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GEORGE

"What are you doing here?" mataray na sambit ni George sa lalaking bigla na lamang bumungad sa harap ng kanyang tinitirahan. "Did hell finally kicked you out for trying to overthrow Satan?"

Imbes na mainis ay isang ngisi lamang ang isinagot sa kanya ng lalaki.

That smirk. That fucking devilishly handsome smirk na tanging isang Dos Montecillo lamang ang nakakagawa.

"How you 'doin, princess?" anito sabay titig sa kanya. His hair was unnecessarily disheveled and his shirt was somewhat a mess. But instead na magmukha siyang peasant or pulubi, he was ten-folds hotter than he already was. Idagdag pa 'yun maliit na pasa sa may pisngi nito an maliit na sugat sa labi nito. "Stop staring or I might kiss you. At alam na alam mo kung saan tayo hahantong the moment I get the chance to taste those lips of yours."

She felt her insides instantly go weak and something in her tummy churn.

Relax, self. You're not marupok, okay? Kaya mo 'to. He's ugly. Mukhang butt ng chicken ang face niya, okay? He's a walking demonyo with an insanely handsome face—este a chicken's butt face.

"B-Bakit ka nga andito?" muli niyang asik. "At bakit ganyan ang itsura mo? I heard River's back. Nag-away nanaman ba kayo? Ikaw, hindi mo na inintindi 'yung pinsan mo eh may pinagdaraanan 'yon—hoy! I didn't even invite you in yet! Magkaaway pa tayo!"

But Dos—like always, ignored her rants and settled inside her condo as if he owned the place.

"You changed the accents again," komento nito sabay higa sa couch niya. "Were you really that bored?"

"What I do to my condo is up to me and me alone," mananaray niya dito. "I'm not bored kaya. I'm an interior designer so I lake changing this up. Wag kang assuming. Bored? Ha! I have tons of things to do aside from chasing you—"

Crap! Why did she have to mention that?

"Pfft." Natawa ito ng konti making her pout.

Nakakainis talaga itong si Dos! He's literally a devil incarnate. Ugh!

"Why didn't you just call me?" bigla naman sambit nito. "Pwede ko naman tanggalin 'yang boredom mo."

"In case you forgot, Isidro Montecillo the second, magkaaway tayo," sagot niya as she folder her arms. "You're the one who made it clear that you don't want me—"

Nangunot ang noo nito.

"Kelan ko sinabi 'yon?"

"A month ago! Nung sinabi mo sa'kin that you're leaving!"

"I never said I didn't want you!"

"Oo kaya! You said that I'm such a brat and even left me!"

"Nasaan yung part na sinabi kong I don't want you?" balik nito sa kanya. "Diba wala? You were the one who stopped answering my calls. Sino ngayon sa'tin yung ayaw?"

Napamaang siya. Seriously?

"You're unbelievable!" bulyaw niya dito. "I'm not the one at fault here. Ikaw yung laging tulak ng tulak sakin palayo. And then when I decide na ayoko na, na pagod na ako sa kakahabol sayo, maggaganyan ka!"

"Ganyan? Anong 'ganyan'?" he asked her smirking. Again.

"Ganyan!" giit niya sabay turo pa dito.

And that was when she knew, she fucked up. Dos grabbed her arm and easily pulled her closer to him. He even maneuvered her so that she would land on his lap!

"Ganito?" He teased wrapping his arms around her waist. "Or..."

A tight squeal came out of her mouth when he suddenly dipped her further making her back collide on the sofa and their faces only a few inches apart. He was slight hovering on top of her.

"Ganito?"

Well, fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck.

She blinked as that smirk of his grew wider. Why is he this good looking? Why was is to easy for him to make her heart skip a beat? Why was she this marupok to Dos?

"Hmn? Pa'nong 'ganyan'?"

Her breathing started to go ragged. Her cheeks was now burning like they've never blushed before. And her heart? It's like... it wants to escape from her chest.

Dos leaned in closer. She could even feel his warm breath as he closes in. Her eyes immediately getting drawn towards his lips. Those soft, rosy lips...

"Pfft."

Basag. Dos scoffed and everything came crashing. Agad niya itong tinulak at tumayo while he chuckled.

"I fucking hate you!" she screamed at him. "Nakakabwisit ka!"

Hindi niya na napigilan ang sarili. Tears came streaming down her cheeks.

This is too much. Hindi ko na kaya.

She clearly heard how Dos' soft chuckles suddenly stop. And the she saw him looking at her. Tila nagulat ito.

"George..."

She flinched. Aabutin sana nito ang kanyang kamay ngunit agad siyang umiwas.

"Tapos ka na?" mahina niyang sambit. "Tapos ka na bang paglaruan yung feeling ko?"

