A/N: I would like to thank Ayra for editing the Chapter 1-3. Thanks Ayra! Di ko na sinama yung sa Prologue kasi galing sa OS yun eh. Keri na yung grammatical errors. Thank you ulit!
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Chapter 3
Ang ganda talaga dito sa San Francisco. Nakakagaan ng pakiramdam ang tanawin. Lalo na ang Golden Gate Bridge.
Memories came rushing in as I continue to roam my eyes around this place. I was taken back in 2012. Parang that was the first time na pumunta ako dito. Oo, tama. First time ko dito tapos siya pa ang kasama ko. Naalala kong I even made a video blog when I was here. When we're here.
Dito talaga kami pinaka-nagsimula. Dito namin unang naisip na bigyan ng chance ang mga nararamdaman namin. Dito namin naramdaman ang freedom.
Bakit ba lahat nalang tungkol sakanya? Ganun siguro talaga. He indeed became a huge part of my life. He came into my life unexpectedly. Then I don't know but I fell for him unconsciously. And I fell really hard.
Napatigil ang pag-iisip ko sa nakaraan nang may tumapik sa balikat ko.
"Julie? Julie Anne?" Sabi ng isang lalaki.
Pagtingin ko...
"Ben?" Tumango naman siya. Niyakap ko siya. "Oh my gosh! Long time, no see. How are you?"
"I'm fine. It's been what? Almost 3 years since your music video shoot. You've changed a lot. And I must admit, you look a lot prettier since the last time I saw you."
Tama, si Ben. Siya yung partner ko sa Enough music video. Naging magkaibigan kami dahil sa ilang araw na kasama ko siya para sa music video. Mabait naman kasi siya kaya lang dapat handa kang makipag-usap sakanya. American boy 'to eh, english-speaking. Hahaha!
"Hahaha. Thanks for that Ben. And yes, it's been almost 3 years."
Nung bumalik na kasi kami ng Pilipinas ay hindi na rin kami nakapag-usap. More like we didn't have any communication. And that's because of my ever-so jealous boyfriend... err.. ex-boyfriend.
"How are you, by the way?"
"I'm okay. Actually, I just had a concert in Fort McKinley last Friday."
"Yeah, I've heard about that. Too bad I wasn't able to come. I have prior commitments that day. But I bet you did a great job. I mean you always give your best shot in everything that you do."
Bolero rin 'to eh! But I honestly have this comfortable feeling when I'm with him. Malalim kasi siyang tao. And he's like a brother to me. Sinabi niya rin sakin before na parang kapatid niya na ako. Only child kasi 'to eh.
"I'm flattered, Ben. Hahaha. Thanks for that. And because of that, I'll treat you. Let's go?"
Kahit naman alam kong dudugo ang ilong ko kakakausap dito kay Ben, ayos lang. Magaan kasi siyang kausap. And I badly need someone na makakausap ngayon.
"Okay, this is new. Let's go!" Makulit niyang sabi.
Loko rin 'tong lalaking 'to eh. Pasimpleng asar din. Siguro naalala niya before na hindi talaga ako gumagastos masyado. Paano ba naman kasi dati puro libre nila Direk yung mga gala namin pati na pagkain. Tapos may time pa na si Ben ang nanlibre before. Kaya bago talaga na ako ang manlilibre. Pasalamat siya nasa mood akong manlibre ngayon.
"So.. uhm.. where's Elmo?" Panimula niya nang dumating na yung order namin, which is pizza and coffee.
"Huh?"
"Where's he? How's your relationship?"
"He's in the Philippines."
"How come he's not with you? I remember when you were here 3 years ago, he's always beside you. He even went to our location just to make you wear a pants. And I know that he was jealous of me before."
"We're not together anymore. We broke up already... I broke up with him."
"Like seriously? How come? Would you mind telling it to me?"
"Yeah, seriously and no, I don't mind. It's like almost one month since we broke up. I mean when I broke up with him."
So now here I am telling what did happened between the two of us. I also told Ben what Julian and Ninang told me.
"They're right, Julie. And you know what? I'll help you while you're here."
"You don't have to do this, Ben."
"Julie, you're a sister to me right? As your brother, I should help you with your broken heart. And also help you find answers to your questions and bring back the old you."
After naming mag-usap ni Ben. Napadalas na bumibisita siya sa shooting namin for my music video. Tapos umaalis rin naman siya agad kasi may mga appointments pa siya. Pero minsan nagtatagal siya kapag wala naman siyang pupuntahan, tulad ngayon.
"Julie?"
"Yes?"
"Stay away from that Kyle as much as possible."
"Why is that so? He looks nice though."
"He's a player, Julie. And by the looks of it? He's into you."
"Aww. Thanks Ben."
"You're welcome, little sister. Hahaha. And... you should wear pants, too."
"Pants? Are you serious? Pants while I'm in the pool? You must be kidding me."
"I'm serious. I know that you broke up with him already. But that doesn't mean that you're allowed to wear too sexy outfits."
"Ben."
"He'll get anxious when he found it. Your parents. And me, as your brother, I won't let you wear those kind of clothes. Not in front of that player."
I hugged him.
I decided to just wear pants. Boyfriend jeans, to be exact. Though its a pool party scene and this is kinda not appropriate with the scene but Ben is right. He is so right.
I thought that I should somehow enjoy being free. Free from everyone. Free from my ex's jealousy and over-protective attitude. I want to have revenge. But bakit ko siya gagantihan, kung feeling ko naman ako ang nakasakit sakanya?
Hindi ko rin naman maatim na magsuot ng sobrang sexy na outfits eh. Although nasabi sakin na magsusuot ako nun in the coming days kasi that's what the video shoot requires. Nasa theme kasi yon. So, no choice. Tsaka I have Ben naman. My bodyguard slash friend slash big brother.
"Thanks a lot, big bro."
"Anything for you."
"Just promise me that you're gonna be okay when you get back to the Philippines."
"I can't."
"You know you can. And I'll hope the best for the both of you. I hope you find in yourselves the forgiveness that you both deserve."
