CHAPTER 3 (Part 1): Feelings

   OTHER PERSON’S POV

FLASHBACK…

“ Nabalitaan nyo na ba?” I heard someone said.

       I was currently at the University gym, looking for Chase when I heard the conversation.

“ Nabalitaan ang ano?” the other person asks.

“ Si Jupiter nag drop out na! I saw Chase earlier sa Deans office… he asks for a drop out form para kay Jupiter.” The first person said in certainty.

“ Really? Paano mo naman nasabing para kay Jupiter nga ‘yon?” the other person asks, trying to be sure.

“ Did you see Jupiter today? No, right? Sino pa ba sa tingin mo ang right hand man ni Jupiter? It was Chase. Isa pa, the Dean itself says that he needs to speak with her… and guess what?” she paused.

“What?” the person listening ask, in curiosity.

“She’s already in the States… Chase is helping her out, who knows he might go after her. They can make a great couple don’t you think?” She confident said.

“ Hindi ko alam, pero lagi silang magkasama baka nga sila na eh.” The other person commented.

“ Pero di ba si Achi—” she stops as the other person hit her. I didn’t dare to look at them, they probably knew that I was listening the whole time.

     I gather myself to leave and look for Chase. I feel hurt. Bakit? Bakit n’ya  kailangang umalis? Is this how much she dislikes the idea of us together. Is she afraid that I might bothered her because of what happen? It wasn’t as if I was demanding anything from her, I just wanted to be there for her. Bakit parang napakahirap para sa kanyang ibigay ‘yon? Those questions lingered in my mind.

     When finally, I found Chase at the back of the University talking with Samantha, they were so serious they didn’t even notice my presence.

I stood in front of him. He looks at me as if he doesn’t do me wrong.

“ Sam, will you leave us alone? May impotante kaming pag uusapan ni Chase.” I ask Samantha. Chase just nodded at her.

 When she left, I gathered all my strength to ask him.

“ Tell me, nasaan si Peter?” I ask trying to control my emotions.

“ What made you think that you have the right to ask me that?” He shrugged.

“And what makes you think that I don’t?” I said pissed.

“ Why? Dahil may nangyari sa inyo?” with that I held his collar, I want to hurt him but I’m holding back knowing that we’re friends.

“ Don’t you get it? It was a mistake to begin with A-chi! Sinabi n’ya bang mahal ka n’ya? Hindi di ba? Stop overreacting…” he said, habang inaalis ang pagkakahawak ko sa kwelyo nya.

“ This is exactly why Peter left, because you keep on clinging on to her…” he added with such sharpness.

        The sharpness of those words was enough to get through me. Gusto ko s’yang sigawan at sabihing; ‘O’o sinabi nya ‘yon!’ because she really did say it and I’m foolish if I’d forget that…

 AT THE HOTEL…

Isayaw mo ako

Sa gitna na ulan mahal ko

Kapalit man nito’y buhay ko

Gagawin ang lahat para sayo

Alam kong mahal mo narin ako…

       I decided to be at the hotel, for my father’s sake. Although I put myself as an exemption and decided not to join the event, besides I already did my part, and I don’t feel it is necessary for me to be there. I decided to take one of the hotel rooms as I was waiting for the event to end. I was feeling the song, when I suddenly heard someone banging at the hotel room, as if someone was trying to force an entry, so I decided to face the intruder.

       To my surprise, it was someone I didn’t expect to be there. It was Jupiter. What the hell is she doing here, drunk? I ask myself silently. She was gorgeous, I can’t deny that. She was gorgeous all the time but today was an extra. She was wearing a black skin-tight dress which was just above her knee length, it perfectly embraces her curves. I always love seeing her untied hair, but now I realized how enticing her neck look when her hair is tied-up. She draws her face near mine. It made me swallowed hard, she’s giving me hard time to breath. I can even hear my heart beating faster than the usual. She started caressing my cheeks, I felt electrified. She was breathing so closely, and I felt like losing it.

      I held her cheeks for her to meet my eyes, that is when I noticed that she was crying. Why? I was dead concern when she suddenly passed out. I carried her inside the hotel room in an instant. She was dead drunk. I watch her as she moves from the bed, she was facing my direction. I watch her as her face being hit by the light coming from the night-lamp at the bedside table. Every inch of her speaks seduction until she opens her eyes.

“ Mahal kita.” she said in a soft voice. Those words that melted me away.

“ You shouldn’t say those words if you don’t mean them.” I said trying to be firm, I don’t want to get my hopes up.

“ M-mahal kita, sobra. I love you so much, but I can’t be responsible about you… And I hate myself for that. I hate myself so much.” I can see her tears. I wonder why those words hurts so much when I should be happy to hear it.

     I draw near to her and wipe off the tears in her face. She held my hand, as if she was afraid to let go. I can’t help but to get near her, that is when I kissed her. She opened her mouth and started kissing me back, those kisses were enough to burn me down and even go deeper, feeling her skin as it touches mine, it was so warm that I don’t know if I will ever get used to it. It was the first, she was my first and I was hers.

    But then I wake up the next morning and she’s gone. Every trace of her we’re gone. She hasn’t gone to school after that. I was wondering where could she be? But what happen today clearly answer my questions. What happen was nothing to her. I was nothing to her.

END OF OTHER PERSON’S POV

“ Chase…” I called him from the other line.

      I was already at home when I decided to call Chase.

“Oh… why? Is there something wrong? I just got off from the University, I’ve already settled all the files na kailangan mo… just wait for a while, pupuntahan kita d’yan.” I hear him say from the other line.

“ Andyan  ka pa ba?” I can sense the concern in his voice.

