Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 19: Reality Slap

SINUNDAN ko muna ng tingin si Justice at nakita kong diretso siyang naglakad papasok sa madilim na pasilyong nasa likod lang din mismo ng mini stage. Sa puntong ito, hindi ko maintindihan pero bigla na lang bumilis ang kabog sa dibdib ko. Like, what the hell? This isn't the first time I'm actually going to flirt with someone, so what's with this anxiety?

Umiling-iling ako at saka muling lumingon sa bar counter, kung saan kasalukuyang nakaupo si Belle. Kaagad siyang natigilan sa iniinom na juice at kunot-noo akong tinitigan.

"What's wrong?" She sounded concerned but I didn't bother explaining.

"One shot of tequila, please!" utos ko sa bartender na mabilis naman nitong sinunod.

Kaagad nitong inilapag sa aking harapan ang order ko at walang pagdadalawang-isip ko iyong ininom. Bahagya pa akong napangiwi sa mapait na lasa niyon bago ako sumipsip ng lemon. I have low alcohol tolerance but at the back of my head, I need something strong right now. Something that can boost my guts since I got rejected last time.

"What the heck, Allie! Are you out of your mind?" sermon sa akin ni Belle pero nginitian ko lang siya. She shook her head in disappointment while glaring at me.

I scoffed. "Oh come on, Belle! A shot of tequila won't kill me. So just chill, okay?"

"Of course, a shot of tequila won't be enough to kill a stubborn being like you. But it's enough to make you drunk! You don't do hard liquor, remember?"

True enough, medyo umaalon na nga ang paningin ko. I can feel a hot sensation building up within me. And this may sound crazy but I like it this way. Para kung sakaling hindi na naman umayon sa plano ang commoner na 'yon, mayroon akong sensible na excuse.

"Allie, where do you think you're going in that state?"

Hinilot-hilot ko muna ang noo ko bago tinalikuran si Belle. Narinig ko pa siyang tinatawag ang pangalan ko pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Ang hirap lang talaga kapag may kaibigan na parang matandang dalaga kung umasta. Daig ko pa ang may dalawang mommy sa ginagawa niya.

"I need to get this done tonight!" I told myself as I made my way through the crowd.

The banging sound of music and the people partying made my vision even more blurry. Mabuti na nga lang at bago ko pa naisipang um-order ng tequila kanina'y nakita ko kung saan pumunta ang commoner na 'yon. Dire-diretso kong tinungo ang daan kung saan siya pumasok kanina at tumambad sa akin ang isang kwarto.

I assume it's their locker room so I didn't bother knocking and just let myself in. Pagkabukas ko pa lang ng pinto'y bumungad na agad sa akin ang gulat na gulat na si Justice. Wala siyang suot na pang-itaas na damit kaya naman awtomatikong natuon sa katawan niya ang tingin ko.

"A-ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?" There's a hint of irritation in his deep voice. But damn, why do I find it sexy?

"Oops! I must've lost my way here." I smiled at him as I closed the door behind me. Wala na akong pakialam kahit magwala pa siya sa galit. Creating an impact on him is what matters now. "I didn't know that you're fond of parties like this?"

Mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin bago ako tinalikuran. Sa mga puntong ito, naiinis na naman ako sa way ng pakitungo niya sa akin. How dare a lowly commoner like him treat a goddess like me this way?

I took a deep breath to calm myself. Belle's right. If I want to end my engagement with Clarkson, I need to do this in one swift.

Minabuti kong lapitan siya at saka sumandal sa locker na katabi lang mismo ng kanya. Nang mapansin niya ang malalagkit kong tingin sa kanya'y muli niya akong binalingan ng tingin.

"Ano bang kailangan mo sa 'kin?" Nagsimula nang magsalubong ang dalawa niyang kilay. He's staring straight into my eyes when I'm busy scanning his toned torso.

Grabe naman ang katawan ng lalaking 'to! Banat na banat sa trabaho kaya ganito ka-toned ang muscles niya? And take note, may six-pack abs! My goodness, I need rice.

"Nice abs," komento ko sa kanya. I even teased him by touching his body but he immediately grabbed my hand. "Hey! What do you think you're do—"

I didn't have the chance to finish my sentence when he pinned me to the wall. Kitang-kita ko ang galit sa mga mata niya habang diretso siyang nakatitig sa akin.

