DARE TO LOVE ME

CHAPTER 11

(Hera's POV)

It's been a long day.

Lumabas na ako ng taxi nang makarating na ako sa Milano Residences. I headed inside and wait for the elevator.

I am still in shocked by the revelation of Zion and Zach's past. Hindi ko naman ine-expect na ganoon pala ka lalim nang kanilang hindi pagkakaunawaan.

I hate Zion for doing that to Zach. But it's in the past. It's been 2 years already, but Zach still can't move on.

Suddenly, the elevator opens. Napatigil ako nang makita si Zach sa loob ng elevator. He looks messed. Is he drunk?

Napatingin siya sa akin. His eyes are empty. It shows from his eyes that he's not okay. He looked away.

The elevator door is about to close but he stop it. Agad naman akong pumasok sa loob.

Katahimikan...

I took a glance at him in the elevator door in front of us. Nakatungo lang siya habang nakahawak sa railings ng elevator. Marami ba siyang na inom? Did he drive here in that state?

I look away when he face in front. We are just quite. Not talking about earlier. I know he's angry. The way he stormed out in the shop earlier, he's angry.

When we reached our floors, he got out first. I stare at his back while getting out of the elevator. Ni hindi siya makalakad ng maayos. He use the walls as his way of direction towards his unit. Buti naman at naka uwi siya ng buhay sa lagay na yan.

I sighed. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutan ang pagtataksil ng kanyang kaibigan at ex. Ganoon ba niya kamahal ang ex niya para humantong siya sa paglalasing? Hanggang ngayon...

Is he still in love with his ex?

Is that why...

He can't be with me?

I look away from him and turn around to head towards my unit. Napakapit ako sa door knob.

Why can't he forget that girl? Why is he still in love with her? First love niya ba yung ex niya?

Napapikit ako habang napadiin ang hawak ko sa door knob.

Bakit ako naiinis? Bakit ako nagagalit? Wala naman akong karapatan. I shouldn't be bothered by him.

I heard his door closes. I turn around and press the 'down' of the elevator.

I want to forget him. I want to forget this feeling. Kahit isang gabi lang ay kakalimutan ko siya at kakalimutan kong nag-aalala ako sa kanya.

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng elevator and press the first floor.

Lumabas ako ng building. I took a cab and ask the driver to take me to the nearest bar.

I reached the bar called Salon de Ning. The name is unique, but it looks expensive inside. Hindi crowded which I like the best.

I ordered a bottle of tequila and sitted at the corner of this bar. Hindi naman ako iinom ng marami baka mangyari na naman yung nangyari sa Paris. Baka lalo pa ako magkasala.

I sighed.

Ano bang nagyayari sa akin?

Bakit ba lagi kong iniisip si Zach?

Bakit ba nagustuhan ko siya?

Bakit sa kanya pa?

"Bakit ba kasi siya pa." Mahina kong nasabi sa sarili ko.

Nilagok ko ang inumin sa baso ko. Hindi ko naman uubusin ang isang bote. Mga kalahati lang siguro.

"Hays..." I covered my face with my palm. Why am I so bothered by him?

Do I really like him that much?

Does this have a cure?

How to unlike him, please...

I shot a glass of tequila again.

I look around... I'm the only one who does not have a company. Yeah... I miss my best friend.

She's the only person I can open with in this kind of situation.

Even in Paris. Mas kinikig pa nga siya when I confessed to her that I slept with a guy that night. Nadiligan na raw ako. Sira-ulo talaga.

I poured a drink in my glass.

I sighed again. Bakit ba parang napakalaki ng problema ko. Si Zach lang naman ang iniisip ko. Hindi ko siya problema at wala dapat akong paki sa kanya.

Nilagok ko ang alak.

Just this night...

Kahit isang gabi lang...

Kahit ngayon lang...

Ayoko siyang maisip.

Pero..

Whenever I poured a drink in my glass...

He's smiling face keeps pop up in my head.

I chuckled.

"Malala na to."

(Zachary's POV)

"s**t!" Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. I look around.

Damn. That scenario again. Why I can't forget that situation? I just sighed.

I look at the clock, it's still 2 am. Bumangon ako at nagtungo sa kitchen. I search for a bottled water in the fridge. Bakit wala? I search everywhere in kitchen. No water. Why I didn't buy a water dispenser? That's more convenient.

Damn. I rubbed my face with my palm. I need to buy a new one. 7/11 is still open at this time, so I'll just buy bottled water for now. It's just located in front of this building.

I reached for my jacket. I need medicine too. My head is aching.

When I got out. The elevator opened.

Napahinto ako to see Zion carrying Hera in his arms. What happened to her? Sa pagka-alala ko, sabay kaming umuwi kanina. Did he go out to be with him? At this hour?.

"Do you know her passcode?" Zion look straight at me. I look away and ignore him.

I go straight in front of the elevator. I didn't answer him. They're not my business, so I don't give a f**k.

I heard him sighed. "I found her at Salon de Ning. She's drunk." Napalingon ako sa kanya and look at Hera. Damn... She's wasted.

I was about to turn around and ignore them. But... Hera is drunk. She is drunk.

Napapikit ako ng madiin. Why I can't ignore her clumsyness? She's with a guy and she's drunk. Is she insane? What if something will a happen to her just like in Paris-- I sighed. Damn this woman!

I turn around and carry Hera in my arms. I turn around to go back inside my unit.

I don't give a s**t with him.

