Love and Hate Collide

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Jacob downed the contents of his glass in one gulp. Moises, who was beside him, turned to him with a laugh. Meanwhile, Deimian and Dwight, seated in front of them, shook their heads.They weren’t used to seeing him like that, so it seemed as if what he was doing was new to them.

"What's that, bro? It's just a woman, don't overthink it."

"Shut up Deimian."

"Woa.. Sa babae ka lang nagkakaganyan e. Akala ko nagkaintindihan na kayo ni Rose. Bakit parang distracted ka ngayon?"

"‘Don't talk to me. Mind your own business,’ he snapped. The other raised their hands as if surrendering. His friends knew him well and could tell when to stop teasing him. But on the other hand, they were right—he was distracted. After seeing the sexy photo Paula had sent, his mind was all messed up."

"Ahmm, no... his system was in disarray. He remembered how warm her body was. He had once touched her when he pulled her out of the pool. He closed his eyes as he felt a strange sensation flowing through his body. He wanted to get her face out of his mind, but it kept coming back. He poured more alcohol into his glass, drinking shot after shot until he could feel the buzz. His friends just laughed at him and shook their heads at his behavior. This was rare for him—he usually went to the bar just to think, quietly observing his surroundings. After a few drinks, he'd head home. But tonight was different. He wanted to drown in it all.

""Hey, hey buddy, what's this? Did you get heartbroken, and now it seems like you're worshiping that drink?" He didn’t look up at the newcomer. He still wasn’t in the mood to talk.

"Don't bother him, you were the same way when you fell in love," Deimian scolded the newly arrived Calex.

"Shut up."

He glanced toward the center of the dance floor when the crowd erupted in cheers, even grabbing Deimian’s attention. It wasn’t anything new on the dance floor—most of the women there were wealthy but so bold that they were practically on the verge of stripping in front of the men or throwing themselves at them just to get noticed. They were stunning, with flawless, porcelain-like skin, and came from well-off families. But he wasn’t into that kind of woman. Physical appearance wasn’t important to him—what mattered most was character.

"‘Wow. She is so hot,’ he heard Calex comment. He could only shake his head as he poured wine into his glass. He didn’t bother to look at whoever was causing a stir in the bar at that moment. His mind was preoccupied with many things—his father's situation, his mother’s stubbornness, his situation with Rose, and with… with…

"The Salcedo girls are really something, huh? So, what do you think? Do you like her? Go ahead, approach her.’. Panggagatong ni Deimian kay Calex. Mukhang kursunada nga ito nang kaibigan. Biglang uminit ang ulo niya sa isiping iyon.Off all the richest woman in the city kay Paula talaga ito magkaka-interest. Kilala niya si Calex pagdating sa mga babae.Para lang itong nagpapalit nang damit, in short ginagawang parausan ang mga babae. Wala pa nga siyang natandaan na seryosong relasyon nang kaibigan. Minsan nabanggit nitong serious relationship is not his thing.

The wine was poured into the glass one after another and then he drank it straight down, He saw from the corner of his eyes when Calex stoop up to approach Paula in the middle of the dance floor.The crowd cheered even louder when he pulled Paula closed to his body. The woman flashed an enticing smile as she swayed seductively in front of his friend.

He gripped the glass tightly, angered by what he was seeing, He was irritated.

"s**t" he thought cheaply. He was in the corner of that table and no light hit him, he wasn't sure if Paula could see him because she was looking in their direction.

His head got even hotter when his companions also cheered at the dancers, glasses still held high.Naiinis siya sa ingay nang mga ito, matalas ang tingin na pinukol niya sa babae. Alam kaya nang mga magulang nito ang ginagawa nito ngayon?Sa hula niya ay tumakas na naman ito, sa higpit nang mag-asawang Salcedo talagang natatakasan pa ni Paula. Nagtagis ang kaniyang bagang nang makita ang pagtaas nang kamay nito sa leeg ni Calex at walang habas kung umindayog.

