I was too preoccupied with my own life to give a damn with what other people thinks about me.

-Writress/MistyAnnE_04

***

Marcelo's POV

It's already morning. Napabuntong-hininga ako nang maalala kong wala pa nga pala akong tulog. What happened last night was stuck on my mind even until this very hour. Naalala ko kung paano mahimbing na matulog si Jasmine. She looked so fragile, so pure and innocent.

Some of the reasons why I love her so..

And then I remember how she still hates me.

"Damn this life." At hindi rin nakakatulong ang panggugulo ni Nightmare sa istorya namin. He doesn't even know what I feel, so why couldn't he just shut the hell up and just die in a pit?!

You're freakin' jealous, Mars.

A voice at the back of my head said. I frowned and muttered, "I am not." to no one in particular.

Sa oras lang na makatakas ako kay Lee, sisiguraduhin kong maaayos ang problema ko kay Jasmine.

"Lee wants to see you."

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang marinig ko ang boses ni Tyler. He was arrogantly leaning on my room's door frame with an irritated smirk.

Mas lalo akong naasar.

"Wala bang nagturo sa'yong kumatok muna before entering someone's bedroom?"

He shrugged. "Don't care."

This bastard really knows how to anger me. Kung sport nga lang siguro ang pagpapainit ng ulo ko, siya na ang varsity dun eh!

I got up and prepared myself.

I'll find a way, Jasmine Cruz.

Jasmine's POV

Lumipas na ang ilang subjects, pero hindi pa rin ako pinapansin ni Night. Naiirita na ako, sa totoo lang. Akala ba niya hindi ko nahahalata? He's clearly pissing me off on purpose!

Nang mag-uwian na, ay nakita ko siya sa may locker area.

I want to talk to him.. I want to apologize for my behavior back at the hospital.

Ang dami-dami kong gustong sabihin sa kanya, pero ewan ko lang at bakit biglang sumulpot si Jessica at nilingkis pa ang katawan niya kay Night.

I stopped in my tracks.

Doon lang ako napansin ni Nightmare. He had this expressionless look on his face as he eyed me from head to toe. Para akong nainsulto sa ginawa niya. Nananadya talaga siya, eh 'no?!

"What do you want, Cruz?"

CRUZ? Aray ha..

Pakiramdam ko, may kumirot sa puso ko. A part of me wants to slap him for being such a good actor, but the other part wanted to ask him why the heck is acting like I'm a no one to him?

"Mag-usap tayo."

Pinigilan kong dapuan ng masamang tingin ang babaeng nakakapit sa braso niya. He then darted his dark brown eyes at Jessica. She then giggled and whispered something to him that made Nightmare sigh.

"Can't. We have a date."

A-Ano daw...?

My mouth almost fell on the floor! MAY DATE SILA? So.. Jessica wasn't lying this morning? Napasimangot ako sa ideya. Was he dating her even before he intended to court me? Ginagamit lang ba ako ni Nightmare noon? No. That's impossible, Jaz.. but what if it's true?

Or is he acting this way because of what I did?

Mas napasimangot ako sa huli kong naisip.

"Night, seriously? Stop the act! Ha-ha-ha! There, ok na? Let's talk."

I tried to sound sarcastic pero iba yata ang labas sa kanya. He wrapped an arm around Jessica's waist and spoke clearly,

"Do I look like I'm joking around? Get lost, Miss Cruz."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

I felt my heart beat erratically. Namanhid ang buo kong katawan at bigla na lamang nagzoom-in ang paningin ko sa seryosong mga mata ni Nightmare Mercado. There's something in them that screamed uncertainty.. pero sino ba naman ako para kwestiyunin pa yun, diba? Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari sa kanya, but all I know is that I'm not liking any bit of it.

Tumungo ako.

I feel like crying.

Did I hurt him that badly? Am I the one who gave him no choice but to push me away? Akala ko ba maghihintay siya?

Fuck this.

Nightmare..

"Thanks for being a savior."

Dala ng matinding emosyon, napatakbo ako papalayo. I don't know what the eff is happening to him! Ang alam ko lang, ako ang may kasalanan kung bakit siya nagkakaganito.

~*~

I ran out and my feet led me to some playground near the park. I huffed, catching my breath and sat down on a swing. Pakiramdam ko tumakbo ako ng marathon, but still my heart wouldn't cease it's abnormal beating. And it wasn't the type that would make you feel giddy---fuck no. Because it hurts.

So bad.

I checked my phone, medyo umaasang magtext man lang si Nightmare, telling me it was all just some wicked joke.

Pero wala.

I sighed.

"Para kang tanga, Jaz." I murmured to myself at tinitigan ang papalubog nang araw.

"I second the motion po."

I heard footsteps approach me. I was about to fetch a pocket knife pero nang makita kong si CC lang pala, I relaxed and continued staring out into the sky.

Clexion by the swing beside me and whistled.

"He's a bastard, y'know. Nakita ko ang ginawa niya sayo kanina."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at agad naman niyang tinaas ang dalawa niyang kamay.

"Hey, hindi ko sinasadya! I mean, napadaan lang naman ako and all.."

Umirap ako sa kanya. Wala akong ganang makipagtalo sa isang makulit na nilalang na kagaya ni Clexion. After a fee minutes of silence, I pathetically blurted out,

"Yup. He's a bastard.. Pero ako naman ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagkakaganyan. Maybe..he's happy with Jessica. Right?"

Nakatitig sa akin si Clexion, his green eyes then darted at something. He then pointed at my neck.

"Ang ironic mo. Why are you still wearing that if you know you're the one who caused him pain?"

Napatingin ako sa leeg ko at noon ko lang napagtantong I was wearing the necklace Night gave me on my 19th birthday. The one with the padlock pendant. Napangiti ako ng mapait. Agad kong tinanggal ang kwintas at ibinulsa ito. I'll have to return this to him one day.

"CC, natry mo na bang magmahal?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Clex at agad na umiling.

"Sa totoo lang, kahit pogi ako.. NGSB ako! Hahaha! Masyado kong pinoproblema si Lee at ang banta niya noong papatayin niya ang Mommy ko.. Kaya siguro wala akong oras para sa ganyang drama."

Napailing na lang ako sa pagiging enthusiastic niya. Kawawa talaga ang magiging girlfriend ni CC balang araw. Masyadong makulit ang isang 'to eh! Pero still, I can feel this guy's responsible and caring.

"Clex?"

"Yup, babe?"

Binatukan ko nga.

"ARAY!"

Natawa na lang kaming pareho. He was like the little brother I never had. I leaned closer to him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks for making me feel better, kid."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napaatras. He had a comic expression written on his face.

"WAAAAAH! You kissed me! Di na'ko virgin..ajujujuju!"

=___= ano daw?

"The heck?"

Ngumiti siya sa'kin ng nakakaloko.

"Sabi ko na nga ba, at tinatablan ka ng charms ko eh! Mwahahaha! Pero, sorry to say.. I'm not up for incest."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Incest?"

Lumawak ang ngiti niya.

"I think it's time I'd tell you, ate."

***