Tease Me, Bella Beatrice

03:

Disappointment is automatically drawn on my face upon looking at Bella smiling at me from where she is standing. Muli niyang iwinagayway ang librong hawak niya na nakadagdag ng inis ko. Isa pa iyong tipo ng kaniyang ngiti na animo ay nang-iinis. I know that kind of smile. I know that kind of look.

"What?"

"Hindi ka raw nagbayad ng kape mo roon. Buti nga nandoon ako. Napakakuripot mo naman, Pierce. Ang yaman-yaman e hindi man lang makapagbayad ng isang tasa ng kape. Tumatakbo pa."

I sighed. Ayaw kong makipagtalo kaya naman nailing na lang ako. Sandali ko siyang tiningnan bago nilayasan siya at pumasok sa loob. Mabilis akong kumuha ng eksaktong amount na dapat bayaran sa kape saka bumalik sa kaniya. Hindi ko pa rin naman siya pinagbubuksan ng gate.

"Here." Iniabot ko ang pera mula sa espasyo ng gate. "That's the right amount of money to pay for that damn coffee."

Imbes na kunin niya ang iniaabot ko ay tiningnan niya lang iyon. Nagpabalik-balik doon saka sa mukha ko. She's not moving to get it.

"You said you came here for the payment for my coffee. Isn't this enough?" I hissed at her. "Wait, I'll get more for your tip-"

"Pierce!" She cut me off with a loud voice which I did not expect at all. She's now looking at me with mixed emotions. "I hate you."

"And I fucking hate you too. The feeling is just mutual here, Bella."

"Can't you at least give me some time to explain myself why I am back?"

"I waited for the explanation long enough, Bella." I once again sighed. "You know I am weak when it comes to romance and you. Tanga ako kaya nga nakuha mo akong ganituhin, e. Kaya please lang, ikaw na ang mag-adjust. Stop teasing my life again. I have had enough. We got our shot. We took the chances, and we ended it. That's all. Enough na."

"Front page, Pierce. Front page." She said slightly confused while nodding her head. "I thought all along you were that honest. And if you're ready to come back to me, I'm still waiting for you to tease me again. Iyon ang nakasulat doon. Ako ang main character sa kuwentong ito. Ako ang prinsesa mo rito. Ako ang-"

"That was before you chose to become the witch in the story, Bella. The runaway love."

"I'm confused." She said. Napahawak pa sa kaniyang sentido. Lumayo nang ilang hakbang sandali at pilit na pinoproseso ang nangyayari. "You wanted me back and now that I am back, you want me gone? I'm confused. You're confusing me."

"We already ended our story, Bella Beatrice."

"You chose to ignore my silent screams, Pierce. Bakit parang ako lang ang villain dito? We broke up because you did your part to break this relationship as well. Parang kasalanan ko lahat? Parang ngayon nakikita ko sa mga mata mo na ako lang ang nanakit sa'yo? You broke me too, remember?"

Silence took over after she said that. Nakailang sunod-sunod na buntong hininga saka hindi makapaniwala ang tinging ipinupukol niya sa akin.