He didn't pick her up on the date she was asking him to, he also didn't answer her either call or texts. He was thinking too much to beat her in the game she wanted.

Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa babae. Pinanuod niya kung paano itong maharot na nakipagsayaw. Nakita niya may humatak kay Calex na babae siguro ay kakilala, tinalikuran nito si Paula at sumama doon sa babae. Nailing nalang siya at inalis ang tingin sa gitna nang dance floor. Nakaramdam siya nang matinding inis, pumunta siya dito para malibang at mawala sa isip si Paula. Pero heto siya at tila pinaparusahan, kahit saan siya magpunta palagi silang nagtatagpo, mahirap nalang akusahan ang babae na sinusundan siya baka ibalik naman sa kaniya na masyadong siyang feeling.

Wala siyang balak maglasing sa mga oras na yon, ang balak lang niya ay magpalipas nang oras at magpapaantok, pero kabaliktaran ang nangyare, sa sobrang inis niya walang humpay naman ang kaniyang pagtagay bagay na napapansin nang mga kaibigan.

"heyy buddy, may balak kabang maglasing ngayong gabi?? " awat sa kaniya ni Deimian ngunit hindi niya ito pinansin.

"What's the problem man,hindi ka ganyan kung mag-inom.Nanenermon kapa sa amin kapag kami yong nagpapakasasa sa alak, sabi mo alagaan ang atay doc., anong ginagawa mo ngayon??"Saad naman ni Moises.

"Don't mind me, it's just tonight.Hindi madadamage ang atay ko in just one night dont worry".

"Common doctor Herrera, take it easy., ganito nalang para marelax ka ngayong gabi bakit mo subukan si Paula?Kanina pa siyang malagkit ang tingin sayo.Look".

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa baso nang marinig ang sinabing iyon ni Calex ni kababalik lang mula sa kung saan.Bumalik sa isip niya kung paanong sumayaw nang maharot si Paula kanina sa harapan nito habang ang kaibigan ay tila manyak na nakatingin sa babae.

"Yes brother, ilang taon naba mula nung hulig nagdive ka sa kama??masyado kanang naging busy sa profession mo, huwag kang magtago sa coat mong puti get a life man, youre too young to it take seriously."

"Don't start with me Calex, I am not like you" banta niya sa kaibigan. Hindi na naman ito nangulit sa kaniya bagkos ay naiiling nalang. Ilang minuto lang nang makabalik sa mesa nila ay muli na namang nawala.

Habang patuloy na sinasamba ang alak, hindi namalayan ni Jacob ang oras. May mga nag-uusap sa kaniyang tabi pero hindi niya naintindihan, sobrang lasing na siya.

"Don't worry about him, ako na maghahatid pauwi, I can drive" giit nang babae,boses babae. si.. Rose.. napangiti siya.

"Pero .."

"It's okay Deimian, aalagaan ko itong kaibigan nyo".

He heard murmurs in the conversation until he felt someone guiding him and they started walking somewhere. He was so sleepy, and his eyes felt heavy to open. He felt Rose's soft skin against his, he smiled.

Sa halip na magprotesta ay mas lalong diniin niya ang sarili niya sa dalaga,salamatbat dumating ito.

"Jacob, lumakad ka nang ayos, huwag magpabigat baka matumba tayo,masyado kang mabigat". Reklamo nito, napangiti siya.

Napakaswerte niya talaga kay Rose,palaging nag-aalala ito sa kaniya marahil ito ang isa sa nagustuhan niyang katangian nito.