"Gan'yan ba kayong mayayaman? Basta niyo na lang gagawin kung ano'ng maisipan niyong gawin!" His deep stares made my knees wobble like jelly. At sa sobrang lapit namin ngayon sa isa't isa, parang mas lalo yata akong nainitan.

I can actually feel his breath now that we're this close. At oo na! Inaamin kong medyo naapektuhan ako sa konting distansya namin. I mean, this wasn't the first time for me. In fact, this is nothing compared to how I used to make-out with other guys but why do I feel uncomfortable around him?

"Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng kailangan mo sa 'kin pe—"

I didn't let him finish his sentence. I grabbed his face and sealed his luscious lips with a kiss. Ang plano ko lang naman ay patahimikin siya pero bakit parang habang tumatagal, para akong unti-unting nalulunod. And it was late when I realized that I'm gently closing my eyes.

"Ano bang problema mo!"

I was caught off-guard when Justice broke off our kiss. Marahas niya akong inilayo sa kanya habang matalim na nakatitig sa akin. The way he looks at me, I see nothing but disgust. And it's one thing that's confusing me.

Kasi bakit?

Hindi man lang ba siya naapektuhan sa halik ko? Most guys in his position would respond immediately. They're like a bunch of wild dudes, begging for more. Kaya bakit? Ganoon ba kalaki ang galit niya sa akin dahil sa ginawa ko kay Aome?

"I… I don't understand. Weren't you fazed at all?"

He looked at me in disbelief. Na para bang ako ang hindi niya maintindihan. At oo na, alam kong magulo ang sitwasyon ngayon. Kahit ako mismo ay gulong-gulo sa mga nangyayari dahil malayo ito sa inasahan ko.

Kissing him was my last resort to get this thing done. Kasi iyon naman ang finishing touch ko para makuha ang gusto kong lalaki. At hindi pa iyon nag-fail kahit kailan. Katunayan nga'y sila pa itong nagkukumahog na maging boyfriend ko sila matapos nilang matikman ang halik ko.

This doesn't make sense.

"Wala ka na bang ibang magawa sa buhay mo at pati sa sarili mo, wala ka nang respeto?"

"How dare—"

"Ice, tara na't umuwi…"

Sabay kaming napatingin sa may pinto at doon nakita namin si Aome. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa aming dalawa ni Justice. Nakasuot din ito ng damit para sa mga servers at bakas sa mukha nito ang confusion.

"A-ano'ng nangyayari—"

"Mauuna na 'ko," pagputol ni Justice sa dapat sana'y sasabihin ni Aome. I saw how he wiped his lips using his hand.

Pagkatapos no'n ay kinuha na niya ang puting tshirt sa kanyang locker at saka isinuot iyon. Umiling-iling siyang umalis doon at tuluyan na kaming naiwan ni Aome. I was still stunned by what happened and as much as I want to break down right now, my pride won't let me do so. Especially when my archnemesis is right before my eyes.

Ang kaninang naguguluhang reaksyon ni Aome ay biglang napalitan ng galit. Dire-diretso siyang naglakad palapit sa akin habang pansin ko ang mabibigat niyang paghinga. I just looked at her with bored eyes.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?"

She's staring at me as if she wanted to eat me alive and I can't help but to smirk. Ito ang mahirap sa mga taong mahilig magpanggap. They want to turn into monsters but they're worried of what other people may say against them.

What a bunch of hypocrites.

"It's none of your business so if I were you, I won't butt in like a concerned girlfriend." I gave her a tap on her shoulder then strode passed her. I've got no time for this nonsense.

I was about to open the door when Aome stopped me from doing so. She grabbed me by my arm and forced me to face her.

"How dare you touch me with your filthy han—"

"Hate me all you want, Alison. But lay a finger on Justice and I won't back down any longer."

Marahas kong pinalis ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin at saka siya matalim na tiningnan. "Is that a threat?"

"I'm not threatening you. Take it as a warning, Alison," aniya. "Wala kang alam sa buhay ni Justice kaya please lang, huwag mo siyang tratuhin na parang laruan."

After saying those things straight to my face, she left without glancing back. And for a moment, I felt a tight knot in my stomach. Masyadong maraming panget na bagay ang nangyari sa gabing ito. And what's more annoying is my ego getting crushed into pieces.

Mariin akong napapikit dahil sa halu-halong emosyon. I can't believe how those two commoners stepped on me just like that. And because of this, I'm done!

I'm going to resolve my own issues by myself.