Shadow of Hatred

They say love will find its way to everyone, but when will it be my turn? I felt so groggy when I woke up. With half-closed eyes, I looked around. The room was unfamiliar to me. I almost tripped when I tried to stand up because my left foot got tangled in the white linen blanket on the floor. Goosebumps sprang all over my body because of the cold air. Nang mapatingin ako sa salamin na nasa aking tapat ay agad nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita. Why am I naked?! Agad kong nilingon ang kamang inalisan at may hindi pamilyar na likod ang nakahiga. I could not see him properly because he was sleeping on his left side. His dark hair was a bit long and messy, almost covering his eyes. Natataranta kong kinuha ang nagkalat kong mga damit sa sahig at luminga para hanapin ang banyo. Nang mahanap ay agad akong pumasok at nagmamadaling magbihis. While doing that, I kept cursing under my breath. Anong pinasok mo, Azalea? Oh, my gosh! After that, I left the suite without bothering to wake up the sleeping man. I scrolled through my phone contacts to call Sapphire as soon as I got out of the elevator before wearing my dark shades to hide my puffy eyes. My clothes ooze with the mix of alcohol, sweat, and perfume. Gosh, I need to take a shower. ASAP! I could see the stares of the people as I walked towards the glass door of this luxurious hotel, but I ignored them. An employee greeted me good morning, and I just bowed a bit as I smiled instead of greeting her back. "Hmm? Ano 'yon?" She asked raspily when she finally answered the call. "Where are you?" I asked. "Azalea? Oh, ikaw pala 'yan. Teka–hala gago! Ba’t may lalaki dito?" She asked, panicking. "Naiwan ko yata ang sasakyan ko sa club," I said, ignoring what she had said. Rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang pagiging taranta niya sa kabilang linya habang may kinakausap na kung sino. "Saglit, tatawagin kita ulit!" She said, abruptly ending the call. I let out a sigh before looking around. The street was hot and busy. And the sounds of different sports cars irritated my ears. Aga aga. I looked at my phone again to scroll down through my phone contacts before deciding to call Yus. While waiting for him to pick up my call, I started to walk and cross the street. My house was really far away from here, and I didn't have my car with me, so I didn't have any choice but to buy some new clothes first before going home. "Azalea," he greeted, after 3 rings. "Yes, good morning. Where are you?" I asked. "Nasa BGC, bakit?" he asked, confused. My lips stretched, forming a smile. Saktong nasa BGC din ako ngayon. "Pick me up. I want to go home," I said. "Ano? Bakit, nasaan ka ba?" "Around BGC din. Nasa Seda ka ba? I'm nearby," I said. "Ano na naman bang ginawa mo ngayon?" his tone is irritated now. My face scrunches involuntarily. Hindi pa nga niya alam ang ginawa ko yet he is mad already? "You're so mean as always, Yus. Hear me out first, okay? I was invited kasi last night to hang out. Now, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko" "So...you're telling me you're broke now?" He asked, chuckling. I rolled my eyes upward. It hurts to admit that, but yeah. Nasobrahan yata ako sa paggastos kagabi. "Broken and broke. Now, hurry up and pick me up at Uptown Mall" I commanded. He let out a chuckle. "Aye-aye, commander" "Thanks! I love you," I said merrily. "Yeah," then he ended the call. Pagkapasok ko sa Mall ay dumistansya ako sa mga tao. I don't smell that bad, but I was still conscious about my smell because of the alcohol. Napatingin naman ako sa cellphone nang tumawag na muli si Sapphire. "Ano na nangyari sa'yo? Bigla ka na lang din nawala kagabi e!" she said. "Hmm, I don't recall what exactly happened last night, but my whole body is really sore. I think I am not a virgin anymore," Then a stranger walking past me looked at me with slightly wide eyes, but I ignored her. She let out a loud laugh. "Oh, sino naman ang nakasama mo kagabi? Masarap ba? Magaling?" I let out a sigh. She is really interested in this, huh? "I don't know. Like I've said, I can't remember what exactly happened. At hindi ko na rin gugustuhin na magkita kung sino man siya," I said, irritated without any reason. She laughed even more. "Malay mo mayaman, anak ng CEO o kaya'y may helicopter o yate. Swerte mo kung ganoon!" My left hand almost covered my mouth to gag dramatically. "I don't need a man to spoil me with material things. I can spoil myself. I am not a sugar baby," I stopped walking when I saw two familiar faces. They were talking about something. Imbes na ituon ang atensyon sa kausap ay binalewala