Their gazes locked on each other. His eyes were filled with confusion as her was with anger.

"Ako tapos na," deklara niya. "Ayoko na. Hindi ko na kaya 'to, Dos. I'm sick and tired of you playing with me. Nakakapagod na. I'm done."

Tumalikod siya dito at tumakbo agad papasok sa kanyang kwarto and locked it. She felt her knees buckle and soon enough, she fell on the hardwood fall crying.

Bakit ba lagi na lang siya nitong pinaglalaruan? Even before. She always chases him kahit sobrang nakakapagod. And every time she does, he stops running away and runs to her. Tapos kapag gusto niya na uli lumaban, he'll end up pushing her away again and they go back to square one.

Sobrang nakakapagod na. Nakakaubos. Hindi niya kayang habang-buhay na lamang hinahabol ang isang Dos Montecillo. Gusto niya namang maramdamang mahalin. Because right now, drained na drained na siya. Nauubos na ang pagmamahal na meron siya.

She cried and cried. Yakap ang kanyang mga binti, hinayaan niya na lamang na maubos ang kanyang mga luha dahil baka sa ga'nong way ay marealize na ng kanyang puso that she shouldn't waver at the mere presence of Dos.

"I'll get over you, Dos Montecillo. One day I will definitely—"

A sudden loud thump came from outside. She jolted upright to checked what was going on outside.

Nanlamig ang buong katawan niya when she saw Dos lying on the floor—lifeless.

"Dos!" Agad niya itong nilapitan at iniyugyog ang balikat. "I swear, Isidro Montecillo the second, if this is a lame attempt of getting me out of my room I won't forgive you—oh my God!"

He was bleeding! His nose was bleeding!

What do I do?! What do I do?!

Phone! Right. Her phone. Kailangan niyang tumawag ng tulong. Nasaan na ba ang telepono niya?

She was running all over the place—panicking. Trying to find her phone while calling out for help. Sana ay may makarinig sa kanya.

Oh my God!

When she finally found her cellphone ay agad siyang tumipa doon kahit nanginginig siya. She immediately called Jarvis.

"Hello—"

"Jarvis!" hiyaw niya agad dito sa kabilang linya. "Oh my God, Vis! I—si Dos! I don't know what to do! He came by and we faught and now he passed out on the floor! And... and... His nose is bleeding! Jarvis, anong gagawin ko?!"

"Shit," she heard Jarvis curse from the other line. Hindi pala-mura si Jarvis. "Calm down, okay, Rhi? Are you at your place?"

"Y-Yes," sagot niya dito.

"Okay. Good. Can you check if he's still bleeding?"

Napatingin siya sa walang malay na si Dos at tingingnan kung umaagos pa ang dugo mula sa ilong nito.

"I-It stopped," she informed him. Narinig niya ang pag-hinga ng maluwag ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

"That's good. Susunduin ko lang ang doktor ni Dos. We'll be there as soon as we can. Can you please stay with him 'til then?"

"O-Okay. Please hurry, Vis. Please—"

"Ang ingay mo."

She immediately turned towards the then unconscious guy who was slowly starting to sit up.

"Dos!" Agad niya itong niyakap at muntik pang mapahiga uli dahil sa hindi inaasahang pag-atake niya. "Oh my God!"

Umiiyak nanaman siya. But this time it was out of relief.

"I thought... I though—"

"Nahilo lang ako," anito as she felt his hand gently patting her back. "Kung makaiyak ka parang patay na ako."

Hinampas niya ito sa dibdib habang umiiyak.

"You were lying unconscious on the floor! Tapos your nose was bleeding pa. Of course I'd panic! I thought... I thought..."

Lalo pang lumakas ang kanyang iyak just by the mere thought of him leaving her. Hindi niya kaya mawala ito. Oo pagod na siya pero, iniisip niya pa lang na hindi niya na ito makikita eh parang mababaliw na siya.

"Shh..." She felt his arms tighten around her and his soft lips on her forehead. Isinuksok niya pa lalo ang sarili sa katawan nito. "Tumama lang dun sa eskaparate yung ilong ko kaya dumugo. I'm fine. Tama na ang iyak."

"Pero—"

"I'm fine, George," pinal na sambit nito. "Call Jarvis and tell him I'm fine. Huhugasan ko lang mukha ko at kinalat mo pa ata lalo yung dugo kakapunas."

Dahan-dahan itong tumayo. She was about to help him up but he refused to take her hand. But as soon as he took a step forward, muli itong nabuwal at muli nanamang matumba sa sahig.

"Dos!"

Was this his definition of fine? Nanghihina siya at namumutla. Yes, he's naturally pale since the first time she met him pero, may kakiba eh. Parang may iniinda itong sakit. He's even clutching something sa tagiliran niya like he was in pain or something.

