Careless Whisper

9 - Girl Friend and Girlfriend

Samantha's POV

"Ingat ka pauwi, salamat sa paghatid." Standing in the doorway, I watched as Jezreel bid farewell to the woman who dropped her off.

Her voice sounded unusually sweet, a stark contrast to her usual monotone that always managed to send shivers down my

spine.

"Someone's got a girlfriend," I taunted as we walked inside. She rolled her eyes at me and quickened her pace.

"Is she pretty? Bet she is," I continued teasing, feeling a twinge of jealousy creeping in. When she halted and turned around with almost dead eyes, it sent a chill through me.

She didn't say anything, just glared at me. That's when I noticed the necklace she was wearing-a pendant with the letter V. I hadn't seen her wearing it yesterday or even last week.

Who's V? Like Taehyung from BTS? Or maybe Five, who can travel back in time like in that movie?

A hint of hesitation lingered as I let her go and she headed to her room. I went my own way, walking to the kitchen where I found the couple cooking dinner for us.

I paused just before stepping inside, leaning against the doorframe and watching them enjoy their little moment together.

A mix of amusement and jealousy bubbled up inside me, knowing that I had no someone special in my life and I'm envious of those who are living their life to the fullest.

"Tikman mo kung masarap." I watched as Manang Ticia scooped some meat out of the pot and fed it to her husband.

Manong Chad chewed with a look of satisfaction on his face. They seemed unaware of my presence, but I didn't mind.

I admired their behavior. In my eyes, they were the perfect couple. Even without children at their age, their love was stronger than any couple I knew.

It was something I knew I would never experience and never will.

I envied them.

A lot.

"Madam, nandito po pala kayo. Pasensya na at hindi namin kayo napansin."

"It's fine, have fun, and I admire your relationship," I said with a smile.

Not wanting to interrupt their moment, I left them to their own devices and made my way to my room. I grabbed my robe and took a quick bath, hoping to refresh not only my body but also my mind.

After I finished, I walked out of the bathroom and was immediately greeted by Jezreel standing right in front of me, towering over me with a blank expression. She stared at me as if she was judging my very soul.

There she goes again, staring directly into my soul.

"See, you're dominating me... And I'd like to be dominated by you," I muttered under my breath, caught off guard by my own thoughts.

What the fudge? No, stop thinking about that, So-hee. You're a Baek, for goodness' sake.

The truth was, Jezreel had this unique blend of femininity and masculinity. With the right clothes, her beauty could surpass the moon's gorgeousness.

Speaking of clothes, I decided to mock her, staring back into her eyes to show I could keep up with her.

However, it didn't take long before I looked away. My gaze was supposed to fall to the ground, but instead, it landed on her nearly bare body.

That's when I realized she was only wearing shorts and a sports bra, which exposed her fair skin and perfectly shaped abs.

Her abdomen looked like a work of art, as if the gods had sculpted her with their own hands. It was a sight to behold, but it also ignited a fire in me. My throat went dry, and I struggled to look away.

On the side of her waist, there was a black snake tattoo that seemed to crawl up her body.

The tail of the snake started just above her waist and was hidden by her shorts, while the head lay right beneath her sports bra, its tongue appearing to lick the bottom hem.

She had a smaller waist than I did, yet I never found myself envying her for it.

"Madame," she whispered in my left ear, jolting me from my daydream. I found her leaning in close, closing the gap between us.

I stepped back, but she matched my movements, closing the distance until my back hit the open door.

Jezreel placed her hand on the doorframe, leaning in so close that I could hardly breathe. I shut my eyes, half-expecting her to kiss me. But instead, she touched my shoulder and gently pushed me out of the bathroom.

"I'm going to use the bathroom," she said before closing the door. I stood there,bewildered, staring at the closed door as my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Mentally, I slapped myself, and physically, I walked away with reddened cheeks, biting my lip and murmuring about how stupid I was.

This isn't fair.

I pressed two fingers to my wrist, feeling my pulse race. Trying to calm down, I gently tapped my wrist as if trying to soothe a baby to sleep.

"Calm down, heart, calm down."

How could someone be so breathtaking? And why on earth was I even expecting a kiss? That's not like me at all.

What is happening to you, So-hee Baek? You're a Baek. Act like it, damn it. You're being weird!

