*[UPDATED CHAP 08 /12082023] Summer Solstice

06

[TW/CW: this chapter includes a person's experience with violence. Read at your own risk]

Sunday. 4PM

Stayed pa sa hotel kasi Nixie insisted na magkwentuhan muna kami. Iniwan na ako ni Marga kasi may hangout pa daw sila mamaya nung mga kawork niya. Walang kapaguran ang girlie niyo na yon. 

And then itong si Nixie, tapos na daw siya sa duty niya and right now hindi niya makausap ng ayos yung pinsan niya because nasa work pa.

After ko naman maabot sa staff ni Niko yung coffees, hindi ko na ulit siya nakita.

"So, tell me. Paano kayo nagmeet ni Niko after all these years?"

"Long story, Nixie. You'll get bored"

"Pagdating kay Niko, willing to listen ako"

"Hindi ko na rin tanda details e. Basta nakita ko siya sa cafe, ganun" I think this is the safest answer. Somehow, gusto kong i-gatekeep na we are living under the same roof and nakikita ko siya araw araw. I will not give that information to her. 

"Ohhh, I think he thought of trying out new opened cafes"

"You can say that" I smiled "eh kayo? I mean, bakit kayo nagbreak? I thought end-game na kayo" I saw her eyes sparkled pagkasabi ko noon "uhm, well, kung hindi ka comfortable, you are not obliged to answer"

"It's okay" she said and sipped on her coffee "ako naman nakipagbreak sa kanya because of Germany. Career orientated naman kase ako during that time and hindi naman ako naniniwala sa long distance relationship"

"I see"

"Ayoko namang ikulong si Niko sa relationship na I know alam kong hindi ko kayang panagutan lalo na kung malayo ako" she smiled "damage control ganon"

"I remember you said earlier na may boyfriend ka. Na-meet mo siya sa Germany?"

She nodded "arranged marriage talaga yon pero sinabi ko na sa kanya na that's not my kind of thrill. If they wanted us to fall in love, pwede namang in a relationship muna, getting to know each other ganon"

"How was it?"

"Honestly? It's not good" she smiled. Kinuha nya yung croissant from the coffee table and I noticed na parang may bruises siya sa left shoulder niya. She's wearing dress top with soft blazer. She noticed na nakatingin ako "don't worry about it, naaksidente lang ako last time" she explained and fixed her blazer

Nagiba bigla ang kutob ko. I think Niko was right, there is something wrong with Nixie's boyfriend

"Where's your boyfriend? Kasama mo ba siya?"

"Yes. He's also staying dito sa hotel. Want to meet him?"

"Okay lang naman sa akin" I smiled. Fudge, I'm so curious sa boyfriend niya, I wanna kick him so bad

"Let me arrange a dinner for four later"

"Bakit four?"

"Me, boyfie, you and of course si Niko"

"By the way, Nixie. You said that, youuu, wanted Niko back? Paano?"

"Lemon" she said and now we are looking at each other "we'll run away, together. Me and Niko" she added "after the wedding, I'll make sure isasama ko siya and we will go far away from here"

"Eh paano boyfriend mo?"

"Kaya na niya sarili niya and he will get it if bigla kong ginawa yon. Sinabi ko na naman sa kanya na I can never love him back"