also my entire self considering you as a treasure. For my words can’t describe you well, because you are more than just for my poetry, you are meant to be described using the word ‘love.’

hiraya.

Posted 1 minute ago.

@yosh_inurarea ito ba 'yong afraid to take risk?

"Okay lang ba 'tong si Hiraya?" Rachel waved her hand inches away from my face.

Humagalpak si Yosher ng tawa nang silipin ang mukha ko. Muntik pa siyang masamid sa iced coffee na kinupit niya sa tinda namin.

"Binigyan siya ng tip ni Alon, " Yosh announced.

Lily squeaked and shook my arm. "Dito na ba magsisimula ang pag-iibigan niyo?"

I removed her hands off me and raised a brow at her. "Tumigil nga kayo, " I said.

"Negative times negative is equal to positive. Bagay kayo, bakla!" Lily remarked.

"Ano naman red flag n'yan ni Hiraya?" Dagdag na panunukso ni Rachel.

"Red flag siya kasi mixed signals siya sa sarili niya, " Yosher replied. "Hindi niya malaman kung kikiligin ba siya or iiwas, " he added.

"Nakilala na ni Alon ang nag-suggest ng stage name niya. " Lily clasped her hands and rest her head on my left shoulder. She looked like she was having a great dream.

Rachel sat beside me. "Tell me about it. " She even covered her mouth with her palm after gasping.

"I remembered Hiraya addressing him as 'Ace' so I suggested it to Alon, " Yosh proudly answered. "Sinabi ko that the name came from a fan of his. Hindi ko na sinabi specifically. "

"You really like him that much?" Rachel placed her cheek on her palms. She was glimpsing at me amusingly. "I think I'm going to root for the both of you. "

"A big no. " I rested my back on the chair. "I told you already, I'm going to keep my feelings. No confessions will happen, " I uttered with depth.

"Hindi mo sure. " Yosh grinned.

Lily raised her hand in the air, like she was about to say an oath. "As your friend, dedemonyohin kita sa abot ng aking makakaya. "

I facepalmed myself before standing. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili na magbenta. I have to avoid thinking about what just happened. That was just a simple interaction but I could feel lightning bolts attempting to travel inside me.

Napakalaking kasalanan 'to. I promised myself not to get closer but upon having him near me and touching his hand… I might break the seal. And that can't happen.

I closed my eyes tightly and gently tapped myself on the chest. When I opened my eyes, all the fights I had with myself vanished when our gazes met. He was with his friends playing volleyball on the ground. The quadrangle was clear since students went to the pool area to watch the swimming competition. Nagkataon pa na malapit ang net sa booth namin. Kitang-kita ko siya.

I chose to ignore our eye contacts. I don't know why but I kept on bumping with his eyes. Nananadya yata ang araw ngayon? Lagi ko siyang nakikita, laging nagsasalubong ang tingin namin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nagawang ma-survive ang mga pagkakataon na 'yon.

"Ikaw si Franzesca Hiraya Agravante 'di ba?" It was Entice, my classmates way back junior highschool. She suddenly went to our booth to look for me and was holding a yellow fabric.

"Yes, why?"

Entice flexed the yellow fabric she was holding. At first, I was confused but my mouth fell open when I recognized what it was for. Madalas ko 'yon makita na suot ni Yosh dahil suki siya ng blind date booth!

"Haba ng hair, Hiraya. " Yosh playfully pushed me on my back. "Sumama ka na. "

I glared at him as I let Entice grab me by my arm. "Yari ka sa'kin Yosher Mendoza kapag nalaman kong ikaw ang may pakana nito, " pagbabanta ko sa kaniya.

"Hey, hindi ako 'yan! Kasama mo ako the whole time, " natatawa na sabi niya sa akin.

Slowly, his voice and teases faded as I felt Entice guiding me to walk.

My knees weakened, my whole body was shivering, and I never stopped talking to Entice because I was starting to get nervous. Mas tumindi ang panlalamig ng mga kamay ko.

"Any clue kung sino?" Sinusubukan kong paaminin si Entice.

"J ang initial. "

While walking towards the booth, all I did was to guess who it was. I don't know anyone that starts with a J on their name except for my guy friends. Tabla rin naman kami ng mga lalaki kong kaibigan. Platonic love exists in our circle of friends. It can't be one of them.

"Upo ka muna rito. "

Entice helped me to sit on a chair. My hand crawled to the table in front, trying to familiarize myself with the room. Pinalala lang ng aircon ang kaba at panlalamig ko kaya habang naghihintay ay panay pisil ko sa mga palad.

I was just sitting for minutes already. It was taking them so long to find who my blind date partner was. I even heard them being stressed out because they can't find a partner.

"Oh well, looks like your 'supposed to be partner' is a coward after setting your names up for this booth. "

Kilala ko ang boses na 'yon, isa rin siyang member ng journalism club. I calmed down a bit after knowing that I have someone beside me that I know.

"Makakalabas na ba ako nito, Ate Meryll?"

"Hindi, eh. We tasked someone to find a partner for you, 'di ka makakalabas dito nang walang nakakausap. " Naramdaman ko ang pag-akbay niya sa'kin. "You've been single for years now, Hiraya. Your last situationship was like a year ago pa. Don't you think it's time for you to try again?"

