Kabanata 11

Gio:

Kung hindi siya para saakin
Huwag na rin siya mapunta sa iba
Para ang ending
Kami pa rin para sa isa't isa ;)

#G00dAFTIeEE
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#HiCrusHfANSenEEnmOuhn4aQ

My brows furrowed upon receiving Gio's text. Madalas na ang mga group messages or GM niya kaya naman nagtataka ako kung sino ba talaga ang pinariringgan nito.

Arrisea:

Usap tayo.

Gio:

Bakit na naman?

Hindi naman ikaw 'yung crush ko.

Arrisea:

May baon akong shanghai.

Gio:

Saan

Kailan

Now na ba?

Arrisea:

Main Caf.

Ilang minuto lang akong naghintay at dumating na si Gio na may ngisi sa labi. May groupings si Suzette at naghahabol naman si Franny dahil sa ilang araw siyang absent. Camisha was also busy on her own strand.

May inabot akong tupperware kay Gio. Malaki ang ngiti ni Gio habang papaupo pa lang. Tinanggal niya ang takip ng tupperware at tutusok na dapat ng isa nang pigilan ko siya.

He pouted. "Duda ko na, may bayad 'to e."

"May tanong lang ako."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Bakit kasi hindi mo na lang i-search si Adren sa google."

Ngumuso ako. I did and all I got was basic information. Hindi pa nga ito kumpleto dahil mukhang hindi rin masyadong nilalagay sa publiko ang tungkol sa kanilang pamilya.

"Wala namang lumalabas!"

"Tungkol saan ba? Wala rin akong masyadong alam sa kanya e." Gio blow out his cheeks. "Anyway, ask away."

I cleared my throat and sharply looked at him.

"Did his parents died?"

Nanglaki ang mga mata niya.

"No? Buhay na buhay 'yung parents niya..."

"What about his grandfather? Pinabayaan ba siya nito?" I keep pressing questions.

Gio looked at me with confusion.

"No..." Gio licked his lower lip. "Saan ba 'yan galing, Arri? As far as I know, Adren's the favorite and was named as the heir to their chain of businesses. I met his Lolo once and he was a jolly man."

Another lie. Napatigalgal ako bago tuluyang bumuntong hininga.

"Nasunog ba bahay nila noon?"

Umiling-iling si Gio. "With the security of their mansions? Probably not."

Did I really fall for his lies? Inamin naman niyang hindi totoo ang mga sinabi niya, pero gusto ko talagang malaman kung bakit niya sinabi ang mga 'yon.

"Did his previous girlfriend cheated and got pregnant?"

Natigilan si Gio. Tumusok siya ng shanghai at kinagatan ito.

"Masarap timpla ng shanghai niyo!" He beamed.

Bakit di niya sinagot?

Napahawak ako sa bibig ko, it turned into a shape of 'o'. Was that true, then? Did his heart got broken and that's why he acts so heartless?

"Grabe, sinayang naman siya nung ex niya." Bumuntong hininga ako at napasandal sa upuan. "Nandito naman ako, mas maganda pa."

Gio tilts his head and blink a few times.

"Oh no! Don't get me wrong. Natatakam na kasi ako sa shanghai kaya di ko nasagot." Halakhak niya. Giongina.

"Adren's ex-girlfriends are all from the elite circle. So far, wala akong kilalang nabuntis o ano." Gio said, shrugging. "It will surely ruin their reputation if that happens, though."

Hindi ako makapag-salita. I was processing what Gio just said. Napasapo ako sa aking sentido. Hindi na kinakaya ang mga impormasyon na binibigay sa akin.

I should be busy with something else! Dapat ay may iba akong pinagkakaabalahan e.

Tuwing nakikita ko si Adren, parang lalo lang akong nahuhulog sa isang patibong.

"Hindi kita tinatakot, Arrisea ha! Mabait naman si Adren, he even likes participating in charities and helping those who are in need." Nakita ko na parang gustong bawiin ni Gio ang lahat ng sinabi niya saakin, panic laced on his voice.

"No, it's fine..."

If I can't get answers from his friends then I'll do it myself.

