I am currently on the airport talking to the media. They've been here since I got out from the plane I booked. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila nalaman na uuwi ako gayung sa mga kaibigan ko lang iyon sinabi. But still, I entertained them.

"Miss Irah, you did great at the fashion show."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Miss Irah, how do you feel knowing that boys are flapping over you?" asked another reporter.

Cringe.

"Uhm...it doesn't sound great," I laughed nervously.

Really? Flapping?

"Miss Irah, are you here for your family and celebrate christmas with them?"

"Are you going to celebrate your christmas with your someone special, Miss Irah? Who could it be?"

"Uh...yeah. I'm celebrating christmas with my family and my friends. They're my special someone," I chuckled.

And then more questions flooded me. Nalilito na ako kung paano sasagutin so I keep smiling at them instead. I didn't bring a bodyguard because I never thought this would happen. And yeah, it actually happened.

Pinipilit ko na ring mag-excuse sa kanila pero hindi ako makaalis dahil hindi sila nakikinig. Jusko!

"Uhm, I really have to go--"

"Miss Irah, the rumor about you dating the famous model of California Mr. Luis Timberlake, was it true?"

"No. We weren't dating. We're just friends since we are in the same field."

"There are some photos taken from an unknown photographer at California showing the two of you were in a restaurant."

"Uh, yes. That's true. But we weren't alone that time. My team and his team were there."

"So, how do you feel working with Mr. Luis?"

"It's good. He's a gentleman--"

"Excuse me." Napatigil ang lahat nang may biglang nagsalita sa likod ko.

Agad ko itong nilingon and I saw an unfamiliar face.

His hair is in a cleancut. His wearing a dark blue longsleeves polo with three opened-buttons on his chest. Paired with a black ripped jeans and a white sneaker shoes. He has a silver necklace hanging freely on his chest.

"Oh hey there, Babe!" He said and greeted someone with a smile...a playful smile to be exact.

My brows met. Lumingon ako sa likod ko. Maraming tao sa likod.

Is he talking to me? Of course not, right? Hindi ko siya kilala.

Muli ko siyang tiningnan.

"Didn't you miss me? Stop pretending, Babe. It's you, yes you, that I'm talking to!" He said and suddenly went near me.

Wait, me?!

My eyes widened when he suddenly hugged me and kissed my cheek as he chuckled on my ear. I couldn't move in shock.

He let go of me and faced me. I thought he's done and that he would leave. But what made the whole thing fucked up is when I felt soft things on my lips.

Licking it and nipping it.

Wait, what?!

My eyes widened even more. I couldn't move. I couldn't think straight.

Did he just kiss me?! That wasn't my first kiss but he kissed me in front of everyone for the fuck's sake!

I got back from my reverie when flashes of cameras went wild. I tried my hardest to push him hard and covered my face. This is so bad!

"Miss Irah, what's with you and Attorney Lareho?"

"Miss Irah, we thought you don't have someone special except your family?"

"Miss Irah, is he your secret boyfriend?"

"Miss Irah, are you and Attorney Lareho revealing your relationship?"

"Miss Irah, when did your relationship started?"

"Miss Irah, how did you know each other?"

"Attorney, do you have a relationship with Miss Irah?"

We were bombarded by questions. Questions I don't know how to answer. I couldn't find my voice. This is one kind of a hell. What to do?!

"Irah?" tanong nitong lalakeng nasa tabi ko. His hands are on the small of my back and I could hear the confusion on his voice.

Is he a nincompoop?!

"Miss Irah, is Attorney Lareho your boyfriend?"

Hindi ko mahanap ang boses ko. Mas lalong hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko. Then, I just found myself saying the stupidest idea I have in my mind.

"He's my fiancee," I answered making the whole media wild.

"Why the fuck did you say that?!" Singhal ng magaling na lalake sa akin.

"I have no choice, so shut up! It's your fault in the first place! If only you didn't fucking kissed me you asshole of a motherfucker then this would have never happened!" I yelled back.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa sasakyan niya ngayon dahil pagkatapos ng sinabi ko kanina sa media ay hindi na siya pumalag. Sa halip ay inihatid na niya lamang ako dito sa kotse niya. Iyon nga lang, ito at pinag-aawayan namin ang nangyari kanina.

He looked at me with shock. I glared at him.

"Are you actually cursing me?" He asked, creased forehead. I raised my brows at him and crossed my arms.

"What do you think? You ain't stupid aren't you?" I said, raised brows. He scoffed and looked at me with disbelief.

"I don't remember you cursing." He said.

"Don't worry. I don't remember you either." I scoffed, rolling my eyes. He faced me while his left elbow on the steering wheel.

"Hah! Are you fucking telling me that you don't remember me? What the heck?!" He bursted.

"Bakit? Totoo naman, ah. Hindi kita kilala. Sobrang nagulat ako nang bigla mo na lang akong halikan!" I yelled.

