Paika-ika akong lumabas ng kwarto ni Ridge at hinanap kung na saan ang kusina. When I finally found where it was, I stood beside the doorway as I overheard Ridge talking to someone over his phone.
"... Just cancel every appointment I have today. I got an emergency to take care off. Okay, okay. Thanks."
I stepped in after he put down his phone. Agad naman s'yang napabaling sa 'kin at salubong ang makakapal n'yang kilay na nilapitan ako.
I was about to open my mouth to talk ng walang anu-anong pinangko n'ya ko at dahan-dahang pinaupo sa isa sa mga upuan sa dining area. Nag-init ang magkabila kong pisngi sa ginawa n'ya.
"You shouldn't have gone out. I could just bring the food to the bedroom," ani ng malalim at malamig n'yang boses ng talikuran n'ya ako para maghanda ng pagkaing niluto n'ya sa hapagkainan.
I watched Ridge as he smoothly works around the kitchen, he looks like he really knows what he is doing, akmang tatayo ako para tumulong ng bumaling s'ya sa 'kin ng nakakunot noo. He looks like he is going to bite me if I move from where I am sitting. I bite my bottom lip as my cheeks heat up. Naalala ko na naman kasi ang itsura n'ya sa pagitan ng hita ko kahapon, while he was eating me.
"Don't move. I don't need your help I can handle this all alone," I should be offended on what he said but I just really feel like he just doesn't want me to move around because he knows that I'm sore and in pain. I nodded my head like an obedient kid and just continued watching him as he put two plates over the dining table.
When he was finally done preparing our breakfast, I was expecting him to seat in front of me, of somewhere else far when he sat beside me. I stilled for a second but then I realized maybe it was his unconscious doing, of course it doesn't mean anything for him at all. What happened last night is something called one night stand.
I stared at my empty plate for a minute as I get drowned by my own deep thoughts. This is the reason why I immediately get hurt, because I easily get attached to someone who shows care, attention, effort and time, most of the time I mistook attention or anything on those four to love.
Napakurap-kurap ako ng may maglagay ng kanin sa plato ko. Kasunod non ang paglagay n'ya ng beef broccoli at creamy salted egg chicken sa plato ko, napatitig ako kay Ridge na walang emosiyon ang gwapo nitong mukha habang sa plato n'ya naman naglagay ng pagkain.
"Thank you..." I said in my lowest voice that stopped him from putting fresh orange juice to our glass.
His green eyes looked at me, "Just go eat. It's nothing," he said and started eating.
I just smiled and do what he said when my phone rings. I picked it up and opened it only to see bunch of voice messages Jaime sent me on Instagram. I bit my bottom lip and turned my phone off to start eating.
"Cheaters aren't worth of tears. They're not worth being think of. But you won't get over him if you won't cut of your connections to him. What's the point of keeping connections with someone who basically chose to betray and hurt you?"
I looked at Ridge, he wasn't looking at me, he's looking at his plate full of food. I want to sigh but I am in front of food so I choose to not to, but my shoulders fell.
"We're classmates," I answered.
"I couldn't just block him, I need to keep in contact with him, because of school purposes." I spooned a mouthful amount of food and feed myself.
Binitawan n'ya ang kutsara at tinidor na hawak-hawak n'ya saka napansandal sa likuran ng upuan ng magkakrus ang maskulado n'yang mga braso sa ibabaw ng kaniyang malapad na dibdib.
Salubong na naman ang makakapal n'yang kilay na binalingan ako, "Change school then."
Bakit ba ganito na lang s'ya kaseryoso? Hindi naman s'ya ang naloko ah— no, he also got cheated on. He is just trying to help me and save me from more set of pain.
"I can't it's in the middle of last semester," sabi ko.
Ilang segundo s'yang napatitig sa 'kin na kinainit ng magkabila kong pisngi, ang sarap ng luto n'ya pero dahil nakatitig s'ya sa 'kin 'di ko alam kung paano ako susubong muli.
"How many remaining months before your class ends?" He asked.
I counted it to my head, "... 6 weeks," I answered.
"What level are you on?"
I pouted in so much interrogation, "Grade 11."
He frowned with my answer and I immediately know why, it's because I'm late for my level in my age.
"I stopped for a year; I was hospitalized after an accident happened when I was a kid," I explained.
His left eyebrow raised. Napasintido s'ya. "Where you planning to take college and what course?"
"UST, ohm I want to take civil engineering or maybe B.A in creative arts and design." I answered.
He stared at me for a second before giving his full attention to his food that made me breath easily. Agad akong sumubo ng pagkain ng mawala ang mga mata n'ya sa 'kin.
"Then take your remaining year in senior high in UST. Just finish this semester," he suggested like the tuition fee is something I could get in the corner of the street. Well with these expensive furniture's not to mention his car, I could tell he is loaded.
"I'll try," I just said. I came from a middle-class family, we're not that poor but also not that rich, although my uncle is a millionaire, being the favorite niece isn't enough reason for him to be obligated to support my expenses not even in school.
People think that I am a daughter of rich family because of my expensive clothing, bags, accessories and gadgets, but all of those was just a gift from my wealthier member of our family, a gift that I usually get after an achievement, which happen oftentimes reason why I got so many things a middle-class person can't afford.
"Don't try. Do it," he demanded that made me look at him.
Biting my bottom lip, I shook my head, "I can't my parents can't afford the school expenses in that University. They're still saving for my college and I couldn't just transfer to other school without a valid reason my voucher could disappear and I need to pay for the whole tuition fee for the next school year."
He frowned at me, "Your parents are still providing for you and you were in a club last night?!" Pagalit n'ya.
Yumuko ako, "I used my own money for that. I'm part timing as encoder, to provide my wants," I explained like I owe him an explanation.
Napabuga s'ya ng marahas na hininga, "You know what you lost last night, right?" He asked about it so suddenly that made my eyes widened.
Kahit nahihiya ay mahina akong tumango.
"Shit..." he cursed.
"A-Ah ok lang naman saka normal na iyon these days. Hindi naman kita poproblemahin about doon ginusto ko iyon at alam kong may consequences iyon."
I could feel his eyes on me that made me feel so nervous I started playing my fingers again.
"Your aura aren't the same as who I met last night. It making me think that it was actually the real you hiding in that innocent face."
That was the personality I discovered when I was with Jaime...
Gusto kong sabihin iyon but I don't think so it will be a good idea to say such things to a stranger.
I just continued eating and stopped giving answers to everything he says or he ask until I finished eating when he said something again after staying so silent after my last response.
"I'll pay for your tuition in UST for the last year of SHS..."
Gulat akong napabaling sa kaniya. Did I hear him right? But why? They said curiosity kills the cat, I'm not a cat but I was stunned when my question why was answered.
"... consider it as an exchange of what you lost last night."
Ano?!
____
THENAUGHTYGRAY
BINABASA MO ANG
Astonishing Us
RomanceWARNING MATURED CONTENT | R18 Broken, Aether Takahashi bumped into a handsome green-eyed man on the dancefloor of the club she went to get drunk for her shattered heart. Unbeknownst to her, the man she bumped into has the same fate as her; they were...
