All I'll Ever Be(AIE Series #1)

Chapter 20

Fourteenth

"We do not have a thing!"

Sumasakit ang ulo ko. They knew. Why? How? I thought they wouldn't get involved pero hindi ko alam na may alam din sila. Did they also know that we kissed?

"Ang manhid mo..."

I turned to him angrily. "Do not insult me, Mico! I know what's going on and I refuse that you take me lightly!"

"Baby..."

"Don't!" I warned him. "...call me that."

Nararamdaman ko ang pagpula ng aking pisngi.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. This is so not happening right now. How could this be? We're friends. I'm his friend. How is it possible that he'll like me? I mean it is possible but... no! Sinabunutan ko ang aking sarili.

I look at the guy who caused all of this... and he was just staring at me like it's not right that I'm panicking.

"Do you have any idea about what you've just done?"

He nodded like a kid. "I am. I'm well aware of it."

Ugh! Such a jerk!

"Hindi pwede 'tong ginagawa mo, Mico. Your feelings are not an excuse, either. You said you'll fix this but I don't think you will."

"I will fix this-"

"But you're only making things worse!" sigaw ko na nagpatigil sa kanya. "Why would you think that you confessing to me will make anything better? Mico, hindi na tayo bata. You should know that this is cheating and I refuse to be a part of it!"

"I'm not saying that you'll be a part of it."

"And I won't, ever!" tili ko. I'm getting a headache... I need to lie down for a bit. Naguguluhan ako sa lahat nang nangyayari.

"Charlize, listen to me...."

"I don't want to! You keep spitting lies! Nung una ginamit mo ako para pagselosin yung ex-fling mo tapos hinalikan mo ako tapos ngayon sasabihin mo saking gusto mo ako? Oh, please! I cannot believe this."

He clenched his jaw. I looked up out of frustration saka hinilamos ang palad sa mukha. 

"I'm not telling lies..."

"Yeah yeah. You're not Johnny." I rolled my eyes then faked a laugh like what that kid from baby tv does.

It's not a good time to tell jokes but I can't help but say it. I feel like my head is gonna explode at any moment if I don't distract myself. He told me he likes me... hah! What a joke, this is.

"Hindi ako nagbibiro, Charlize. Damn it!" 

Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko para maiharap sa kanya. Nabigla naman ako nang makita ang nag-aapoy niyang mata. Nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan habang nakikipagtitigan sa kanyang galit na mukha.

"I'm not lying. I like you and I will fix this. I'll fix everything."

I shook my head unbelievably. "You're crazy, Mico. I can't believe you'd go down this level and used another girl just so you can hide from me."

"It's a dumb idea, yeah. I already received the punches and strikes and the intentional insults and bashes from our friends. I know that already." He inched his face closer. "But I'm not lying about liking you. I told you I'll do whatever it takes so I can have you..."

"I am not a freakin' toy that you can buy," nanggagalaiti kong saad.

"I know you're not. If so, we wouldn't be in this mess right now."