Everything She Wanted

12 Ayoko ng Torpe

I caught up with Jaxx as he was jogging in the village. He was wearing his blue tooth earphones I wasn't sure he could hear me, so I tapped his shoulder instead. He looked at me and gave me a fake smile before jogging away. Stunned, I slowed down and just walked. I was doing my cool down anyway.

Ano naman problema nun? He's been acting so aloof since Val's birthday. One day he was nice and friendly the next day he was cold and agitated, ready to snap your head off. He'd ask me to hang out with him and we'd have a good time, but a few days later, he's back to being a tease and a pighead. He'd be like an arden suitor one instance, then the next, I'm dropped like a hot potato because of whatever reason.

He was so confusing and nalilito na tong puso kong umaasa kahit na ilang beses ko nang sinabihang 'wag umasa.

May nangyayari na naman ba sa kanila ni Grace? Is she playing around with him again?

So ano ako, pampalipas oras lang? Since Grace is unavailable, ako na lang kasi I always made myself available for him?

I shook my head and scolded myself. I'm sure he doesn't mean to do it, he doesn't mean to use me. How could he? He doesn't see me that way. He sees me as a friend and of course, a friend would come second, after the love interest. But my stupid heart never listens. It never listened.

I was feeling more deflated and more pissed by the end of my cool down. When I finished my stretches at the park, Jaxx arrived. Nawalan na ako ng gana makipag interact sa kanya so I just turned around before he saw me and headed home.

Stupid guy. Bat sya sakin magalit diba if he had issues with his ex?

As I was about to cross the street to my house, he called me. I pretended not to hear and just walked on. He persisted and just before I could open the gate, he was already holding my arm.

"Hey, I've been calling you." He said panting.

"Sorry, di kita narinig." He looked at my ears that were devoid of any electronic device and raised his eyebrows but decided against saying anything that can agitate me. "How can I help you?"

"No need to be so formal." He chuckled still trying to catch his breath, showing me his dimple through his lop-sided grin. "Are you free tonight?"

I sighed. How can I stay mad at this guy? But he was so lukewarm I didn't know how to feel around him anymore.

"For what?"

"I found this nice jazz lounge in Makati, I'd like to take you there."

"Ako ba talaga gusto mong kasama dyan." It was a statement laced with skepticism as I gave him a bored look. Was Grace not available again? He squinted and scrunched his eyebrows, gauging my reaction before he opened his mouth.

"Of course. I mean, who else should I take?"