"How's your wedding preparations?" Tanong ni Mom when we met up for brunch. "Can't decide on the motif pa, Mom." I answered. "Are you two having a hard time?" Mom asked again, raising her brow. Mabilis akong umiling sa tanong niya kaya nagpatuloy siya. "O, what's wrong? Nag-away ba kayo?" "No, mom. Don't you think it's too early? Everybody expected us to be married in 2 months." Utas ko. Kumunot ang noo niya. "Di'ba it's your dream to be married to Jude naman. Plus, you two have been together for 11 years." Sagot niya. "Did you fall for the waiter?" Dagdag niya na ikinagulat ko. Halos maibuga ko ang tubig na ininom ko dahil sa tanong niya na iyon. "Tell me. Have you been cheating on each other? You kissed other people not because you two were drunk?" Concerned na ang tono ni mom. Hindi naman ako makaimik. Oh well, alam ng lahat ng tao sa pamilya namin ni Jude na magkasintahan kami magmula pa noong high school. Ang hindi nila alam, panloloko ang lahat ng iyon. Mukha kami
Hindi ko na matiis si Baste. I need to talk to him now. But Jude wouldn't let me. "That was the waiter." Tipid at malamig na utas ni Jude nang kayagin niya na ako palabas ng coffee shop. "Can I talk to him for a second?" Tanong ko habang hinahatak mula sa kan'ya ang kamay kong hila-hila niya. Bumalikwas siya para lingunin ako. He looked so pissed."No, Gabby. You know how fast rumors are. You will never make contact with that waiter again!" He commanded. Kahit pilitin kong magpumiglas ay ayaw akong bitawan ni Jude. Pinasakay niya ako sa kotse niya at mabilis na pinaharurot ang sasakyan. "You made a deal, Gabby. Alam mo kung ano ang kayang gawin ni Tito Shannon for the sake of his name. Kayang-kaya niyang tanggalan ng trabaho at ari-arian ang lalaking iyon kung kailan niya gusto. And I don't want you to regret anything." Paalala sa'kin ni Jude na may halong pagbabanta. He's not wrong though. Maybe, I should stop whatever this nonsense feeling is. Baste is not for me. And maybe, I
We stayed there until the rest decided to party at the nearest club. Nagpatangay na lang ako sa gusto nila. Wala na rin naman akong magagawa dahil hatak-hatak na ako nina Kurt. Besides, it was for me kaya hinayaan ko na lang.Pinigilan ko na lang ang sarili kong lumingon sa mga sulok ng Bistro para huwag nang magtama ang paningin namin ni Baste. Even though half of me was still hoping to talk to him, I still couldn't put myself into it. Maybe he's happy now at wala nang pakialam. Baka, ako na lang talaga ang naba-bother na makipag-usap sa kan'ya to clear everything up."Does his presence still bother you?" Tanong ni Kurt habang inaabot sa'kin ang margarita na kinuha niya sa bar. "Yes." Tipid ngunut diretso na sabi ko. Nagkatinginan sila ni Amy."Then, why don't you try to talk to him? Tutal, hindi ka naman na pinapasundan nina Tito Shannon at Jude." Kurt suggested. Umiling si Amy at itinapat ang index finger sa mukha ni kurt na parang nag-ge-gesture ng pagtanggi."Knowing Gabby, hind
We stayed quiet as he held the umbrella above us. Kahit malakas ang ulan, pakiramdam ko binalot ako ng kapayapaan. Nang humina ang ulan, tiningnan ko siya. Naghintay siya sa sasabihin ko pero hindi ko mahanap ang mga salitang dapat sabihin sa oras na ito. I stuttered and ended up clearing my throat. "B-bakit ka b-bumalik?" I asked. "I want to try my chances." Kalmado at marahan niyang sabi. "This won't be easy though." Sagot ko. I wish I had a lot of choices. Jude has been settled with this wedding situation with me and he's been kind and respectful ever since. I don't want to disappoint our parents and relatives but I can't marry him now. Not with what I am feeling towards Sebastian. Alam kong maikling panahon pa lamang kaming magkakilala ni Baste. But that doesn't mean, feelings wouldn't develop in that span of time especially that the connection is there. He's probably my soulmate and I am willing to find out. Gusto kong sumugal sa bagay na kahit hindi ako sigurado,
