"Okay ka na ba?" She asked gently when Hinx suddenly woke up.
Hinx groaned and looked at his veranda, but it was still dark.
"Anong oras na?" Tanong ng binata sa kanya.
"It's three am, anong masakit sa 'yo? Does your head still aches?" Marahang tanong niya rito.
Hinx brow furrowed as he look at his watch to find out it's really 3 am. Madaling araw na pero hindi pa rin natutulog ng dalaga.
"Why are you not sleepy yet?" He asked her in unhappy voice.
Napatingin pa ito sa sarili na bago na ang damit. She even sponge bath him dahil basa ito sa pawis.
"You're groaning in your sleep so I stay awake dahil baka magising ka. Inumin mo muna 'tong gamot." She said softly and handed him the tablet.
Hinx' brows furrowed. Bahagya nitong tinabig ang kamay niyang nakalahad. She bit her lips trying not to get hurt on his behavior.
"Matulog ka na. You should've just left me alone." Malamig na saad nito.
She just sighed and stood up. Nilapag niya ang baso sa bedside table at ang tabletas.
"Inumin mo na lang 'to, Hinx, kapag sumakit ang ulo mo." Aniya at humiga sa tabi nito at ipinikit ang mata.
Napapagod rin naman siya. Ang dami niyang nagawa buong araw. She cleaned his house, cooked for her lunch, for their dinner but he never came, she had waited until midnight for him and she stayed wide awake until 3 to attend his needs.
Maybe Hinx thought that she had fallen asleep already, because she felt him hugging her tight and pulling her close to him.
"I'm sorry..." That's the last thing she heard and she totally welcomed by the darkness.
"I WANNA buy ingredients for menudo and kare-kare. Papaubos na rin ang stocks sa ref mo, can I go out?" She asked as they eat their breakfast.
Tanging pagtango lang ang sagot ng binata sa kanya. Ngumiti na lang siya.
"May celebration ba kagabi? Naglasing ka ata..." She tried opening up a topic for them to have something to talk. She missed random talk with him.
"Hellion's birthday." Tipid na sagot ng binata.
"Oh. Kaya pala. But next time you shouldn't drive when you're drunk, pwede ka namang matulog na lang doon." Aniya.
"If I didn't go home last night, you'll probably gonna wait for me 'til the sunrise." Pabalang na sagot ng binata.
And whose fault is that, Hinx? You should have called me so that I won't be waiting for that long! She wanted to voice out but the situation can easily be manipulated. Gagamitin nito ang nakaraan nila sa kung paano niy iniwan ito ng walang paalam. That's actually worse than waiting for him 'til midnight.
She doesn't want an awkward atmosphere kaya nagku-kwento siya rito. She carefully shared her stories way back on London, careful not to trigger something on their past.
Tahimik lang naman si Hinx, she's not sure if he's listening but that didn't stop her from talking.
"I'm done." He cut her off and stood up. Leaving her alone.
She sighed.
SHE was busy looking for something when she saw a familiar face on the mall. She pushed the push cart towards his direction.
"Heixon? Oh, ikaw nga! I miss you." She sweetly beamed at Heixon.
Napalingon si Heixon sa kanya, nagulat ito ng makita siya pero agad ring napangiti. Walang bakas ng pagkamuhi ang mga mata nito sa pag-iwan niya sa pinsan nito. He still look at her like before, as a friend or a colleague.
"Claudia, it's been a long time." Bati nito pabalik.
Napatingin siya sa palasingsingan nito. May wedding ring doon, kasal na nga ito kay Cleo. Ckim must be really dreaming.
"How are you? Your face is always in the news. You're an achiever." Puri ng binata sa kanya.
"Thank you. Ikaw rin naman, ah. Ang bilis mong napalago ang kakasimula mong negosyo, plus you're a famous racer." Puri niya pabalik dito.
"Well, Benjamin has this wise business strategy." He said humbly.
She just chuckled. Totoo naman.
"So, how are you? I've watched you latest interview. So, you wanna get back together with Hinx, huh?"
Her cheeks reddened. Ngayon lang siy nakaramdam ng hiya sa mga pinagsasabi niy sa interview na 'yun! Paano na lang kung hindi sila magkabalikan ng binata? Nakakahiya 'yun panigurado. May maiba-bash na siguro sa kanya. Maybe she sounds boastful that she can have the guy she wants, but in reality, the guy she wants doesn't want her back anymore.
Napalingon sila ng lumapit si Cleo sa direksyon nila. She has this resting bitch face while looking at Heixon.
"I'm bored." Inirapan ni Cleo si Heixon saka umalis.
"Cleo, wait!" Habol ni Heixon dito.
Uh, did she just witness a jealous Cleo? Hindi pa naman niya naranasang magselos sa relasyon nila ni Hinx dati. Hinx never fail giving her assurance, and he's not just about words, may gawa rin ito.
And yet she failed to save their relationship.
Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtulak ng may malabakal na braso ng umagaw sa kanyang pushcart na tulak-tupak niya. She was about to talk when she saw him.
"H-hinx!" Gulat na usal niya ng makita ang binata.
"You seems having fun talking to my cousin, huh. He's damn married, Cladua Beatrix." He said firmly. Halos hindi na nga maghiwalay ang labi nito. He seems mad.
She sighed and hold his hand to calm him down pero tila napapasong nilayo naman nito ang kamay. She just keep her hands on herself.
"What are you doing here? 'Di ba may trabaho ka?" Tanong niya rito.
"Are you done here?" He asked instead.
Tumango siya sa binata.
Tumawag ito ng empleyado at inutos na ipack iyon at ipadeliver sa bahay nila. Hinx pulled her arm but unfortunately a group of media was going on their way. Mukhang sadya ng mga ito ay sina Heixon at Cleo pero dahil kilalang tao rin silang dalawa ni Hinx ay nakuha nila ang mga atensyon nito.
"Miss Claudia! Mr. Hinx!"
"Nagkabalikan na ba kayo? Paano po ang engagement?"
"Aatras na po ba kayo sa engagement, Mr. Benjamin?"
"Miss Claudia, inagaw niyo po ba si Mr. Hinx-----"
"Enough!"
Dumagundong ng boses ng binata na siyang nagpatigil sa mga ito. His face were dark and he looks livid.
"We'll never getting back together and just happen to bump each other here. Tuloy pa rin ng engagement." Hinx fed up the media.
Wala siya sa sariling nagpahila rito. Her mind was clouded on what he just said
We'll never getting back together... Tuloy pa rin ng engagement...
No, it's fine Claudia. Wala pa ngang isang linggo aayaw ka na? Just endure the pain for now, you need to fight for him, you still have plenty of time.
But what's the use of plenty of time when she's fighting for nothing? May hangganan rin 'to. Isang buwan lang ang palugit niya.
Hindi, Claudia. Mababawi mo si Hinx, kaya pa.
