Chapter Four: Kind of Love

I can't exactly remember how I fell inlove with Nicolas but I just found myself wanting to cross that boundary beyond what we have right now.

At first, it was all just appreciation of him being with me every single day, and him being protective of me. I knew and became friends with him when I was twelve. The first time we met, we clicked right away because I am just as wild as him at nagkakasundo kami sa lahat ng bagay. 

Nic and I basically did everything while growing up. His parents treat me like their own, at ganun din ang akin sa kanya. We are family to each other.

"Hey!" automatic na umikot ang mata ko pagkakita sa kanya. He's running then he stopped in front of me.

"What took you so long?" tanong ko dahil halos kalahating oras ko siyang hinintay kahit na nga ba nagtext na siya kanina pa na pupuntahan niya na ako.

He's all smiles while hugging me. Alam ko na 'to..

"I met someone and she's hot. We exchanged numbers and talked for a few minutes. You'll like her," I rolled my eyes at that.

"Ako lang ang makapagsasabi kung magugustuhan ko ba o hindi. So, whatever happened to the sis over hoe? I thought hindi mo na ako iiwan kasi baka may makalapit sa'kin?" medyo nagtatampo na tanong ko sa kanya.

Ever since Justin happened, he doesn't let me alone outside as much as possible lalo na kung walang mga tao sa paligid.

Nalaman din ng parents ko ang nangyari and I filed a complain against him. The last time I heard, nakulong siya.

He raised a brow at that. "Do you think, I let you alone here?" he asked and averted his eyes in a different direction.

"Hey, Cal!" he called out to a guy na kanina pa nakatayo malapit sa'kin and waved at him. That guy waved back at him.

"Did you just ask that guy to watch over me?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. He didn't answer. Instead, he winked at me.

Niyaya niya na ako umalis dahil pareho na kaming enrolled. Two weeks na lang and it's the start of the second semester and we both can't wait for it already. First semester just passed like a blur and now we're down to the last chapter of our college life.

Nakaakbay siya sa'kin habang naglalakad habang nakahawak ako sa isang kamay niya na nasa balikat ko.

"Sino yung babaeng nakilala mo pala?" tanong ko sa kanya going back to what he's talking about last time.

He shrugged his shoulders at that. "Wala naman akong balak na seryosohin siya. I mean, just looking at her I know she's also the type who will go for a no strings attached set up, which is I am glad," I rolled my eyes at that.

"Oh I get it. You're just horny!" naiinis na natatawa kong sabi sa kanya but at the same time I can almost hear my heart shattering into pieces.

May nakilala na naman siya. Alam kong hindi naman niya seseryosohin 'yon but still, hindi pa rin ako sanay. I still get jealous everytime. Hindi sila magtatagal sigurado ng sino man 'yon but still.. She will be able to kiss and hold him like a lover.

If he'll ask me to go have sex with him, papayag naman ako. But it just happens that he value our friendship too much that he won't even think of me as a woman. For him, I will always be like a sister that he needs to care and protect. Nothing more.

***

I got bored so I texted Nic if I can drop by their house. He agreed yet told me to wait for half hour but I can't wait already kaya kahit magalit man siya, nag commute na ako. Anyway, isang sakay lang naman ang papunta sa kanila. I just have to walk a few minutes from the gate of the subdivision to Casa Gandia. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan maglakad mag isa because this is an exclusive subdivision with a high end security as well.

I'm a few meters away already from their gate when I notice that Nic is outside and he's with.. a girl.

Agad akong napaatras sa likod ng kotse at pinagmasdan siya. I don't know what they're talking about but I can tell that it is something funny because Nicolas is smiling from ear to ear. He even put his arms around the girl's waist as he gave him kisses on the lips and cheek.

How I wish that right now I am that girl..

"Hoy, mamboboso!" napatalon ako sa gulat nang may magsalita. Nang mapagtano kung sino 'yon, agad kong hinampas.

"What the fuck, napaka mapanakit mo naman? Bakit ka ba kasi nandyan? Halika na!" hindi sana ako sasama pero bukod sa nahatak na ako ni Criell, nakita na rin kami ni Nicolas at nung kasama siya.