Warning: This chapter contains mature content. Please, read at your risk. Thank you!We watched the movie interactively. He would comment to some movie scenarios which I would listen to. In fairness, hindi siya mema kung manood. He's too attentive and focused.After the movie ended, we still talked there. Our sitting position is what makes me blushed all over again. Nakasandal siya sa armrest ng sofa habang nasa gitna ako ng mga hita niya. We are trying to review the movie we just watched."What do you think about the ending? Does it have an impact?" Tanong ko habang inuubos ang popcorn sa bowl na nakapatong sa tiyan ko. "Hmm oo. May impact. It somehow reminds me of the time that we have. We're gonna be over anytime soon, Gabriella. I wish to spend every second I get with you." Bulong niya. "But here you are, making the most out of it. Tsaka, paano mo nasabing we're gonna be over e handa naman akong sumama sa'yo instead of marrying Jude." Sagot ko at tiningala siya. He was so amused
I couldn't sleep that night being all aware that Baste was lying beside me. He sounded asleep like a tired baby so I let him be. Pinanood ko lang yata siya magdamag. I got out of bed at 6 in the morning. Nagdesisyon akong magluto na ng breakfast dahil baka pumasok si Baste sa coffee shop ng alas otso. I didn't like to disappoint him so I needed to present him an impressive breakfast. I started frying strips of bacon. I even made avocado toast, egg omelet, milkshake, and fried rice. This is my usual routine. Naiiba lang ngayon kasi mas maraming serving ang niluto ko dahil kay Baste. Nang matatapos na ako, nasipat ko siyang papasok na sa kusina. Nagkatinginan kami kaya natigilan ako sa paglalagay ng mga pagkain sa counter. "You're awake! Join me for breakfast, please?" Bungad ko. He smiled sweetly and closed the distance between us. Nilapag ko na sa counter ang huling plato ng pagkain bago niya ako hinigit sa baywang at niyakap mula sa aking likod. Hinalikan niya ang pisngi k
Baste insisted on going home after my Jude encounter. Baka raw kasi bumalik pa ito at maabutan ulit siya sa bahay ko. Bago siya umuwi, I send away with him the phone and the new shoes that I bought from the saleslady at a mall named Sheryl, the one I encountered a month ago when I insisted to wait for Baste to finish his duty at the coffee shop. Tumanggi siya nang makita niya ang mga gamit na ipinapabaon ko sa kan'ya. But since I was good at blackmailing him, he eventually accepted it without whining. This relationship with Sebastian made me more confused as the days passed by. Tatlong araw ko nang dine-delay ang pamimigay namin ni Jude ng imbitasyon para sa mga magiging bisita sa araw ng kasal. Lagi kong palusot ang turnover sa kung sinumang papalit sa posisyon ko sa Harrison Morris kahit na ang totoo ay busy lang akong makipaglandian kay Baste sa calls at messages. Ramdam ko na rin ang pagtataka ni Jude sa tuwing tinatawagan niya ako para kulitin sa mga invitations. Today, we we
I fixed my tousled hair and checked who rang the doorbell this time. If it's going to be Jude again, I won't open the goddamn door. Sumilip ako sa peephole at nakita roon si Baste. He looks gorgeous, as usual. Nakaramdam bigla ako ng excitement kaya mabilis kong binuksan ang pintuan. He smiled when he saw me. Ang mga paru-paro sa aking tiyan ay tila mga biglang nagwala sa presensya niya. Nagtaas ako ng kilay para hindi masyadong halata na na-miss ko siya. Pinapasok ko siya sa loob at nagulat nang iabot niya sa'kin ang isang tub ng ice cream. "Bakit ka nandito?" Tanong ko habang nagtatakang kinukuha sa kamay niya ang paper bag na may lamang tub ng ice cream. I checked the flavor and I'm just so glad that this is exactly what I'm craving for. "Wala bang 'thank you' man lang, Miss? O kaya yakap?" He asked teasingly. Umirap ako sa sinabi niya pagkatapos ay tinalikuran siya. Hindi maikubli sa ngiti ko ang kilig kaya naglakad ako papunta sa kusina para kumuha ng glassware par