Love of Hers

CHAPTER 7

Matapos ang halikan namin ni Jade ay kinailangan na nitong umalis, kaya hinanap ko na lamang si Red para makaalis na rin kami. Pero ilang libot ko na sa bahay ngunit hindi ko ito nahanap.

Lumabas ako nang bahay at hinanap ng kotse ni Red na gagamitin namin. Kaso wala na iyon doon. Kinuha ko agad ang cellphone ko at tinawagan ang gagong si Red na nang iwan sakin.

"I left you messages Ari, hindi mo natanggap?" ani nito.

"Why the hell did you leave me alone?"

"I received a text na umuwi kana dahil may emergency sa bahay niyo kaya hindi na kita inabala pa," ani nito.

Kumunot ang ulo ko.

"I never texted that," I said and turned my head to a different direction as I felt eyes on me.

And there I saw it, the continental gt na gustong-gusto ko. Why is she here?

"You didn't? Are you sure?" Tanong ni Red.

"Oo," I responded, and continued to eye Monique's car. Ilang segundo lamang ang nagdaan nang lumabas ito sa kotse at lumakad papunta sa gawi ko.

"Oh s**t, I'll come and get you," Ani ni Red.

"It's okay Red, andito na ako sa taxi," ani ko at lumakad sa gawi ni Monique. I have to face her now. Andito na siya eh, wala na akong takas.

"Ganon ba, okay, basta mag iingat ka, sorry naniwala ako agad," Red said.

"Talking about trust," I smiled a bitter smile. As if.

"Okay lang Red, go na ako ha," ani ko rito.

Monique was looking at me as if she's ready to kill me. Gusto ko siyang tawanan pero feel ko rin magalit. I mean hindi niya alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito and even if she does know, wala rin naman iyon sa rules namin. Sa rules na pwedeng magselos.

She got in her car and motioned me to follow kaya ginawa ko narin.

"You didn't answer my calls," her voice was calmer than the way she looks.

"I was busy," I said in a cold voice.

I saw her clenched her jaw. "Busy kissing the youngest of the Rameniego?"

"She's a friend," Still with a cold voice I said.

"Friends don't kiss," The anger and bitterness in her voice was so clear and she didn't even try to hide it in her eyes.

"That's none of your business, and stop being so dramatic," I told her as if I'm bored.

She scoffed. "I'm not being dramatic, we talked about this, I told you I don't like sharing still--"

"Uuwi na ako," ani ko pero bigla kong narinig na nilock niya ang pinto ng kotse.

"You are really testing my patience, Ariel Riego," she whispered.

I rolled my eyes on her.

"Then stop being so dramatic," I told her.

Bumuntog hininga ito at tinignan ako. "Why are you mad at me?" bigla nitong tanong.

My eyes widened. "I'm not mad you," I said and was caught off guard when she leaned and looked me directly in the eyes.

"Liar," she said and cupped my cheeks. "Tell me why you're mad at me," she leaned and pecked my lips.

"Please," ani nito na nagpalakas na naman ng kabig ng dibdib ko.

Kanina lang galit siya, ngayon kumakalma para lang malaman kung bakit ako nagkakaganito. Ganito talaga yung tipong pafall. Kaso hindi ako.

I can love but I can also leave without looking back. And I take advantage of opportunities, kaya nga nandito ako eh.

"Totoo bang nakikipaglandian ka kay David?" My voice was small. At klarong nagseselos. Her face went to serious then she went entirely insane as she kept laughing hard.

"Oh my god," she said between her laughter.

Tinignan ko lamang siya ng masama.

"Okay, no I'm not flirting with David, my god,"

"He was only asking for a favor about him and his wife," she was now smiling like an idiot.

I shook my head and touched her cheeks to prevent her from smiling.

"Tama na, and what's the favor about?" I askes her.

Ngiti lamang ang sinukli ni Monique sakin. "He asked if he could use one of my house to celebrate their anniversary, and obviously I said no, that's why we we're laughing, I was thinking of ways not to sound rude to him," ani nito at hinalikan ako sa labi.

"So that's the reason why you've been acting different huh, you we're jealous," she kept on grinning.

"I'm not jealous, I just thought since we have rules, I think they should apply to you as well, "ani ko rito.

Doon na lamang bumaba ang ngiti nito. "Then why the f**k we're you kissing Jade Rameniego?" she was angry once again.

"It was a favor she asked," ani ko rito para wala ng issue.

She rolled her eyes. "Sa susunod, ayokong makakita na kahit na anong halikan, naiintindihan mo Ari? "

"Opo mama," pagbibiro ko rito.

"I'm serious, Ari," ani nito.

Tumango na lamang ako.

"So how was school?" tanong nito. "Ah nakakastress," sagot ko rito.

She looked at me and roughly took my lips. Biting every corner and licking it. After, she pulled back with heavy breaths. "There, no more traces," she said.

That time I was stoned. So I cupped her face before pulling her to a long kiss. As I started undressing her, I trailed kisses down her neck.

---

"Happy Birthday!" ani ko kapatid kong gago na si Kael sabay bigay nang maliit na box na naglalaman ng airpods. Alam kong mahal iyon para ibigay sa kapatid kong reckless, pero bahala na, birthday gift eh.

"Thank you ate," ani nito at agad na kinuha ang dala kong gift.

Nasa bahay kami, at dahil ayaw ni Kael ng handa ay niregaluhan na lamang namin siya.

Matapos mabigay ang gift ay lumapit si mama at ibinigay kay Kael ang isang puting sobre.

"Bigay ni Monique," ani ni mama. Agad namang binuksan ni Kael ang sobra. At laking gulat ko sa dami ng isang libo sa loob. Hala sana all.

Kinuha lahat ni Kael at binilang. "10 thousand ate," gulat nitong sabi. I mean sino nga ba ang hindi magugulat sa amount na ibinigay ni Monique.

"Hala sana all," ngumuso ako. Limang buwan ko kasing sahod yun eh.

Kaya sana all nalang.

"Nga pala, pupunta tayo sa Casa de Desiderio sa susunod na linggo, libre ng uncle Wade niyo, kasi birthday niya, mag oovernight tayo," ani ni mama. Wade is my mother's office mate too, may pamilya narin.

"Okay,"

"Maghanda kayo ah,"

"Sure,"