Nic narrowed his eyes at me momentarily and at that, I can already tell that he's pissed at me.

"Yeah boy, mind introducing her to us?" Criell said tactlessly so I elbowed him gently.

"Yeah.. Guys, meet Alice. Alice these are my friends. This one's Criell, and this is my bestfriend I was telling you about. Millicent," pagpapakilala sa'min ni Nic sa kasama niya. Ngumiti naman ako nang hanggang sa makakaya ko.

All infairness, she's actually pretty. She's got that round, brown eyes, jet black hair, and a slim figure that I'm dying to have but can't achieve because I like eating a lot.

"Yeah, Blake told me a lot of good things about you. I hope to know you more better, Millicent," Alice said sweetly as she smiled back at me.

Usually, I can already tell kung maganda ba ang ugali ng babae ni Nicolas but this time I can't read her.. yet.

"Anyway, you guys wait for me inside. Kumain na rin kayo, nagluto si mommy ng lasagna. Ihahatid ko lang si Alice sa kanila," Nic said at nilagpasan na nila kaming dalawa.

"Let's go," I told Criell at pumasok na kami. I instantly smiled upon seeing Tita Arya.

"Hey, bakit ngayon lang kayo? Come on, I just made another tray and you're just in time," umupo na kami ni Criell sa dining kung nasaan din sina Tito Blaise and Bliss. I don't see Ate Ashley around, baka may pasok siya.

"Did you see, Blake? Kaaalis lang halos," Tito Blaise asked as he looked at me.

"Ah yes tito. Naabutan pa namin sila sa labas, pinakilala niya sa'min yung bago niya," it was Criell who answered.

Criell isn't the same age as me and Nicolas as he's two years younger than us but we're also friends him dahil anak siya ng bestfriend ni Tito Blaise.

I help myself with the lasagna and refused to look at Tito Blaise directly. I don't know but ever since then, ramdam ko na alam niya na gusto ko si Nic though he never talked to me about it.

"Do you know that girl, Ate Millie?" tanong sa'kin ni Bliss.

I shook my head. "Kanina ko lang siya na meet. Pero schoolmate namin 'yon. Nakilala lang siya ni Nic nung enrolment."

Bliss rolled her eyes at that. "I don't like her. Did you see her dad? She's so maarte," I don't know pero bigla kaming natawa lahat.

"Is she? Or you just feel intimidated because she's more maarte than you?" pang-aasar ni Tito Blaise that Tita Arya had to hit his arm. Medyo pikunin kasi itong si Bliss.

Bliss rolled her eyes and looked at her dad. "Yes dad, I am maarte but I don't ask other people to slice my steak or wipe my mouth for me. She's not even that pretty, maputi lang siya," napailing na lang ako. If Nic is here, away na naman silang magkapatid sigurado.

"Let you brother date whoever he wants. If there is anything.. You can't teach your heart who to love," Tito Blaise said seriously. Bliss rolled her eyes again.

"Kamahal mahal ba ang ganun, dad? I mean, bakit ba kasi hindi na lang maging sila nito ni Ate Millie? I mean, we all love her and their bestfriends. Isa pa, she's way better than those girls na mga pinakikilala ni kuya sa'tin," she then averted his attention to me.

"Bakit nga ba hindi na lang maging kayo, ate? I mean, it should not be hard. Kuya Blake protects you like his girlfriend, and you're also like that to him. More than anyone, kilala niyo rin ang isa't-isa."

Pakiramdam ko nalunok ko ang dila ko sa mga sinabi na 'yon ni Bliss. I never thought that she's actually rooting for me and her brother.

"Bliss anak, bisita pa rin ang Ate Millie rito. Let me answer that question for you, though. Alam mo kasi, mayroong iba't-ibang klase ng pagmamahal. What your brother and Ate Millie feel for each other is the kind of love as well that your brother feels for you." Tita Arya said that made Bliss shut up.

I just smiled at that but what Tita Arya said started to sting. Oo, mahal ako ni Nicolas. But that kind of love isn't the one that I want pero kailangan ko tanggapin dahil hanggang doon lang talaga.