Between Hate and Love

Chapter 21

Nakonsensya ako ng kaunti dahil sa ginawa ko. So, I stood up and went to the kitchen to have a glass of milk. Sumakit ang katawan ko dahil sa bigat ni Khal, tapos nahiya pa ako sa ginawa ko.

What the hell was I thinking?

Khal was so vulnerable today, and I hated myself for forgetting about what happened on the twenty-third of October. It was the day that his father died. Just a month after I left, then his father left the world too.

I knew he was devastated, but I couldn’t bring myself to message him back then. Baka lalo lamang siya’ng magalit sa’kin. I knew Khal would never blame me for it, but I was scared. Kasi paano kung ganu’n na nga?

It was midnight. Nag-message na rin sa akin si Venera na hindi muna siya rito uuwi.

To Venera Girl:

Okay. Safe s*x pls.

Minura niya ako sa text at saka niya finorward sa’kin ulit ang sarili ko’ng message, pero tinawanan ko lamang siya. I laid down on the couch at the sala.

Khal was just there. We were inside one house. But he was drunk. I stood up to check up on him and then to held back the temptations I have, I decided to just sleep.

I laid on the cocuh once more and this time, I finally fell asleep.

I woke up feeling the soreness of my whole body. I stretched and groaned, wanting to sleep more. Then, I realized, I have work! So I looked at the clock and it was past eleven already. I was super late!

As I stood up from the bed, my mind tried to think about what happened last night. And then it struck me! I was supposed to wake up on the couch, pero nasa kama ako.

Kaagad ako’ng bumangon at inikot ang buong bahay. I checked if his car was still parked outside, pero wala na ‘yon.

So he left already.

I went back to my room and just sat there, tracing the sheets. Parang kagabi lang ay nandito siya.

I felt a bit sad.

I cleaned up my room and the trail of his scent made my heart ache. Doon ko lamang nakita ang note na iniwan niya sa ilalim ng lampshade.

No need to come to work.

Get ready, I’ll fetch you tomorrow for a business trip. You’ll come with me.

Thanks.

That was all of it. The sadness I was feeling faded and I was smiling like a fool already.

Gusto ko’ng tumili.

He said thanks! And I would come with him to a business trip! I wonder where it would be and what we would do.

Venera messaged me about getting her stuff. Mukhang tapos na ‘yung project niya na malapit sa place ko, so babalik na siya sa kanila.

“Kumusta? Ayos na kayo?” bati sa’kin ni Venera.

I shook my head.

“Ha? Walang s*x?” pang-aasar niya sa’kin. Binato ko siya ng unan at saka umiling.

“He’s too drunk, at saka death anniversary ng dad niya kahapon.”

Venera nodded, getting it. Then I smirked at her. “Ikaw ang mukhang may-dilig.”

Venera’s cheek reddened, tapos ay binato niya sa akin pabalik ang unan. Hindi siya sumagot sa akin, tuloy-tuloy lang siya ng pag-aayos ng mga gamit niya. Hindi naman masyado’ng marami ‘yon, pero ang bagal niya kasi’ng kumilos.

“Baka kaya aalis ka na dito sa’kin kasi kay Hendrix ka na uuwi,” pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

To my surprise, Venera did not even defend herself. She pursed her lips and nodded at me.

“Ay bwisit ka! Kayo na ulit, ano?” pagkukumpirma ko.

Hendrix and Venera’s relationship was very odd for me. Away bati sila, tapos ay puro sila cool off. I lost track kung sila pa rin ba or hindi na, hanggang sa hindi na ako nagtatanong.

Venera chuckled at me. “Hopefully, it’s different this time,” wika niya.

I hugged her tightly. I knew he loved Hendrix so much, they just have a lot of things to do in life at kung minsan nagiging hadlang iyon sa kanila.

“I hope for your happiness, V,” I kissed her forehead.

Nang makaalis na siya ay ako naman ang nag-asikaso ng gamit ko. I actually didn’t know what to pack. Hindi ko rin alam kung saan kami pupunta.

Ilang oras ako’ng tumunganga sa harap ng mga gamit ko bago ako nakapg-decide na magdala na lamang ng kahit ano. He told me it was a business trip, so I had to bring corporate attires.

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos kinagabihan. I was excited and I feel like we would have that mini trip, the ones that we dreamt of back then.

I woke up around three in the morning to prepare. Hindi kasi siya nagsabi kung anong oras niya ako dadaanan, basta ang sabi niya lang ay susunduin niya ako.

So I prepared early, para kahit anong oras siya dumating ay makakaalis kami agad.

I wore a simple black slacks and a chiffon blouse with a ribbon. I paired it with a red high heels and then did a simple make up after bunning my hair.

Nakaupo lang ako sa sofa habang nanonood ng t.v. I already messaged Atticus and Allison about the trip, but I reminded them to message or call me if something’s up with Gino and mama.

Nag-aalala pa rin ako dahil nasa puder pa rin sila ni Gino, hindi pa ulit nag-aamok ‘yung tao but who knows kung kailan na naman siya susumpungin.

Nakaidlip ako sa ingay ng t.v. Nagising na lamang ako nang may bumubusina sa labas. Kaagad ko’ng kinuha ang mga gamit ko at binuksan ang pinto.

“Khal… I mean, Sir,” I greeted him. It was past seven in the morning. “Good morning.”

Khal was wearing a black slacks and his signature long-sleeved polo. He was wearing sunglasses and damn he was hot. Parang hindi siya lasing kahapon.

“Good morning,” he greeted me. Kinuha niya ang mga gamit ko at saka kami sumakay sa sasakyan niya.

“Saan tayo, Sir?” tanong ko. I was really curious kung saan kami pupunta.

“La Union,” sagot niya.

I immediately felt excited.

Hindi pa ako nakarating sa La Union, and it would be great to get there with him.

Khal handed me the ipad. “Handle my schedule from here. We’ll be staying there for a week.”