I groaned. "Give me a break. " I rolled my eyes under the blindfold.

She chuckled. "You can take a break and rest with your partner that is currently walking towards us now. "

An urge to fix my sitting posture came to my mind as I bit the insides of my cheek to calm myself down. Mas nakakakaba pa makipag-blind date kaysa sa research defense!

Naramdaman ko ang pag-upo ng isang rebulto ng lalaki sa harap ko. Sinubukan kong amuyin ang perfume nito, baka sakaling mahulaan ko kung sino. But due to nervousness, it was worthless. I ended up giving up guessing who it was.

"I'm going to ask you questions and you two should answer both. May mini game rin tayo sa dulo, please prepare, " Ate Meryll instructed. "Pick a number from one to ten. "

"What's your favourite number?" I asked the man in front.

"Four. "

I squinted my eyes. His voice was soothing to the ear, not too deep and not too high-pitched. It was a familiar tone. I just can't utter the exact name that voice belongs to. If only I wasn't anxious, I bet I can conclude who I was with.

"Are you guys willing to hang out after this blind date?"

"Yeah, sure, " he replied immediately.

"Of course, " I said with a nod.

Ate Meryll told us to pick another number and it was a different question.

"What's your ideal type?"

"Kung hindi academically inclined, I want someone who's talented, hygienic, and has a good fashion sense, " I answered.

"I prefer someone who's hygienic as well and family oriented, " the man blurted out.

My lips arched a bit after hearing his answer.

"You will be playing thumb war according to your chosen number. " I felt Ate Meryll's hand reach for mine.

Suddenly, all I knew was that my hand was clasped with his.

We were about to start the game but then he interfered saying, "Wait, nanginginig siya. "

I gulped because of embarrassment before holding my hand tightly. I stretched it out a bit before holding his hand again.

The game started and it didn't take him seconds to trap my thumb in his. Hindi na rin ako nagpumiglas dahil ayaw ko na rin patagalin ang mga kaganapan. I was eager to remove my blindfold and discover who was the man I am with.

"We will be taking your blindfolds off now. "

As the blindfold slowly fell in the sight of my eyes. My lips parted when I finally saw who I blind dated.

He looked lost and confused as well. Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kaniya ngunit binawi ko rin bago niya pa mapansin. He gave for the second time his sweetest smile.

"We will give you five minutes to talk to each other. " Ate Meryll was looking at me with excitement as she left us alone.

I cleared my throat. "Did you set us up?" I pretended that I didn't know they switched my partner. I should not show any interest.

I don't know if I should thank my original date for ditching me. For God's sake, I am with Ace… talking to him. What happened to your 'we should not interact' proclamation, Hiraya?

He shook his head. "I did not. Wala namang gagawa no'n sa mga kaibigan ko. "

I sighed. "Same here. "

"What's your name?" He offered a hand to me.

I was hesitating to shake it but I did not want him to leave it like that.

"Franzesca Hiraya. " The one who gave you your stage name.

"I'm Aloycius Keanu…"

I know, Ace.

"... Anong strand mo?"

I tried to smile. "I'm from STEM, grade 12. You?"

The nerve of me to ask even though I already know.

"GAS, 12. "

Napalunok pa ako bago tuluyang gawin ang dapat na gawain ko. I have no choice but to do this if I want my task to get done.

"I'm actually a journalist and I was in charge of featuring you and your band in my article… " My pacing of speaking slowed down when I realized that he was staring at me for too long. "... is it okay if we will set a date for an interview?"

Is this the reason why girls try their best to hook up with him? His charms are effortless to tame a woman. It worked on me but I won't let it drive me crazy.

I wanted to release a sigh, a sign of surviving to talk. I almost stuttered, good thing I was still sane. Not in front of him, not in front of the man I like. If I can't like him closely, might as well not embarrass myself even more. I'll be carrying this memory for the whole semester.

I already broke my promise to myself. Sulitin ko na. After this article, I'm going to avoid him as much as I can.

"Miss Kath mentioned that we are going to be featured. " He tilted his head. "Advance thank you for covering us in your article, Hiraya."

I blinked multiple times before I understood what he meant.

"Anytime, Ace. " For the first time, I gave him a genuine smile.

He chuckled. "My stage name sounds good when it comes to you."

Because I was the first one who called you that.

"When is your next gig?" I shifted the topic.

Ace pouted before resting his chin on the knuckles of his hand. "This weekend po. Why? Are you going to watch?"

"I always do…" I mumbled.

His eyes shimmered making me chuckle. "Pupunta ako kung ikaw magiging vocalist for one song. "

"I'll be the vocalist if you're going to request a song I will be singing. " Ace raised a brow at me with a grin on his face.

I blew my cheeks and nodded continuously. "Rainbow, Ace. By South Border. "

We got a signal that our time was over and we could leave right after we took pictures together.

I was almost suffocated with how close he was with me. I felt that he lowered his height a bit to rest the side of his head to mine. Before the camera flashed he said something that made me awake for a night.

"Anyway, thanks for the stage name. "