Reckless Abandon

Chapter Twenty Eight

Enrico's POV

"So, everyone had a blast last night, huh?" Aika started, breaking the stone-cold silence between us minutes after we both got into my car.

"Yup. San nga pala kita ihahatid?" tanong ko, sounding business as usual, avoiding small talk. Honestly, I don't know how to act around her. Last night was probably an exception. You get daring when you are drunk and alcohol makes you forget that you have an on and off toxic relationship with someone you are drinking Bacardi with.

"Sa may Arnaiz Avenue," she cleared her throat. "I am meeting someone."

Hindi na ako sumagot. I took a left turn to avoid the oncoming traffic. The quicker we get to her destination, the sooner I get rid of her.

"What is this about, Enrico?" Aika muttered in a hushed voice, her body shifting from her seat to face me. I stayed my focus on the road, my hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter out of tension, ignoring her weighing stare that feels like it's burning a hole through my skull.

In my peripheral vision, I can see her shaking her head.

"I can't believe this. Why are you treating me this way, En?"

I clenched my teeth. Fuck, here we go again. "Treat you like what, Aika?"

"Like this!" she exclaimed, her hands flailing in the air. "You're treating me as if I am not even here! As if I don't exist."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Saan ba papunta tong usapan na to? "Ano bang ibig mong sabihin, Aika? I thought we agreed we're supposed to act cool around each other? Eh eto, ayan! Playing it cool."

"No," Aika mewled while shaking her head again. "This time it is different. Ewan ko... parang may nag-iba sa relasyon natin. Parang may nagbago sa iyo. You're not the same anymore."

"Of course, I am not the same anymore. Ano bang problema mo?" pabalang kong sabi. I remind myself not to lose my shit.

"This is not 'playing it cool' anymore, Enrico! This is straight up being cruel. Pakiramdam ko kasi ayaw mo na akong maging parte ng buhay mo. Kagabi, sa party mo... you barely spoke to me! Ni hindi mo ako makuhang tingnan. Kung hindi ka nalasing hindi mo ako kinausap."

"Hindi kita maintindihan, Aika. Magkaibigan ang mga magulang natin. We are always going to see each other every now and then. We will always be a part of each other's lives no matter what. And so what if I barely spoke to you? You had everyone's attention the moment you arrived. Ano pa ba ang gusto mo? Ano pa ba ang dapat nating pag-usapan?"

"About us..."

"About us?!" I echoed mockingly. "Aika, seriously, what do you mean? We broke up half a year ago! For like a millionth time actually! What's new and what is there to even talk about?"

"Alam ko naman yon, Enrico. But every single time we break up, bumabalik ka pa rin sa akin. You message me, call me, ask how I am doing... Kahit na I am dating someone new nandyan ka pa rin kapag kailangan ko ng kausap. I don't get it. Yesterday... it felt like I wasn't even there anymore."

I sigh in exasperation. "Aika, please. Let's just stop this, okay? Ayoko lang talagang makipag-argue ngayon."

"Is it because of her?"

Red light at an intersection. Thank God. I step on the brakes carefully. Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. "Is it because of who?!"

"That girl..."