Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 13

(FLASHBACK…)

Papasok na sana si Blythe sa isang clothes store nang makita niya si Evron na nasa loob. Nagtaka siya kung ano ang ginagawa ni Evron sa lugar na ‘yon.

Nakangiti siyang lalapit rito, pero agad na nawala ang ngiti niya nang may lumapit kay Evron na babae at yumakap sa braso nito.

May sinabi ang babae kay Evron at nagtawanan ang dalawa.

Then Evron patted the woman’s head as if it were the most natural thing to do.

Blythe felt a sting of pain in her chest as she watched Evron being sweet to another woman.

Sa nakikita niya, parang magkasintahan ang dalawa. Hinahayaan naman ni Evron na yumakap sa braso nito ang babae. And he even picked the best clothes for her.

So, Evron was cheating on her and lying to her all this time.

Imbes na komprontahin ang dalawa, inilabas niya ang cellphone saka kinunan ang dalawa. Then she stepped back and left.

Habang palayo siya sa lugar na ‘yon, tumulo ang luha niya.

Pinunasan ni Blythe ang kaniyang luha, pero patuloy lamang ito sa pag-agos.

Instead of enjoying that day, having fun, she cancelled her appointment with Aira with an excuse that she’s not feeling well.

She even turned off her phone para walang istorbo sa kaniya.

Seeing Evron and that woman… she wanted to break up. Hindi niya ibabantay ang sarili niya sa isang lalaki na hindi deserved ang pagmamahal—

…wait…

Pagmamahal?

Nasapo ni Blythe ang tapat ng kaniyang puso. “Am I really falling for him?” she asked herself. “At sa ganitong pagkakataon pa talaga?”

Didn’t Blythe know if she would congratulate or mock herself?

Napailing na lamang siya saka humiga sa kama.

Itutulog na lamang niya ang pagiging brokenhearted niya.

Her tears are not worth it for Evron.

“…That jerk…” she muttered as she closed her eyes.

Sa kaparehong araw na ‘yon, panay naman ang tingin ni Evron sa sariling cellphone. He was waiting for Blythe’s text.

“Kuya, sino bang hinihintay mo na magte-text sa ‘yo? Si Kaiden?” pabirong tanong ni Neriah habang binabayaran nito ang pinamili nitong damit.

“Don’t mind me,” sabi ni Evron sa seryosong boses.

He called Blythe’s number, but it was out of reach.

Nagtaka si Evron.

Alam niyang walang trabaho ang kasintahan dahil weekend ngayon, pero bakit hindi niya ito matawagan?

Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, lumabas ito kasama si Aira.

“Why is she not answering my call?”

“Kuya, tara na. Punta tayo sa ibang shop.”

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Evron, nahila na siya ni Neriah palabas ng boutique.

And at the end, they ended up in a camera store.

Hindi na nagtaka si Evron kung bakit. Mahilig sa photography ang kapatid niya, kaya malamang ay may bibilhin itong accessory ng bago nitong camera.

But he was bothered by Blythe.

If something happened to her, dapat ay tinawagan na siya ni Dianne, pero maging ito ay walang ingay, so he wasn’t that worried at all.

Ang hindi alam ni Evron ay si Neriah ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya matawagan si Blythe.

Neriah saw Blythe before she could step into the boutique.

Yes, she created trouble, pero alam niyang kaya solusyunan ng kapatid niya ang problema nito sa love life.

Later that night, Evron stood in front of Blythe’s apartment door.

Naka-lock ito sa loob, kaya naman hindi niya mabuksan.

So, he knocked.

The door slightly opened.

Nakangiti si Evron. “Love—”

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” malamig na tanong ni Blythe.

Evron stilled.

The Blythe in front of him was cold, distant, and different.

“Blythe?”

Blythe remained unfazed.

“Anong ginawa ko?” deretsang tanong ni Evron.

Ganito ang inaasta ni Blythe, kaya alam niyang may nagawa siya rito.

Ngunit ano?

Pekeng ngumiti si Blythe. They laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “Wala,” she said. Then her eyes hardened. “Go away.”

