CHAPTER 02

(CHAPTER 02)

KIYUMI slowly began to open her eyes, and she took in her surroundings. She shifted around in the bed, not recognizing her surroundings. She slowly sat up, but stopped as soon as she realized she was naked.

‘What the hell happened last night?’

Kiyumi was about to get up when the door opened, and someone he didn’t know came in. She stared at the man who had just entered the room. Her eyes widened and her hands were shaking.

‘This can’t be happening! F*ck! How did we end up together?’

Kiyumi can’t remember. She was so intoxicated last night. The man angrily walked towards her. She tightened her grip on the blanket and pulled it even more to cover her entire body. And out of nowhere the man handed her money.

“What is that for?” Kiyumi asked bewilderedly.

“I see that you are quite skilled. It really cost you a lot to seduce me,” the man uttered with pure sarcasm.

Kiyumi’s mouth dropped with what the man said. However, her blood boiled about his insult. Dinampot niya ang isang unan at pinaghahampas niya ito na agad din naman nitong inagaw at binato sa kung saan. “Who the hell seduced you? I don’t know you at all!”

The man grabbed her wrist and leaned against the headboard of the bed. “Take what you can get. So many women would do anything to get close to me, yet you are shouting for injustice?”

“Are you sick?” hindi makapaniwala na tanong ni Kiyumi.

“Take the money.” galit nitong sabi at padarag na binitawan ang kaniyang kamay. “Don’t let me see you again.”

Hindi na naka pag-salita si Kiyumi at sinundan na lang ng tingin ang lalaki na naglalakad na palabas ng kwarto. Ngunit napahinto ito nang may bagay na naramdaman sa likod ng coat. Inabot nito ang panty na nasa likod niya at galit na itinapon. “So tacky.” saad nito at tuluyang iniwan siya sa loob ng kwarto..

“Hey stop! I don’t want your money.” she shrieked in fury.

Halos sumabog si Kiyumi sa inis at pagkainsulto. She threw the money on the floor out of annoyance.

‘This was too much! I couldn’t believe that I have sex with that f*cking bastard!’

***

KIYUMI CAREFULLY came out from the door of the condo where she slept last night. The condo where she accidentally had a sex with that f*cking bastard. Mabilis siyang naglakad sa hallway ng condominium para bumalik sa kaniyang condo. Sobrang sakit ng kaniyang ulo na para bang pinupukpok ito.

When Kiyumi got home to her condo, she’s surprised to see Wynter, her long-time boyfriend, waiting for her with a cold expression. She didn’t expect him to come here this early.

While Kiyumi is looking at Wynter, he seems to know something about her. And she’s not wrong, when he stood up and handed his phone to her. He showed her a CCTV footage inside the elevator. Her eyes widened in shock while looking at herself kissing aggressively another man who’s none other than the f*cking bastard. And the next video was her, coming out from the condo of that man.

‘How did he find out about this?’

Kiyumi was about to ask Wynter to know who gave him this video, but he walked back to the couch and sat. She can feel him controlling his temper.

Kiyumi sat beside Wynter and tried to hold his hands but he stood up. “B-Babe, please let me explain. . .”

“Don’t you dare to touch me!” Wynter angrily yelled at Kiyumi.

Kiyumi’s eyes glistened in tears. Her heart is clenching in pain. She’s completely lost and guilty about what happened. “B-Babe, calm down. . . P-Please, let’s talk about this. I-I can explain what really happened. . .”

Wynter shook his head. “There is nothing to talk about, Yumi. I just caught you kissing another guy, you slept with another guy. You had a sex with him, right?”

Napayuko si Kiyumi. Her tears are starting to fall.

“How can you do this to me? You’re a whore!” Wynter shouted at Kiyumi full of hatred and disgust.

After Kiyumi heard what Wynter just said. She felt like her heart was breaking into tiny pieces. It was all her fault.

