ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Fifty-Eight

"THANKS FOR THE OFFER, but I don't need to know her through your perspective. I want to get to know her from her own words and actions," Jared's eyes blazed with distate. "That's why we're dating."

"Wow. How sweet," matabang na saad ni Oliver, sarkastiko ang ngisi. He slowly stepped back. "I hope you enjoy what you..." keeping them hanging with his short pause was Oliver's intentional lame dynamics. "...discover."

Then, Oliver glanced at Lily. "See you around, Lily."

See you around? Nanghihilakbot niyang sunod ng tingin kay Oliver.

Umatras ito ng kaunti palayo, nakatitig sa kanila na para bang nag-aabang pa ng reaksyon mula sa kanila ni Jared. Bad for him because all she could do was stare at him in utter shock.

See you around...

See you around...

Lily...

And Jared just looked on until Oliver turned around. Nang makatalikod, kampanteng lumakad na ito palayo sa kanilang kinatatayuan.

Nakalayo na si Oliver pero hindi pa rin makahinga ng maluwag si Lily. She shouldn't be bothered like exactly how she felt upon seeing Oliver earlier. But after what he just did, insinuated and told Jared...

Ano ba ang kasalanan ko sa kanya? He already won. Nasunod na lahat ng gusto niyang mangyari noon. Bakit parang siya pa ang may galit? Bakit gusto niyang sirain ngayon ang buhay ko?

Nakatanaw pa rin si Lily kay Oliver. Malaking bulto na lamang ito ng anino sa malayo. Tumabi sa kanya si Jared. Inihilig niya ang ulo nang maramdaman ang presensya nito. Lilingunin niya sana ang lalaki, titingnan kung ano ang reaksyong nasa mukha nito. Pero hindi iyon natuloy dahil napunta ang kanyang tingin sa nilahad nitong kamay.

She stared at his open palm, offering to be held by her hand.

"Let's go?" masuyong saad nito na para bang walang nangyari.

Lily was hesitant. Does she even deserve to be held by Jared's hand? She was right here keeping secrets from him, afraid that if the truth comes out he would have second thoughts about being with her.

In the midst of questioning as to whether she's deserving or not, Lily still placed her hand on his'. Pinanood niya ang pagtiklop ng mga daliri ni Jared para yakapin ang kanyang kamay. Pagkatapos, kapwa bumaba ang kanilang mga kamay.

May napansin si Jared sa iniwanan niyang wooden bench.

"Your drink?"

Saglit lang iyon tiningnan ni Lily. Then she returned her worried eyes on Jared.

"I don't want it anymore."

He just nodded, acknowledging her decision to just leave that disposable plastic cup of milk tea on the wooden bench. Their hands swayed slightly as Jared guided her away from the front of the fountain.

"Saan mo gustong mag-dinner?" ani Jared habang naglalakad sila. "Do you want to go to that chocolate café again?"

Lily pursed her lips. "Please, do me a favor. Let's not act like nothing happened."

"That's not my intention. We both know what happened back there is really getting on our nerves." Dama niya ang pagmasahe ng mga daliri ng kamay nitong nakahawak sa kanya. "That's why, I want us to unwind so we'll make ourselves feel better. Why? Should we just stress ourselves over that bastard? Pwede rin naman iyon," magaan nitong ngiti sa kanya. "You can cry on my shoulder, and me? I'll embrace you."

Tumango-tango si Lily. Jared was right. Something really bad happened, that's why they need to find a way to feel better. At the same time, she was not in the mood to cry. Walang nakakaiyak sa pinag gagagawa ng Oliver na iyon. Nakakagalaiti lang ito. Nakakatakot. Pakiramdam niya nasa slasher movie siya kung saan may stalker na nagbabantang patayin ang bida.