Rejecting Niccolos

Chapter 19

Although, I felt the extreme awkwardness right before I sat beside Leona at our designated table, mas pinili ko na lamang manatiling tahimik. Sinulyapan ko si Niccos, nakita kong nag-igting ang kanyang magkabilang panga, halatang may gusto rin siyang sabihin ngunit nanahimik na lang.

"Uh... I'll go order," tumayo si Sahara. "What do you want guys?"

Nilingon ako ni Leona, agad namang sumunod ang mga mata ni Niccos doon at matalim na tumingin sa gawi ko, pinapanuod ang nangyayari.

"What do you want?" Leona asked.

"Kahit ano na lang." I awkwardly answered and faked a smile.

"Okay."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako aakto gayong buhay na buhay pa rin sa akin ang hilaw na hanging bumabalot sa paligid ng table namin.

Hindi ako nagsalita habang umo-order si Sahara sa malayo, although Leona kept asking me questions na wala namang sense minsan ay tumatango na lamang ako. Niccos was also grumpy the whole time like his usual facade. Parang napipilitan lang siyang makisama. Tiyaka na lamang ulit umingay ang lamesa nang makabalik na si Sahara dala-dala ang aming mga pagkain, sa likod niya ay may dalawang staff na nakaalalay.

"Uhm...actually, Pia..." sumulyap si Sahara kay Niccos, pagkatapos ay kay Leona. Leona nodded at her. "You see, Leona here is also my friend now. Nabanggit niya kasi sa akin 'yung past n'yo together? Uhh, can I uhh—"

Umirap si Niccos at binalingan si Sahara gamit ang ulo. "That is not your business t—"

"It's okay," putol ko kay Niccos, he glared at me with burning eyes. He is obviously annoyed now. "Ask anything."

"Y-Yes. About that, why did you two broke up?"

I see no reason to keep anything, though. It is not a secret either. I just don't feel fully comfortable narrating the whole memory. It makes me feel nostalgic about that particular part of my life.

"Really?!" Shara reacted after hearing the story. "But why did you have to break up? I mean, you can settle it out pa naman?" Suhestyon niya pa.

"I was planning to, alright?" Singit ni Leona kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"You what?" Halos matawa ako.

"Why didn't you?" Niccos asked mockingly. Nagtaas ito ng kilay ng kay Leona.

"Her brother knew..."

Napalingon ako kay Leona. Nakita kong nag-igting ang kanyang panga.

"So? Natakot ka?" Niccos asked again.

"It's not that," Leona answered, slightly sounding annoyed. "He warned me."

"Pero. No offense sa part mo, Pia ha? But, may mali ka rin naman 'di ba?" Sahara asked, maingat sa kanyang mga sinasabi.

Bumaling si Niccos sa akin, halatang naghihintay din ng kasagutan.

"Yes. But fixing the relationship is not necessary."

It just won't work out anymore. The relationship was toxic to start with. I deceived Leona, and he was disappointed — he should be.

"Aww, you two had a bad ending," Sahara said like a kitten. "Well, is it too late? Napag-usapan n'yo na ba?"

Umiling ako bago sinulyapan si Leona. He was silent and he remained silent. Bumuntong hininga na lamang ako at nag-umpisa ng kumain. Mukha namang nakuha na ni Sahara na baka nagiging sensitibong topic na iyon kaya naman nanahimik na rin siya.

The next moments our table was silent. Niccos was barely touching his food, while the three of us seemed bothered about something. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla-bigla ko na lamang lilingunin si Leona at Sahara, and sometimes, I notice them looking at each other like they're talking with their eyes.

"How about the two of you?"

Napatigil ako bigla sa pagnguya nang marinig ang tanong ni Leona. It was a straightforward question for Niccos and Sahara.

"Hindi ba may past din kayo? Sahara told me." He added.

"Yeah." Niccos answered after shifting comfortably on his seat.

"What happened?"

"I rejected him." Si Sahara.

"Oh," ma-dramang sabi ni Leona. "Why?"

