3rd Chapter

Key's Point of View.

Bumangon ako agad nang marinig ang tunog ng aking alarm clock. I gently rubbed my eyes, stretching both of my arms and legs. Ano nga ba ulit yung nangyari kagabi after the event?

Oo nga pala, hinatid namin si Trixie sa kanilang mansyon, at pagkatapos nun bumalik kami sa reception. And then I went home. That's it. Nothing special happened yesterday.

I shuffled myself to the bathroom to take a bath. I stepped on the bath tub, enjoying the warm water with my yellow rubber ducky.

I decided to continue my studies here in the Philippines. Besides, I'm currently taking Master's Degree for fashion designing. It was not really my intention to go back this early. I wanted to finish my course in New York or Italy pero namiss ko si mommy at Luke. I couldn't handle homesickness anymore.

Nilalaro ko lang ang rubber ducky nung may biglang kumatok sa aking pintuan.

"Minami, you have a visitor," boses iyon ni mama.

"Teka, naliligo pa po ako. Sino po ba yan?"

"It's your adviser."

Nagbihis ako ng mabilis tsaka ako bumaba ng hagdanan para makausap si Mrs. Flor. She was my adviser five years ago, and I can't believe na binisita nya ako dito.

I saw her sitting at the sofa with my mom talking. Nakuha ko din ang atensyon nila.

"Maiwan ko muna kayo," si mommy.

Naupo ako sa kaharap na sofa. "Mrs. Flor, ano pong ginagawa n'yo rito?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about the summer class you're talking about."

Yung tungkol sa Fashion Designing ang kanyang tinutukoy. I finished my studies in States and continuing my bachelor's here.

"Why? What happened?"

"I already got the approval from the president and you can start next week. I still can't believe na ipagpapatuloy mo ang pag-aaral sa Claverion."

Abot langit ang ngiti ko sa balitang iyon ni Mrs. Flor. It's a dream come true for me dahil makakabalik ako sa dati kong paaralan na puno ng masasama at magagandang alaala.

"Thank you, Mrs. Flor. You have done me a big favor," I smiled.

"You're always welcome, Ms. Fletcher," she smiled, handshaking my hand. "By the way, how was the wedding yesterday?"

"I guess it's fine. Wala namang nangyaring espesyal kahapon."

"Do you have plans on marrying, Ms. Fletcher?"

Naiwang nakaawang ang aking bagang dahil sa tanong ni Mrs. Flor. Why is she asking me that question? I'm loathing to answer that. Wala akong maisagot at hindi ko kayang sagutin ang kanyang tanong.

"Wala pa po. I'm focusing on my studies muna para makakuha ng degree. That's what I came here for," I replied, trying to avoid it.

"Ganun ba. I thought there's something special between you and Dylan. Bagay na bagay pa naman kayo," she smiled

She bid me her good byes after. Lahat na lang sila gusto akong makasal. Kababalik ko pa nga lang e, kasal na agad nasa isip ng mga tao dito sa Pilipinas.

Naupo ako sa sofa at nanood ng anime. This brings back memories noong nabisita rito si Dreyson.

AAH ANO KA BA, KEY? Tama na nga yan, wala kang mapapala kaiisip ng imposibilidad. I wonder what he's doing right now. I mean, kakabahan kaya sya kapag nagkita kami? Can I make his heart beat so fast to the point na kikiligin sya na parang kiti-kiti or am I the only one who thinks na ganun ang mangyayari?

Whatever the consequences of my actions, I'll accept it with all my heart and soul. Baka nga galit pa sya sa akin pero hindi ko na iyon problema. He's the reason why I decided to leave. It's his fault and now I am planning to win his heart. Ganito ako mainlove, kinukuha ko ang dapat na akin. Besides, wala akong nababalitaan na may girlfriend siya o ano. He's not Luke na papalit-palit ng babae noong summer.

Dreyson's a bad boy. And I'm glad that he is.

"Key, I baked cupcakes," nilahad ni mama yung plato sa harapan ko. "Have a snack."

"Thank you po."

Titig na titig lang ako sa flatscreen TV namin habang pinapanood si Kilua. Gwapong-gwapo talaga ako sa character na ito kaso fiction. May bad boy image kasi si Killua kaya hulog na hulog ako sa kanyang aura.

I've been here in the Philippines for a week. Guess what? Hindi alam ng iba na one week na akong andito, except for Frost and my family. Brett doesn't even know it, akala n'ya kasi kahapon ang dating ko but no. Luke has been busy diverting his attention to something new. Marami ng kakaibang ginagawa si Luke sa buhay nya like hiking, cycling, basta yung marathon. He became more health concious, and hindi ko sya masyadong nahahagilap sa bahay dahil na rin siguro sa palagi syang umaalis papuntang gym para magwork out.

I took a bite from the cupcake.