“B-Babe, I’m sorry. . . P-Please hear me out. . . I-I want to explain my side, I don’t know what I was thinking. B-But I swear, it was not my intention and purely an accident to sleep with him. . .” Kiyumi pleaded while crying.

“What the f*ck, Yumi! You really had a sex with another guy and you’re even expecting me to believe your damn lies?” Wynter exclaimed coldly.

Umiling-iling si Kiyumi. Nagsusumamo siya na sana ay hayaan muna ni Wynter na magpaliwanag siya nang maayos.

‘Ang hirap. . . Gusto kong ipaliwanag ang aking side. Ngunit masyadong matigas at sarado ang isip ni Wynter.’

“You think you can fool me again, huh? You have no right to explain! Kung ano ang nakita ko ay iyon ang aking paniniwalan. Wala kang karapatan na magpaliwanag. Because whatever your stupid explanation is, I don’t want to believe you again. You hurt me, you cheated on me!” asik ni Wynter na halos hindi makatingin kay Kiyumi.

Halos lumuhod si Kiyumi habang umiiyak. “N-No, Babe. . . I-I didn’t mean to hurt you. I-I was just drunk. H-Hindi ko alam ang nangyari at hindi ko ginusto iyon. . .”

Wynter’s jaw clenched. “Shut up! Stop lying to my face, Yumi! I loved you, but I never thought you could do something like this. Stop pestering me, because we are now over.”

Tumalikod si Wynter at nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng condo. Mas lalong lumakas ang kanyang pag-iyak.

***

‘We are now over. . .’

It echoes inside Kiyumi’s head. Persistently reminding the end of her three-years relationship with Wynter, a steady part of her life.

Isang linggo na magmula noong huling pag-uusap nina Kiyumi at Wynter. Pinilit pa rin ni Kiyumi na i-text at tawagan si Wynter ngunit wala na talaga itong paramdam sa kaniya. Tuluyan na talagang pinutol nito ang kanilang relasyon.

Yet instead of crying as Kiyumi probably should, she’s sitting on the couch, intrigued. She’s shocked and relieved. Realizing maybe Wynter was right, they are not meant to be together.

“Well, at least you don’t have to find excuses to not have sex with him anymore,” Kiyumi’s best friend Syren Collins exclaimed playfully.

Yvonne Byrante rolled her eyes while shaking her head. “That’s so mean, Sy.”

Kiyumi’s two best friends came to visit her after they found out about her break up with Wynter.

Syren scoffed in annoyance. “No, that’s sad. My one-night stands give me more pleasure than her boyfriend of three years ever did to her.”

Kiyumi knew that Syren never liked Wynter as her boyfriend.

“He was a good boyfriend, he was always nice. It was my fault after all,” Kiyumi uttered with a sigh. She even didn’t know why she’s still defending Wynter, even though he just broke up with her.

‘Maybe because I still have feelings for him.’

Syren’s on-fleek brow arched. “Nice? Really, Yumi? I will tell you this, nice is not enough.”

Kiyumi couldn’t help but to bite her lip.

Syren slightly paused to take a sip of her beer before continuing. “I don’t even understand why you date him in the first place. He did you a favor, because you would never have the guts to break up with him.”

‘Yeah, she’s right. I always wanted to leave Wynter pero palaging nabibigo. I loved him too much to the point na nagpapaka-martyr na ako.’

“Sy, ano ba?” pinigilan ni Yvonne si Syren.

“What?” Syren asked annoyingly.

“Stop saying such things. Yumi-girl is in pain, she needs our advice,” sabat ni Yvonne.

“Advice nga iyon para sa kaibigan natin, Yve.” patutsada ni Syren, tiningnan niya si Kiyumi. “Maghanap ka na lang ng iba, iyong mas daks at mas magaling kaysa sa kaniya.”

Yvonne immediately hit Syren’s arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?” sigaw ni Syren dahil sa lakas ng pagkahampas ni Yvonne sa kaniya.

