Bewitching the Tempter

Chapter 5: Question

Halos pareho yata kaming natulala ni Rick nang magsalita si Alaric.

Damn, he's really good with this kind of stuff. Halatang sanay na sanay. Pabor naman sa akin sa ngayon kaya hindi na ako magrereklamo.

"Ah, d'yan lang, kanina pa rin kita hinahanap e, mabuti nalang nakita na kita ngayon." I smiled and bit my lower lip. Nakita ko namang napatingin siya doon.

"Gano'n ba?" He raised a brow and seconds later, he was already fixing some of the hair strands that are covering my face. He tucked them gently behind my ear.

"Yes..." I muttered and held his shoulder. "I missed you, too." I then tiptoed to plant a kiss on his cheek.

I smirked. Akala mo ikaw lang ang marunong. You messed with the wrong person, boy.

He looked amused when our eyes met but other than that, he looked challenged.

Ngumiti lang ako bago bumaling kay Rick na matamang nakatingin sa amin. Nakita ko pa ang pagbagsak ng balikat niya.

"Sorry, Rick. Miss ko na kasi ang boyfriend ko, so please, excuse us..." nakangiti kong saad bago hinila paalis si Alaric.

Agad akong nakahinga nang maluwag no'ng makalabas kami ng bar.

"Damn, that was close." I muttered before looking at Alaric, na ngayo'y nakapangalumbaba habang pinapanood ako.

"I thought you don't want me as your boyfriend, huh?" Nakangisi niyang tanong.

I immediately scoffed.

"Ayoko naman talaga. Huwag ka ngang feeling d'yan. Wala akong choice at ayoko lang macorner." Inis kong sabi. "And you also did the same thing kaya patas na tayo!"

His fingers started playing with his lips as he looked at me, I stared back at him, now noticing how tall and fit he is. Parang nakikita ko na ngayon kung bakit marami ang nagkakandarapa.

But hell, siraulo pa rin siya! At mas gwapo pa rin si AJ!

"Done checking me out?" He chuckled and I immediately rolled my eyes. "Ano? Gwapo ba boyfriend mo?"

What? Eww.

"In your dreams." Inis kong saad.

"Hmm, e paano 'yan? Boyfriend mo na ako." Aniya at malandi akong tinitigan. "You're the one who announced that to people this time. Paano na 'yan? Paano na ang reputasyon kong inaalagaan?" Dagdag niya at hinawakan pa ang dibdib niya.

What? Gago?

"Wow! As if! It's just like what you did to me back then! Now, get a taste of your own medicine." Dirediretso kong sabi at bago ko siyang nilapitan at hinawakan sa pisngi.

I think I know how to play with him this time.

"Ano? Masarap ba?" I seductively asked and ran my fingers down his lips.

I smiled when I saw how he gulped. Apektado, amp?

Napaigtad naman ako nang bigla niya akong itulak at isinandal sa pader, him towering over me.

"I'll just be your boyfriend then, para hindi ka na mamroblema doon sa stalker mo." He smirked. "What do you think, love?"

Napangiwi ako. What the freaking hell? Love? Eww.

"No, thanks. And he's not my stalker." I tried pushing him away but he was so strong, so he remained caging me.

"Not a stalker, huh? Then what is he? An ex-boyfriend?"

"No, at wala ka na doon. So stop asking me." I hissed and pushed him away again, pero malakas talaga si gago.

"Uh, let me guess? A suitor?"

"No!"

"Ex-crush?"

"Eww, no!"

"Ghinost mo?" He smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "No."

Nasa gitna kami nang pag-uusap no'ng may matanaw ako sa 'di kalayuan at mukhang gano'n din siya kaya tila pareho kaming natigilan. Pakiramdam ko ay biglang nanikip ang dibdib ko.

Entering the bar is a gorgeous girl with light brown hair and light skin complexion na mas nagpatingkad sa ganda niya...and she's not alone. She's with someone I know.

She's with AJ Manjarrez.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. They know each other? Paano? Kailan pa?

"Looks like my brother has some free time," Alaric chuckled.

I remained staring at them as they walked passed us, mukhang sa sobrang focus nila sa pinag-uusapan ay hindi na nila kami nakita.

Right, Alaric. Looks like Rachel got some free time too... and it's actually my first time seeing her at a place like this.

Yes, Rachel, I know that girl...and it's been fifteen years now.

"And he's with a pretty girl."

Napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang magsalita siya.

Maganda? Si Rachel?

Well, she is. Lahat naman sila sinasabing maganda...kahit na ako. She's a full package. Maganda, matalino, mabait, magalang, mahinhin...what else?

Ah, she also has a complete, loving, and supportive family.

"But I'm with a more gorgeous woman. Swerte ko naman."

My eyes immediately drifted to him when he said that.

Tama ba ang narinig ko? Did he really say that I'm more gorgeous than Rachel?

Ano naman? Alam ko namang maganda ako.

"Tama ka, maganda siya, at halos nasa kanya na ang lahat." I muttered.

Napakunot naman ang noo niya. "Well, I personally prefer your beauty and I like your guts. Sayo ako interesado."

I raised a brow. Is he serious now?

"You're my type if it's not obvious." Dagdag pa niya. "Hindi siya."

What now? Does he really find me more interesting than her?

"Quit joking. Mas maganda siya at matalino." I laughed.

His gaze narrowed. "You sounded like an insecure person."

What?

I immediately laughed it off. "And now you're accusing me of things?"

"Well, I'm just sharing my observations." He shrugged. "By the way, there's nothing to be insecure of, you're already perfect."

I shook my head as I looked at him.

Wow? Sanay na sanay ha. Parang everyday may sinasabihan ng gano'n ah.

"Playboy. Hindi mo ako madadaan sa paganyan-paganyan mo."

He stared at me. "I'm just telling you the truth that I'm seeing, walang halong bola 'yon."

I bit my lower lip. Gusto ko pa sana siyang kontrahin but another thought came into my mind.

"Do you know that woman? 'Yong kasama ng kapatid mo?" I asked and kind of looked away when his gaze shifted to me again.

"No, I don't know her. Ikaw? Kilala mo? You seem to know her a lot." He asked back.

I smirked. "You seemed interested? You like her, huh?"

He chuckled and scratched his chin in a manly way.

"Okay then, let me change the question. How about that boy who's chasing you? Ano mo siya?"

I smirked again. "I have the liberty to choose whether to answer your question or not, and I'm choosing not to."

Sino ba siya para sabihin ko kung sino sila? Why would I tell him that Rachel's my sister and Rick is my fiancé.