Astonishing Us

IV

Sinuot kong muli ang damit ko sa club kagabi.

I was wearing my heels when Ridge entered the room. Hindi ko s'ya binalingan pero ramdam ko ang mga titig n'ya, at kahit 'di ko tignan ay may ideya na kong nakakunot noo na naman s'ya.

Kakatapos ko lang maligo matapos tumalab ng painkillers na ininom ko matapos naming kumain kanina. Agad akong tumayo ng masuot ko ang heels ko. I'm done putting my make up on so I'm good to go.

The last thing I want is to look like a garbage if I accidentally stumbled with a person in my past. I don't want anyone to look down at me, I don't wanna look like a pity, I don't wanna look like I'm so affected, kahit apektado naman talaga ako. I hate it when I look like a pity, a loser, when the truth is I am just a victim.

Inabot ko ang purse ko saka walang tingin-tingin kay Ridge na nilampasan ko s'ya palabas ng kwarto n'ya.

Yes, I wanted what happened last night, I looked and acted like a total hoe, but that doesn't mean I am a prostitute who was wanting an exchange from spreading my legs for him.

My ego and pride as a woman couldn't take what he said.

Palabas na ako ng condo n'ya ng hablutin ni Ridge ang pulso ko, "Where are you going?" He asked with a deep frown to his forehead.

"Going home. Thank you for the breakfast and for what happened last night. But I don't need your money nor your connection to be in the school I want. I can manage," I said with my face void of any emotions and formal voice.

This is the personality I invented to protect myself, the Aether who is void of emotions, the one who doesn't care, the strong one, the bitch Aether who has high walls surrounds her.

I got so comfortable with him that I show him my soft childish side, which is a mistake. He is a stranger, nothing more. This is also one of the reasons why I easily get hurt, I easily get comfortable with someone who shows even a small amount of care.

I removed his hand from holding my wrist and leave without saying a goodbye.

I WENT HOME, with the house empty. I smiled bitterly because I know why. My dad probably cheated again and mom and my sister left and of course my father will be nowhere else to be found. It's always have been like this so what else to expect? Nahiga ako sa sofa sa salas at nag-scroll sa cellphone ko.

I need to look for a job. I hate to admit but that Ridge's suggestion is the better thing to do. I need to cut of every single toxic person in my life if I want to heal and grow. That's why I will work, to earn at least enough money for my tuition for the last 2 semesters before college. I need at least 60,000 for the total fees.

I massage my temple after scrolling for few hours. I couldn't see any hiring jobs that could be home base. I'm studying in the morning so I cannot go to office work. I bite my bottom lip before I decided to take a nap when I felt my between aching.

Yeah, right. I'm still sore.

I SIGH AS I STEPPED INSIDE OUR classroom. My chest immediately lightened when I found out Jaime wasn't here yet, as usual he is late. I took out my compact mirror from my LV bag pack. It was a gift from my auntie and I decided to use it for school, I opened my compact powder to look at its mirror.

I did a simple clean look today. I split-bun my short hair, and did a no-make-up, make-up look. I look fresh and clean but my mind isn't fresh. I feel so stressed and pressured, I spend my whole weekend looking for a job that could provide for my school expenses. Kating-kati na'kong lumipat ng school, at of course to finally provide everything for myself.

I felt someone staring at me that made me sigh, I instantly knew that it was him. I fixed my well-fixed hair and stay unbothered. I don't how and when but I just stopped missing him. Was it because its Ridge that have been pestering my mind lately? I blow out a deep breath and shook away the thought. It's been three days since that day and night, and luckily, I never see him again.

Well, that is already expected because we do not live in the same city. Dumayo lang naman ako ng Taguig para mag-club.

I heard whispers from my back as I felt eyes on me.

"Uy sino 'yan, Jaime? your girl?"

"Special someone?"

Gusto ko matawa. Cheater magkakaroon ng special someone? I don't know what are they up to or talking about but it is just so stupid.

I am waiting for my friends, Mykel and Nicole as I disregarded the rumors from my behind, when someone called me from the door of our room.

I frowned to see it was our school's security guard, Kuya Kley, napababa ako ng tingin sa kamay n'yang may hawak na paper bag ng Starbucks na kinatubig ng bagang ko.

Itinaas iyon ni Kuya Kley at inuumang na tila inaabot sa 'kin na kinakunot noo ko.

"Puge ng manliligaw mo a, mukhang makwarta din, naka-sports car." an'ya na kinangiwi ko.

"Akin 'yan Kuya Kley?" Paninigurado ko.

Tumango s'ya na kinaasintido ko. Tumayo ako at inabot ang inaabot n'ya sa 'kin.

"kanino ho galing?" Tanong ko.

"Tinanong ko din pero sabi n'ya kilala mo na daw s'ya, misteryus." Ani Kuya Kley na kinasintido ko ulit, napabuga ako ng hangin sa tumango na lang bago bumalik sa upuan ko.

I opened the paper bag and pulled out the caramel frappe inside and a donut when a letter fell from those two. Yumukod ako para abutin iyon at basahin ang nakasulat doon.

'I'm sorry for my words, Babe. I know you didn't like it. Forgive me?' -R. Haden

"Who's R. Haden? Don't you know the 3-month rule?" A voice from my back said that made me frown.

Without looking at Jaime, I spoke. "3-month rule is for a healthy relationship with healthy break up, not for a toxic relationship that end up because of cheating."

___

THENAUGHTYGRAY

RULE 1. WAG MAG ANTAY MATAPOS ANG 3 MONTH RULE KUNG 3RD PARTY ANG DAHILAN NG BREAK UP, LUMANDI KA TEH.