"I was not ready and my family is undergoing so much problem that time," Sahara explained like she is explaining it to Niccos only. Her eyes often take a sideway look to Niccos. "To be honest, I really like Niccos that time."

Agad dumapo ang mga mata ko kay Niccos. Wala siyang emosyong ipinapakita, hindi ko masabi kung ano'ng iniisip niya.

"That must've been hard for you." Humalukipkip si Leona at preskong inayos ang kanyang pagkakaupo.

"It is." Sahara smiled.

"Right?" Sinulyapan ako ni Leona.

I forced a smile and nodded slightly. I can barely tell if I really nodded or I just snapped.

"What can you say?" Leona added, looking at Niccos.

"Am I required to say anything?" Pinantayan ni Niccos ang kanyang mga titig. I can feel him almost raising a brow at Leona.

"Yes," Leona answered intensely. Then he added, "I am curious," pinapantayan ang mockery ni Niccos.

Tahimik na umismid si Niccos. He drank on his drink and stood up so suddenly. Napatingala kaming tatlo sa kanya, habang siya ay ibinulsa na ang dalawang kamay.

"Wh-where are you going?" Sahara asked, she couldn't hide the worry and anxiety on her voice.

"Home," sinulyapan ako ni Niccos. "You coming?"

"H-Ha?"

Napatingin sa akin si Sahara. Her eyes glimmered, like she is begging me to do resist.

"Niccos, did we—"

"I'll wait outside." Pagkatapos sabihin ni Niccos iyon ay tumalikod na ito at nagmartsa palabas.

The table was silent but then Sahara stood up and went after Niccos. Lahat ng tao sa loob ay napatingin sa kanya, may namataan pa akong nagbulungan habang naatitig sa kanya. Then, I just remembered about her issue at school. Whether it is true or not, it is still a scandal.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin.

"Uuwi ka na ba?" Basag ni Leona sa katahimikan. "Let me send you home." He added.

"Hindi na." Tumayo na ako.

"Are you expecting that Niccos is waiting for you outside?" Leona said. He scoffed. "Sahara went after him. Can't you guess the logic?"

"I will go home alone, then." Tumalikod ako sa kanya at nag-umpisa ng maglakad palayo.

"Oh, come on, Pia," he said at sumunod sa akin. "Don't be so hard on me."

Hindi ako kumibo hanggang sa makalabas kaming dalawa. He remained on my back, preskong nakasunod habang nakapamulsa. His dominating bad boy vibe distracts me. Hindi lang ako, kun'di pati ang ibang babae sa paligid. I saw girls craning their necks just to watch him some even tried waving at him.

Walang Niccos na naghihintay sa labas, wala ring Sahara. Maybe they went together or they went somewhere to talk about....the past.

"See?" Tinapatan ako ni Leona sa aking kinatatayuan. "They're not here."

"Aalis na ako."

I heard him mutter a soft cuss before walking before me. Pumara ako ng bus at mabilis na sumakay. Sa totoo lang, ngayon lang ako sasakay ng bus pauwi. I know the basic process, siguro naman ay tama na 'yon. Magbabayad, uupo, at sasabihin kung saan ka bababa.

Nagulantang ako nang ang dami palang tao nang makapasok ako, bababa na sana ako ulit nang bigla na lamang umabante bigla ang bus, dahilan upang mawalan ako ng ibang choice kun'di tumayo na lamang. Mahigpit ang kapit ko sa upuan, ngunit wala akong ideya sa pwersa idudulot nito kapag pumreno na.

When it suddenly stopped, I was pushed backwards and was out of control totally. Napabitiw ako sa kinakapitan. I thought, I was gonna crash down on people that I'll be top sorry soon but then I was catched by someone with nice....smell.

Leona chuckled, "Careful, clumsy lady. Kung hindi ako sumunod sa'yo rito, ibang lalaki ang sasalo sa'yo." He whispered.

I awkwardly smiled to all the people looking at us. Mabilis akong umayos ng tayo at bumalik sa dating kinatatayuan. Leona remained smiling, slightly smirking there.

