Unordinary Desire (Book 3)

INTRO: SCORSA

"I've understood that you will never be mine

And that's fine, I'm just breaking inside."

- One day by Tate Mcrae.

    L'ultimo Di Noi.

              ***

 Jazmine Sandoval.

Kasalukuyan kaming nag-aagahan nila Mara, Violet, Venus and Carly dito sa bahay ko sa Bachelorette's Island. Lahat ng kaibigan ko ay nandito to show their love today in my birthday, though halos lahat ng Lucky 6 ay wala na dito sa bansa, si Sierra lang ang nag-settle down dito sa Pilipinas kasama ang asawa nito at siyempre ako.

Queenie and Sabrina are currently living in Australia with their wives and kids. Haven's in China while Olivia is in Spain with her wife.

Masaya ako para sa mga kaibigan ko pero minsan lang talaga hindi ko mapigilang malungkot, hindi dahil sa ako na lang ang walang asawa o anak sa grupo naming Lucky 6, kundi dahil namimiss ko sila pati na rin ang mga cute and adorable kong inaanak.

Nawala lang ako sa train of thoughts ko nang may itanong si Carly, "Jazmine, where's your trophy best friend?"

Uminom muna ako ng tubig at pagkatapos ay huminga nang malalim, "She have an interview with one of the morning show right now."

Carly hummed, "That explained why you're silent."

"Huh?"

Kita kong nagkatinginan sina Violet,Venus and Mara then they exchange a knowing look with each other.

I frowned.

Carly let out a psh sound. "In case you're wondering girl, kanina ka pa namin kinakausap. But it seems like nasa ibang dimension ka ng mundo."

My mouth form an 'O' shaped at mag-e-explain na sana ako nang magsalita si Mara.

"Jazmine, don't you think it's time for you to get out there and date someone again?"

"Yeah girl, I do know someone though. She's beautiful, has her own business and she's very much single right now." segunda naman ni Venus at saka binaba muna sa table ang hawak nitong wine glass na ang laman ay tubig. Carly nods her head in agreement as she ate her sliced steak. Violet on the other side is just observing us.

I let out a sigh then smile after, magsasalita na ulit sana ako when Mara put a hand stop in the air.

"Alam ko na ang sasabihin mo, I get it, kuntento ka nang single and we all know kung ano nga ba talaga ang dahilan mo kung bakit ayaw mong makipag-date sa iba,"

Mara let out a sigh. Binaba niya muna ang hawak nitong wine glass na may lamang mimosa.

"Pero girl, kung maghihintay ka kay Arabella, baka umabot ka ng 60 hindi pa rin siya handa. You're already 27, by this age, you should be at least married. Right?"

She looked at the girls around the table and they all nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yeah, Arabella is like a free range pony. She can't be tied down, she will always be like that, Jazmine. Commitment is not her thing. I know because I may have an experience with her. I mean, yeah I know I made a mistake before by dating the Martinelli twins at the same time, because, well, I'm young that time, too dumb and reckless."

Carly said with a shy smile. The look on her face kind of represents that she's not proud of what she did before.

"We all make mistakes, Carly."

Violet smiled at Carly as she looked down at her plate and continued eating her breakfast. Carly thanked her.

Hindi ako nagsalita, I just offer them a warm smile. 

Sierra caressed my arm, "Couz, we're just concerned about you. I know you love Arabella, but I think it's time for you to find someone else out there. Start dating again, take the chance with Venus' friend. I mean, wala namang mawawala kung i-ta-try mo 'di ba?"

She excuse herself dahil tumunog ang phone nito.

"Wait, my wife is calling. Be right back in a sec." She winked at us at masayang lumayo sa amin to talk to her said wife.

Nangingiting tinuro ni Mara si Sierra na ang laki nang ngiti ngayon sa labi habang kausap sa phone ang kaniyang butihing asawa.

Ugh. I moaned internally.

"See that? You'll feel that happiness again, just like us. Except you, Carly," she snapped her head to Carly's direction and pointed her index finger to her, "Hindi mo pa kasi yayain magpakasal si Raven." Walang prenong saad ni Mara dahilan para maibuga ni Carly ang iniinom nitong juice.

Natatawang inabutan ko naman siya ng tissue. Kinuha naman n'ya ito at saka nagpunas ng bibig.

"I'm not yet ready for that." Carly only said while blushing.

Violet, Venus and Mara let out an annoying growl. 

"Whatever you say."

Mara singsong then she shifted her eyes at me again.

"So, ano? Game ka?" panghihikayat pa nito at winiggle-wiggle pa ang kaniyang perfectly shave eyebrow.

"I mean, birthday mo naman ngayon, so, wala kang magagawa kung hindi pagbigyan kami. Consider that as our birthday gift to you, right Vee?" Mara glanced at Venus na nasa tabi lang nito.

"Right as ever be." malapad ang ngiting nag-apir sina Mara at Venus.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi mailing na lang ng ulo while rolling my eyes at my annoying and stubborn friends.

"So? What did I miss?"

Tanong ng kababalik pa lang na si Sierra sa breakfast nook table namin dito sa veranda. Kapansin-pansin ang malaking ngiti nito sa labi.