Everything changed when I came back. Everyone seems evolving. Ako lang ata ang hindi nagbago sa kanila. I am still the same girl who love chocolates and hate beers. I wonder if may nagbago na din sa taong 'yon. Change or not, I don't care. I came back just to finish what I've started, and that is making the bad boy fall in love with me... head over heels!

"Key, can you do grocery today? I have a meeting kasi this evening. I hope you can?" pagmamakaawa ni mommy.

"Of course, mom walang problema," I smiled.

"Great. I'll just leave the debit card here and lists of grocery items na dapat mong bilhin, okay?"

She left me the debit card and list tsaka sya umalis para magbihis ng damit. My mom is an entrepreneur by the way and we already paid our debt for the past years. Thanks to Yuriko's father na tinulungan kaming bayaran mga utang namin sa kumpanyang iyon.

I have to keep the list with me or else magkakamali ako ng bili. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano magluto, mag-grocery pa kaya? Mom always does the housechores kaya tanggap ko na if pagsasabihan nyo ako na walang alam sa gawaing bahay. I'm not a wife material, but I know how to serve you with love. (Dating waitress kila Mrs. Choi)

Napagdesisyunan ko nang mag-grocery nung umalis si mama. Agad akong nagdrive papuntang SM at dumiretso sa grocery store. Bumili ako ng mga kelangan sa bahay, pagkain kumbaga, na ilalagay sa refrigerator namin. My mother is meticulous when it comes to small details like this kaya sinisiguro ko din na hindi ako magkakamali ng bibilhin.

"2 dozen of eggs, 1kl of vegetable oil, hmm ano pa ba?" nagsasalita na akong mag-isa dito sa aisle. Kalok, baka akala ng mga tao baliw na ako.

I was queuing at the cashier to pay these foods nung biglang pinatugtog sa speaker ang isa sa paborito kong kanta ng boy band na The Calling.

🎶 So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone you'll need love to light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then between the sand and stone, could you make it on your own 🎶

Para akong tanga na pinaglalaruan yung lata ng sardinas dahil sa musika. Nadadala kasi ako ng emosyon ko ngayon. It's one of my favorite songs, and you can't blame me if I start tapping my toes and fingers to the beat.

🎶 If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go..🎶

Most of the people around the grocery store were singing. Pati nga mga lalaki na nagpa-pa-pack ng mga bilihin napapakanta na rin.

Hello? It's The Calling. Tinatawag ka nila para sabayan sila.

🎶 And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then I hope there's someone out there who can bring me back to you 🎶

This song brings you back to 2010 era or something. Nakakamiss lang.

Kanta lang ako ng kanta nung napansin ko ang isang malaking cart na punung-puno ng maraming grocery foods. The guy was wearing a black polo and he looks hot, not because mainit rito but because he's...

"Dreyson," bulong ko, kinakabahan nang todo.

Paksheeett!

Wrong timing ang potaaaa. Hindi ako ready na makita sya and besides nasa mall kami. How should I greet him after what he's done? After what I've done? Paano? Tulungan n'yo ako mahabagin na D'yos. Walang kwenta ang tadhana, hindi pumapabor sa akin ang mga bagay-bagay.

🎶 If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go 🎶

Napalunok ako ng ilang beses. How could this happen to me? How and why?

I pretended I didn't see him at agad na nagtatakip ng mukha gamit yung pancit canton. Eto lang ang makakapagligtas sa akin ngayong araw.

🎶 Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love 🎶

Sinilip-silip ko sya mula sa gilid ng pancit canton. Whooo hingang malalim Key. Kumalma ka kung ayaw mong maging dead meat. Infairness sa kanya mas gumwapo siya at mas gumanda ang kanyang pangangatawan. After five years, his aura changed.

What do you expect, Key?

"Excuse me, miss ikaw na yung magbabayad," kalabit ni kuya sa likuran ko.

🎶 I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind, I'll stay with you for all of time.. 🎶

Doon ko napagtanto na kanina pa pala ako tinititigan nung cashier sabay ngiti.

"S-Sorry hehe," pagpapacute ko.

Nakakahiya naman. Kelangan pa nila akong pagsabihan huhuhu.

Isa-isa kong nilalagay ang mga binili kong raw foods like egg, meat, etc tsaka ko ito binayaran.

🎶 If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low, I'll go wherever you will go 🎶

"1,750 pesos po lahat, Miss," sabi nung babae.

Nilahad ko sa kanya ang aking debit card bilang bayad. Haysst ano ba yan Key, nawawala ka sa ulirat mo kaya umayos ka.

"Madalas po 'yang andito si sir Flynn kaya hindi na po nakapagtataka na nahahatak ka sa kanya kasi gwapo naman po talaga sya," banggit nung cashier habang binibilang ng maayos yung sukli ko.

