HaeSoo Playbook

When Scars Become Art

When Scars Become Art (Haesoo)
Cheating

"Why do men cheat?"
Natigilan si Haein sa tanong na iyon ni Jisoo. Kunot na kunot ang noo nito habang nakatitig sa cell phone nito.
"Is that a rhetorical question or are you genuinely curious?" tanong niya rito.
Tumingin ito sa kanya. Hindi nakangiti si Jisoo.
"Ano'ng difference ng magiging sagot mo?"
"If you're just looking for a debate whether I will cheat on you, you'll not get it from me, Jisoo. And if you're just curious, I'll help you search those magazines and internet on why men cheat."
Pumalatak ito. Obviously not impressed by his subtlety of throwing his love in that sentence. Lihim na lang siyang napangiti.
"What's going on, Jisoo?" he asked.
She fiddled her fingers on her lap, her eyes faraway, and he knew the solemn look on her face she's thinking of something sad and painful again.
Kinuha niya ang cell phone nito at tiningnan kung ano ang bina-browse nito kanina. Pero isang Facebook post lang iyon ng kilalang asawa ng isang sikat na singer.
Tumaas ang kilay niya nang mabasa ang laman ng message.
"He's her best friend," wika ni Jisoo na nakapagpabalik ng tingin niya rito. "He knew her trauma about marriage, family, and basically he knew all the things that could break and hurt her...pero nagawa pa rin niyang saktan siya."
"Are you asking...am I capable of hurting you, too? Kasi best friend mo ako at dahil alam ko rin ang mga pinagdaanan mo sa mga manloloko mong ex?"
Hindi siya nagagalit na ganoon ang iisipin sa kanya ni Jisoo. Naiintindihan niya kung saan nanggagaling ang pagdududa nito. Kung bakit palagi itong urong-sulong sa kanya.
She's a broken pieces but his love will patch everything until she's ready to trust him fully and believe that he will not leave her. He will not be the same assholes of her exes that broke her multiple of times. It's a promise he have for himself.
"You're a guy. You should know why they cheat."
"Hey, hey..." angal niya. "Hindi dahil lalaki ako, automatic na ganoon na rin ako mag-isip tulad nila, okay? Men don't share the same brain cells. And I certainly don't have cheating brain cells."
"Masyado kang confident, ah..." pairap na sabi nito. "Baka sabi mo lang 'yan ngayon pero bukas o sa susunod na mga araw..."
Haein sighed before moving scooting closer to her on the sofa. Hinawakan niya sa mga palad ang mukha nito na para bang isang babasaging crystal ito. Ngumiti siya habang pinagmamasdan ang magandang mukha nito.
"I won't promise that I will not make you cry in the future, Jisoo. I can't promise that I will not hurt you with my words and decisions. It's hard to promise that you will not pull your hair out of frustrations because of me. But there's one thing I am sure of... I am done looking at other women. Ikaw na lang ang nakikita ko sa ilang buwan kong pagsuyo ko. You're the love of my life and I'm sure of growing old with you.
"We've been friends since forever and we've been into relationships with different people on our own. I regret a lot of things, Jisoo. I'm still beating myself up on why I wasted my time and let you get hurt by those assholes." Humigit siya ng malalim na hinga bago tumingin sa magkahawak na kamay nila. His thumb brushing her knuckles.
"All I'm saying..." patuloy niya. "I don't want to promise anything. Gusto ko lang ipakita sa 'yo na hindi ako ganoon. Gusto ko lang makasama ka hanggang sa pagtanda natin. Gusto ko lang na mahalin ka araw-araw."
Napatingin siya rito nang makarinig siya ng pagsinghot. Umaapaw ang mga luha sa mga mata nito habang nakamasid sa kanya.
Heart on his throat, he grabbed her shoulder and hugged her tightly.
"Kung mag-cheat ako sa 'yo--na kahit kailan ay hindi mangyayari--you're free to make me your dom anytime," biro niya rito.
Jisoo giggled and sniffled. Malapad na ang ngiti sa mga labi nito.
"Dom? I can't imagine, Haein."
"Yeah, tie me up. Spank me, baby. Whatever. I'll do it for you--"
She shushed him. "Careful. You might get what you asked for."
He smirked. "Ganoon ako kasigurado na hindi ako magloloko, Jisoo. Kahit gawan mo pa ng kontrata."
She smiled but another batch of tears fell on her eyes. He gently brushed away them. And kissed some of her tears away.
"You're not the same as other men, Haein," bulong nito.
"Yes, I'm one of a kind."
"Smug?"
"Just sure of what I want this time."
"And I'm sure of what I want this time, too."
Haein stilled for a second before looking deep into her eyes. His heart beat agains his chest like crazy. Because Jisoo is looking at him like he's the most handsome in the world.
"I love you..." she whispered. "Not as my best friend of forever. But as a man who showed me what true love, trust, and commitment are."
Haein's face contorted as he held back his tears but they fell down eventually. He gave out a big sighed of relief as Jisoo hugged him this time.
"I love you so much," he whispered to her ear. And he will whisper those words to her until his last breath.

-The End-