ko ito at sila ang tinignan. They were having fun. She was holding onto his forearm while pointing at something as they walked. Maybe I watched them for too long and I did not even notice that someone was walking in my direction. He bumped into me and I almost hissed to that person, but I just glared at him after almost stumbling on my feet. A tall lame lame-looking boy immediately apologized and quickly walked away. I rolled my eyes before fixing my posture. Nang hinanap ko ulit ang dalawa ay hindi ko na sila mahagilap. Naistorbo nalang muli ako sa text ni Yus na hinahanap na ako kaya nag angat ako ng tingin sa pangalan ng store na nasa likod ko at sinabi kung saan ako maghihintay. – I got out of the fitting room and looked at Yus who was just lazily sitting on the square stool bench. He looked at me with brows furrowed. He let out a sigh before shaking his head when I smiled at him cutely. "Ano, maganda ba?" I asked him, showing him my outfit. His face scrunches. "Uuwi ka lang naman bakit kailangan mo pang bumili ng damit? Marami ka na nyan," I let out a chuckle. "Nothing. I just want to buy new clothes. Masama ba?" Tumingin ulit ako sa wall-length mirror para tignan ang aking repleksyon. I was wearing a neckcowl black mini dress. I feel so cute while wearing this so I cannot afford not to buy this! "Dapat sa'yo binabalot e," he said. I ignored him and complimented myself even more. Sanay na ako sa mga biro niya kaya wala na ito saakin. Pairap akong bumaling sa kaniya nang matapos at ngumiti. "Is it because I'm showing too much skin?" "Hindi. Dapat binabalot ka tapos ilagay sa sako bago palu paluin," then laughed. I let out a gasp when he said that. And I nearly threw my heels at him. Napaka brutal talaga nito minsan magbiro! "You're so freaking mean!" I said with brows furrowed. He chuckled, unfazed, and even dared to shrug his shoulders. "Tara na kasi. Ayoko na dito," "Bakit ba parang madaling madali ka? May crush ka ba dito at feeling teenager ka?" I asked with brows furrowed as I looked around. Walang dalaga dito na tipo nya at wala ring masyadong customer. "Kanina pa tayo dito," he complained. "So what?" I asked, raising my left brow at him. He just let out a sigh again. Ilang segundo ko pang tinignan ang sarili ko sa salamin bago binili ang napili. While paying for that cute dress, I noticed that the cashier kept on glancing at Yus who was impatiently standing beside me. "Cash or card, Ma'am?' She asked sweetly before glancing at him again. The side of my lips stretched, stifling a scoff, before handing her my card. She took it with both hands before swiping it on their card machine. After that, we went outside the store. Kinuha pa niya saakin ang pinamili ko kaya mas lalo akong ginanahan na mamili dahil may kasama ako. "Let's go," He said, ready to walk away. "Mamaya na," I said before dragging his left forearm to the next store. "What? Hindi pa tapos?" He asked with wide eyes but then sighed in defeat. He kept on complaining when we went to different stores. I think we went to 15 stores. Pero hindi naman ako bumili bawat store na pinupuntahan namin dahil karamihan naman ay meron na ako. Binibili ko lang talaga ang mga bagong labas. "Why bother buying physically if you can just buy online? Masyadong hassle e," He said as he rolled his eyes at me again. He rolled his eyes at me multiple times already! I let out a chuckle. "I want to buy things that I can see and touch. Malay mo sa picture lang maganda then pagkarating saakin it’s so pangit pala. Edi nagsayang lang ako ng pera," He let out a scoff before smirking at me. "May pake ka pa pala sa mga nilalabas mong pera? Hindi halata," before looking at my shopping bags. "Ha-ha, para ka namang hindi pa sanay kung magreklamo" – "Ah, finally!" I said in relief when we finally got home. The door creaked open and shut. I turned around to see him setting my shopping bags down on the tiled floor. He rubbed his neck, his brows knitting together as he met my gaze with a puzzled look. "What?" He asked. My lips stretched, forming a teasing smile. "Wala. You look super tired e," He glared at me. "Ikaw ba naman ang magmaneho ng apat na oras at pagbuhatin, sinong hindi mapapagod?" Oh, wow. I crossed my arms over my chest, completely facing him. "You know what? Kanina ka pa e, you treat me like I'm a stranger" He just mocked my words before sitting on the stool chair near the island countertop of my kitchen, then took out his phone in his pocket. Nang maalala ang dapat kong gagawin ay dumiretso muna ako sa refrigerator para uminom ng tubig. Naglapag pa ako ng baso sa harap niya bago pumunta sa kwarto. Finally, shower time.