Good To Me

Chapter 7

"Dear, I'll entrust you my bunso. Keep an eye on her for me, hmm?" Mom said while tapping Kuya Dominic's shoulder.

"Of course, Tita. I'll update Gio from time. Don't worry about leaving Yvette with me and enjoy the rest of the trip."

"Yvette, behave. Okay? Huwag mo nang dagdagan ang sakit ng ulo si Dom," paalala ng kuya that sounds more like a threat. "Baka mamaya you'll be out dating with guys again."

"I am behaving! I am just staying at home na nga lang 'di ba?" sabi ko naman.

When it isn't necessary, hindi na ako lumalabas. My destination's just Pontevedra College and Serenity Tower for the past days. I also try to avoid places that I frequented in before to reduce the chance of bumping to my ex.

"I hope you're being serious right now," singit ni Daddy.

"Anyway , we have to go. We have to board the plane soon," sabi ni Mommy.

We are here at the airport because hinatid namin si kuya, they're leaving for Singapore and they'll stay there for Dad's three day conference and then they'll fly to Bahamas for their carribean cruise so they will be gone longer than expected. Too bad I can't be with them.

"I heard Kloe Solar's releasing the collaboration with Zandi and it will be available in Singapore but not yet here. Baka naman..." parinig ko. "Dad..."

"You have so many things that you don't wear, Yvette. Huwag ka nang mag dagdag pa," pag kontra na naman ni Kuya.

"You're going on a luxurious cruise tour without me and all I ask is just one pair of shoes," sabi ko saka nag iwas ng tingin at sumimangot.

Tumikhim si Daddy. "We'll see if we can get one for you."

My smile went up to my ears. "Thanks Dad! You're really the best!"

"But I have to make sure from Dominic that you're not making any trouble when we're out," sabi ni Daddy.

Tumango ako. "Of course!"

And just like that, I secured another luxury bag.

We're now on the car going back to the condo and Kuya Dominic's driving. We're stuck in the traffic along Dolores Boulevard because it's already rush hour.

"I'll just drop you off at the tower and I won't be home until tonight," Kuya Dominic said.

Lumingon ako sa kanya. I want to ask him where will he be going but then, it's none of my business.

It's not like we're super close for me to be asking him that kind of stuffs.

His phone that's on it's holder lit up because of text message and it didn't escape my fast eyes to read it.

It's from a girl named Riley and her exact message were,

'Excited to see you tonight, love xo.'

I was quick but Kuya Dom's also quick for turning his phone off and when he did, lumingon sya sa akin saglit.

"I thought you don't have a girlfriend?" taas kilay na sabi ko.

"I don't. She's just someone that I know," aniya.

Someone that he knows but texted him about seeing him tonight and including hugs and kisses in it isn't really normal. I wasn't born yesterday to be clueless about what could happen tonight.

"So it's true that you really don't do girlfriends?" I asked.

"Who told you that? Gio?" aniya habang maya't maya ang sulyap nya sa akin.

Umiling ako and shrugged my shoulders. "I just heard."

There's no way that Kuya Gio will tell me those things. I have a huge crush on him so naturally, I'd be curious and would want to know everything.

But because we weren't this close before, I have no way of confirming things.

"It's not like I don't do girlfriends. I had girlfriends before. It's just that I haven't really found the one that want to settle with," paliwanag nya.

Tumango ako ng dahan dahan. "That's what they say when they don't want commitment."

His mouth parted and looked at me. He sighed at umiling. "No. It's not like that."

"To my understanding, it's like that. You can't really find the person you want to settle with if you won't commit, Kuya."

"When you're young and you've been hurt countless times, you'll realize that it's better to explore before you settle. It's just like that," he explained with utmost sincerity.

"When you've been hurt, isn't it better to take all the lesson with you so when you move to next, natuto ka na. I mean, who doesn't get hurt when you love?"

"Minsan, it's better to stop for a moment to look around and before you dive in, sure ka na." Huminga siya ng malalim. "I don't know why I'm telling you this. Why are we even talking about this?"

We clearly have different opinion on this matter and nobody's wrong. We just both have different experiences.

I let out a laugh to shrug all the seriousness on the atmosphere. "It's because of Riley. Kasalanan ni Riley 'to."

Kuya Dominic opened his mouth and was about to say something but got interrupted because of the loud ringing of the phone.

Sabay kaming napa tingin sa phone nya and it's silent kaya agad kong binuksan ang bag ko.

An unknown number is calling me but I didn't hesitate to slide the answer button at inilagay sa tainga ko ang phone.

"Hello. Who's this?" I said.

"Finally," sabi ng tumawag sa akin.

My face instantly crumpled upon hearing that voice.

Nanlalaki ang mata kong nilayo ang phone sa tainga ko to double check that an unknown number is calling me at hindi ang number ni Travis that I am sure I blocked already.

Hindi na ako sumagot and then I immediately hung up the call but almost after that, the number's calling again.

"Who's that? Why aren't you answering?" tanong ni Kuya Dom.

I declined the call again, hoping that he'd stop calling me. "It's nothing. Wrong number lang."

"If it's wrong number then why is it calling you again? May problema ba?"