“That’s for making you shut up. Your words, Sy. Yumi-girl is not like you, okay? seryosong turan Yvonne.

Syren’s eyes widened at parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Yvonne. “Ouch! Sinaway mo ako sa sinabi ko kay Yumi pero gan’yan ka magsalita sa akin? This is unfair!”

“What I meant to say is, hindi kayo magkatulad ng personality ni Yumi-girl. Kung ikaw ay malakas ang loob mong maghanap ng iba’t-ibang lalaki, you think Yumi-girl can do that?” Yvonne explained.

Kiyumi get her, but when she looked at Syren, her best friend looked in pain. Parang napikon ito sa sinabi ni Yvonne.

“She’s broken and she needs us to comfort her.” pagpapatuloy pa ni Yvonne.

Napansin ni Kiyumi ang pag-irap ni Syren sa hangin.

‘Bakit parang mainit dugo ni Syren kay Yvonne ngayon?’

“Parang hindi mo naman ako kilala. That’s my way to comfort her.” Syren pouted and drank the rest of her beer.

Kiyumi was thinking about what Syren just said. Iyong maghanap ng ibang lalaki. Napapailing siya, hindi pa niya yata magawang kalimutan si Wynter at maghanap ng ibang lalaki. It will be weird to date, and to have sex with another guy.

The sexual situation between Kiyumi and Wynter was far from an ideal one, but she felt so comfortable with him. From now on she will have to be naked in front of someone she doesn’t even know.

Honestly, Kiyumi doesn’t understand how Syren does it. Syren makes it sound so easy, so natural. Her best friend knows what she wants, and she is confident about herself.

Kiyumi was sure as hell it will be uneasy for her when she has sex with another guy.

‘If I sleep with another guy again.’

Such a thought drives Kiyumi to drink half of her beer in one shot, it’s enervating.

It was when Kiyumi recognized that Syren was observing her. Syren’s eyes were focused on her. It’s how her best friend behaves when she is analyzing someone.

Syren was always torn between being a journalist or a psychologist. And even if Kiyumi’s best friend is now a company journalist, she still thinks she wants to do psychology as well. Or at least Syren loves to use Yvonne and her as an experiment.

The thing is, Syren is usually right about what she asserts regarding them, it helps that she knows them pretty well.

‘I love her regardless.’

Kiyumi was expecting Syren to express an opinion because it is always like that. Syren watches, analyzes her, considers the right way to say it, and declares it.

It didn’t come, though. It was interrupted by the sound of a ringtone from Yvonne’s phone. Sinundan ni Kiyumi nang tingin si Yvonne nang tumayo at bahagyang lumayo sa kanila bago nito sagutin ang tawag.

‘It was normal, but for Yvonne? It felt weird.’

Nagtataka si Kiyumi dahil hindi gawain iyon ni Yvonne. Her best friend can answer the phone in front of them as always. Kahit pa importante ay sa harapan nila ito sinasagot ang tawag.

‘Hmm. . . Maybe it’s important.’

Bumaling si Kiyumi kay Syren at nagulat nang masalubong ang tingin nilang dalawa. Ngunit agad itong umiwas nang tingin mula sa kaniya at tumungga ng beer. Napansin niya ang kakaiba sa mga ngiti nito. Syren seems to know something about Yvonne’s caller.

‘Praning na yata ako. Kung ano-ano na lang ang napapansin ko.’

Kiyumi was about to ask Syren when Yvonne came back with a big smile.

“Ah, girls! Can I leave na? I have something important to do pa, eh.” nakangiting paalam ni Yvonne. Kinuha niya ang bag, palatandaan na hindi siya magpapapigil sa pag-alis.

Kiyumi smiled, but Syren chuckled sarcastically.

“Why in a hurry, Yve?” Syren asked. It was just a simple question, pero napansin ni Kiyumi ang pagkabigla ni Yvonne.