"Anong paboritong pagkain ni Adren?" tanong ko.

Nagkibit ng balikat si Gio. He continued eating his shanghai before answering.

"Hindi ko alam e, hindi naman siya sumasabay sa'min kumain."

Adren was really someone who's hard to crack.

But I'm not someone who easily gives up on things that I want either. I had to know why he acts like that and what is the reason why he's always plastering a fake smile on his face.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Hi!" Umupo ako sa tabi ni Adren.

We were currently at the rooftop. It was our breaktime, kahapon ay tinanong ko kay Gio kung may araw ba na parehas kami ng breaktime. Sumakto naman na ngayon ay pareho kami ng oras ng break. Minsan kasi 4 courses pa bago kami mag-break tapos mauuna mag-breaktime ang ibang strands.

"Hi, Arrisea." Adren looked shock upon seeing me but immediately flashed a smiled.

It made me stiffened on my seat. Iba talaga ang epekto ng ngiti ng isang ito. Sometimes, it is really creepy that he has a smile on his face. Para kasing isa itong mannerism na hindi niya magawang tigilan.

Kumalma ka, Arrisea. You want answers, right?

"Bakit wala kang pagkain?" tanong ko habang nilalabas ang tupperware na dala ko.

"I'll eat later," maikling sagot niya.

"Nope, sabay tayo kakain." sambit ko habang hinahanda ang baon ko.

Caldereta lang naman ang hinanda ko ngayon kasi sweldo kahapon ni Mama, bigatin mga ulam namin.

His eyes went towards the tupperware. Agad siyang umiling at iniwas ang tingin.

"Busog pa ako." He declined.

"Kumain ka."Pinanglakihan ko siya ng mata. Nilabas ko ang kutsara at tinidor ko. "Tusukin kita riyan, nag-dala ako ng masarap na ulam kahit mahirap 'to hugasan pag-uwi dahil sa sarsa."

Sobrang ayoko talaga nagbabaon ng mga may sarsa dahil mahirap hugasan tapos aayawan niya lang itong hinanda ko? Huwag niya ako subukan!

Patuloy lang siya sa pagtanggi. "You only have a pair of utensils. Pang-isang tao lang. You should eat-"

He wasn't able to finished his sentence. Sinubo ko na sa kanya ang unang sandok ko gamit ng kutsara. Dinamihan ko talaga 'yung ulam.

"I can use the fork. Kung di ka sanay na kutsara lang, susubuan na kita." Kumuha ulit ako at tinapat sa bibig niya. "Kumain ka na."

He snatch the spoon on my hand begrudgingly. Akala mo talaga napipilitan, ayaw na lang aminin na masarap ako mag-luto.

"What do you call this dish?" tanong niya matapos niya makailang subo.

Ngumisi ako. See? Gusto niya rin naman pala. Iba talaga ang alindog ng mga pagkain ng pinoy!

"Caldereta. Bakit?" Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. I was also eating using my fork.

"It tastes nice." He was still chewing the food. Para bang nilalasahan niya talaga.

"Sabi ko kasi sa'yo masarap ako e," Ngumisi ako sa kanya. "Masarap ako mag-luto."

He only stared at me. A smile appeared on his face again. Ngumiwi naman ako dahil hindi ko na naman alam kung totoo ba ang ngiti niya. I wonder how much will it cost for him to smile without making it feel like it is not real.

"Alam mo kasi may kasama 'yang pagmamahal kaya masarap," sabi ko sa kanya habang dinuduro ang baon ko.

"Arri, do you believe in love?" His eyes softens but it didn't last long. He concealed it with another smile.

His question made me stunned.

"Oo naman. True love exists! Hindi tayo mabubuhay kung wala ang pag-ibig." I raised my fists in the air. "Lalo na kung ako true love mo."

I winked after telling him that. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya at bumaba ang kanyang tingin sa caldereta na nakahanda sa harap namin.

He asked. "Don't you ever wonder? That maybe love doesn't actually exist? Only fidelity?"

He continued softly asking, "How could you even believe in love when fidelity is being questioned in this world?"

