Chapter 14: Sweet Kisses and Illusions
1079 Words
Sandali pa ang lumipas bago makakuha ng sagot si Magnolia. Para bang may tumambol sa kanyang puso dahil sa sinabi nito. “I like you, too.”
Ngumiti itong muli bago naging blanko ang ekspresyon nito. “I like you. But, I’m sorry. We can’t... You know…”
“I don’t know anything.”
“We can’t take it seriously. I mean we should not take it to another level.”
“Because you love my sister.”
“Y-yes. So Magnolia, I would like to ask you. I mean-”
“I understand perfectly. You want me to forget it and not tell anyone about it. Don’t worry I will keep this a secret.”
“T-thanks,” tila nakahinga ito nang maluwag. Gusto niyang sampalin ito. Mukha ba siyang desperada? Mukha ba siyang babaeng walang pakialam na makipaghalikan kahit kanino? Kung ganoon bakit siya hinalikan nito? Bakit nito kailangan pang gawing mas magulo ang tahimik niyang mundo? Bakit ba kailangan nitong gawing problemado ang sitwasyon? Oh maybe he would like to try them both so he asked for a free taste, and she was more than willing to give him some. His ego must have always taken the backseat. She remained speechless because she might give him the verbal lashing he deserved. In a snap, he turned her colorful world into a forsaken place. She was seething inside, but he would never know how much he hurt her.
“Take me home now.”
“W-why?”
“I said take me home,” bulong niyang puno ng inis at marahas na binawi ang kamay pero mahigpit nitong hawak iyon. “Ano pang gusto mo?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what? For kissing me? That was nothing. We just did it out of curiosity. You were my first kiss so thank you for teaching me how to kiss someone. I'll do it again once I get there. I want more kisses.”
“Don’t you dare,” naaasar na sabi nito habang matalim na nakatitig sa kanya.
“Wala kang karapatang manduhan ako.”
“I can kiss you if you want to be kissed. I’ll fly there if you want me.”
“How noble! Do you love my sister?”
“Of course, I do!”
“Why did you kiss me then?”
“I kissed you because…”
“See, you can’t answer me. We just did it out of curiosity. That’s why no one should know, especially my sister.”
“No, baby, you don’t understand.”
“Me, your baby? Oh come on!”
“I mean, you don’t understand it, Magnolia. Dammit!”
“Umuwi na tayo dahil wala nang patutunguhan ang pag-uusap natin,” aniya at binawi na ang kamay mula sa pagkakahawak nito. Marahas itong napalingon sa kanya at pilit na hinuli na naman ang kamay niya kaya holding hands sila habang papunta sa sasakyan nito. Nang makarating sila sa kanila ay hindi niya napigilang magsalita muli. “Huwag mo na akong guguluhin, you filthy son of a bitch.”
“Guguluhin? Bakit naman kita guguluhin? Eh alam ko namang gusto mo ako kahit hindi mo sabihin. But, I’m sorry I will never be yours. And why are you talking garbage after we kissed?”
“Alam mo, hindi ko alam kung saan mo nasagap ang tsismis na iyan. Kahit naman magpakuha ka sa akin, hindi kita kukunin. Sino ka ba? You’re nothing but a two-timing maniac.”
“Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo.”
“At bakit sino ka ba sa buhay ko?”
“Eh kung hinahalikan kita ulit para malaman mo kung sino ako sa buhay mo.”
“Ang kapal ng mukha mo.” Things turned one hundred eighty degrees.
“Oh Magnolia, baby,” anito at tumawa nang nakakaloko. “I know you like me because you would not have responded and asked me to kiss you if you don’t.”
“Oh sige gusto na kita kung gusto para matigil ka lang. Hayaan mo maghahanap pa ako sa iba pa nating kaklase ng pwedeng mahalikan para maikumpara ko.”
“But, baby, I know I’m the best.”
“How conceited.”
“Totoo naman ha,” napipikong sabi nito bago muling natigilan. Ilang minuto lang itong nakatitig sa kanya. Para bang bigla itong naguluhan habang nagpapalit-palit ang emosyon sa mukha nito hanggang sa biglang lumambot ang ekspresyon nito. Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at pinisil. “I’m so sorry, baby. I'm really sorry.”
“Forgiven.”
“It should not have happened. I’m sorry.”
“Sinabi ko nang out of curiosity lang natin ginawa iyon.”
Mataman siya nitong tinitigan. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit biglang nagbago ang mood nito. Para tuloy itong may split personality. “Tatanungin kita ulit. Mahal mo ba ang kapatid ko.”
“Oo, mahal na mahal.”
“Sige, papasok na ako,” aniya at nagmamadaling bumaba ng sasakyan at kumatok sa gate. Agad naman siyang pinagbuksan ng kanilang guard kaya mabilis siyang nakapasok ng bahay at dumiretso siya sa kuwarto niya. Doon niya pinakawalan ang mga luha at hikbing kanina pa niya pinipigilan. Hinalikan siya nito pero sa ilang mga salita lang nito ay muli na naman nitong dinurog ang kanyang puso. Paalis na naman siya ay pilit pa itong nanggulo. He was an asshole to make her look like a fool. How could he kiss her and act as if it was the most disgusting thing in the world? Given that he loved her sister, she would go back to the main question.
Why did he have to kiss her? It was cheating. But of course, she would not tell anyone. Oh Carlo was different because he was able to bring out the best and worst in her. He was rotten to the core. Worse, she loved him, and her heart would never hate him.
She would study hard and graduate with flying colors. She would make a name in the industry and prove how good she was and worthy to be part of the family. The man belonged to the past now, because he was never and would never be a part of her dreams. The heartbreak would just be her motivation to do better, breach her limits, and make her loved ones proud. The world has a lot to offer and she would use them for her goals.
- Writer