Evron frowned slightly. “Blythe—”

“Ayaw kitang makita.”

And before Evron could say anything, the door slammed shut in his face.

Evron stood there in silence, staring at the closed door.

He was processing in his mind what had just happened.

“…ah,” he muttered.

Nagtataka si Evron sa ikinikilos ng kaniyang kasintahan.

Even if he ransacked his brain, he couldn’t find an answer to why his girlfriend was acting like that.

So, he dialed Dianne’s number to ask what had happened.

Ito ang nagbabantay kay Blythe, kaya alam nito ang nangyari.

And when he heard Dianne's statement, he finally knew why Blythe acted like that to him.

“Neriah…” he muttered under his breath. “You’re really a good sister.”

The next day… Evron walked into the living room.

Naroon naman si Neriah, nakaupo sa sofa at abala sa pagkalikot ng sariling cellphone.

“Good morning, Kuya,” she greeted casually, not even looking up.

Evron didn’t waste time. “Anong ginawa mo kahapon noong nasa loob tayo ng isang clothing store?” tanong niya.

Neriah finally looked at him. Puno ng pagtataka ang mukha nito. “Anong ginawa ko?” she asked, trying to hide her real expression.

But Evron, being the Chief of Black Lotus, has seen a lot of people. It was easy for him to read his sister.

“Neriah,” Evron’s voice held a warning tone.

Mahinang napabuga ng hangin si Neriah. Handa na siyang magpaliwanag dahil alam niyang wala siyang lusot sa kaniyang kapatid.

“Explain. You know what you did.”

“Yesterday?” Neriah asked as she smirked. “Oh… that.”

Pero bago pa man siya makapagsalita, may pamilyar na boses ang sumabad. “Anong nangyari kahapon?”

Their parents.

Nylah and Ashriel stepped into the living room, but they both noticed the tension immediately.

Bahagyang umayos ng upo si Neriah. “Nothing serious, Mommy,” sabi niya.

Tumingin si Evron sa kapatid. “Speak properly.”

Neriah sighed dramatically. “Fine,” sab niya. Then glanced at their parents. “Kuya has a girl.”

Nagkatinginan ang kanilang magulang.

Tumaas ang kilay ng kanilang ina. “A girl?” she looked at her son. “Akala ko ba walang babaeng nakakalapit sa ‘yo?”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Evron. “She’s different.”

Ashriel chuckled. “Congratulations, son. You finally graduated being single.”

“Dad, that’s not funny,” Evron whined. “Neriah might have actually ruined it.”

Neriah grinned. “I might have accidentally made her misunderstand.”

Evron crossed his arms. He scoffed. “Accidentally? You did it on purpose.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Neriah. “Sorry, Kuya.”

Napabuga naman ng hangin si Ashriel saka napailing na lamang. “You caused trouble, princess,” he said.

“I was just curious,” Neriah defended.

“At the wrong time,” Evron said flatly.

Tiningnan ni Neriah ang kapatid at doon niya nakita ang tunay nitong ekspresyon. He wasn’t just annoyed; her brother was serious.

“Kuya, you really like her?”

Evron let out a small sigh. “Neriah, kilala mo ako. I won’t do things I don’t like, and I don’t like forcing myself.”

Nylah exchanged a glance with Ashriel. Then she whispered. “The iron tree was finally blooming.”

Natawa naman ng mahina si Ashriel.

“No, I don’t like her. I love her, Neriah.”

Namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng living room.

Labis na lamang ang panghihinayang ni Neriah dahil hindi niya nai-record ang sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid.

Ashriel and Nylah were smiling from ear to ear. May pag-asang magkakaroon na sila ng apo mula sa panganay nila. Akala nila, uunahan pa ito ng mga nakababata nitong kapatid.

“Neriah, fix it,” Nylah said simply.

Tumango naman si Ashriel. “You caused it. Then fix it.”

Neriah pouted and looked at her brother.

Tumayo si Evron. “You have no choice,” he said. Then turned to leave.

Neriah watched her brother go. Her playful expression faded into something more thoughtful.

Because her teasing had consequences.

And this time, it mattered.