Hi! This is the last free chapter. To continue reading this story kindly go to my Patreon creator page and pledge $3 or you can also join first as a free member with the 7 days free trial. If you want to join my Facebook VIP group it's an alternative of Patreon kindly send me a message on my Facebook account Rej Martinez. Thank you very much for your love and support to Rej Martinez's stories!

Chapter 18: Attention Seeker

But maybe Kiah was right about what she said to me that I was an attention seeker...

And maybe I easily get attached to someone who could give me the attention...

I started to doubt my own self and my feelings.

I sighed as I went in my apartment in Dumaguete. Nakabalik na ako but Noah had an emergency in his family and probably their business as well. Nakapag-usap naman kami bago ako umalis ng Manila.

I remember the things that happened days before I came back here in Dumaguete.

My old friends knew that I was in Manila so they invited me to go out with them and party. Pumayag naman ako and went with them. Sinundo nila ako sa hotel kung saan ako nag-stay. Also the reason kung bakit naantala ang pag-uwi ko na sana ng Dumaguete sa sumunod na araw dapat. Pero lumabas pa ako kasama ang mga kaibigan.

Gabi na iyon. I had dinner with my old friends and then went to a bar after.

Hindi ko pa rin sinasagot ang mga tawag ni Noah. But maybe nang lumalim na ang gabi at napagod din ako sa kaka-party. I feel like I wasn't my old self anymore. I got tired so easily unlike before when I go out and party. Maybe because I have a different lifestyle in Dumaguete. Hindi na ako nagpaparty roon. And I was having a healthier life than when I was here in Manila. At nasasanay na rin ako sa buhay ko sa Dumaguete. And I think that I like it more...

Medyo nalasing na rin ako nang iwan ko muna ang mga kasama ko sa dance floor. I also didn't like those men na iniistorbo ako when I only want to party and I didn't really have the least of intention to flirt with anyone. And I have a boyfriend.

I remember Noah so I called him while already a little drunk. Or that's what I thought because I barely remember other details in the club after calling Noah. Sinagot naman niya ang tawag ko. I remember him asking me on the phone where I was. Pagkatapos ay sinundo na niya ako sa bar nang gabing 'yon. At nang gabing 'yon din ay inuwi niya ako sa bahay ng parents ko. Maybe he asked 'yong mga kasama ko about our house address. And he brought me home.

At nang nasa bahay na ay nahimasmasan naman ako. Nagising ako and I saw Noah talking to Kiah. And my reaction was fast. Agad akong bumangon at nilapitan ko silang dalawa. I even created a little scene at home again.

"Kiah!" I shouted right away. Maybe because I was still lightheaded because of the alcohol in my system. At ngayon na lang uli ako nakainom nang ganito.

"Zeph, calm down."

I looked at Noah who stopped me from almost attacking my sister. I don't know what I was doing. I was drunk.

Naalala ko pa na pinagsabihan na naman ako ni Mommy. But I don't really remember any more of it.

And then Noah brought me up to my room pagkatapos ng mga sagutan...

"Here's the water. Please drink some." Noah helped me.

"Why are you here?" I asked him nang mahimasmasan pa ako pagkatapos uminom ng konting tubig.

We looked at each other. "Why were you out there partying? I was so worried about you." He said.

I just looked away. For some reason I feel pissed at him. O baka dahil lasing lang talaga ako ngayon. I don't know anymore. Pero naalala ko rin na may pinag-awayan nga rin pala kami the last time we talked. And it was about his childhood friend, Tristeen. And now it would be about my twin sister Kiah.

Muli kong tiningnan si Noah. "What were you and Kiah talking about? Was it about me?" I asked and was ready na magalit na naman.

Noah just looked at me. And then he sighed a bit. "Nothing, really..." was his answer.

But I did not buy that. Ano kaya ang sinabi ni Kiah sa kaniya...

"Baka naman napagkamalan mo siyang ako? Now that you've met her." I said. And I was looking at him sharply.

Umiling naman sa akin si Noah. "No, Zeph. I know that she's just your twin sister... Please stop overthinking things..." He sighed.