"Swerte ni ate girl."

"I know, right. Pogi ni kuya oh."

Funny how people admire ypu at first look. To a person like me who knows what kind of person Leona is, it somehow makes me laugh whenever I hear someone compliment him.

Humintong muli ang bus at muli na namang nadagdagan ang tao. I had a mini heart attack because I felt a stranger's hand at my back, natatakot akong lingunin kung babae ba iyon o lalaki— nevertheless, kahit babae man ito ay hindi pa rin ako kumportable. Hindi nagtagal ay naramdaman ko ang pakikisiksik ni Leona upang tabihan ako, he stood beside me at 'saka ako inakbayan.

Magrereklamo pa sana ako ngunit agad kong naramdaman ang kamay na nilubayan ako kaya naman ay nanahimik na lang ako.

Leona's smell is so manly and strong. Sa kulay, maihahaluntalad ko ito sa pulang kulay, malayo ang pagkakaiba sa pabango ni Niccos dahil kung sakali ay maihahalintulad ko iyon sa peach na kulay, mild lang.

"Salamat." Wika ko kay Leona nang makababa na kami sa bus.

"Are you okay? Where did he touch you?" Tanong niya, disregarding my thank you.

"Sa likod lang. That was a slight touch, it's no big deal."

"Mag-isa mo lang ba?" Tanong niya at sinulyapan ang kantong papasukan ko para makauwi. Madilim. "Hatid na kita."

"No, malapi—"

"Just say yes, will you?" Iritado niyang utas at 'saka ako inunahang maglakad.

Napanguso ako at mapilitan na lamang sundan siya. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang iniisip nito. Hindi naman liblib ang palitadang dadaanan ko, what's with him?

Nakapamulsa siya habang naglalakad sa harapan ko. He was walking in a lazy manner, ganyan na ganyan ang Leona na kilala ko.

"Say, Pia," putol niya sa katahimikan. "What do you think of me?"

"Nuisance." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Totoo naman, ah. He is a nuisance.

"Not as an ex," hindi ko mabasa kung seryoso ba siya o hindi. "As a person. What do you think of me?"

Looking back, I never saw him being nice and blithe towards someone. He always leave me with bad impression. Ang nga inaakto niya, ang pananalita niya, at ang mga memoryang naaalala ko sa kanya. Lahat masama.

I suddenly remembered that time with Craven. Hindi ko alam ang puno't-dulo ng galit niya kay Craven, pero nahihirapan akong intindihin iyon. Ano man ang isipin ko, laging negatibo. Laging hindi maganda.

"You're... a stranger to me."

Let's just put it that way. I realized maybe because he was my ex and we had a very chaotic relationship from the past. Pero kung isasantabi ko iyon, I cannot seem to look through him. He is a stranger to me.

"That's a nice answer," wika niya. "I was expecting you'd say I am a bad person, a brat,unreasonable, and an asshole."

"Wala akong sinabi."

"Yeah, yeah, bakit nga ba wala kang sinabi? Are you playing safe? Takot ka bang ma-turn off ako sa'yo?"

Nalukot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "I was just being honest."

"I know, goody two shoes." Bahagya niya pa akong nilingon.

Natahimik ako. Bumalot ang ligaw na mga tunog sa maliit na distansya namin habang naglalakad kami. Tanging ang lagitik lamang ng aking black shoes ang naririnig ko.

"Dito na ang bahay namin." Wika ko sa kanya, tunog nagpapaalam. "Salamat sa paghatid."

"No problem." Nilingon niya ang bahay namin.

"Mauna ka na." I thought it was a bit rude to turn around with such manners.

"No, you go ahead first." Aniya.

Not. The. Leona. Type. Of. Move.

Tumikhim ako. Why is he being so nice? This is so unusual of him. Appreciation towards him is a foreign feeling dahil halos puro irita ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

"Ano'ng meron?" 'Di ko na napigilang itanong.

"I don't know," pabalang ang kanyang sagot pero naramdaman ko ang sinseridad. "I guess, I am just worried about you."