Bumakas na sa mukha ni Kuya Dominic ang pag a- alala.

"It's Travis."

Good thing that I'm wearing my seat belt or else my face will be shoved on the dashboard because Kuya Dominic abruptly switched lanes and stepped the break making the car stop sa gilid ng kalsada.

"Answer the phone for me and put it on speaker. I will talk to him," aniya.

Mahigpit na ang hawak ni Kuya Dominic sa manibela and if his eyes could really shoot lasers, my phone would be roasted by now.

Hindi na ako nakipag talo pa. I don't know what his plan is but I trust that he means well and he knows what he's doing so I answered the phone and puts it on speaker phone.

"I'm glad you answered your phone," sabi ni Travis sa kabilang linya and he sounds so dangerous.

It sounds as if he's definitely still a walking threat to me.

Hindi ako sa phone ko naka tingin but at him who is clenching his jaw tight.

"Yvette?" tawag ni Travis sa pangalan ko and it sent chills to my spine.

"What do you want with her?"

"Who are you? Where's Yvette? Give her the phone," Travis tone became more agitated and triggered.

"Does it matter? Stop bugging her, Solomon. Take that as a warning."

Kuya Dom's voice became more serious and scary as if he's gonna go eye to eye with him and he's not gonna back out.

"What the hell are you on? Give Yvette the d**n phone, whoever you are!" may pagbabanta na rin sa boses ni Travis."

He's also not the type to back down. He's stubborn. He's just like me. The more that you tell him not to, the more he'll do it.

"And what for? To beg for her to take you back? She won't so leave her alone."

"Yvette, I know you're listening. Talk to me," he demanded.

Lalong nag salubong ang noo ni Kuya Dominic and he was quick to shake his head off, telling me not to say anything.

Kahit naman hindi sya umiling, hindi pa rin ako mag sa- salita.

The least that I want to have right now is to give him anything that would make him cling to me more.

Mimi called me the other day and Travis has been calling our home landline nonstop to get ahold of me.

Akala ko, he'd stop because he was quiet for the past few days.

I assumed too early.

"She won't talk to you, Solomon, so stop this. Don't even to try coming near her or else I'll have a word with your father."

"Who the hell are you? Ano? Matapang ka? Lumabas ka sa lungga mo!" sigaw ni Travis.

Kinuha ni Kuya Dominic ang phone and ended the call and blocked the number.

I am low key afraid of Kuya Dom right now. I haven't seen him angry before and now, he's furious at that.

Pinakikiramdaman ko lang sya while he's intently looking at the front and I am still seeing his veins, almost popping from holding the steering wheel tight.

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Thank you, kuya. You saved me again," sabi ko.

"Don't answer any un- registered calls from now on. When you're at school, call me from time to time. Your ex is out of his mind, Yvette. Looks like he won't really leave you alone."

I shut my eyes and isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa headrest because it's about to pop out of my head.

It hasn't even been a day na wala ang mommy, daddy, and kuya at may paramdam na kaagad si Travis.

"I will, kuya. I'm sorry. I really didn't expect that he'll go this far." Yumuko ako.

Maybe my brother's right.

I am poor judge of character. Lalo na sa lalaki. My exes are the greatest example of my character flaw.

A cheater.

Made me a rebound.

Treated me like a trophy girlfriend.

And the latest, a creepy stalker.

I shouldn't have ignored all the red flags.

"We won't really know what a crazy person is thinking, Yve. Don't be sorry to me. Sya dapat ang mag sorry sa 'yo."

Kahit hindi na siguro. I don't need his sorey because I don't think he'll ever be sorry. I just want him to leave me alone so everything would end.

"Let's get back to Serenity first," aniya.

Kuya started the engine again and drove to the condo. He's still serious and it seems like he has a lot of things on his mind.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa condo, hindi pa rin sya kumikibo.

"Are you mad at me, Kuya?" tanong ko sa kanya while we're at the elevator going to our floor.

There's a small distance between us and it's enough for me to feel his no-so-beautiful aura.

"I am. But not to you. It's to your ex."

"Don't you think it's best to just confront him directly? So he would stop? Makikinig naman sya siguro to me," sabi ko.

Pagak na nag buga sya ng air. "I bet my life he won't," aniya at luminhgon sa akin. "Don't even try, Yvette."

"Alright. I won't. I'm just thinking of the possibility," sabi ko.

Pagka pasok namin ng unit, dumiretso ako sa kuwarto ko para mag palit ng damit at hindi na ulit lumabas.

I video called Mimi to instruct her to put all the gifts from Travis. I don't know yet if I want to return everything to him so he would realize that it's really over or I'll just throw it or set it on fire.

It took a while because of course, nangapa pa si Mimi dahil it's her first time to go through my stuffs.

I only noticed that it's almost dark outside because of my small window amd when I looked at the clock, it's almost dinner.

Malamang, naka alis na rin si Kuya Dominic papunta kay Riley without even texting me, pero laking gulat ko nang makita sya sa lamesa, kaharap nglaptop nya.

"I thought umalis ka na?" gulat kong tanong.

"How about Riley?" tanong ko.

"Riley isn't my priority right now. It's making sure you're safe here."