"Hindi ba pwedeng 'what is love?' lang 'yung tanong mo?" Ngumiwi ako sa kanya. "Tapos ang sagot ko ay 'love is you'?"

He frowned at me and he covered his lips with his palm. I could hear his muffled laughter.

Ang cute, tangina.

"Seryoso ako sa'yo," sambit ko habang tinitingnan siya sa mga mata. "I wanna know you, Adren."

His jaw tightened before giving me a ghost of smile.

"You wouldn't like me that much anymore. You're just like the rest who told me they want to know me..."

"Pero hindi nila nagawa 'di ba?"

Isang malaking misteryo si Adren para sa akin. Para sa lahat. Para sa mga akala na kilala na siya. He was probably like this to almost everyone. I wanna know why he is acting like this. May kinalaman kaya ang mga sinabi niya noon?

Gio told me that every thing that he have said is false. Pero sa loob ko ay pakiramdam ko may isa roon na malapit sa katotohanan. I can't just pinpoint what it is.

"They did. They got to know me..." he abruptly answered.

"What about this side?" tanong ko sa kanya. I pointed towards his forehead. "This dark thoughts of yours."

"Why are you so curious about me?" tanong ni Adren, almost defensive. "Masokista ka ba? Do you like having someone who has dark thoughts like me? Is that it?"

Ngumiwi ako at agad na umiling.

"Ew, hard pass nga talaga ako sa mga tulad mong may hinanakit sa mundo." I chuckled. "Pero, ewan ko ba kung bakit gusto kong malaman kung bakit ka ganyan. Is this because of your upbringing?"

I kinda relate to him in some way. I was raised in a broken family. Hindi pa nakatulong na nagkaroon agad ng bagong pamilya ang Papa ko nang hindi alam ni Mama. It made me view things differently than those who have complete family. Hindi naman kulang ang pakiramdam ko pero minsan iniisip ko kung ano ang pakiramdam ng buo ang pamilya at kumpleto ang bawat miyembro nito.

I wonder if Adren is like this too because of his family? Kaya ba siya ganito dahil sa sitwasyon ng pamilya niya?

He flinched. Agad na naman siyang ngumiti. Iniwas niya ang kanyang tingin at pilit na binabago ang direksyon ng usapan.

"My family is great." He said firmly. Agad akong nagtaas ng kilay.

"When you told me those lies, most of them were about your family..."

"Don't push it..." malamig niyang usal. "I said, my family is great so don't question it anymore."

Ngumuso ako at unti-unting niligpit ang kinainan namin. Hindi siya umiimik kaya naman minabuti kong tanungin siya tungkol sa napagtantuan ko.

"The lie that you told me about your parents is they are already dead. Gano'n ba sila sa isip -" I stopped when I saw him already looking at me coldly.

Wala na ang maamong mukha at mala-anghel niyang maskara. I swallowed hard when I realized I went overboard. Pero mukhang tama nga ako.

This has something to do with his parents. No child would ever want their parents to be harmed even if it was merely a false claim - unless they have done something for the child to wish them death itself.

Lumamlam ang kanyang mga mata. "Sorry..."

I looked at him and saw that he had a worried expression on his face, like if he didn't apologized then I'll have to reprimand him. Parang takot siyang magkamali. Unti-unti akong tumango sa kanya.

"Sorry din, I didn't mean to invade your privacy. I just wanted to know..."

Hindi ko siguro dapat ito minamadali. The more that I force him to open up, the more that he will build his walls to block me.

"Do you have a bank account?" He asked, out of the blue.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. It is not like I want him to pay for my presence. Gusto ko talaga siyang makilala pa. I'm not even after his money at all.

"Bakit? Wala naman bayad 'yung pagkain ko."

He reached for his wallet, kumuha siya ng limang libo. He gave it to me before standing up.

"What's this for?!" protesta ko habang nakaawang ang bibig. Hindi makapaniwala na five thousand na agad ang caldereta na hinanda ko. I looked up to him.

He smirked. "Investment."

❛ ━━━━━━･❪☽༓☾❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