"Ha? Worried? Bakit naman?"

"Wala," kumaway siya at tumalikod. Humakbang siya ngunit bigla ring humarap muli sa akin. "Ah, I forgot..."

"Ano 'yon?"

Mayroon siyang hinugot sa kanyang bulsa. Bumaba ang tingin ko roon nang ilahad niya sa akin. Ang kanyang cellphone.

"Bakit 'yan?"

"I typed in my cellphone number on my dial pad. Copy it." He said, avoiding my eyes.

"Bakit nga?" I asked once again, pero tinanggap ko pa rin naman ang inaalok niyang cellphone.

I took out my own cellphone and copied his numbet. Tiyaka ko ibinalik sa kanya ang cellphone niya.

"I think, you will be needing to call that soon." He smiled.

Confused, I said goodbye to him and we finally parted ways. What's with his logic? His gestures is confusing me. May nangyari ba?

Or, I am just not used to that kind of gestures coming from him? Siguro nga. Isinawalang bahala ko na lamabg iyon at hindi pinansin, I don't think something that I should be worried about. Well, except for Sahara's dilemma at school.

The next morning, the senior high building's hallway seem to be extra chaotic today. Maraming nakikiusisang mga estudyante roon at mayroong pinapalibutan.

Humupa na ang balita tungkol kay Sahara sa school, he scandal scattered all over the place at hindi maiiwasan ang pambu-bully sa kanya. Now that I thought about it, I think I know what is going on now.

Nakipagsiksikan ako upang makita kung ano ang nangyayari at hindi nga ako nagkamali. Si Sahara ay nakaupo sa sahig, umiiyak, at basa ang damit. She looked awful....and a little gross. I think she is wet because of toilet water, I can smell it.

"Dapat lang 'yan sa'yo! You are a disgrace to this school!"

"Sinira mo ang image ng school natin! Kabago-bago mo!"

"Sana matauhan ka na! You don't belong here! Lumipat ka na lang ng school kung bibigyan mo ng kahihiyan ang school natin!"

Kung tunay na kasalanan ni Sahara at tunay na hindi siya karapat-dapat dito sa school, dapat ay ang school board na mismo ang nag-expel sa kanya. Pero hindi iyon nangyari. Who are they to shoo Sahara away? Is it her fault that daring photos of her scattered accidentally?

I don't know. I must've lost my mind when I helped Sahara get up.

"Oh, look! Two losers in one frame! Ano, Pia, isa ka rin?" I cam clearly recognize Jabami's voice.

"Bakit hindi na lang kayong dalawa ang umalis dito? Isang magnanakaw ng portrait, at isang p**n star?!"

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

She nodded.

"Let's get you out of here first."

Yes. Sahara wasn't at fault. No one knows who sabotaged her, but regardless, that is not Sahara's fault. But I do not know why a part of me is still insecure and unconvinced.

"May P.E. uniform ka ba sa locker mo? I'll get it for you while you shower." Wika ko nang makarating kami sa shower room ng mga cheerleaders.

"Y-Yes. Thank you."

"Take your time," I forced a smile. "Babalik din ako agad."

"W-Wait Pia."

"Yes?"

"Can you tell Niccos that I am here? I...I want to talk to him..."

Napatigil ako at napakurap-kurap ng ilang beses. I wouldn't want to offend her for her state so I just smiled and nodded. Habang papalayo sa kanya't nakatalikod na, unti-unting naglaho ang aking ngiti.

What am I doing? Why am I acting against my will? This is driving me crazy.

Hinugot ko ang cellphone sa bulsa nang maramdaman ko ang pagvavibrate nito. It was Izzie so I amswered it immediately.

"Izzie. Bakit?"

"Click the link that I sent to you." Umpisa niya.

Nalukot ang noo ko at tinignan ang link na sinasabi niya. It is an article. And as soon sa I read the headline, I stopped. Walking.

The heir of Mejia Winery, Sahara Mejia and the youngest of Castrel, Niccolos Hibari is currently the industry's youngest couple!

Maybe, I really lost my mind for helping her.