Played By Cupid

98

I send a message to Dad that I’ll be going back to Manila for days for an ocassion to attend to, hindi para umuwi sa bahay. It’s just weird na pumayag ulit siya. Naisip niya rin siguro na sulitin ko na.

I was on my way to Manila when my phone suddenly vibrated. A message from a gc, writanic.

Writanic

21 Mar at 11:15 AM

Pine
sa jollibee tayo
magtatagpo-tagpo?

Verse
yes, yes!

malapit na ako, wahh

Val
omg, mahal, see you

malapit na rin kami
nila Riri at Nayde,
sinundo nila ako, bleh

I raised a brow. Sinundo ni Ryui si Riri? Nice. Edi kayo na. I turned my phone off and continued driving. Iniwanan ko ang kotse sa bahay at nag-taxi na lang papunta sa location.

The taxi stopped in front of the fastfood chain. My heart was beating fast. I don’t know why the hell is it beating that way, ang alam ko lang, makikita ko siya. I would freaking see her right here, right now.

When I saw her, my eyes glistened but I tried so hard to remain serious, specially when my eyes laid on him. Gustong gusto nang lumambot nang puso ko matapos makita ang ngiting iginawad niya sa akin pero pinigilan ko pa rin.

“‘Yong barko ko, lubog na yata,” usal ni Val, pasulyap-sulyap pa sa akin. I glared at him.

Pagkatapos kumain, dumiretso kami sa location ng boot camp.

I don’t know what to feel, she’s too close to Ryui to the point that I couldn’t even go near to her. Their intertwined hands make me feel jealous, I was like, ‘ako ang nauna, e, bakit ikaw ang nariyan?’.

Selos na selos ako. Gusto kong magwala pero nanatili akong kalmado, dala-dala ang matalas kong mga tingin.

“G-Gusto mo?” She asked shyly.

I couldn’t help but to grin. She’s too cute to handle. How can I survive here with her cuteness? What the hell.

Haley sat beside me inside the hut. “She’s the girl you were talking about right?” She asked.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang nakamasid sa initan. I just nodded at her question.

She’s a friend. My closest friend aside from Ryui. I just met her online, too, we both felt comfortable easily with each other and the last time I checked, I love her. As a friend, of course.

“She’s nice! I talked to her earlier, she seems like a shy type but she’s so pretty. You have a taste naman pala, huh.” Pagdadaldal niya.

“You know what, you should tell her your reasons. Babae ako, Play, I knew how it feels like. Maraming tumatakbo sa isip ni Riri, panigurado. Malay natin, she’s doubting her love for you already.”

I sighed. I hope, I can. If I only can.

When I saw their hands being tied together again, I felt a stab in my chest. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. How can he do this to me? I freakin’ trust him.

“Play, sorry!” Val shouted.

Naguluhan ako kung bakit pero nang makita ang pag-iwas ni Riri, hindi lang sa akin kung hindi pati na rin kay Ryui, nagkaroon ako ng idea kung ano ang inihihingi niya ng tawad. Tarantado talaga.

Did he confessed my feelings for Riri by himself? The fuck, Vallin.

I don’t know what’s going on in my mind when I decided to walk towards her in the hut. This is the chance I’ve been waiting for. Matapos ang pag-iwas at pagtitiis, hindi ko na kaya.

I badly want to talk to her like what I always do.

“Are you alright?” I asked out of the blue. “With him?” I asked. And that’s when she finally looked at me again.

“Do you felt safe, protected and happy him, hmm?”

Bumigat ang paghinga ko but I stay still. Kung mayroon man akong gustong gawin ngayon, iyon ay ang baguhin ang ugali ko. Kung hindi sana ako nagrebelde, hindi kami komplikado.

Tumayo siya at akmang aalis na nang pigilan ko ito.

“Let’s talk...”

“Kung ayaw mo nang gano’ng usapan, I’ll think another topic... basta makapag-usap tayo, I badly want to do this to you since before.”

I am the happiest when I witnessed her small smiles. It feels like home, so precious, so genuine. If I could only see this everytime I wanted to, and the reason was me, I couldn’t wish for more.

I’ve read her ‘Alternate Universe’ novel. It was painful, I wonder how she wrote that. Did she experienced the same pain her characters got?

“Dahil nakikinita ko nang isusugal nila ang lahat para sa iyo...” Ate Pine uttered.

The oldest’s words keep on running through my mind. Of course, I will. Isusugal ko lahat.

“I heard your conversation with Ate Pine earlier. Do you think, ako ang uuwing luhaan?” I asked chuckling but with pain.

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. “Don’t ask me that right now...”

Wala naman sa akin kung ako nga ang umuwing luhaan. Basta at hindi siya umiyak ng dahil sa akin, basta hindi siya masaktan, kahit ako na lang.

I just realized how much I love my Riri.

“It’s okay. I don't mind going home with my broken heart. Kung saan ka masaya... kung kanino ka sasaya.”

It was like something blocked my throat matapos masaksihan ang luha niyang tumulo. Mariin na lumunok ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. Kasasabi ko pa lang, e. Bakit naman sinuway agad?

“P-Play naman,”

I managed to chuckled once again. I pulled her head and placed it where my heart were.

Malumanay akong ngumiti at nagpakawala ng tahimik na buntong hininga. My heart were beating fast, as usual because I’m with her. I wanted her to hear how it beats so loud only for her.

I closed my eyes to hold back my tears when I heard her sobbing.

“Don’t cry, Claries. Isa lang akong hamak na gago at hindi gano’n kahalaga para iyakan.”

I hope that I could turn back the time, too, baby. I hope I can still fixed my fucking bad image... or I just didn’t go back to my Mom’s comfort zone.

I bit my lower lip and think of her again.

“I’m sorry if I messed your life up... I won’t ask for forgiveness, just be true, be happy and... choose him.”

She almost collapse while crying. I carry her and bring her to their room. Pinagbuksan ako ni Cici ng pinto at hinayaang ilapag ko si Riri sa kama.

I stared at her innocent and angelic face for awhile. I smiled. I’m so lucky to have you, baby. I hope I can keep you forever. I kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

Ayoko pa sana... alam kong kaunting oras na lang.