Bukod sa simpleng pagkatao nito, at napakahinhin kung kumilos ,matalino at maabilidad alam niya sa sarili niya na ito ang babaeng para sa kaniya. Kaya lang masyado mataas mangarap ang babae,umamin ito sa kaniyang mahal siya nito pero pagkatapos nang graduation nito sa college ay mas balak nitong mag-abroad,nakakuha ito nang scholarship sa Canada.Ayaw magcommit ni Rose nang relasyon sa kaniya unless maging successful na ito sa Canada,dahil nahihiya raw ito kapag naikukumpara ang buhay nilang dalawa.Bagay na hindi niya maintindihan, bakit kailangan bang pantay ang estado sa buhay nang dalawang tao para sa isang relasyon?Maaring magkaiba nga ang buhay na kinamulatan nilang dalawa ni Rose, siya ay kahit na anong gustuhin mabibili niya agad sa isang iglap lang, pero masaya ba siya?Samantalang si Rose bawat achievement nito sa buhay naroon ang pamilya nito para sumuporta,at masaya sa nararating nang anak nila.

Gusto niya ganun siya kapag bubuo nang pamilya,kung papalarin na magkaroon siya nang anak sisiguraduhin niyang naroon siya palagi sa likuran para umalalay.

Hawak hawak ni Jacob ang ulo kinabukasan nang magising, nanatiling nakapikit ang kaniyang mga mata dahil nasisilaw sa liwanag nang araw na pumapasok sa loob nang kwarto. Alam niyang nasa isang malambot na kama siya at pilit na inaalala ang nangyare. Napangiti siya nang maalala si Rose, alam niyang ito ang naghatid sa kaniya sa condo niya.

Dahan dahan siyang nagmulat nang mata, only to find out na hindi familiar sa kaniya kung nasaang kwarto siya naroon. Agad na bumungad sa kanya ang puting kisame,ang araw na dumaan sa terrace nang kwarto mula sa nakabukas na mga kurtina,.

"Ito naba ang kwarto ni Rose?"nagtataka niyang tanong sa sarili.Pero imposible dahil ang theme nang kwarto ay purely panglalaki, mula sa nakadisplay na painting sa dingding at sa kabuaang kulay nang silid, it was a touch of dsrk gray and white.

Kahit masakit ang ulo, at umiikot na pakiramdam,tumayo siya at hinanap ang banyo, agad niya itong namataan sa paanan nang kama, naghilamos siya at namumog,maging ang mga personal toiletres sa banyo ay lalaki ang may -ari.

Siguro isa sa mga kaibigan niya ang nag-offer kay Rose na doon siya dalhin,pero parang imposimble naman yon dahil kung ganunman sa condo niya dapat siya pinadala.Mabilis siyang lumabas nang banyo nang marinig ang kaluskos sa labas ,mariin siyang napapikit nang maramdaman ang kirot sa bahagi iyon nang ulo niya.

"Ahh f**k alcohol" Mahina niyang bigkas.

Sinundan niya ang mahihinang ingay ,dinala siya nuon sa kusina. Nangunot ang noo niya nang madatnan doon si ...si Paula??

“Paula??” he said, almost in a daze as he spoke her name. She immediately turned when she sensed him, and he scanned her outfit. For the first time, he saw her dressed in almost fully wrapped clothing—loose long sleeves and matching pants. She even wore sneakers on her feet.

"Hmm nag-iwan ako nang note kagabi bago ako umalis" anito, at tinuro ang ref may nakadikit doon na maliit na papel.

"Kagabi?? Ikaw.. ikaw ang nagdala sa sakin dito??"

"Yes, you were really drunk last night, and your friends just abandoned you because they were busy with their own girls. So I offered to take you home... this is my brother's condo."

"Anong ginawa mo sakin??"

"What??, nagpahatid ako dito sa driver gawa mo, nung makita kong maayos kana umuwi narin ako sa bahay namin".

"You didn't sleep here, you didn't... you didn't..."

Umangat ang kilay nito sabay kunot, hindi yata siya naintindihan.

"Bakit?? nanghihinayang kaba na hindi ako rito natulog?" Anito sa mapang akit na boses, at tumalikod ito para magsalin nang mainit na tubig sa tasa ,may binuksan itong sachet na maliit at nilagay sa tasa ,napapikit siya nang maamoy ang aroma niyon.