“ Chase, buntis ako.” I told him.

   

       It was a long silence that I thought wala na s’ya sa kabilang linya.

“Are you still there?” I ask him.

“ Oh… for how long?” I can sense the hesitation in his voice.

“ Three weeks, to be exact 27 days.” I said plainly, grasping his reaction.

“ Are you okay?” he asks instead.

“ I guess, I already expect this coming, yet it feels so unreal… I don’t know what to do.” I force not to sound so down.

“ Should I tell him?” he said as if he’s asking for my permission to do so.

“Don’t! Don’t do that, I don’t think he should know… Besides ito naman talaga ang mangyayari, I don’t think changing my mind now will do me any better. I already planned to stay here” I’ve decided.

“Should I stay there with you?” he asks softly.

“Can I plead for you to?” I don’t know if it sounded as an invite, But I badly need someone like him to be with me.

“I’ll go there, just wait for a little while. Magpahinga ka na, makakasama sayo ang mapagod, make sure to eat, okay?” he said in certainty.

“Okay, bye!” I said, bago ko ibinaba ang tawag.

       The next day, was the usual. I’ve been having a hard time waking up each morning, most of the time I don’t feel like eating when I need to. I was hurting all over that all I want was to lay in bed.

       Dad, was taken out of the hospital which was a good news. I just wonder if this will be a perfect timing for me to call him. I keep on glancing at the bedside table where I put my phone. Until I finally decided to dial his phone number.

“ Dad?” I ask from the other line. I can hear him sniffing from the line.

“ D-dad are you okay?” I ask.

“ Oh, where are you?” he ask directly.

“ I’m not coming back, if that’s the reason for that question. I’m glad you’re okay.” I said honestly.

“ Come home.” I smiled bitterly, with those words coming from him. It sounded more like an order than a request.

“ I can’t Dad, at least hindi sa ngayon. I’m pregnant… with Achilles child.” I informed him.

“Will you do me a favor dad?” I ask him in addition, although I didn’t give him a chance to answer.

“ I want to speak with Mr. Cha, tell him that. Take care of yourself until I came back Dad.” I lastly said before ending the call.

         Weeks late, Chase came knocking at my door. I smiled at him and welcomed him with a warm hug. Even though I’m not so blessed on having a good family, I’m happy to have Chase as a friend. I can’t imagine him going this far, but he did. He’s like my shelter whenever I feel like crumbling. He’s a best friend and a brother wrap in one.

“ Anong iniisip mo?” He asks as he narrowed his eyebrows.

“ Gumuwapo ka ba? O dahil lang buntis ako?” I ask teasingly.

“ Dati na  kong gwapo, iba lang ang taste mo sa  lalaki…” he teased back, referring to someone they knew.

“ Don’t start!” I told him, although he was still grinning as he gathered all his things inside the house.

         I heard someone knocking at the door, and to my surprise it was another person I’m expecting. It was Mr. Cha. He smiled lightly at her.

“ Tuloy po kayo.” I said, as I gesture him inside the house that is when Chase got out from one of the rooms. He gives his greetings to the other person.

“ I have to step outside; do you want me to buy you anything?” he asks, on his way out. I just nodded.

         The house was filled with silence as soon as Chase left.

“ It is good to know that you have someone here to look after you, I’ve heard from Chase that it was a sensitive pregnancy, how are you doing?” he asks in concern.

“Sinabi po ni Chase sa inyo?" I ask trying to grasp the situation.

“ O’o, we met right before he flew here… I’m quite amazed by the friendship between the four of you. I would also like to say sorry to you, although it is late… seems like I ruined your friendship with A-chi.” With that being said, I smiled bitterly.

“Thank you for the thoughts, pero I don’t think handa na po akong tumanggap  ng apology sa ngayon.” I said firmly.

“ Suit yourself.” He accepts.

“The reason why I ask to speak with you was because, I want to get myself involve with the agreement you made with my father.” I said without hesitation.

“Go on, I’m listening.” He said as I offer him a tea.

“ Continue the investment with my father’s company. I’ll do what’s planned, I keep it discreet until I gave birth, in return… continue the investment.” I said, trying to make an agreement.

“ I didn’t withdraw the investment with your father’s company if that concerns you… besides, I can’t do that to your father. The company was already in bad shape that it’ll take some time to recover… Aren’t you curious as of why I let you fly all the way here? given the fact that I made a deal with your father?”  she said mysteriously.

       I didn’t answer and waited for him.

“ I know you valued your family so much that you can’t resist to help them. That is why I guessed that you’ll reach out for them when certain things happen. Am I wrong? I’m a good judge of character, I know that the moment I saw you.” He said in confidence.

“ I also knew that my son likes you.” He added.

“ Was that the reason why you choose me?" I ask in curiosity.

“Partly, yes. It was because of that, but I also knew that you keep on resisting him… that’s fine, I can’t force you to like him.” He said.

“You knew that, and yet you put up this scheme?” I can’t avoid sarcasm, but he just smiled in response.

“Both of you needs some time to grow, I can’t blame you for leaving. I understand that. Soon you’ll recognized what is important to you, you shouldn’t keep on hesitating just because you were afraid.” He said out of nowhere, as he helps himself up.

“ Your father was all okay now, he’s recovering. Your call contributes to his recovery.” He informed her.

      She smiled bitterly, thinking that her father got better after giving him a call? It sounds so unreal, more likely he’d died because he can no longer put up the company, because I was nowhere to be found I said to myself.

“ Please take care good care of yourself and take a good care of my grandchild. I will leave you now to rest, I need to catch up with my flight.” He said as he left.

     Seeing him leave, I let out a sigh. She has all sorts of people around her she thought.