Against the Tides

CHAPTER 7

Midterms are done. Making my ass chill a lil bit. I decided to have a mall time with Jas since Mama and Dad are busy with some business momentum. I honestly tried to understand their world, but I can't. Really, especially in numbers. I don’t mind numbers in dent because I understand it wholeheartedly.

Kahit alam ko na hindi ko deserve mag-enjoy since hindi naman maganda ang grades ko sa Midterm, Mama and Dad still push me. Kasi I did my best, and that’s enough. Pero para sa akin, I still blame myself. I know I can, but sometimes my system is holding me back. Pero what is done is done.

Wala talagang araw na hindi kami nag-aaway ng magaling kong Uncle. Before Midterms, his so-called party continued tuwing wala sila Mama and Dad. Of course, nagtalo na naman kami, at everytime na isusumbong ko siya kay Dad, palagi naman may tatawag sa cellphone neto. Kaya sumuko na rin ako, but I talked to Elias to pause the party for my sake.

Kasi ewan ko ba, anong klaseng speaker ang gamit nila kasi kahit saang angulo, rinig na rinig ko ang music nila. So I said, pause it until my Midterm is done. Akala ko mag-aaway na naman kami, but he obliged like a damn puppy.

“Look, may stock sila ng Hirono!”

And syempre, gastos na naman. We bought two for each of us. We ate food, did photobooth, at hinding-hindi mawawala ang chikahan namin. Nag-boy hunting naman si Jas and yep, lahat ng nakikita niya gwapo naman. May time na muntik na niyang hingin ang number.

At ng pauwi na kami, while waiting for my driver, nanlalaking matang inalog-alog ako ni Jas.

“Jade, Jade! They're walking towards us.” Kinunutan ko ng mata si Jas at tinignan ang tinuturo. Ang dalawang lalakeng na gwapuhan si Jas. And they’re really walking towards us.

Hihigitin ko na sana si Jas papalayo pero tumigil na ang mga ito sa harap namin. I admit, they’re handsome. Based on their aura, we’re in the same age. Pero parang ibang mukha pa rin ang nakikita ko, especially in the standard of being handsome and all, I rolled my eyes in my mind when Elias popped in my mind. Kahit demonyo ang uncle ko na yun, he is indeed one fine damn man. Well, running through our genes.

“Hi, babes. Going somewhere?” I just nodded and smiled. Babes huh? Flirting already.

“Yeah, kayo?” tinignan ko si Jas ng sumagot siya na maganda pa ang ngiti.

Take your time, my dear friend, kapag dumating na ang driver ko, hahatakin na kita papauwi. This kind of guys, halatang halata mo sa mga mata nila ang lust, tsk.

“So, where are you girls going? Going home already?” tanong ng lalakeng kanina ko pa napapansin na nakatingin sakin. Head to toes, with matching dirty smirk.

“No—“

“Yes, we’re going home na,” I answered, cutting Jas. At may balak pang sumama gumala ang babae na toh?

“That early? Come on, we’re heading to a club. You know, nasty Saturday night?”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Bat ba ang tagal bigla ng sundo ko?

May biglang bumusina at nakita ang sundo ni Jas. I sighed in relief, salamat naman. I waved goodbye at her and walked away from the two guys. I felt, at the side of my eyes, that they were looking at me. Marami naman tao sa paligid kaya di ako natatakot if ever na may gawin silang kalokohan.

Halos humigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone ng lumapit naman silang dalawa. Hindi naman ako KJ, I like handsome men, isa rin ako sa kinikilig kapag may gwapong nakikita. Isa rin ako sa mga nagkaka-crush. Like a normal girl, pero kapag ganito at iba ang kutob ko, no thanks. Marami pang lalake dyan ang gwapo at matino.

“It looks like you’re waiting for someone that long? What if you join us for a while?” Nilingon ko ang lalakeng kanina pa nakatingin sakin. And he was too close, bff na agad kami?

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya na pinalibot sa waist ko. I looked at him and smiled friendly.

“Touching without my permission is a d**k move.” I said and smiled. He looked at my lips and chuckled.

“Beautiful girl like you is a damn rare, you couldn’t blame me for claiming you that fast.” Mas nilapit niya ako sa kanya, tangina ang corny amputa.

I looked at him coldly. Alam mo, kapag totoo ang sinasabi ng lalake na ganyang salita, it makes you blush and feel desires. Pero eto? Naco-cornyhan ako. Parang labas sa bunganga ang mga sinasabi e.

Malakas kong tinanggal ang kamay niya sa bewang ko and stared at him like I owned this world. Making him look at me like I’m not just a woman who will kneel and be weak for him.

“Be a man, boy.” Ngumisi ako at parang nainis siya sa sinabi ko. Lalapit pa sana siya sakin ng may isang mabilis na sports car na muntik ng makasaga samin at buti nalang nakailag kami.