"Mapapagalitan ako nang kapatid at parents ko kung hindi ako umuwi, knowing na alam ni kuya na may hinatid akong lalaki dito sa condo niya." Sabi nito habang nakatalikod sa kaniya.

"Bakit hindi paba sila sanay?" Natigilan ang babae sa tinuran niya, pero hindi nagbigay nang komento, hindi rin niya nakita ang reaksyon nito dahil nakatalikod sa kaniya. Nang humara ay nilapag nito ang kape sa counter top.

"Alam naman nila, dont worry wala silang sasabihin na kahit ano, here is your tea perfect for hang-over,it will help lossen headache and hilo". Hindi agad siya nakagalaw dahil nahihilo nga talaga siya, naamoy niya ang tsaa at mukhang nakakarelax nga.

"Don't worry, walang lason yan" . Anas ni Paula nang sulyapan niya ito ay naabutan niyang nakairap. Natigilan siya sa facial expression nang mukha nang babae. Dinampot niya ang tasa at unti unting uminom.

" Baka gayuma pa mayroon" dinig niyang bulong nito. Sinamaan niya ito nang tingin. Umangat ang kilay nang babae at muling umirap.

"Wow, he's so paranoid about getting enchanted. Don't worry, I don't know how to do that, so you're completely safe to drink that."

Naninibago siya sa babae, pwede naman palang magsalita ito nang normal hindi nito palaging ginagawa.

Mabilis niyang inubos ang laman nang tasa kahit sobrang init pa nun,mataman na nakamasid sa kaniya ang babae kaya naman naiilang siya. Ayaw niyang magsalita dahil ayaw niyang isipin nang babae na okay lang sa kaniya ang pagdala nito sa condo nang kapatid niya kahit pa sabihing may consent ito galing sa may-ari nang condo. Hindi siya sanay matulog sa hindi niya kwarto.Nang maibaba niya ang tasa mabilis na dibampot ni Paula iyon para hugasan.

" I have to go thanks" aniya habang nakatalikod ang babae.Akmang aalis na siya nang tawagin siya nito.

"Wait,.. let me finish this ,aalis na tayo" nilingon niya ito at tinaasan nang kilay.

"Ano?"

"I'll take you home," umiling siya.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I appreciate you letting me sleep here, even though I didn't want to, but don't do that again."

"Paano ka aalis, wala kang sasakyan,."

"Magtaxi nalang ako"

"On call ang taxi dito,kung nagmamadali ka ihahatid na kita". Tiningnan niya ang oras, alas nueve na nang umaga.May pasyente siya may duty siya sa OR nang alas onse.

shitt

"You need to book taxi here, atleast an hour before . I guess nagmamadali kang umalis pahospital kapa right?" Mukhang inalam nito ang schedule niya.Hindi na siya nakipagtalo dahil baka humaba lang ang usapan nila. When he check his mobile it was empty. So wala nga siyang choice kundi ang magpahatid sa babaeng to. Walang imik siyang sumunod dito hanggang parking lot.

"I don’t have classes today because it’s our thesis defense, and another group is up for it. I just checked in at school and rushed over to my brother’s condo in case you were awake.",Kwento nang babae habang nagmamaneho, nairita naman siya. Para bang napaka komportable nang sitwasyon nila para magkwento sa kaniya sa ginagawa nito, hindi naman siya interesado.

"Paano ba yan, may utang kana naman sa akin" nilingon niya si Paula, as usual naroon na naman ang tingin nitong nang-aakit. He furrowed his brow at her.

"I took care of you last night, plus I made you tea for your hangover, and I even took you home."

"I didn't tell you to do that."" masungit niyang sagot dito. Tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat nang building nang condo. Dinukot niya ang wallet at dumukot nang ilang pera,hindi na siya nag abalang bilangin yon.

"Here, this is my payment for the debt I owe you. Next time, don't do that again, because I might not be able to handle you anymore. Please, stay away from me. I don't like women like you." He roughly placed the money in her hand and quickly got out of the car. The woman was left standing in shock, but he didn't bother to look back at her.