The Perfect Revenge

Nineteen

Jake

It's been four days since the incident on the bridge and things started changing since then.

I couldn't really tell the exact time when it started, but AJ stopped fighting me on pursuing her. Given na nandoon pa rin yung dating pagtrato niya sa akin na tila buddy-buddy kami, there are times when I'll catch her staring at me with a soft smile on her lips and a gentle look in her eyes. That's when my mind tells me to do it. To get my revenge.

Sa tuwing magkakaroon kami ng time alone, sinasamantala ko. Hindi naman ako pinapahirapan ni AJ because with just one touch, she gets putty in my hands. Kaya nga dapat mas mapadali yung task ko 'di ba?

Not exactly.

We never make it past the kissing stage. Sa tuwing makakakuha ako ng opportunity, laging mayroong nagiging interruptions.

"May tumatawag sa'yo," she panted, humihiwalay sa akin.

Like a magnet, my lips followed hers. "Makakapaghintay sila."

Parang naintindihan ng caller na nakakaistorbo siya dahil for a good two minutes, he left us alone. After that, hindi na niya tinigilan ang pag-dial sa number ko.

AJ had to pry my hands off her. "Sagutin mo. Baka mamaya emergency na pala 'yun."

I sighed. Tama siya. "This won't take long. Dito ka na lang muna."

She stood up at nagpanggap na nagi-guilty yung expression niya. "'Di pwede. Magagalit ang boss ko. Kinse minutos lang dapat ang oras ng merienda pero higit isang oras na akong nawawala."

"Don't worry. Kakausapin ko siya para sa'yo."

She stopped before opening my bedroom door. "Huwag mo ring kalimutang ipaalala na pakitaasan ang sweldo ko." With a playful wink, she was out the door.

Umiiling ako in contemplation. It's one of the things I like about AJ. Ang easygoing niya at napaka-low maintenance. Hindi siya clingy. She never asks for more than what I give her. Kung hindi ko nga lang nakikita yung affection sa mata niya, sasabihin kong we're just fooling around. But I know for her this is serious. Serious enough to hurt her when the time comes.

Na-disctract ako sa thoughts ko nang maalalang may tumatawag nga pala sa akin. Kinuha ko ang phone mula sa pocket ko and saw that it was Mom calling. Not really the person you want to talk to after getting hot and heavy with a girl.

"Mom," I greeted.

"What is it with you two? Kaya nga na-invent ang cellphones para sa mas accessible na communication yet not one of my children answers any of my calls," pambungad niya.

"I miss you, Mom," paglalambing ko, hoping it will calm her down.

She made a sound as if she didn't believe me. "How have you been? Nag-aalala ako sa'yo. Hindi ka na masyadong tumatawag."

"I'm great, Mom. You don't have to worry about me. Kumakain ako more than three times a day, I take my vitamins, and I'm behaving here." Not really. But she doesn't need to know that. "Besides, I called you last night."

She sighed. "I know. Hindi lang ako sanay na wala ang pareho kong mga anak malapit sa akin."

"Malapit na akong bumalik. I talked to Dad this morning. He needs me in the office by Monday." But I need to get back a day from now dahil sa Charity Gala sa Friday. Which was the reason why my mother called.

Nag-finalize kami ng details and my mother consulted me kung may input pa akong maishe-share. Napatawa ako kasi we both know that when comes to planning stuff like these, I'm not the guy you run to. It's a surprise na ako ang nilalapitan niya.