To Love Again

Chapter 9: Babalik

"How's the blueprint?" I asked Steel. Bumaling siya sakin and spoke. "It's finished. We'll just get it when we come back in Manila." Sagot niya.

"How about the model of the resort?" Siya naman ang nagtanong sakin. I drank my water at pagkatapos ay pinahid ko ang labi ko. "Tapos na rin. Pinagawa ko nalang sa pinsan ko. Ihahatid niya nalang 'yun sa condo ko. She has the spare key naman." He simply nodded at my answer.

Nag-iimpake na siya habang ako ay nakatingin lang sakanya. Mamaya na ako mag-impake tinatamad pa ako tsaka 5 pm pa naman ang byahe namin. I know it's weird because I'm actually in his room right now. Nagkalat ang mga damit at gamit niya sa loob. Plus, he also looks like a mess pero maganda parin siyang tignan. What am I thinking? Minamanyak ko ba siya? No! Hindi naman, Nyx.

I looked at his face. Ang tangos ng ilong tapos ang pula pa ng labi. Mahaba pala ang pilikmata niya tapos ang kapal pa. He kinda looks nice. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanyang biceps. They look strong. He also has veiny arms and I don't know why but it looked attractive. I looked lower to see his stomach part. Naalala ko parin yung encounter namin na half-naked siya sa garden. Walong pandesal 'yun.

"Hey!"

I came back to my senses and I saw him waving at my face. He's in front of me now. "Sorry, I spaced out." I smiled at him but deep inside, my stomach is turning upside down. Ang lapit niya kasi! Can he just move a bit farther?

"Akala ko hinuhubaran mo na ako gamit ang mata mo." Sumingkit ang mata niya habang sinabi niya 'yun sakin. Hinampas ko siya sa balikat. "D-di ah! Why would I even do that to you? Di kita type." Mataray kong sabi.

Tumawa lamang siya at bumalik sa pwesto niya. Tinuloy niyang inayos ang mga gamit niyang nasa sahig pa. "Who was that?" Napalingon ako sa biglaang tanong niya sakin. Napansin niya ang confused look ko and shook his head. "Yung nasa sasakyan." He added.

Oh. Siya. "It's none of your business." I crossed my arms.

"Come on, you can tell me. I can be trusted, you know." Sabi niya sakin. I grinned at what he said. Oh really? Trust? I sighed.

I decided to say it to him. I know that he'll just keep on forcing me to say it if I won't say it to him now. "It was my ex." Panimula ko. Bahagya siyang tumingin sakin at tinigil muna ang pagligpit. He started to listen. "Pumunta siya dito para magbakasyon. Kahapon, namasyal lang ako tapos nung papauwi na ako, nakita niya ako tapos hinatid niya ako dito."

Di parin siya umimik at tinignan parin ako. "Ang weird 'no? Iiwan ka ng taong minahal mo noon tapos biglang susulpot nalang and then act like nothing bad happened." I showed him a weak smile. "He broke me into pieces. Minahal ko siya. He was my first love and he made me believe that he's going to be the man who'll cherish me forever. Pero Iniwan niya akong walang sinabi. Hindi siya nagpaalam kaya hindi ko rin alam kung saan siya pupunta nun." Napaluha na ako.

"I wasted all the love that I had in my heart to him. I knew that he also loved me the way I did. Pero bakit ganun?" Pinahid ko ang luha ko at pinigilan nalang ang umiyak.

"This is embarrassing. I'm crying in front of you." Bahagya akong tumawa habang pinunasan ang luha gamit ang likod ng kamay ko.

Lumapit siya sakin at titig-titig parin siya sakin. "Bakit? May dumi ba 'yung mukha ko?" Tinanong ko siya. Nabigla nalang ako nang hatakin niya ako papalit sakanya at niyakap niya akong mahigpit. He touched the back of my head and rubbed it. His hug was warm and unique. It's not like a normal hug. It's not bad. I wrapped my arms around his waist. I decided to be consumed in his hug. Wala namang meaning ito diba?
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"I need to find her!" Apollo hissed on the phone. Bahagya akong napalayo sa cellphone ko dahil sa ingay nito.

"And why are you calling me?" Nakakairita na itong pinsan ko.

"You know where she is. Just tell me, Nyx." I could sense his desperation. I admit na naaawa na ako sakanya but he needs to do this by himself. He needs to learn his lesson.

"I told you, Apol. I don't know where she is!" I denied. Hannah doesn't know that Apollo's finding her. She thought that he has moved on and went on with his life.

"Wag mokong lokohin, Nyx Amherst! Tinatago mo siya 'no?!" Sumigaw na siya sa kabilang linya.

I need to end this call! He's so annoying! Pinatay ko agad ang tawag. Ang kulit-kulit naman oh! Dinadamay pa ako. Gago talaga. I blocked all her locations and whereabouts. I know, I know. Masama nga 'yun but he really needs to learn his lesson. Tangina niya kasi. Sinaktan si Hannah halos hindi na lumalabas ng bahay nila. Nang pinuntahan ko siya sa bahay nila she looked so wrecked. That's why I had to do it. Only Kez and Bree knows about this. I didn't tell Hannah about this because I know she'll kill me kapag nalaman niya ito. But I'm quite proud of Apollo because he's really doing everything to find her. Binaba niya ang pride niya para kay Hannah and that's already a big improvement on him.

Nag-ring na naman ang cellphone ko. Ang kulit talaga niya! I quickly accepted the call. "I told you I don't—"

"Anak? Anong nangyari? Are you mad?" Omg. It's mom.

"Oh, no, mom. Hindi ako galit. I thought Apollo called again. He was being annoying again." I told her.

She sighed. "Anak, wag mong ganyanin ang pinsan mo. He's still older than you, sweetheart." I rolled my eyes. "But, mom, ang kulit niya eh." Sambit ko.

"Nyx, I didn't raise you to be like that." Pagbabanta niya sakin. "Fine, mom."

She chuckled. "Good." She cleared her throat. "Anak, your little sister's coming home. Your father and I couldn't pick her up because we're busy. So, can you pick her up instead?" My eyes widened. She's coming home?

"Of course, mom. I'd be glad to pick her up." Ngumiti ako. Miss na miss ko na talaga ang kapatid ko. Finally, she's coming home. Mom giggled. "That's great, sweetheart! Thank you. Well, I gotta go now. Ingat ka sa pag-uwi, anak."

"Opo, mom. See you." She bid goodbye tapos binaba ko na ang tawag.

Bigla akong nagutom. I really want to eat something. Baka may nilutong snack si Steel. I ran to the door to go outside but when I opened the door may nabangga ako. Parang... matigas? I looked up to see what it was. Si Steel pala and he's staring at me.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong ko. He scratched his nape. "I- uh... just thought maybe you're hungry."