•••

"Magandang balita 'yan, Madame! Makakapagtrabaho narin ako sa hotel katulad ng ninanais ko." Manong Chad's voice and expression revealed his excitement and delight at the news about my investor helping to rebuild the abandoned hotel.

"What do you mean, Manong Chad?" I asked, feeling a bit confused. We were currently sharing a meal and discussing these matters, along with the party that would be held tomorrow-a small celebration, if I may call it.

"Hindi po kasi namin naabutan na bukas ang hotel. Limang taon palang po kaming nagtatrabaho bilang guard, si Jezreel lamang ang nakaabot na bukas at nag operate ang hotel nyo."

My eyes landed on the woman in front of me, who was busy finishing her food, lost in her own world, acting as if we didn't exist.

"I was 13 when I started working as a janitress at the hotel. I was my mom's replacement since she fell ill and had to retire sooner than anticipated. She was supposed to be the caretaker, but I got the position as I'm her daughter... Don't ask where my father is, lumipad na siya," she shared her story with a shrug, as if it wasn't a big deal. However, the expressions on the faces of the couple made me change my mind.

"At ngayon mo lang sinabi?" Manang Ticia asked, her expression shifting from surprise to pity as she looked at Jezreel.

"He flew off? Your father was a pilot?" I asked, puzzled by the couple's sad expressions. Jezreel raised her right eyebrow, looking at me.

"Lumipad na sa langit. Patay na," she said casually, catching me off guard. I choked on my own saliva, and Manang Ticia panicked, handing me a glass of water. How could she say that so casually, as if it wasn't a big deal?

"Ayos lang po kayo, Madame?" I gave a thumbs up as I finished the water.

My eyes followed the younger woman, who had already finished her food and walked away as if she hadn't just dropped a bomb on us. We were left stunned, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.

"Grabe naman magbiro ang batang iyon."

That night, I couldn't feel comfortable. I couldn't bring myself to sleep, and I didn't know why. I left my room and headed to the kitchen, but I was stopped when I saw a figure on our balcony.

It was a woman with a body like a goddess, sitting on the balcony and painting. As I got closer, I could see her half-finished painting, a realistic cityscape filled with lights. It was beautiful, just like the woman painting it.

"You really do like paintings, huh?" I murmured. She didn't flinch, but she glanced at me briefly.

Typical Jezreel, right?

I watched her with amazement as she worked on her painting. Every stroke seemed heavenly, perfecting her artwork more with each movement of her brush.

Even with the half-finished art in front of us, I still thought she was the masterpiece. From the top of her head to her toes, she was beautiful.

But I couldn't tell her that. Even if I did, she wouldn't be happy. It's not like she's always happy.

I wanted to see her happy and not hate me. But what could I do to avoid her disdain?

What do women like her like?

She's hard to please, you know. It's kind of challenging for me.

Then, a thought occurred to me, reminding me of something I'd learned before.

"You know, back in the days when cameras didn't exist, they used to paint someone else and make a portrait of them," I said. She didn't respond, but I knew she was listening.

"Painters like you needed a model, right?" My breath hitched as she turned her head to me. I felt nervous all of a sudden, but I tried to pull myself together. I was doing this so she wouldn't despise me any longer.

"I could be your model. If it's hard to paint me with clothes, I'm glad to take them off for you." I was being professional. This was just me wanting to win her heart.

She looked at me up and down as if she was judging me. I felt my soul gradually leaving my body due to embarrassment.

"I don't draw humans," she murmured before turning away. I felt a kind of disappointment that drove me away from her. I bid her goodbye and went back to my room with an empty mind and heart.

•••

The much-anticipated day finally arrived, and we all gathered at the back of my villa. The couple, Jezreel, So-yeon, and I sat on the bench, ready to enjoy the day.

While the couple swam in the pool, So-yeon and I basked in the sun's warm rays, enjoying the soothing heat on our bodies. On the other side, Jezreel took charge of grilling some meat, as she insisted.

It didn't take long for her to finish grilling. She served the food at our table and called the couple to join us.

So-yeon brought out a few bottles of soju, and we indulged in food and drink, engaging in lively conversation. However, I couldn't help but notice that Jezreel kept her distance from us.

Sitting on the edge of the pool, she seemed lost in her thoughts. Her solitude bothered me, so I decided to approach her and sit down beside her.

