Scoreboard

When I woke up the next day, yellow rays of the sun were already peeking through the blinds.

Inunat ko ang aking mga kamay sabay upo sa malambot na kama. Medyo masakit pa rin ang ulo ko. Ganito pala ang feeling ng hangover. It was not a good feeling.

Tumayo ako mula sa kama at inayos ang kulay gray na bedsheets.

Wait, kailan pa naging gray ang bedsheet ko?

Napatingin ako sa kabuuan ng kwarto. Sa gilid, may hanging shelves kung saan nakalagay ang ilang trophies. Napansin ko rin ang isang bola ng baseball na may signature na nakalagay sa isang transparent na box katabi ng isang wooden bat at glove.

This was definitely not my room.

Agad akong nagtungo sa comfort room at naghilamos ng aking mukha. My pores were larger than ever and my face looked like a pepperoni pizza.

This can't be happening.

Nasaan na ba ang bag ko? I needed my emergency makeup kit as soon as possible. Hindi nila ako pwedeng makita na ganito. It's embarrassing!

I marched my way out of the room, making sure no one can see me.

Tahimik naman ang penthouse. Mukhang walang tao.

"Good morning!" A perky voice startled me from behind.

Agad kong tinaas ang aking kamay para takpan ang aking mukha.

"Breakfast is ready. Come eat," pag-aya ng lalaking naglalakad na sa aking harapan.

"Uh, nasan si Maxwell? I mean, Logan," I asked, following the footsteps of the guy, who stopped at the kitchen counter.

Nakatingin na sa akin ang lalaki ngayon na may lollipop sa kanyang bibig. Tinanggal niya ito gamit ang kanyang kamay sabay turo sa direksiyon ng kanilang living room area.

I immediately saw a guy sleeping soundly on the long leather couch with his hands raised above his head.

"So, you're Logan's girl?" tanong pa ng lalaki sabay balik ng lollipop sa kanyang bibig.

"Uh... not really," sagot ko sabay upo sa harap ng counter.

May mga nakahanda nang pagkain dito. The crispy bacon looked really tempting as well as the smell of the chicken soup. But, I had to endure.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Jale, by the way. I think I saw you back at the Psych Center once before," the guy introduced himself.

Of course. How can I forget? He's Koleen's boyfriend, I mean, fiancé.

That's when I realized that I just dropped my hand from my face. I quickly covered my face again. "I'm Ballerine, Bee for short."

"Cute," he remarked, flashing a smirk. "But, why are you covering your face?"

Napakurap ako ng aking mga mata. "Uh... hindi pa kasi ako nag-toothbrush."

Jale chuckled. "Okay lang yan. We all have bad breaths in the morning."

I forced a laughter. "Anyway, have you seen my bag?"

The guy shrugged. "Probably over there."

I sighed. Nagtungo ako sa living room kung saan naririnig ko ang paghilik ni Logan. Mukhang mahimbing ang tulog niya.

Wait, did he sleep here? Akala ko ba ayaw niya akong matulog sa kwarto niya?

So... does that mean binuhat niya ako?

'Cause the last thing I could remember was that I was in the living room.

"Yo, my head fucking hurts, man!" Someone suddenly exclaimed from somewhere.

Napatingin ako sa direksiyon ng boses, and there, I saw a shirtless guy with golden hair, rubbing his eyes and slapping his face to wake himself up.

"André, we have a visitor," paalala ni Jale sabay turo sa akin gamit ang kanyang lollipop.

"Oops! Hi, lady visitor!" Masayang bati ni André sa akin habang kumakaway at mukhang walang pakialam na exposed ang katawan niya ngayon.

I gave him a small nod, my hand still covering my face.

Just then, the intercom buzzed from outside the penthouse. Nakita ko ang pagtakbo ni Jale mula sa kusina patungo sa main door. Parang excited na buksan ang pinto. I'm sure si Koleen na ito.

"Our girls are here!" André exclaimed again, raising both arms in the air.

"Mag-tshirt ka nga, André!" I heard Koleen's voice from the entrance.

"No way! I'm so hot," tugon naman ni André sabay flex ng biceps niya. Mas malaki pa rin ang biceps ni Logan.

"Mmm... naka-on ba ang aircon?" Napatingin ako kay Logan na mukhang nagising sa malakas na boses ni André.

Before he could even see my bare face, I grabbed my sling bag from the single couch and ran towards Logan's room again.

"Sino 'yon?" Koleen questioned as soon as I ran past them with my face covered.

Hindi ko na narinig ang mga sinabi nila nang makapasok ako sa kwarto. I immediately opened my bag, grabbed my makeup kit and covered my face with foundation and concealer. Thank God, I always bring them with me.

After doing wonders on my face, bumalik na ulit ako sa kusina. Nakapwesto na silang lahat sa kitchen counter. May dalawang babae sa grupo - Koleen at Fina. Katabi nila ang mga boyfriend nilang si Jale at Kell.

"Captain L finally scores again!" André suddenly shouted. Nakatayo siya sa opposide side ng counter na finally ay nakasuot na rin ng tshirt na may mukha ng isang anime character.

"Siraulo ka, Dre!" sagot naman ni Logan na malapit sa side kung saan ako nakatayo.

"Oh, hey, bumblebee!" Bati ni André sa akin kaya napalingon silang lahat sa direksiyon ko.

I blinked, forcing a smile out of my lips. "Hi."

