Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 12

(FLASHBACK...)



HABANG nagsusuot si Blythe ng blouse sa harap ng salamin, napansin niya ang pulang marka sa kaniyang collarbone. Alam niyang hindi ito isang simpleng kagat lamang at batid niya kung sino ang may kagagawan.

Napailing na lamang siya nang maalala ang nangyari kagabi.

Evron kept on kissing her last night, and before he left, they make out.

Muntikan pa nga silang mawalan ng kontrol sa sarili.

Pero si Evron ang unang pumutol sa init na namumuo sa pagitan nila kagabi.

Kung siya ang tatanungin, ayos lang naman na may mangyari sa kanila kahit hindi pa sila mag-asawa.

She’s been single all her life.

Gusto rin naman niyang maranasan ang mga hindi niya naranasan noon.

But as a woman, she needs to be reserved.

Hindi naman visible ang hickey niya, kaya hinayaan na lamang niya ito. But she made a mental note, next time, she will leave a hickey on Evron, too.

Later, in the office, it felt a little livelier than usual that morning.

Her best friend, Aira Reyes, entered the office, dragging a small suitcase behind her.

“Hi, Aira!” one of the staff greeted.

Ngumiti si Aira habang may nakalagay pang sunglasses sa ulo nito. She was fresh from vacation and clearly in a good mood.

Aira was invited by the mother of her boyfriend to go on vacation with them. Siyempre, sumama naman ang kaibigan niya.

“Miss niyo ako?” Aira teased.

“Hindi,” someone joked.

Tumawa lang naman si Aira at dumiretso sa kinaroroonan ng lamesa ni Blythe.

Blythe barely looked up from her monitor. “You’re back,” she said simply.

“Wow,” Aira placed a hand dramatically on her chest. “Ganito na lang? No hug? No ‘I missed you’?”

“You went on vacation,” sabi ni Blythe. “Sigurado akong nag-enjoy ka naman doon.”

Aira rolled her eyes, then leaned against the desk. “Enough of me. I heard something interesting while I was gone,” she said, lowering her voice slightly and clearly excited.

Hindi nag-react si Blythe dahil alam na niya kung ano ang tinutukoy ng kaibigan.

“Our boss was giving you flowers,” Aira added teasingly as she wiggled her eyebrows.

Blythe clicked her mouse once. “Hindi ako interesado sa kaniya.”

Napakurap si Aira. “Grabe, straight to the point.” She tilted her head. “Bakit naman?”

Bago pa man makasagot si Blythe, inunahan siya ni Dianne na kanina pa pala nakikinig.

“Because our Blythe here is already in love with someone else.”

Pareho pang napatingin rito ang magkaibigan.

Nakangiti si Dianne, but there was a faint teasing glint in her eyes. “Mas gwapo pa kaysa sa boss natin,” she added casually. “Our boss was nothing when it came to appearance.”

Namilog ang mata ni Aira. “Really?!” she gasped, grabbing Blythe's shoulders. “Sino? Sino?!”

She shook Blythe lightly. Her excitement was shown all over her face. “Come on, Blythe! Tell me who he is. I’m curious!”

Blythe sighed, clearly unamused—but there was a faint hint of something softer in her expression.

Nakita naman ni Dianne ang ekspresyon na ‘yon mula kay Blythe.

“You want to know?” Blythe asked.

Aira nodded eagerly. “Oo naman.”

“Sumama ka sa akin mamaya.”

Aira froze for a second. Then, suddenly, squealed. “Oh my god—this is serious!”

Napailing na lamang si Blythe at ibinalik ang atensiyon sa trabaho.

Dianne watched with a small, knowing smile on her lips.

—

Late afternoon.

Eksaktong alas singko nang lumabas sina Blythe at Aira sa gusali kung saan sila nagtatrabaho.

“So,” Aira said. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“Ayaw ko ng surprises.”

Ngumiti si Blythe. “You will today.”

Aira narrowed her eyes playfully but followed anyway.

They turned into a quieter street, less crowded and more peaceful.

Ilang minuto rin silang naglalakad hanggang sa huminto sila sa tapat ng isang café.

Tiningnan ni Aira ang sign, then at Blythe, then back at the café.