Yo what the fvck?

"I'm not looking at him. Hindi ko nga sya napansin, e," depensa ko.

🎶 If I could turn back time, I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine, I'll go wherever you will go
I'll go wherever you will go 🎶

Ngumiti lang yung babae sa akin tsaka nya nilahad yung sukli.

"Thank you, come again," she smiled.

Oh, diba parang McDonald's lang din. Agad akong lumabas ng grocery store nung bigla akong tinawag ng isang lalaki.

"Miss, Miss, excuse me naiwan mo po yung grocery items nyo," sigaw pa nito dahilan para pagtinginan kami ng mga tao.

Uy, kuya naman, e. Pinagtitingan na kami dito. Inabot nya sa akin ang napakalaking cellophane.

"Thanks," nasabi ko na lang.

Nagtakip ako ng mukha palabas ng mall. Ayoko na, bibili pa sana ako ng ice cream kaso nawalan na ako ng gana matapos yung nangyari.

Nakakainis!

Hinampas ko ng mahina yung manibela. Pasensya na at napagdisketahan kita ha, nakakainis lang kasi. Naiinis ako kasi nakakahiya yung nangyari. GRRR!

"Okay, Key move on na tayo do'n. Mukha ngang hindi ka nya napansin nung ando'n ka."

Papaandarin ko na sana yung kotse nung may humarang sa harapan ng daanan ko.

"What the fvck!" I cussed hard.

"Get out," he demanded.

Walang pinagbago, the tone of his voice was still damn authoritative as usual. And my heart's beating so faaasstt to the point na gusto kong sumabog at magsisisigaw sa loob ng sasakyan.

Kaso ayoko. Akalain n'ya pa na namiss ko sya ng sobra.

"No," I whisper.

"Get out or magpapasagasa ako," banta nya.

WHAT?

Binaba ko nang dahan-dahan ang bintana para sigawan sya.

"What the eff, Dreyson. Get out of the way. I need to go home," utas ko, pagalit.

But the truth is, I am happy that he's talking to me.

"Get out... please," he begged.

That tone.

I missed that tone. That tone that makes you want to do things his way. Wala akong nagawa kaya lumabas na ako ng sasakyan. I stood there, frozen. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin. We were just staring at each other for a minute.

"Drey-"

"Mina-"

Ayan, sabay pa kaming nagsalita.

"You first," he insists.

"No, you. Ikaw itong nagpalabas sa akin," pangangatwiran ko.

He starts walking to me and hugging me tight.

"I missed you so much," he whispered.

Ang higpit ng pagkakayakap n'ya sa akin. Para akong mawawalan ng hininga sa kanyang ginagawa pero hindi ako nagpadala do'n. Hindi ko siya niyakap pabalik kahit namimiss ko din sya.

I only stood hanggang sa kusa na syang kumawala. His eyes were mesmerizing as ever.

"I-I'm sorry. I just... I can't... Sorry," utal-utal nyang tugon.

Mapakla akong ngumiti. "Good to see you too, Mr. Flynn. Now if you'll excuse me, uuwi na ako."

Nagkatitigan lang kami nung may biglang nagsalita mula sa aking likuran.

"Minami, let's go home," he said. He pulled me in and looked at Dreyson, smiling. "Long time no see, Drey."

"Magkasama pala kayo?" may bahid ng pagtataka sa kanyang mukha.

Nagtataka nga rin ako e, dalawa tayo!

"Yup, kakatext ko lang sa kanya na sabay kaming uuwi. So if you'll excuse us, we're going home peacefully," he said, ending the conversation.

Agad nya akong pinagbuksan ng pinto tsaka ako pumasok sa loob. Sya ang nakatoka ngayon sa driver's seat.

I saw Dreyson going back inside the mall, looking so disappointed. Naaawa ako sa mukha n'ya kaso mas naaawa ako sa sarili ko.

"Hindi ko alam na andito ka rin pala Dylan," sabi ko.

"Napadaan lang ako when I saw you talking with him. I can't believe na madadatnan kitang ganyan ang itsura," he said, looking at me.

"Sorry."

"Let's get you home."

Pinag-drive ako ni Dylan pauwi tsaka ako tumakbo papuntang kwarto, at nagpagulong-gulong na parang isang batang pinakilig ng kanyang crush.

"Minami, can you please keep the shit down?" reklamo ni Luke sa kabilang kwarto.

"Tangina mo, Luke!"

Bahala ka dyan, basta kinikilig ako ritooo. Para akong prinsesa na pinag-aagawan. Ang haba ng hair ko, KYAH!

Natigil na lang ako sa paggulong nung maalala ko iyong ginawang pagyakap ni Dreyson sa akin. Hinigpitan ko yung pagkakayakap ko sa unan tsaka ako napikit.

'I miss you too, Dreyson'

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