"Wait here. Ako na lang ang kukuha ng pamunas—"

"I told you, I'm fine!" bulalas nito na ikinagulat niya kaya't napaatras siya ng kaunti. Kita rin sa mga mata nito ang pagkagulat sa nagawa.

Dos sighed looking away as they both got trapped in a deafening silence. Parang nahiya ito sa nagawa or something. Pero siya eh, nakasunod lang ang tingin sa bawat galaw nito.

"I'm fine." Then he wiped the remaining blood off his nose and turned to her. "George I—I'm good. Kulanh lang ako sa tulog so don't worry too much. Just... Just stay, okay? Dito ka lang sa tabi ko and I'll be fine."

She didn't know how to react to that. Gusto niyang sumigaw—sigawan ito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero nafu-frustrate siya dahil ayaw nitong alagaan niya ito.

"But Dos—"

She wasn't able to continue what she was about to say dahil bigla siya nitong kinabig pinagsakop ang kanilang mga labi. It didn't take long for her to respond and kiss him back. Ganon din kasi siya kasabik dito. She loves him. Kahit pa paulit-ulit siyang nasasaktan.

"I missed you..." bulong ni Dos as he cupped her face. Those three words made everything around her stop.

Napatingin siya sa mga mata ni Dos. She loved his eyes. Sabi ng iba ay napaka-blangko daw ng mga mata nito pero that's not true. His eyes were full of emotions and sincerity. Magaling lang siguro talaga ito magtago pero they're there. His eyes were soft and warm. Just like his hugs. And his kisses.

Unti-unti niyang nararamdaman ang maingat na pagtulak nito sa kanyang katawan pahiga sa sahig. Again, he was hovering on top of her as his lips moved with hers. And her pajama top slowly being forgotten—

Natigil sila nang biglang may sunod-sunod na katok na nanggaling mula sa pintuan.

"Rhi! It's Jarvis. Andito na kami ng doktor—"

Dos groaned as he rolled back and laid on the floor with his arm shielding his eyes.

"The fuck," he mumbled. Making her chuckle a bit. Oo nga pala. She called Jarvis over at malapit lang ang subdivision ng mga ito sa condo niya.

"I panicked," pagdadahilan niya bago tinakbo ang pinto at binuksan iyon.

Bumungad sa kanya ang nagaalalang mukha na ni Jarvis na may bahid din ng maliit na sa galos sa may pisngi nito at pasa sa may labi.

"Where is he—shit. Dos!"

Agad itong pumasok kasunod ng doktor at nilapitan ang kaninang walang maya na pinsan. But Dos was already okay kaya bumangon ito at naupo ng maayos.

"I'm fine," malamig na turan nito. "Nag-over react lang si George—"

"This is the second time this week, Dos," Jarvis said, shocking her. Ikalawang beses? So that means it wasn't just because he didn't sleep right? "We told you to stay still. Kaya na namin ni Kuya at River si Tito Renato but you insisted. Ayan tuloy napagod ka—"

"Vis." His voice was cold and it sounded like he was warning him. Napatingin agad sa kanya si Jarvis bago napabuntong-hininga.

"Jarvis mentioned that your nose bled," pukaw bigla ng kasama nitong medyo may edad na. Somewhere around her dad's age too. "Your condition's not getting any better, hijo. You need to—"

"Let's talk about it tomorrow," putol agad ni Dos dito. "I'm fine. Dito na lang muna ako magpapalipas ng gabi—"

"No." Nagulat ang tatlo dahil bigla siyang nagsalita. "Why talk about it tomorrow kung pwede naman ngayon? Talk."

Medyo nanginginig pa ang kanyang boses. Bigla kasi siyang nilamon ng takot nang may mga bagay siyang na narealize.

Jarvis is usually calm and collected. Pero nang tawagan niya ito, she clearly heard panic in his voice as well. Pero may kakaiba. It was like he knew that it was bound to happen or something. Plus ang naging reaksyon nito kanina't mga nasabi. Then the older guy said something about sa "kondisyon" daw nito.

"Rhi—"

"What condition po?" She ignored Jarvis and turned towards the older man he's with. "His condition's getting worse? W-What condition?"

Hindi maksagot ang matanda at napabaling na lamang sa dalawang lalaki.

Ibang klaseng kaba ang bigla na lamang lumamon sa kanyang buong sistema. She can even feel her knees starting to buckle.

The Dos heaved a heavy sigh before turning towards her. Nagtama ang kanilang tingin at parang bigla siyang nabibingi sa lakas ng tibok ng puso niya. And when he opened his mouth, bumigay na siya't natumba.

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