The f**k? Muntik pakong mamatay?

I looked at the car and it’s a black Ferrari. I saw the door open at ang lumabas dito na nagpataas ng standard for me when it comes to fine man. He walked like there was a red carpet flowing in his way. A fitted white t-shirt under a light denim jacket, paired with dark jeans and clean white sneakers. His hair was slightly messy, as if tousled by the wind, giving him a relaxed and effortless charm. A black watch rested on his wrist, completing his look.

Sinilip ko naman ang dalawang lalakeng katabi ko na parang nagulat nang makita si Elias. Don’t tell me kilala nila? Well, mga babaero nga naman. Isang mundo lang ang iniikutan, kaya di na ko magtataka.

“What took you so long?” I mean, hindi ko inaasahan na siya ang susundo sakin, pero ang tagal. Hindi mabagal ang driver ko at nag-uupdate yun if ma-tatraffic man. Pero kanina, wala, kaya nagtataka ako. Ngayon na nasa harap ko na si Elias, no wonder why.

He just smirked and wrapped his arms around my waist, making me frown and my heartbeat faster. Isa pa ‘to. Pero this kind of move is good na rin, para hindi nako landiin ng dalawa, lalo na if ever man na magkita pa, na wag naman sana. This kind of move makes them think na Elias is my boyfriend.

“Sorry, I watched a cute drama,” he chuckled, and after, he looked at the two coldly.

“E-Elias! You’re here?” I rolled my eyes at what the boy said. Parang kanina lang ang lakas lumandi sakin ah.

Elias remained silent and still looked coldly at the boys. His looks were dangerous na kahit sino makaka-eye to eye niya, mapapaiwas.

“I-Is she your girl?” the other boy said. Oo boy, mga totoy lumandi. And hindi ba halata? Hindi naman sa gustong isipin na I’m Elias' girl since he is my Uncle, but it’s a much safer one.

“No, she’s my niece. So f**k off,” Napatunganga ako sa sinabi niya hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang na nasa loob na kami ng sasakyan niya.

Ano?

“You okay?” he asked while driving.

“Anong okay? Bat sinabi mong pamangkin mo ko?” I asked pissedly.

He glanced at me like he was surprised by what I said and quickly smirked.

“Oh boy, why? Anong gusto mo, ipakilala ko?” I raised my eyebrow.

I looked at him in disbelief.

“You could tell them I’m your girlfriend. Syempre, based on your actions, ganun na nakikita nila. They even asked you if I’m your girl!” naiinis kong sabi ko sa kanya. At mas lalo akong nainis ng tumawa siya ng malakas. Siraulo, anong nakakatawa? Sana mabangga kami. Ihuhulog ko talaga siya sa impyerno.

“Damn, girl. Why would you think that?” sabi niya, na halatang natatawa pa rin.

“It looks like they know you, syempre once they know I’m your girl. Kahit saan ko man sila makita, hindi nila ako gagalawin. Kasi based on their looks earlier, takot sila sayo.” I ran my hand through my hair, nakakainis naman.

I looked at him in shock when he stopped his car at the corner. Ano nanaman gagawin ng isang toh? Don’t tell me naiihi siya? Sana manuno.

He faced me with his happy smirk after he removed his seatbelt.

“Those guys. I don’t know them, but those guys are typical low-class playboys,” he smirked, as if nakakaproud ang sinabi.

“And ikaw? High-end?” I said in a sarcastic tone. He just laughed and shook his head. Anong klaseng tito toh?

“I’m a man, not a boy.” I rolled my eyes and messed up my hair from irritation with the man beside me. Hindi ko alam kung gets niya sinasabi ko, kasi kung saan-saan na kami napapadpad.

“Pwedeng skip na natin? Ang layo na sa main topic.”

“Look, I honestly don’t know them. Maybe they know me because…”

“Your famous, in business and women’s hearts,” I said sarcastically, na ikinatawa niya lang.

“Ikaw ang may sabi niyan. Pero baka ganun na nga, but don’t worry, they won’t touch you starting from now on.”

“Woah, magic word yang pangalan mo?”

“Tsk tsk, poor princess. You still don’t know me much.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

“Basta, make sure, ikaw talaga kakatayin ko kapag nilapitan ulit ako ng mga lalakeng yun. Duh, this world is small.” He just laughed.

After that, we remained silent until we arrived at the house. I was about to leave the car when he spoke teasingly.

“I didn’t know you wanted to be introduced as my girlfriend, don’t worry next time I’ll keep it in mind.” And with that, he left the car and walked towards to open my door. I left his car walking fast.

Nakakahiya! Hindi naman kasi niya gets punto ko, nakakainis! Nakakainis!

“Bye, babe,” he shouted and laughed.

Fuck him, f**k him. Babe? What a corny d**k.