"So, ako lang pala ang walang partner ngayon," sabi pa ulit ni André sabay inom sa kanyang baso.

"Ano'ng nangyari sa kasama mo kagabi?" tanong ni Kell sa kaibigan.

André shook his head. "Nothing, because unlike other guys, hindi ako nagpapatulog ng hindi ko girlfriend sa loob ng kwarto ko."

"Kasi sa ibang bahay mo dinadala o kaya sa hotel," Kell commented, stifling a chuckle.

I saw Logan throwing a nasty look on André. "May gusto ka bang sabihin, Dre?"

"Ako? Wala ah." André proceeded to eating his breakfast.

"Bee, huwag mo nalang silang pansinin," sabi naman ni Koleen sa akin. "Upo ka na."

I smiled at her, taking the seat in between Koleen and Logan.

Inabutan ako ni Koleen ng plato. "Uh, thanks, but I don't need it," I politely declined.

"Hindi ka kakain?" Koleen asked.

"I don't usually eat breakfast," I simply answered.

I could feel everyone's eyes on me as the room suddenly fell silent.

"Bakit hindi?" I heard Logan ask next to me.

Tinignan ko siya. "I'm just not hungry."

Someone suddenly cleared his throat from the group. "Sorry, Bee, just a silly question, may I know your current weight?"

Napatingin ako sa aking kanan. I saw Koleen slapping Jale's arm. "Ano'ng klaseng tanong yan? Umayos ka, Jalen. Hindi ka doktor ngayon."

Jale sighed, giving up to his girlfriend. "Sorry, ignore me. I'm just-"

I swallowed the invisible pill stuck in my throat as I answered, "I'm 40.2 kg."

"No, shit, Sherlock," André remarked, eyes widened at me.

In fact, everyone was staring straight at me with bewildered faces.

"Wow, that's..." Jale paused, blinking at me. "Very accurate."

"40.2?" Logan repeated, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Jale shook his head. "If you don't mind, can I talk to you after this?"

"Why?" I answered back.

"I just want to know something," he explained.

I gritted my teeth. "I want to go home now."

Tumayo si Logan sa tabi ko. "Hatid na kita. Tara."

Sinundan ko ang lalaki paalis sa dining area. Kinuha ni Logan ang susi mula sa table malapit sa main door.

"Dre, coding ako. Akin na muna si Liv," Logan announced before closing the door behind us.

Nang makarating kami sa parking lot ng building, that's when I realized that "Liv" was actually André's black big bike.

"Hindi ako sasakay diyan," I protested when Logan handed me the helmet.

"So, ano'ng gusto mo? Grab?"

"Hindi ako uuwi."

Logan frowned at me. "Ano? Akala ko ba gusto mo nang umuwi?"

"I just said that because..." I paused.

"Hindi ka ba natatakot sa mommy mo?" he asked a question no one has ever asked me before.

"You just think I'm scared of her, but I'm not..." I paused. I wasn't really sure with my answer.

"Puwes ako oo. Baka mamaya ipahuli pa niya ako."

"Believe me, she's not worried enough about me para ipahuli ka."

"Huwag nang matigas ang ulo mo. Ihahatid na kita. Sakay na," Logan ordered as he started the bike's engine.

I huffed a breath, fitting the helmet on my head and jumping on the bike behind him.

"Kumapit ka nang mabuti sa akin," Logan reminded me as he speeded away.

"Fine," I muttered as I hugged his body tight. He was really jacked. I could even feel his abs underneath his sleeveless tank top.

Damn. His vanilla scent was intoxicating me yet again.

Several traffic lights later, nakarating na rin kami sa harap ng bahay. I wasn't exactly excited to go home, especially after seeing a familiar army green Jeep Wrangler in front of our gate.

"Her boyfriend is here again," I muttered, handing the helmet back to Logan, who was fixing his hair.

"Ano?" Logan asked, turning to me. "May boyfriend ang mommy mo?"

"Divorced na ang parents ko... matagal na," I confessed.

Logan fell silent as his eyes remained on the car in front of us.

"I shouldn't have come home," I told him.

"Alis na ako," Logan finally said, leaving me standing there. Hindi ko namalayang tuluyan na siyang nakaalis sa paningin ko.

"Ballerine!" That was mom's voice.

Nakatayo pala siya sa tapat ng gate namin kasama ang boyfriend niya. She never actually introduced him to me. I just assumed that they were seeing each other because of the countless times the guy was coming to our house.

"Why didn't you tell me where you were last night?" she suddenly asked, dashing towards me and giving me a hug.

I couldn't tell if she was faking her concern right now because her boyfriend was beside her.

"Where have you been, Ballerine?" Mom's soft voice turned furious while she was still hugging me.

"Sorry, mom. I was just-" I mumbled, but stopped when the old guy spoke.

"Ipapa-cancel ko na ang private investigator."

"Yes, I'm sorry, General Maxwell and thank you," mom spoke.

I turned to the old man as he walked towards our direction. He wasn't wearing any professional uniform, but I could tell from the way he stood that he was of a higher level in the society.

But, wait... did mom just say General Maxwell? Maxwell?

Is he Logan's dad? Are they having an affair?

A/N: And the conflict begins... triple update because why not? Hihi 🤭

Thank you for reading! Vote and comment please? 👉🏻👈🏻

Happy weekend! 💓
-f