I couldn't shake off what she had shared last night. I still couldn't understand how she could talk about such a serious matter so casually, almost as if she was joking. It was as if she was unaffected by it.

Is she really just playing around? Does she even have emotions?

"Don't you want to join in?" I asked, dipping my feet into the cool pool water. I glanced at her, observing her profile as she stared at her feet.

"I'm not really into parties..." she replied coldly.

Me neither...

But what can I do? They wanted it so I gave it to them.

"I understand... But wouldn't you like to try fitting in?" I asked, hoping she might reconsider.

"I prefer my own space. I enjoy being alone. I don't feel the need to fit in," she replied calmly. Her words struck a chord with me. She was the polar opposite of me. While I feared solitude, she embraced it. While I sought to blend in, she was content with standing out.

"That sounds a bit selfish," I commented, unable to hide my judgment.

"Unnie, you have to try this inasal!" So-yeon's excited voice interrupted our conversation. I turned to see her enthusiastically enjoying the grilled chicken.

"I'll be there in a minute!" I called back, then turned to Jezreel, who suddenly chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her sudden amusement.

"I'd rather be selfish than selfless... I can't walk barefoot just because I lend my shoes to those who aren't wearing any, madame," Jezreel retorted, her tone laced with annoyance. Her words felt like a sharp dagger piercing through my chest, leaving me stunned.

"Thinking of yourself doesn't equate to selfishness. It's about self-love. If you consider that selfish, maybe you don't love yourself, and that's just sad," she added before jumping into the pool and swimming gracefully with the butterfly stroke.

As I watched her swim, a sense of admiration washed over me. Her words lingered in my mind, echoing the idea of self-love and freedom.

"Freedom..."

"Boo!!" Suddenly, I felt a force push me into the pool, and as I surfaced, I saw So-yeon laughing hysterically.

Did she just push me? I thought about it.

"Careful there, Unnie. You're too short to even reach the bottom of that pool," she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Hey, I'm 168cm! And don't act like you're so tall; you're only 2 inches taller than me!" I shot back, splashing water at her. She looked at me with mock offense before retaliating, diving into the pool and splashing me back.

The playful banter continued as we splashed and laughed, forgetting any tension or worries, just enjoying the moment.

Freedom she says...

I wish I had that.

•••

Jezreel's POV

Sa aking pag alis sa pool ay dumeretso na ako sa loob, kumuha lamang ako ng damit sa aking kwarto saka ay naligo na sa bathroom.

Kahit na medyo malayo ako ay naririnig ko parin ang tawanan nila, hindi man ako naroroon ay natutuwa naman akong nag sisiya sila lalo na sina Manong Chad at Manang Ticia.

Hindi man ako komportableng may ibang tao na kasami kami ngunit hinayaan ko na lamang dahil kaibigan ito ni Madame Sam.

Matapos kong maligo at makapag ayos ay nagtungo ako sa kusina. Kumuha lamang ako ng gatas at nagdiretso na muli sa aking kwarto upang makapagpahinga.

Ilang minuto din akong nakahiga lamang at gumagamit ng phone, nag scroll sa f*******: at minsan ay nanonood ng mga reels. Hindi naglaon ay napagpasyahan kong tumingin sa mga friend request ko.

Friend Request

Denzel Ynarez 10yrs ago

1 mutual friend

Confirm Delete

Chandrea Jesse Ybañez 8yrs ago

1 mutual friend

Confirm Delete

You are now friends.

Chandler Delos Reyes. 7yrs ago

Confirm Delete

Sofia Richie Hayes 2yrs ago

1 mutual friend

Confirm Delete

Samantha Baek 18hrs ago

3 mutual friends

Confirm Delete

Chandria Jesse Ybañez

You are now friends.

Lintek ka! 8yrs talaga bago i-accept?!!

Muntik ko pang mabitawan ang aking phone nang bigla na lamang akong maka received ng chat mula sa pinsan ko. Ang bilis naman nito!

Sorry.

Ngayon ko lang nakita.

Wala, tampo na ako :

Saka, 'wag kang mag lagay

ng period kada words, na

t-trigger ako

Tampo well.

Pasuyo ka sa pfp mo.