Yvonne looked at Kiyumi first before answering Syren. “My boyfriend called me. He wants to meet me at my hotel.”

‘Bakit parang hindi siya comfortable sa tanong ni Syren?’

Hindi naman kailangang mailang ni Yvonne dahil boyfriend nito naman ang kikitain nito. Maliban na lang kung boyfriend ng iba.

Syren scoffed in sarcasm. “Talagang mas importante iyong boyfriend mo kaysa sa amig dalawa ni Yumi?”

Napalingon naman si Kiyumi kay Syren nang maramdaman niya ang pagiging sarcastic nito kay Yvonne.

‘Ano ba nangyari dito kay Syren? Mukhang lasing na ata siya.’

“Hindi naman sa gano’n, Sy. Pero kasi kailangan ko na talaga umalis dahil hinihintay na ako ng aking boyfriend,” naiilang na paliwanag ni Yvonne.

“You don’t have to explain,” Kiyumi butted in.

“H-Huh?” parang gulat pang tanong ni Yvonne.

“Yve, you can go whenever you want. Go meet him, I’m okay now,” nakangiting sabi ni Kiyumi.

“R-Really?” nauutal na tanong ni Yvonne at yumakap pa kay Kiyumi.

Kiyumi nodded. “Of course, Yve. Support ka namin sa new boyfriend mo.”

Syren chuckled. “Yeah, she’s right. We will always support you, even though we haven’t met him.”

Napansin ni Kiyumi na mas lalong nailang si Yvonne dahil sa sinabi ni Syren.

“Don’t mind her. You can leave now,” nakangiting turan ni Kiyumi kay Yvonne. Pinanlakihan pa niya ng mga mata si Syren dahil mukhang babanat na naman ito.

“Thanks, Yumi-girl!” Yvonne hugged Kiyumi, and kissed each other’s cheeks. Yvonne was about to hug Syren too but their best friend immediately stood up.

“CR lang ako,” matipid na paalam ni Syren at saka walang lingon-lingon na pumunta sa banyo.

Napapailing na lamang sina Kiyumi at Yvonne dahil sa asal ng kanilang kaibigan na si Syren.

“Huwag mo na pansinin, baka wala sa mood. Sige na, umalis ka na. Ako na bahala sa kanya,” paninigurado ni Kiyumi kay Yvonne.

“Sanay na ako sa ugali ni Sy. Sige, aalis na ako,” paalam ni Yvonne.

Tumango naman si Kiyumi at sinundan niya nang tingin hanggang sa makalabas ito ng kaniyang condo. Bumuntong-hininga siya at tumingin sa gawi ng banyo kung saan pumasok si Syren. Tinungga niya na lang ang beer at napangiwi nang maramdaman ang pait at init na humagod sa kaniyang leeg.

Kiyumi’s whole life, she’s been sheltered. She never had that much freedom and only really had two friends growing up. Although her sister Mayumi, never suffered the same as her. Mayumi had the freedom, and wasn’t treated as if she was a ticking time bomb.

When Kiyumi used to ask her mother as a child, the response would always be that her sister is smart and independent. She couldn’t help but feel an extreme amount of envy towards Mayumi and the free rein my parents had given only to her sister.

Kiyumi felt alone, like no one could understand me. She knew there were people in the world going through so much worse than what she was going through, so from a young age she pushed away all these feelings and instead the few good she had. She had her family, more specifically her biological mother who was always there to protect her.

The other good thing Kiyumi had in her life was her two best friends from high school, Syren and Yvonne. She met them on the mountain where her mom and her were camping, and later discovered that they were in the same school. They have been inseparable and staying trio ever since, and now they work for the same company.

Sa tatlo, Syren was more sociable, getting along with everyone and more tacky. While Yvonne is the most serious. She is not the type of person that you can joke about things with. She is the most mature of the three of them, pero nakikisabay siya kapag kaming tatlo ang magkakasama, at mukhang immune na sa kakulitan ni Syren.