Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 16: First Attempt

"WHERE the hell were you?!" inis na bungad sa akin ni Belle. "You just missed our first two periods! Pati si Clarkson, no where to be found din!"

"Belle, can you shut your mouth muna? Naiirita ako sa nangyari kanina lang."

Anabelle squinted her eyes at me saka mabilis na kinuha ang dala kong cake. Inilapag niya iyon sa table ng aming special hideout at seryoso akong binalingan ng tingin.

"What happened?" she asked as if what I just said caught her attention. "At bakit may dala kang cake? May celebration ba?"

I threw my car keys on the couch at pabagsak na naupo roon. Bumuga ako ng malalim na hininga at saka binalingan ng tingin si Belle na tahimik lang na nakaabang sa paliwanag ko. Sandali pa akong napatingin sa cake na nasa mesa at halos kumulo na naman ang dugo ko sa mga nalaman ko kanina lang.

"Suggestion ng gagong si Clarkson, bigyan ko raw ng cake si Justice because commoners like sweet things," panimula ko. "He even recommended a cake shop and guess what I've found out..."

"What?" kunot-noong tanong ni Belle.

"The owner and head chef of that shop was Clarkson's ex-fling!" I rolled my eyes as I am reminded of that thing again. "Hindi lang 'yon, they have been seeing each other since summer of last ye—"

"Wait. So, last year? I knew it," sagot ni Belle. She even stood up at nagsimulang maglakad nang pabalik-balik sa harapan ko. Kumunot ang noo ko at mabilis na iniharang ang isang paa ko sa dinaraanan niya.

"Stop it Belle! You're making me dizzy!" reklamo ko. "Care to tell me what you knew all along?"

Tumigil sa kanyang malalim na iniisip si Belle at mabilis akong nilingon. I was staring at her and even enlarged my eyes to force her to spill the beans already. Ayoko ng pinaghihintay!

"Mukhang alam ko na ang dahilan ng break up nina Aome and Clarkson that took place on summer, last year."

"Don't tell me, iyong Chef Mikael na 'yon ang iniisip mong dahilan ng break up nila?" I said. "Come on, Belle! Sobrang babaw naman..."

Natigilan ako sa aking sinasabi nang paulit-ulit na nag-echo sa isip ko ang mga huling sinabi kanina ni Mikael sa akin bago ako tuluyang umalis ng cake shop na iyon. Damn it, Clarkson! You really crossed the line this time!

"Hey guys, your handsome friend is here!"

Speaking of the devil.

Sabay namin nilingon si Clarkson at guess what? Ngiting-ngiti ang gago na mas lalong nagpakulo ng dugo ko. Mabilis akong naglakad palapit sa kanya at ambang sasalubungin siya ng isang matinding sapak pero kaagad na gumitna si Belle.

"Get out of the way, Belle!" inis na reklamo ko. "I'm going to teach that asshole a lesson he'll never forget!"

"Cut the crap, Allie," pigil ni Belle sa akin. Clarkson even hid behind her na parang bata na inaaway ng kalaro. Argh!

"Agang-aga, gusto mo na naman bawasan ang gandang lalaki ko?" nang-aasar na sagot ng malanding Clarkson habang nakatago pa rin sa likod ni Belle. "Inaano ba kita?"

"Hindi lang babawasan! Aalisin ko na para wala ka na maipagyabang, impakto ka!"

"Shut up, both of you!"

Natigilan kaming dalawa ni Clarkson sa namumuong bangayan namin nang mag-echo sa buong hideout namin ang matinis niyang boses. I pouted my lips at saka tumalikod sa kanila. I even heard Clarkson's sigh of relief pero hindi ko na siya pinansin pa.

I want to teach Clarkson a lesson not because I suddenly felt bad for Aome, especially now that I learned the possible reason for their break up. It's because the way that Mikael treated a Goddess like me earlier, was way beyond the line. Kasalanan ng malanding si Clarkson 'to!

"Kung ano man ang gusto niyong pag-awayan, save it for later," ani Belle. "For now, let's pull ourselves together and set our eyes on the bet!"

"Fine," Clarkson and I both said at once.

Naramdaman ko na marahang lumapit sa akin si Belle kaya naman agad akong napatingin sa kanya. She grabbed my right hand at walang anu-ano'y hiniwa niya iyon ng matulis na bagay, creating a small cut on my finger.

"O-ouch! What the heck?!"

"What the hell, Belle?!" Clarkson blurted out. Maging siya ay nabigla siguro sa ginawa ng kaibigan namin.

Mabilis kong ininda ang maliit kong sugat as I threw a sharp stare at Belle. Is she crazy or what? Nasobrahan sa talino, gustong manakit?

"Relax, dummies," aniya habang maingat na nilalagyan ng band aid ang sugat ko. "If you want to pretend like it was you who really baked that cake, you have to make sure na it's evident enough."

I can't help but to pressed my lips into a thin line. This is so frustrating! Kailangan ko pang saktan or sugatan ang sarili ko para lang sa commoner na 'yon? My goodness gracious! Ang dami ko ng sugat sa tuhod at braso ko. Hindi na ako flawless!

"This is really stupid!" maktol ko. "I mean, do I really have to go this far just to get his attention? I already met him once kaya naman he'll notice me the moment he sees me!"

"You want to call off your wedding, right?" Belle said. "Then, this is only the beginning. Pull your s**t together, Allie!"

"Isn't this a bit too much?" sabat ni Clarkson na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa isang bar stool, malapit sa amin. Nakapatong ang baba niya sa kanyang palad habang ang isang braso ay nakatuon naman sa bar table.

Nilingon siya ni Belle at pinanlisikan ng mata.

"Worried ka?" Belle asked. "Pwede naman ikaw na ang gumawa ng task—"

"Joke lang!" he said. "Kayang-kaya ni Allie 'yan!"

"Coward bastard!" bulyaw ko sa kanya pero nginitian lang niya ako. Nakuha pang mag-cheer ni Clarkson sa akin. That's why I can't help but to roll my eyes again.

Kahit kailan talaga, duwag ang isang 'to. Kainis!

"Justice, wait lang!" sigaw ng familiar na boses sa labas lang ng hideout namin.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nina Belle at Clarkson after we heard our target's name. For some reason, the normal thumping sound in my chest slightly raised right now.

"Are you ready to start the bet, Allie?" Belle asked.

I let out a deep sigh then smiled.

"Bring it on!"

I grabbed the cake that I bought earlier then fixed myself. Clarkson even opened the door for me as I make my way outside our special hideout.

Come on, Alison. This is just a piece of cake!