Natawa rin naman ako sa sarili kong pambabara dahil sa ang kanyang profile picture ay isang larawan ng anime characters na sa palagay ko ay nasa SpyxFamily.

Magtatampo talaga ako

At wag nga sabing maglagay

ng period!!

Ayoko.

Edi wag!

Kidding aside, musta?

I'm fine.

Kayo?

Si mama okay lang ba?

Pwede ba, magchat

ka naman ng maayos!

Wag mo isaisahin!

Sagutin mo nalang

ang tanong ko.

Ang dami mo pang reklamo.

I could already imagine her triggered expression and annoyed groan. One thing for sure kulang nalang itapon na ang phone niya kapag nagpatuloy pa ako sa kalokohan ko. Iba rin kasi itong pinsan ko, hindi ko alam kung may sayad ba o sadyang trigger lang sa mga maliliit na bagay.

Okay naman si tita

mabait ang nag-aalaga

sa kanya. Pero madalas

ikaw ang hinahanap niya.

Minsan hindi niya kaming

lahat maalala. Minsan din

kung saan saan nalang

napunta. Mabuti nalang

mahaba ang pasensya at

maunawain yung nag aalaga.

Seen.

Nawala ang ngiti sa aking labi nang mabasa ko iyon. Kahit hindi na bago sa'kin ang balita. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin, my mind tried to function well. I couldn't help but feel anxious just rereading the message.

Ingat kayo.

Ibinaba ko na ang phone ko at pilit na kinalimutan ang balitang iyon. Lumabas muna ako sa kwarto at hindi inaasahan na madatnan si Madam Sam na mismong nasa labas ng kwarto.

Kaagad naman akong umiwas ng tingin nang mapagtanto ko na nakabalot lang ang katawan niya ng bath towel.

"Your girlfriend's looking for you." Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanyang sinabi.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yap, she said her name is Veronica. She's outside and waiting for you."

Girlfriend ampota

More like girl friend.

"She's not my girlfriend. She's my GIRL friend." Sinubukan kong iklaro sa kanya ang lahat, nag tapang pa ako na humarap ngunit nakita ko lamang siyang ngumisi ng nakakaloko.

"She's not your girlfriend... yet. But it will surely be yours and that necklace agreed with me. That's from her, am I right?" Kaagad kong tinago ang necklace sa aking damit, ramdam ko ang pag-init ng aking mga pisngi dahil sa pag point out nya.

She's right, I mean sa part lang na galing kay Veronica ang necklace.

But being her girlfriend?

No way.

Not a chance.

Binalewala ko na lamang ang kanyang mga salita, lumakad na ako palayo at kahit hindi ko siya hinaharap ay ramdam ko ang mga mapang-asar niyang titig.

"Don't take your time, we have to talk about something later!! It's about the hotel btw!"

"Legitimately and respectfully, shut up!" Tugon ko habang nakakaramdam ng malalang kahihiyan. Umakto lamang akong nayayamot ngunit nahihiya na ako at kulang nalang ay tumiklop.

•••

"Are you feeling well?" Tanong ko habang nakaupo sa couch katabi si Professor Via na ngayon ay namumula ang mukha habang nakatitig lamang sa akin. Hindi ko mawari kung bakit siya nakatulala ko bakit siya pulang pula na kulang na lamang ay maging kakulay ng mansanas.

"I,uhm, ano, uh, ang ganda mo- nang suot mo! Ang ganda ng suot mo?" Napakunot ako ng noo sa kanyang mga sinabi dahil naka oversized shirt lang naman ako ang short na nakatago pa sa bottom hem ng shirt ko.

Honestly, mukha akong bata sa damit kong ito but I really don't mind as this shirt was a gift from someone who's really special to me.

"Okay? Ano nga palang sadya mo dito?" Iniba ko na ang usapan dahil sa nahahalata ko na nagpapanic na siya. Hindi man masyadong makita sa kanyang kinikilos ngunit halata naman sa kanyang mga mata.

"Ano... Wait lang." Tumayo ito at tumalikod, narinig ko ang kanyang tili na para bang kanyang pinipigil. Matapos nito ay umupo siyang muli sa aking tabi ngunit dumistansya rin.

"My father agreed to invest in this business from a friend of him and they needed a model. He personally wanted you to be the model since you got the beauty and you're perfect for the role..."

"I'll think about it."

Model, huh...