Tainted Melodies (Ciudad de Escalante #5)

Phase 27

"Gago naman pala 'yang si Salonga! Dapat tuluyan nang sinira ni Jael ang mukha niya. Athletes, especially from Ridgeview and Chesterford are really problematic. Kaya huwag kayong papatol sa mga atleta," pagrereklamo ni Ranti sa aking tabi.

I don't know why we ended up in this topic. It is all about video from Chesterford's championship party that went viral. Ewan kung bakit ngayon lang lumabas kung gayo'y ilang linggo na ang nakalipas. Iyon 'yung kaguluhan sa pagitan nina Alexius at iyong varsity player.

Ito ang pinag-uusapan ngayon ng aking mga kaibigan habang kumakain ng merienda. Wala naman kaming assignments na kailangan gawin ngayong araw kaya nagdesisyon kami nina Harriet na tumambay sa Starbucks na malapit sa university.

"See? Jael is not really an asshole like what you're thinking. Hindi naman magkaka-crush si Solaire sa kanya kung gago siya," panunukso ni Harriet sa akin.

Natigilan ako sa pagsusulat sa aking music notebook. I'm writing impromptu lyrics as my pastime. My friends already knew that I liked him. There's a part in the video where Alexius dragged me out of the crowd. I had no choice but to explain to them why we went out together.

I pressed my lips as I put my ballpen down. You're wrong, Harriet. Alexius is absolutely an ass. He's a jerk. He's a walking red flag. He's good at playing with your feelings. And what's worst is, he's never been sincere. He wants to feel desired but doesn't actually wanna commit.

I breathed deeply, attempting to calm my nerves but I failed. Nanumbalik muli ang inis ko sa kanya. Nais ko ring tumutol at sabihan si Harriet na mali ang kanyang naiisip pero ipinagpaliban ko na lamang. If I did that, it sounds like I'm badmouthing Alexius.

At hindi rin kaya ng pride ko na umamin na nagkagusto ako sa gago. Even I don't wanna accept it. I badly wished I didn't like him! I couldn't admit it to other people. I'm already disappointed in myself for being vulnerable to him.

"Wait, I don't get it. Why Jael is involved in that issue? It's only between Pavia and Drew Salonga, right?" Cosette asked.

Curiosity plowed my eyebrows. Oo nga? Kanina pa pinag-uusapan nina Harriet at Ranti iyon pero wala akong narinig kung bakit ginawa iyon ni Alexius. Maybe, because it was his ex-girlfriend and Drew Salonga is Pavia's ex-boyfriend too. Parehas silang ex kaya sa tingin ko, iyon ang dahilan.

Damn, Alexius' past relationships are all stressful.

"Sabi ng mga nakarinig, may sinabi raw na kabastusan si Drew kay Pavia. He even called her a whore. Jael got mad and that's it," Ranti explained and showed us her phone.

It was a comment from someone who also attended the party. Siya yata ang nakarinig. I gasped from what I read, masyadong bastos nga kaya hindi ko rin masisisi si Alexius kung bakit nagalit. Kahit sino, mabubwisit talaga. If I also heard that with my own ears, I will not hesitate to kick his balls. I don't like Pavia but she doesn't deserve it. Alexius should've punched him harder.

But wait... what are you saying Solaire? Don't take his side! Dapat hindi pa rin siya nagpadala sa init ng ulo. He only made it worst by using violence. At kung hindi nangyari iyon, hindi ako mapapalabas sa sasakyan. Hindi ako parang tanga na iiyak sa highway!

"Solaire is so lucky! Tingnan mo, ex-girlfriend niya lang iyon, ah? But he still cares kahit papa'no. Paano pa kaya kapag girlfriend ka na niya?" sambit ni Harriet at humagikgik.

I sighed and remained silent. She's also a Heliocentric fan so I don't want to ruin Alexius' image. Saka ayaw ko na lang magsalita tungkol sa kanya. Alexius is both someone I used to talk about the most and someone I don't wanna to talk about anything at all. At sa kabila ng mga ginagawa niya, I still like him. I got blinded. Iyon ang katotohanan na mahirap aminin.