Destructing The Flame's Deception

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I opened my eyes as I remembered our first meeting.

He used to always be there for me when I needed someone. When everyone turned down on me, he stood in front of me, never minding all what people were saying to me.

Instead of treating me like how people treat me, he believes in me.

But his love for me was not unconditional until he cheated on me.

"Kape ka muna, mukhang ilang araw ka nang hindi nakakatulog nang maayos." Avhril handed me a coffee.

Agad ko iyong kinuha. I am at the veranda of my condo. Tama naman siya. Ilang araw na talaga akong walang maayos na tulog.

"Ang dami ko lang iniisip," 

She sighed. "What's your final decision, Ocean?"

I then faced her. "Avhril, if you were me… what's going to be your decision?"

"If I were you… then I'll choose no. Because, of course! I will never risk my heart even if it's temporary only. And that's the point. It was temporary. And I rather got bitten by the shark than to let them use me as a toy." 

"That makes sense…" I said while looking from afar. "I'll talk to Kuya Alas later and I will tell him that I'll say no to his offer."

"But to be frank with you, mahirap talagang malagay sa sitwasyong ito. Your heart is 50/50 here, at ang puso mo mismo ang tinataya mo rito. But… Silas really needs help."

My brows furrowed. "I thought it's a no for you?"

"But come to think of it, you'll just pretend… and nothing's going to happen. Let's say it will just take 1 month until he recovers."

Umiling ako. "What if it takes a year?"

"Then, uhm…" hindi na siya naka-imik pa.

Napairap ako sa hangin at bumuntonghininga. Seriously, ipit na ipit na ako. All of them were pushing me to accept Kuya Alas's favor. Wala manlang maka-intindi kung anong magiging lagay ko nito.

Even if it's not their intention to use me, still… the thought of it was there.

"Good morning! How's the manuscript?" Silas asked me when we met another day.

We were now practicing our lines for the roleplay. Nagsimula na kaming mag-ensayo para sa mga lines namin. Sa friday na ang performance namin para dito at mahaba naman ang binigay sa aming oras para mag practice.

"Noong sinabi mong mahal mo ako… totoo ba iyon?" 

I read my lines and I mixed it up with my full emotions. My eyes were kinda blurry because of the tears that were about to fall down.

Yumuko si Silas, kagaya ng nasa script niya. When we finished practicing our lines, he then clapped his hands.

"Wow! You act so great and with so much emotion! You can be an actress." biro niya pa.

I shook my head. "Nah, it's not my thing."

"But why?"

I shrugged. "It's just that… I'm afraid of crowds… I'm afraid to be popular… I'm afraid to be talked to by so many people."

Napawi ang ngiti niya at nakita kong bumagsak ang balikat niya.

"I'm so sorry," he slowly said.

But then, I immediately raised my head. Today is not the day to make some drama.

"Kumain ka na?" he asked me after a couple of minutes.

Umiling ako. "No, I still don't know where the cafeteria is—"