He knows that he made a mistake. He knows that is wrong. He knows that it will conflict us if he continued. But he betrayed me.

I treated him like a brother. But he destroyed my trust to him. He should know what is wrong and right aince he's adult.

They are goofing around behind my back. Do you know how it felt being betrayed by your girlfriend with your bestfriend? It felt like hell. I just wanted to kill them both.

I even prepared a ring to proposed to her but... Damn this memories! I want to forget them both but he just pop out like that as if he didn't do something wrong.

Nagpakita pa talaga sa akin. Such an asshole.

I carried her towards my bedroom. I was about to put her in my bed.

"Do you still love her?" Nagulat ako nang biglang nagsalita si Hera. Is she awake?

I layed her on my bed.

"W-why?" I stare at her when her voice cracked. A tear drops and rolled down in her cheek...

She's crying.

(Hera's POV)

I woke up as my head is aching.

Damn that tequila. Dapat beer nalang ang nilagok ko. I turn at my right side and slowly open my eyes.

Shit!

Zach is standing and leaning at the door, facing me while crossing his arms. He stares at me intently.

Napasinghap ako to see him... half naked!! I look down... a bath towel covered his... his... down there!

I blush on my thought. I turn around at my left side to avoid looking at him. But he walks towards my left side, I turn again back to my right side.

Hindi ako gumalaw. Just laying in his bed. Bakit ako nasa unit niya? Bakit ako nasa kama niya? Lasing ako kagabi... I look at myself. May damit pa naman. Akala ko may nangyari na naman.

Damn this alcohol. Napahigpit ang kapit ko sa bed sheet. His bed smells like him. It's the same scent at his bed in mansion.

I heard him opens his wardrobe door. I waited for the door to close but never heard it closes.

Hindi ba siya nagsasara ng closet niya habang nagbibihis? Alam niya namang nandito ako, is he showing off his body?

Na curious naman ako. Is he dressing up. Is he dressed now? I slowly tilt my head at my back to snatched a glance of his sexy back. s**t!

He has his pants on now. Disappointed much? His back is so damn wet. The water drops from his hair dripping down from his masculine back. He looks so damn hot habang pinupunasan niya ang buhok niya ng towel.

Bakit... Bakit ang sexy niya?

"You really have the guts to drink with a guy you just met twice, Hera" agad naman akong umiwas ng tingin and faced in front at agad na bumalik sa pagkakahiga. Kinabahan ako dun ah.

Wait... drink with a guy? As far as I've remembered, I drank alone last night. What guy?

Unti-unti akong bumangon at umupo sa kama. Oh God this head of mine. Sinong lalaki? Kaya ba ako nakauwi kagabi?

Naihilamos ko ang aking palad sa aking mukha at napasabunot sa aking buhok dahil hindi ko talaga maalala. Sinong lumapastangan sa akin kagabi!!

"I'ts Zion." Napatingin ako sa kanya. He's already dressed in suit while fixing his neck tie. Wait... Zion? Did I called him last night?

I covered my face with my palm. Baka may nasabi ako sa kanya. Baka... may nasabi akong hindi maganda sa kanya. s**t!

"Next time." Napalingon ako sa kanya. He walks towards me. May balak ba ito? Anong next time?

Palapit siya ng palapit sa kama papunta sa akin. May balak ba talaga siya? Na ano?

Why am I thinking about something that I should not be. Quit being a green, Hera!

While he's getting close to me, palayo naman ako sa kanya. Paatras ako ng paatras hanggang sa napasandal ako sa headboard ng kama.

He's getting so close and staring at me seductively. Kakabihis niya lang eh.

He crawled in the bed putting his both arms in my side, cornering me. I frozed. Bakit ang bango niya. Bakit ang gwapo niya ngayon.

Until he leveled his face to my face. I just stared at him. "Don't drink outside without my permission." He said so serious as he pinch my nose lightly.

Why? May ginawa ba ako kay Zion kagabi na nakita niya?

"Unless... I'm with you." He gave me a bright smile, showing his white and perfect teeth. Ano daw sabi niya?

He distance his self from me and walks out the room.

"Eat before you leave!" He shouted as I heard the door closes...

Why is he in good mood? Sa pagkakaalam ko parang galit siya kahapon.

Wait...

Zion is her last night dahil hinatid niya ako. Nagkita sila! Naka isa ba siya ng suntok kay Zion kagabi?

HIS POV

I look at myself at the elevator door in front of me.

I look crazy. I look down while laughing lightly. Kinikilig ba ako? This is new. Can't help but smile again like crazy.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang saya-saya ko.

I shook my head to get her out of my mind. I exited the elevator and headed to my office.

"Good morning." I greeted my employees as they are busy with their works.

"Good morning, sir." They greeted me back while having that weird expression.

"Something wrong?" Kunot-noo kong tanong sa kanya. Baka may problema sa kompanya.

"W-wala sir. Good mood mo kayo eh." Wala naman pala.

I smiled at them. "Yeah, I'm having a good morning." I tap his shoulder and wave at them.

Am I weird?

I entered my office. "Good morning, Mika." my secretary stand up and greeted me back. Ningitian ko siya at nilampasan patungo sa main office ko.

Umupo ako sa aking swivel chair. "Okay..." I started to browse some documents to read.

But I can't concentrate.

I her remembered again...

Napangiti na naman ako. Bakit ba kasi sulpot siya ng sulpot sa isip ko.

I lean on my chair. I can't help it but to keep thinking about her.

She just...

.

.

.

Hera confessed to me.