"Paanong hindi mo ako maalala, eh ako ang pinakamasarap humalik sa lahat ng naging boyfriend mo?!" saad niya. I faced him with creased forehead and crossed arms.

"For your information, I haven't had a boyfriend," I said.

"You know what, Niv. Just shut it!" He said and rolled his eyes.

Did he just rolled his eyes on me?! Ngunit, mas napatigil ako nang marinig ang pangalan ng kambal ko.

"You mean, Nivia? Nivia Soletelle?" I asked. He looked at me blankly.

"Obviously. And obviously again, it's you."

"It's not me. It's my twin sister!" saad ko. He laughed sarcastically.

"Oh wow! Cringe! Ano 'to? Princess and the Pauper?" He asked sarcastically.

"Look, I'm serious! Wait." Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa ko. "Look, it's me and her." I said showing him Nivia and I's photo together.

He looked at it in shock. He pointed at it, horrified.

"There's two Nivia?!" He said horrifiedly. I rolled my eyes. Binatukan ko siya. We weren't close, I know, but he's stupid, so yeah.

"Stupid!" I said. He said 'ouch' and scratched his nape. We went silent.

"So, who are you?" He asked, breaking the silent.

"Nikki--"

"Nikki Minaj?" He interrupted. I rolled my eyes.

"Nikki Irah Soletelle. Nivia's twin. You?"

"Ba't naman ako magpapakilala sayo?" Kunot-noong tanong niya. I glared at him.

"Aba! Dapat lang na magpakilala ka sa akin dahil kung hindi ka ba naman isa't buong gago, ede sana hindi tayo manu-newspaper bukas!" Singhal ko. Itinulak niya ang noo ko gamit ang dalawang daliri.

"Laway mo, showering!" saad niya. Tinampal ko ang kamay niya saka humalukipkip.

"Hindi ka ba makausap ng maayos?" Inis kong tanong.

"Pwede naman. Anong pag-uusap ba gusto mo? 'Yung usap na ganito. O 'yung usap na palitan ng laway?" He smirked.

I made a disgusted look making him laugh. I'm trying hard not to laugh with his laugh. He sounds like Kim Seokjin when he laughs but sounds like Park Chanyeol when he talk.

"Magpakilala ka na lang pwede? I just want to know why you wanted to kiss my sister." His laugh died down.

"Cladville Rios Lareho. And to answer your question, trip ko lang na halikan ang mga fling ko." He said offering his hand.

I stared at it before accepting it for a handshake, but he kissed it instead. Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko nang may maramdamang kakaiba roon.

"Yuck! Laway! And you're such an asshole for that!" Nandidiri kong saad.

I heard him laugh again. I rolled my eyes. Dali-dali kong ipinunas sa upuan ang kamay ko. Paano ba naman kasi sa halip na halik ang matanggap ko sa kamay ko, eh dila pala.

"So, you're a lawyer?" I asked. His laughter stopped.

"Oo. Bakit? May problema ka sa mga abogado? Hindi mo ba alam ang kasabihang 'kapag lawyer, sweet lover'?" saad niya.

I creased my forehead.

Kapag lawyer, sweet lover? Ba't parang familiar.

"Hindi ba driver 'yun?" Takang tanong ko.

"Driver? Pwede rin ako maging driver. Gusto mo bang manihuin kita?" He asked and laughed.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Hindi talaga siya maayos kausap.

"Just start the engine please? And follow the direction para maihatid mo ako ng maayos," saad ko. Itinuro ko ang cellphone kong nasa dashboard.

"Anong engine ba ang sisimulan ko? 'Yung makakarating ka sa pupuntahan mo o sa langit?" He asked and stopped himself from laughing.

I raised my brows. Wala namang nakakatawa.

"Umayos ka nga! Tsaka bilisan mo!" Singhal ko.

Kapag naasar na talaga ako sa lalakeng ito isusumbong ko na talaga siya sa fiancee ni Nivia. Si Emilio Jacinto!

"Ah--ah--ugh...shit!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bigla siyang umungol.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Um..ugh--ahh!" He continued.

Dali-dali kong hinubad ang sapatos ko at pinaghahampas sa kanya. Napalitan ang ungol niya ng mga pagtawa.

"You pervert! Why are you moaning, you jerk?!" Singhal ko habang pinaghahampas siya.

Pinigilan niya ako sa kakahampas sa pamamagitan ng paghawak sa braso ko ngunit patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtawa.

"Sabi mo kasi bilisan, eh! Wala ka namang sinabi kung ano ang bibilisan!" He said and bursted into laughter. Gago!

"Argh!" I groaned in frustration. Hayop!

"Ang sarap mo naman pala umungol! Ulit nga--" Pilit ko ulit siyang pinaghahampas.

He's just so impossible! Inis kong binawi ang braso ko mula sa hawak niya saka sumandal sa upuan. I breathed out. Humalukipkip ako at hindi na lamang siya pinansin.