“Sandali…” she said slowly. “Don’t tell me—”

“Halika na,” sabi ni Blythe at nauna ng pumasok sa loob.

The soft chime of the door echoed.

Inside, it was calm, even though there were many customers occupying the tables. It was cozy, where it was a kind of world away from the noise outside.

At sa likod ng counter, nakatayo ang pamilyar na barista—Evron.

Agad na nakita ni Evron si Blythe at kinindatan ito.

Blythe smiled.

“Nasaan siya?” tanong ni Aira habang abala sa pagtingin sa kanilang paligid, lalo na sa mga customer na lalaki.

Tumikhim naman si Blythe saka pasimpleng itinuro kay Evron na abala sa harapan ng espresso machine.

“Huh?” Hindi agad naintindihan ni Aira ang gustong iparating ng kaibigan.

“It’s him.” Blythe gestured to Evron. “My boyfriend.”

Evron smiled, hearing that word. He turned to face them. “Hi.” He greeted and went back to what he was doing.

Nagulat si Aira dahil hindi niya ito inaasahan. She was already surprised that Blythe already had a boyfriend when she came back from vacation. Pero mas magugulat pa pala siya nang malaman kung sino ang boyfriend nito.

“Seryoso ka?”

Blythe looked flatly at Aira. “Bahala ka kung ayaw mong maniwala.” Aniya, saka umupo sa may stool.

Pasimpleng tiningnan ni Aira ang boyfriend ng kaibigan. Now she understood. The man was tall, composed, and most importantly, handsome.

“Mas gwapo nga kaysa sa boss natin,” Aira whispered under her breath.

Lumabas si Evron mula sa counter habang nagpupunas ng kamay. May isang staff naman ang agad na pumalit sa ginagawa nito.

“Sorry, hindi na kita nasundo.” Wika ni Evron.

Ngumiti si Blythe. “It’s fine.”

Evron’s eyes shifted to the woman beside Blythe. “And this?”

“Aira,” Blythe said. “My best friend.”

Aira snapped out of her daze and straightened quickly. “Hi,” bati niya sa boyfriend ni Blythe. “I’m Aira.”

Tumango si Evron. “Evron,” he introduced himself.

Bumulong si Aira kay Blythe. “Grabe ka. Hindi mo sinabi na ganito kagwapo ang jowa mo. Dinaig pa ang mga artista sa TV.”

Ngumiti lang naman si Blythe.

A few minutes later, magkakaharap sila sa isang lamesa habang may pinagsasaluhan.

Napapangiti na lamang si Aira habang pinapanood ang magkasintahan sa harapan niya. Alam niyang walang pangalan na naging boyfriend si Blythe, kaya medyo nag-aalala siya nang malaman na may boyfriend na ito. But seeing Blythe’s boyfriend and based on her understanding of him, she can tell that Evron was a good man.

The way Evron spoke to Blythe was with gentleness.

The way he touched Blythe, there was respect.

Sumandal si Aira sa kinauupuan. “Take care of her,” Aniya.

Napatingin sa kaniya si Evron. “I will.”

Tumango si Aira saka tumayo at nagpaalam na.

“Do you need me to—”

Umiling si Aira kay Blythe. “No need. Kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Just enjoy your date.”

Namula si Blythe.

Aira chuckled, turned her back, and waved her hand while leaving.

“Is she a good friend?” tanong ni Evron.

Tumango si Blythe. “Si Aira ang tumutulong sa akin noon kapag bitin ako sa pera, lalo na noong nasa college kami. Scholar ako, pero hindi pa rin sapat para tugunan nito ang daily expenses ko.”

Evron looked at Blythe.

“Bakit?” tanong ni Blythe.

Hinawakan ni Evron ang kamay ng kasintahan. “I felt bad. I wasn’t there for you.”

Mahinang natawa si Blythe. “Hindi pa naman tayo magkakilala noon.” Sabi niya, saka dinala ang magkahawak nilang kamay sa labi at hinalikan ang likod ng palad ni Evron. “I’m happy now. So, no need to dwell on the past. Hindi na ‘yon mahalaga.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Evron saka tumango. “I’ll listen to you.”

But at that moment, Evron vowed that he wouldn’t let Blythe suffer again.