Hating You Before Loving You

Kabanata 20

Mabigat ang pakiramdam na hinayaan ko ang sarili na magpahiga sa kama. Talagang wala na akong kawala nito. Damn it!

Iidlip na sana ako dahil biglang sumakit ang ulo ko sa kakaisip tungkol sa magiging set-up ng buhay ko. Then suddenly I heard a loud buzz. It's the door bell.

I grunted saka bumangon na nakasimangot ang mukha. I strided towards the door to see who is on the other side. When I turned the knob and pulled it open, pagmumukha ni Ender ang nabungaran ko. My frown went deeper.

"Bakit nanjan ka pa sa harap ng pintuan ko. I thought I told you to leave." I said.

He didn't answer. Suot parin niya ang pink apron and his hair was still messy. But those things weren't a problem for him because he obviously look good this morning. Ugh! Jess, behave! I scolded myself.

Ender stared at my face for a moment before opening his mouth.

"I assume that your mom called." He said.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata saka naghalukipkip sa harapan nito at sumandal sa hamba ng pinto.

"So, you knew, huh?" I asked.

Tumango siya.

I frowned.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sakin?" I asked.

Napabuntong hinga siya. "If I tell you that I'm going live with you starting today. Would you believe me?" He said and that shut me up.

Oo nga pala noh? Kung sinabi niya sakin yung tungkol sa pagtira niya sa condo ko kanina hindi talaga ako maniniwala. Bakit naman ako maniniwal. It was absurd. Sinong tao na matino ang pag-iisip na gugustohing manirahan sa iisang bubong kasama ang kinamumuhian niyang tao sa buong mundo.

Wala diba?

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Ender ng bigla akong natahimik.

I was about to speak ng marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto sa kabilang condo. When I looked, lumabas roon si Ricci wearing her usual garb of clothes. Aalis nanaman siya siguro para bumili ng makakain.

She smiled when she saw me. "Good morning! Ang aga natin ah." She said.

Nginitian ko din siya. "Morning din. Busy day eh."

Lumapit siya sa gawi namin and her eyes landed on Ender.

"Boyfriend mo?" She pointed at Ender.

I shook my head. "Hindi. Kakilala ko lang." I said. I can see Ender frowning at the corner of my eye.

Dumako ang mata ni Ricci sa pink apron ko na suot ni Ender. She paused for a bit then gave me a meaningful grin.

"Okay. I get it. Anyway, alis na ako. Busy day din ako ngayon eh. See you guys around." She waved us goodbye and tapped Ender's shoulder before ang pag-angat ng gilid ng labi ni Ender habang sinusundan nh tingin si Ricci. Abaa! Umarko pataas ang kilay ko. Nakaramdam kasi ako ng inis. Sinundan ko ng tingin si Ricci hanggang sa mawala na siya sa pangin ko.

"Kapitbahay mo?" Ender asked me bobbing his head to where Ricci just disappeared.

Tumango ako. "Yeah. I like her. Mabait siyang kapitbahay. Bakit type mo?"

He chuckled. "Hindi naman. Why ask? Selos ka?" His eyes sparkling with amusement. I frowned.

"Ewan ko sayo! May itatanong pa ko sayo at hindi ko gustong i-interrogate ka sa labas ng condo ko kaya pumasok ka na. We'll talk in the living room." I said saka binigyan siya ng daan para makapasok siya sa loob.

"Okay." He stepped inside sporting a smirk on his face. Nainis ako dun pero hinayaan ko nalang. Baka mapatay ko siya na wala sa oras.

I got inside and closed the door behind me. In my surprise, I felt his arms circling my waist then he pulled me close to him crashing my back into his chest. My heart did a exaggerated flip at napalunok ako.

"W-what are you doing?" I said in a warning tone but he doesn't seem to care. I shivered when I felt his hot breathe on my nape. I gasped ng mas humigpit pa ang yakap niya sakin and I heard his deep intake of breathe, inhaling my scent. Oh God. Why is he hugging me from behind?

"I missed you." He whispered into my ear and my face heated up.

"Bitawan mo nga ko." Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at mabilis na lumayo sa kanya na parang may nakakahawa siyang sakit. Ender just just looked at me with amusement.

I crossed my arms infront of my chest to look intimidating. I cleared my throat. "Where's your things?" He pointed at the guestroom. So, he took the liberty of getting himself a room. Oh well, mabuti na iyon dahil hindi ko naman siya asisikasuhin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Paano ka napasok dito?" May hinugot siyang key card sa bulsa niya. I frowned. "Sino nagbigay sayo niyan?"

"Ang mommy mo."

My frown went deeper. "Lovely. Anyway, bago ka magsimulang manirahan dito kasama ako may 3 akong rules para sayo." I held my fingers out. "One, wag mo kong titingnan. Two, wag mo kong kakausapin. At lastly, rule number three, wag na wag mong sasabihin kahit kanino na magkasama tayo sa iisang bubong. Break those 3 simple rules then you leave this place and never. ever. come back."

Ender raised his hand. "Uhm. I object."

"What?" I hissed.

"Imposible ang gusto mong mangyari."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "And why not?"

Ender held out his fingers. "Number one, I like looking at you coz you're beautiful so it's normal that I look at my fiancee." Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi niya.

"H-Ha?"

"And number two, I like talking to you coz you're fun to tease and your pretty when your angry so it's impossible not to talk to you."

"Anong-"

"Lastly, a lot of people already know that we're living together. So it's impossible. Thanks to our mothers."

"P-Pero... P-Paanong..."

Inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha ko kaya nagkatitigan na kaming dalawa. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa mga labi ko. Bumilis agad ang t***k ng puso ko.

"So, you see..." He said huskily. "It's impossible for you to push me away, Jessica." Then he move away and left me standing frozen in my spot with my mouth gaping.

I didn't know how long I was standing there looking like a statue but... nagising nalang ang diwa ko nang dumapo ang tingin ko sa wall clock ng living room. It was already 7:38 am.

Shit! Late na ko for school!

Damn you, Ender! Kasalanan mo 'to!