Halos irapan ko lang naman siya.

Until I saw him already smiling a little as he was watching me. Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya at tinarayan ko pa siya. Anong nginingitingiti niya d'yan? Was this really the time to act like that? Hindi pa kami okay!

Pagkatapos ay umiling din siya bago nagsalita. "I know that we have some serious problems here... But let's just talk about it tomorrow, alright? For tonight, you should go to bed and rest." payo niya pa sa akin.

Pero hindi ko siya agad na sinunod. At mabilis din akong tumayo at nagtungo sa bathroom para magsuka. I'll sure have a hangover tomorrow. Sinundan din naman ako ni Noah and helped me again. And in the end, pinaakyat din ni Mommy si Manang sa kwarto ko so she helped Noah to put me to bed and sleep.

The next morning ay medyo masakit nga ang ulo ko nang magising ako. I was informed that Noah also went home last night. Bumaba ako to have breakfast with my family because Daddy also asked for me. At sa breakfast alam ko nang may mga tanong na sila sa akin. At si daddy na ang unang nagtanong.

"About the man last night..." sabi ni dad.

Tumingin naman ako sa kaniya. I sighed a bit and chose to tell them. "I'm sorry about kagabi, Dad... I was partying with friends and then sinundo niya na lang ako roon sa bar at dinala rito pauwi sa bahay..." I said.

Daddy sighed a bit. "He's your boyfriend?" He asked.

And I felt a little embarrassment... Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot sa tanong ni daddy.

Nakita kong tumango na rin naman siya pagkatapos at tahimik lang din both sina Mommy at Kiah. And I also didn't bother myself with them anymore.

After breakfast I received a call from Noah. His family was worried of me. And they wanted to meet over lunch today. Pumayag naman na ako and I didn't want to appear rude to his family kung tatanggi pa ako sa invitation nila sa akin ngayon. Daddy already went to work, at may pinuntahan din yata si Mommy. I don't know about Kiah. Kaya nang sunduin ako ni Noah sa bahay ay hindi ko na rin siya inimbita pa sa loob dahil wala na rin naman doon ang parents ko...

And then tahimik lang ako while he drives his car to go to his family. And during lunch nang dumating kami sa bahay ng parents niya, I just told them to not worry about me anymore. I think it was Chloe na pakiramdam niya siguro ay may pinag-awayan kami ni Noah the last time when she couldn't find me in Noah's condo here in Manila anymore and probably told their parents about it that's why they got worried. Sinabi ko naman sa kanila ngayon that I only went home to visit my family as well while I'm still here in Manila. At mukhang naging okay na rin naman sila pagkatapos ng explanation ko.

After lunch naiwan naman kaming dalawa lang ni Noah. His family became busy for a while with other things. I just appreciated their pretty home for now. When Noah approached me.

"Are you okay now?" He asked me and it's probably about last night when I got drunk.

I sighed before I answered him. "I'm fine." buntong-hininga ko na sagot sa kaniya.

"That's good... Well, are you still mad at me?" He asked again.

Hindi ko naman siya agad nasagot sa tanong niya, and I just looked away...

I heard him sighing a bit. "I know that you just worry about other things... But you shouldn't, really. Zeph, what happened between me and Tristeen before... It's already long gone and in the past now." He said.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya.

"Zeph, I was stupid back then... Things happened... And I just couldn't anymore turn back the time. But you should understand that wala na 'yon ngayon... And even before I met you in Dumaguete, wala na talaga 'yon, Zeph. At ikaw na ang meron ako ngayon... And I'm hell serious about us now. Please, Zeph..." Tumingin siya sa akin na may nagsusumamong mga mata.

He looked like nahihirapan din siyang mag-explain sa sarili niya ngayon sa akin. But he still did...

Kalaunan ay tumango na rin ako sa kaniya. A small smile appeared on his lips. Before he went closer to me and hugged me gently. He also planted a kiss on my forehead.

And I think we became okay after that. Or so I thought...

[Continue reading on Patreon now and it's Completed! For VIP membership, kindly message me on Facebook Rej Martinez to join for 150 monthly and read my other exclusive stories. Thank you!]