Again, I just roll my eyes when Mara told her what she missed. Nakangiting bumaling naman ng tingin sa akin si Sierra.

"Wow really?! Gosh, I'm excited for the party later!" She exclaimed in total happiness.

"We should all cheer for that!" Sierra beamed at itinaas ang hawak nitong wine glass na may lamang water. All the girls raise their glass then cling their glass together.

Pinanlakihan naman ako ng mata ni Mara nang makitang wala akong balak itaas ang wine glass ko para makipag-cheers din sa kanila.

"Maki-cheers ka, twenty seven years old single woman."

I let out a psh sound at wala nang nagawa kundi makipag-cheers sa kanila.

"To Jazmine's future and s*x life. Nawa'y mabindisyunan s'ya ng s*x mamaya para hindi na s'ya tuyot."

Violet chuckled at Mara's remark. Kinurot naman siya nang maliit ni Venus sa kaniyang braso while they're giggling. Carly and Sierra are suppressing their laughs though.

"To Jazmine."

They all said in unison then followed by a loud Happy Birthday greetings.

******

     L'ultimo Di Noi.

             ***

  Arabella Martinelli.

I was just in this secluded room in my condo, silently staring at the huge square portrait in the center of the room.

8 years..

I shook my head as I pressed my lips into a smile. Ang dami nang tumatakbong katanungan sa isipan ko na alam ko ring wala namang makakasagot, ultimong sarili ko pa.

I glanced at the door when someone knocked.

"My Lady? Time na po. Kanina pa po tumatawag si Jazmine sa 'yo sa phone mo."

I sighed and took a one last look at the portrait before I stood up and walked to the door then closed it behind me.

Sumalubong naman sa akin si Trixie na may ngiti sa labing inilahad sa akin ang aking black solarin phone, kinuha ko naman ito at binasa ang mga sandamakmak na messages sa akin ni Jazmine.

"Thanks. You ready?" I asked her without looking at her direction.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko nang mabasa ang isa sa mga messages ni Jazmine.

"Yes, actually kanina pa ako ready." Sagot ni Trixie but I didn't mind her bagkus ay iniisa-isa ko ang mga messages ni Jazmine sa akin and I found out na kagaya lang din ng nabasa ko kanina ang mga ito.

Nagtataka man, dali-daling kinuha ko ang susi ng sasakyan ko sa bar counter at nagtungo sa elevator and press the close button.

"Just take a taxi. Pupuntahan ko lang si Jazmine, may sasabihin daw s'ya."

Bumuka ang bibig ni Trixie pero hindi ko na narinig ang kaniyang sasabihin nang tuluyan ng nagsara ang pinto ng elevator.

Her message is very alarming kaya naman pagdating na pagdating ko sa aking kotse, pinaharurot ko agad ito sa recording studio n'ya sa Makati.

Habang sinusuyod ko ang daan patungo sa recording studio ni Jazmine, paulit-ulit namang nag-re-replay ang text nito sa isipan ko.

"I can't take this anymore, My Lord. I need to let this out before it destroys my sanity. Meet me at the rooftop of my recording studio. ASAP!"

Nakasandal ang siko ko sa window ng kotse ko at isang kamay lang ang gamit ko sa pagmamaneobra sa manibela habang lumilipad ang isipan ko sa bestfriend ko. Napakagat ako sa thumb ko at pilit iniisip kung ano bang sasabihin ni Jazzie? Bakit parang kinakabahan ako? Hindi usually ganito si Jazmine. That's why I'm overthinking right now.

Ilang sandaling pag ra-race sa mga sasakyan sa highway, finally! Nakarating din ako sa recording studio ni Jazmine and when I park my car, patakbo akong pumasok sa company niya na guard lang ang tanging employee niya ang nandito ngayon. Well because, it's Jazmine's birthday today and our friends decided to throw her a party at kasama sa mga wish nila ang huwag daw siyang magtrabaho sa araw ng birthday n'ya.

When I finally get into the roof top, sumalubong agad sa akin ang bugso ng lakas ng hangin dahilan para tangayin ang i-ilang hibla ng buhok ko. Some of my hair ay dumapo sa pisngi ko pero kahit gano'n, napansin ko pa rin ang pinupukol na tingin sa akin ni Jazmine.

Lumapit ako rito na medyo hinihingal pa dahil sampung palapag ba naman ang tinakbo ko ng naka-heels pa? Sino bang hindi hihingalin?

"Hey. What's up?" nag-aalalang tanong ko kahit hinihingal pa rin ako. I reached into her hand to hold it tight.

"What happened? Your message was very alarming Jazmine." dagdag ko pa.

"Mahal kita." bigla niyang sabi na naging dahilan nang pagtaas ng dalawang kilay ko ng sabay. My heart also skip a beat.

"Ookay? You know that I love you too, Jazzie."

Dark shade of blue eyes stares intently at my glassy blue ones.

"As a best friend?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil hindi ko na kaya itong intense na tingin n'ya sa mga mata ko.

