Under a Night of Fire

Chapter 4

Its been a week after that incident about Shawn, asa mall kami nila Jae ngayon. Maaga akong nag out sa work dahil balak ko bumili ng regalo para kay Shia, Birthday niya kasi bukas. Balak ko siyang bilhan ng dress. So, I bought her a casual bodycon dress in the color of lavender, binilhan ko na rin siya ng perfume sa bvlgari.

Habang nagbabayad kami napatingin ako sa binili ni Jae and Cleo, My eyes widened as I saw what they bought. It was the dress and stiletto heels I wanted to buy! Gosh, these two!

"Kayo talaga! you didn't have to buy me these!" I said as they were giving me the paperbags, napatawa nalang sila pareho.

"Girl we've noticed kasi na kanina mo pa tinitignan yung dress and the heels kaya pinaghatian na namin ni Cleo, ako sa dress then siya sa heels!" Jae said, I pouted my lips before giving them a hug. Hindi naman nila kailagan gawin yun.. Nahihiya na talaga ako sakanila minsan pero wala na akong magagawa kapag sila na nag insist.

"I also bought you a maroon satin dress, wear mo 'to sa night out natin next week!" Cleo handed me the paperbag, I smiled and thanked her. We went to starbucks after shopping, we were craving for coffee kasi.

Cleo found us a sit and kami ni Jae ang nag order nung drinks namin, we also ordered cheesecake. Blueberry Cheesecake for me, New York Cheesecake for Jae and Chocolate Cream Marble Cheesecake for Cleo.

While we were waiting for our order, nagkatinginan kami ni Jae sa narinig namin, napatingin din kami kay Cleo na nakatingin din sa pwesto namin.

One Hot Caffe Americano for Shawn!

I froze at my spot, sinundan ko ng tingin yung lalaki. He was wearing a plain grey shirt and black shorts, I saw how some girls were also staring at him. Napahawak ako nang mahigpit kay Jae, I heaved a sigh when I heard our names called.

Napatingin si Shawn sa direction namin, our gazes met and I saw how he smirked. Jae handed me our orders.

"Una kana sa upuan natin, sunod ako," Jae whispered, I nodded and went to our seats. I saw from my peripheral vision na Shawn was trying to catch up with me.

Nung nakaupo na ko sa seats namin, I gave Cleo her food and drink before ko nilagay sa table yung kay Jae.

"Kapal ng mukha mo, ah! May lakas ka pa ng loob nasundan kaibigan ko para ano? Kausapin? Kung hindi ka naman kahalating gago!" I turned around to see Jae yelling at Shawn.. This Bitch! Ayaw talaga paawat.

Napalingon ako kay Cleo when I heard her laugh. "I mean.. I would do the same," Cleo said.

I saw Jae gripped Shawn's collar, she was raging. "Subukan mo, Jimenez. I'll put you behind the fucking bars."

She walked towards our direction after that, I saw how Shawn fixed his shirt and immediately walked out, napahiya siguro siya.

Pag upo ni Jae, nag apir sila ni Cleo. Yung dalawang 'to talaga, basta ganito magkasundo sila! Sa sobrang hiya ko napasubo ako nung cheesecake ko, halos punong-puno na yung bibig ko. Napatingin saakin sila Jae with their brows furrowed.

"Girl.. Ayos ka lang ba?" Jae asked, I looked at her and nodded. Uminom ako nung drink ko.

"Mukha ba akong constipated?" I asked.

"Oo," Ani ni Cleo. Nagtawanan kami after that. Hindi parin ako makapaniwala sa ginawa ni Jae kanina.. Never thought she'll do that.

We went to the grocery store to buy ingredients kasi balak ko gumawa ng cookies para kay Shia, dadalhin ko bukas para sa birthday niya.

Nung pag uwi I also decided to bake some cupcakes since I remembered na Shia loves cupcakes, naalala ko dati she requested na gawan ko siya cupcakes kasi she liked raw how I baked them. Nung natapos ko yung cookies, I baked agad na cupcakes while it was in the oven I started making the frosting.

Shia loves color purple kaya I made color purple frosting.

Medyo late na ko natapos magbake kasi I also made some for myself. After packing the cupcakes sa box na I bought kanina, nilagyan ko pa ng ribbon on top yung box. Niligpit ko yung mga ginamit ko then I took a quick shower.

Nanood ako ng netflix after. As I was half way sa movie my phone suddenly rang and iniisip ko na it was probably just Jae or Cleo, pwede rin si Bryle.

"Hello?" I greeted when I answered the phone call pero no was was speaking it was already creeping me out. "I'll end the call na po, you probably got the wrong number,"

[Nicolai..] Hearing that voice sent shiver to my spine, [Hello, Nicolai..] I wanted to end the call, I was about to press it when he suddenly spoke.

[End the call or i'll post these pictures of you.. With just one press, Nicolai..] My photos.. They weren't that nude but still.. I was a minor that time.. Fuck.

While I was on call, hearing Shawn say nasty things about me.. Making me want to fucking puke. I texted Jae, yes, maybe I'm a coward for not ending the call pero I had work, I somehow had a reputation to keep. Paano nalang pag nag apply ako sa malaking company? And my photos went viral? My name would be dirty. Shawn has power, he's rich. He can manipulate the media.. Just like how he manipulated me.

Jae didn't reply, it was 2am, she was probably sleeping already. Shawn ended the call after a few minutes. I wanted to cry, I felt so dirty.

I put my phone down as I hugged my knees, crying. Considering the fact that I was also insecure of my body made it worst, if those pictures spread madaming makakakita ng katawan ko. I had stomach rolls, my arms weren't thin, my shoulders were kinda broad.

I don't have curves, my body figure was more on a straight like rather than an hourglass or even an inverted triangle. My body is always my biggest insecurity besides my face. I never really considered myself as pretty. I have a slightly big upturned nose, my cheeks are kind of puffy especially when I smile, I have not so plump small lips, I also have pimple marks especially in my cheek.

It's normal, it's a part of growing up. We're all pretty in our own different ways but sometimes thoughts like these can't be avoided and it's never our fault to think that way.

I wiped my tears and stood up, checking the doors if they were locked before I went to my room after fixing the couch and turning off the TV. I collapsed myself on my bed as I hug my pillow, I felt so tired. I don't know why I did that before.. That mistake will forever haunt me.

I was 16, I didn't know that It wasn't right. Shawn told me before that If i sent pictures like those it means I really love him and so, I did. And that was the biggest mistake of my life.

The fact that I also kept it from my mother also haunts me. She has always view me as a perfect child and me doing that? I don't think I'm still that perfect child she knows. I'm sorry, nay.

I cried to make my eyes tired since I know I won't be able to sleep with the thoughts running in my mind.

Well, I just hope tomorrow will treat me a lot better.