He's still laughing as he started the engine. Ibinaling ko na lamang ang atensyon sa labas ng bintana. Gusto kong ipahinga ang utak ko. Nakakapagod ang mga nangyari kanina.

I sighed.

I went here to have a vacation and not to be in trouble. Hindi ko pa nga alam kung paano ito reresolbahin. Mas lalong hindi ko alam kung paano ipaliliwanag sa mga kaibigan at sa pamilya ko ang tungkol rito lalo na't paniguradong nasa TV na kami ngayon.

"So, bakit hindi ko alam na may kakambal si Nivia?" Biglang tanong ni Attorney.

"Malay ko. Siguro hindi kayo ganun ka-close," saad ko.

"We're actually very close, Nikki-Niks. I couldn't even count the times we made-out." He answered. Nairita ako dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Could you please stop talking about what happened between you and my sister in the past? Para kasing pinangangalandakan mong nagme-make-out kayo, ang pangit sa pandinig. It feels like you're proud of playing my sister. And also, it's Nikki and not Nikki-what-the-fuck-Niks," I said furiously.

"Chill! It's not like I'm talking ill to your sister." He said.

"Yeah, whatever. But you should refrain from saying such things. You're a lawyer. You should know that," I said.

"Okay, Baby." He said in amusement.

"Did you just call me 'Baby'?" I faced him, brows met.

"Yep, Baby."

"Don't call me 'Baby'."

"Why not? It sounds great on you. Right, Baby--"

"I said, don't." Mariin kong saad.

"Baby--"

"Stop!"

"Baby."

"What the fuck?! I told you to stop!"

"Why, Baby?"

"It sounds creepy!" I heard him laugh. I breathed out and faced the window again. He's such an idiot.

Tumahimik na lang ako hanggang sa nakarating na ako sa building kung saan naroroon ang unit ko. Hindi ako dumederetso sa bahay ng mga magulang ko. I felt suffocated in there. Very suffocating. Besides, wala roon si Nivia. Mababaliw ako roon.

Nasa elevator ako nang mapansing nakasunod sa akin si Attorney. He's standing next to me. Eyeing a lady in a corporate attire in front of us. Her butt is way too big than mine.

How to have such butt?

"You don't have to be jealous, Baby. I love your butt more." Napasinghap ako sa gulat nang bumulong sa tenga ko si Attorney.

Agad ko siyang sinuntok sa likod kaya tumunog iyon ng malakas dahilan ng paglingon ng mga tao sa elevator sa aming dalawa. Pero agad akong niyakap ng hayop na lalakeng ito at idiniin ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya kaya hindi ako makahinga.

Kinurot ko ang likod niya kaya napaigik siya. I felt his hand caressing my hair. Nang bumukas ang elevator ay agad akong tumakbo palabas. I could feel my cheeks reddened.

"What the fuck was that?!" Bulong ko ng mariin sa kanya. Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa likod ko.

"What?" He playfully asked. Hinarap ko siya at itinulak.

"Stop acting innocent! Tarantado ka! Paano kung hindi ako nakahinga?!" I yelled at him, already forgetting that we're in the hallway.

"Sorry, buhay ka pa naman," he said and grin. Ramdam ko ang pagpula muli ng pisngi ko. Tinampal ko ang bibig niya at nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng napalakas pala ang pagtampal ko.

Nang inalis ko ang kamay ko ay nakita kong dumugo ang pang-ibabang labi niya. Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Is that blood?" I asked a little bit horrified. Just a little bit, because it's his fault anyway.

He looked at me blankly. "Hindi. Laway 'yan."

Dali-dali kong kinuha ang panyo ko mula sa bag ko at ipinunas sa labi niya.

"Dahan-dahan naman." Reklamo niya. I glared at him.

"You're not going to sue me, right?" tanong ko habang pinupunasan ang labi niya.

"What if I will?" He asked playfully.

"Aba! Hindi pwede! Ikaw naman ang may kasalanan niyan 'no!" Inis kong saad. He chuckled.

"Now that you're closer, I could see the difference between you and Nivia." He whispered. Ibinulsa ko ang panyo ko and looked at him.

"Yep. I'm taller," I said and continued walking.

"Aside from that." He whispered.

Natahimik na rin kami habang naglalakad papunta sa condo ko. When I get there I faced him. I raised my brows when I saw him pursing his lips, acting innocent again.

"Hindi ka pa ba aalis?" Taas-kilay kong tanong.

"Hindi ba natin pagpaplanuhan ang tungkol sa nangyari kanina?" He asked back. I breathed out.

"We will. Pero, hindi ngayon," I said. He nodded.

Sa pag-aakalang aalis na siya ay muli akong humarap sa condo ko saka binuksan ito. Papasok na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang ilaw at may sumigaw ng "Suprise" mula sa loob ng condo ko.

Ang mga kaibigan ko! My heart swelled. Pero nang makitang lumagpas ang tingin nila mula sa akin papunta sa taong nasa likod ko ay siyang pagtigil ng tibok ng puso ko.

I'm doomed!

—

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