Jazmine is my best friend, she knows me better than anyone else, and playing it cool is not the very best thing to do right now.

Alam ko na rin kasi kung saan ba papunta ito. Hindi naman ako tanga at mas hindi naman ako manhid para hindi maramdaman na mahal n'ya ako na higit pa sa isang best friend.

"Yes."

I honestly said before staring back at her blue eyes again.

"Siya pa rin even after all these years?"

I shook my head as I bit my lower lip.

"Please don't do this," I beg her. 

"I don't want to hurt you, Jazmine. Not you. I can't drag you into my world, you don't fit in it because you deserve so much more, than me." I took a long painful sigh as I gave her a tight lip smile.

Tears started to form in her beautiful blue eyes. Malungkot na ngumiti s'ya as she wiped her tears away from her side eye.

"Mara and the girls suggested that I should date someone again. Venus has a friend. Do you think I should take that chance?"

I nodded my head in agreement kahit nasasaktan ako. Maybe because I'm used to Jazmine's attention to me. At hindi ko mapigilang isipin na napakasakim ko naman pala to keep Jazmine for myself.

"I think you should really take that chance. Do you want me to give you space?"

She snipped as she nodded her head fervently. "That would be great. Thank you."

"But would you still be my best friend, Jazzie?" hopeful na tanong ko dahil ayaw ko pa rin mawala sa akin ng tuluyan ang taong tumanggap sa akin ng buong-buo.

Jazmine smiled at me genuinely. "Iyon naman ang forever natin."

Kunwaring nangasim ang mukha ko dahil sa narinig.

"Hindi mo naman ako in-inform na naniniwala ka pala sa salitang forever na 'yan. Masyado ng gasgas 'yan eh. Wala na bang iba?"

She rolled her eyes playfully habang nagpupunas ng mga luhang lumandas sa magandang mukha nito.

"As if ikaw hindi bruhilda. Ikaw nga 8 years ka nang naghihintay, sino kaya sa atin ang naniniwala sa forever na 'yan? Dahil nga sa kanya tinanggihan mo ang pag-ibig ko eh. Si Jazmine na 'to oh? Ang yummy ko na ah? Choosy ka pang animal ka."

I shook my head in amusement. "Pambihira. You should really stop hanging out with my sister-in-law, nahahawa ka na sa kaniya. Baka naman pagdating ko maging kambal na kayo ni Mara ha?"

Humupa ang ngiti nito sa labi n'ya. "Saan ka ba pupunta?"

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at saka tumingin sa asul na kalangitan. "I don't know. Maybe I'll continue to find myself, I guess?"

Jazmine let out a very cute chuckle. Gosh, I will miss that laugh. Kung tutuusin naman kasi kung wala lang talaga akong hinahanap, paniguradong mamahalin ko si Jazmine nang higit pa sa pagtingin n'ya sa akin.

This is Jazmine Sandoval; the woman who accepted me in all of my flaws, even with my darkest past. Pero wala eh, siguro hindi lang talaga kami ang para sa isa't isa, even if we're so perfect with each other.

I'm sure, kung sino man ang susunod na mamahalin ni Jazmine, napaka suwerte niya because she found the most precious gem in the sea and that's my best friend: Jazmine freaking Sandoval.

"You guess? You mean, you will continue to find her? 'Bat ka pa kasi tumigil sa paghahanap sa kaniya?"

Umismid ako ng tawa. "Naghihintay lang ako, Jazzie. Because I know, siya ang makakahanap sa akin."

"Paano si Trixie?"

I glanced at her para taasan siya ng kilay habang may mapaglarong ngiting naka-paskil sa mga labi ko.

"You really believed that Trixie is my girlfriend?"

Jazmine laughed as she shook her head, "No. Alam ko naman kung bakit nandiyan si Trixie, para hindi ako masyadong ma-attach sa 'yo."

I playfully pinch her nose.

"Kilalang-kilala mo na talaga ako no? God! I will miss you!" I beamed.

"Kaya nga siguro hindi tayo ang itinadhana eh. Because we are perfectly in sync."

I nodded. "I agree."

Sabay kaming napatingin sa isa't isa at sabay rin kaming napangiti. Hinila ko ang suot nitong leather jacket palapit sa akin at saka niyakap ito nang mahigpit.

I felt her hands snuck to my waist as she buried her head onto my chest.

"You're gonna be okay and happy birthday, Tarzan," mahinang bulong ko.

Nang maramdaman kong umiiyak na naman ito, I landed a sweet kiss on her smooth blonde hair.

"Tahan na, Tarzan."

She constantly nodded her head.

"Just promise me that you'll stay safe and you'll stay out of trouble."

I chuckled to that. "Mukhang nakakalimutan mong ako si trouble?"

Pinalo nito ang braso ko dahilan para matawa ako.

"Oo na, oo na! I'll try to stay out of trouble." I promise her. 

People say that promises are meant to be broken, at isa na duon ang promise ko kay Jazmine na I'll stay out of trouble and I'll stay safe.

Because I didn't even see it coming my way, ang pag darating n'ya sa buhay ko - The only person who dared to bound my hand and my playful heart.