Girlfriend? For Hire! [BL]

Chapter 52

Wyatt's Point of View
 
I let go of his hand and went to the couch to get my wallet. I folded the blanket he gave me and put it on the couch. When I turned to him, he was still standing there, facing the door of the bathroom. I took a deep breath and walked toward him. I held his shoulders and made him turn to me.
 
"Sorry, I won't be able to eat your cook. Maybe next time?" I smiled as I said that.
 
"Do you...really have to go now?" He asked, looking down at the floor.
 
"Yeah, I don't want to see you mad," I replied. "And I'm sorry for this. This... isn't intentional."
 
"I cook for two people; it will be a waste if you go now," he responded.
 
My hand on his shoulder freezes. Why does it seem like he doesn't want me to go home? Damn.
 
"Will Luca not be coming home?" I asked, trying to confirm what I thought was right.
 
He sighed. "Nevermind. If you're going, then go," he said. He was about to walk past me when I immediately grabbed his arm.
 
"You can just ask me to stay if you don't want me to go yet," I said.
 
"No. Just go," he said before he withdrew his arm from my hand and went back to the kitchen.
 
I bit my lower lip. I was having second thoughts about whether I should go home or stay, but in the end, I stayed. I turned to him and walked towards him. When he felt my presence, he turned to me.
 
"Why are you still here—?" He didn't get to finish what he was going to say when I shut him up with my lips.
 
Fuck. It's your fault for making my hopes up.
 
I let go of him once I felt his fingernail in my skin. It hurts.
 
"You said you would go home!" He exclaimed as soon as I parted our lips.
 
"But you made me stay," I responded right away.
 
"Friends don't kiss," he said.
 
"But we do," I replied. When I didn't get a reply from him, that's when I realized what I had done again. I closed my eyes and pinched my nose to calm myself. I heaved a heavy sigh before opening my eyes and looking at him. "Sorry. I'm so sorry. I lost control again. T-This... I'm sorry, Aiden."
 
"Losing your control wasn't an excuse," he said, shaking his head. "You did it because you wanted it! Are you that pent-up? Wala ka bang paglabasan, kaya ako itong pinagkakainteresan mo? How do you see me? Someone you can use however you want?"
 
"No. N-No... No, Aiden," I shook my head. "I'll just leave for now. You calm down, and let's talk tomorrow, okay?"
 
"No, you're not coming back here again," he said. "Leave!" He exclaimed, pointing at the door.
 
"Please, Aiden..." I pleaded.
 
"Did you pretend to be friends again to have a chance to get me back?" He scoffed. "But I'm sorry to tell you that I still have to go back to California. I went back here because of the business, not for you, so if you are still hoping, then stop it now."
 
"What are you... What do you mean you're going back there? Paano ako?"
 
I know I expected it, but fuck! Bakit ang sakit pa rin? At nang malaman na hindi ako ang dahilan ng pag-uwi niya rito ay nakadudurog ng puso. At ang katotohanan na wala talaga sa isip niya ang bumalik sa'kin ay... Damn.
 
"Paano ka?" He sniggered. "Hindi kita tungkulin, Wyatt. Kung ano man gawin mo sa buhay mo ay wala na 'yon sa'kin."
 
"Oh, yeah?" I smirked. "So, you really don't care about me?"
 
"Do I really have to answer that when you already know the answer?"
 
I looked away. "Bye," was the only word I said before I turned away.
 
I was crying in the elevator. I'm not alone there, but what do I do? Hindi ko na kaya pang pigilan ang luha ko sa paglabas. They say men shouldn't show tears to just anyone because they might look weak. But do I really have to follow that? Men also have feelings; men are also humans, and they can also feel pain.
 
Nakikita ko ang repleksyon ng taong kasabay ko sa elevator, pasimple pa itong sumusulyap sa'kin. Parang nagdadalawang isip siya kung i-a-approach niya ba ako o hindi.
 
Damn. So fucking embarrassing.
 
I took my handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped my tears. I even tried to stop sobbing so I wouldn't be that obvious.
 
"Are you embarrassed?" The woman asked.
 
"Oh," I chuckled. "Is it that obvious?"
 
She turned to me and asked, "What are you ashamed of? For crying with someone else here or for crying because you're a man?"
 
I turned to her. I couldn't answer; can I answer "both"?
 
She shrugged. "Is it both?"
 
Is she a mind-reader or something?
 
She looked in front and said, "It's fine. You can't stop what you are feeling inside, so it's fine to take it all out. If you are thinking that a man shouldn't be crying, stop thinking about it now. Sure, men are known as tougher than girls, but men also have hearts. You're not as hard as a rock. Crying is a natural human emotion and a physiological response to strong feelings of sadness, pain, or joy. There is no gender-based difference in the ability to cry. Everyone, regardless of their gender, can express their emotions through crying. It is a healthy way to release emotions and can provide a sense of relief and comfort. Crying is also a normal and acceptable way for men to express their feelings. So..." She turned to me again and smiled. "Take it all out. This is my floor. I'll get going now," she said, waving her hands before stepping out of the elevator.
 
I looked up and saw that she was living on the 6th floor. Oh, I didn't get the chance to thank her. Dahil sa mga sinabi niya ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ko, parang nabawasan ang bigat na dinadala ko sa'king dibdib.
 
Pag-uwi ko ng bahay ay sinabi ko agad sa lolo ko ang nangyari, habang na sa hapag-kainan kami, kaya narinig din ng mga pinsan ko ang tungkol doon. Hindi ko alam bakit kailangan pa pumunta rito ng iba kong pinsan kung may sarili naman na silang pamilya at bahay. Hindi tuloy ako makapag sikreto sa kanila. At ito kasing si Lolo ay sakto talagang kumakain kami kapag nagtatanong tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay.
 
"Sabi niya, babalik siya sa California," sagot ko sa tanong ni Lolo nang tanungin niya ako kung bakit ako nakasimangot at bakit mukha akong umiyak.
 
"What did you say?" He asked.
 
"Tinanong ko kung paano ako," nahihiya kong sagot. Narinig ko pa ang mahinang pagtawa ni Cynthia sa tabi ni Ryan.
 
"So...hindi mo alam na babalik siya ro'n?" Tanong ni Regie.
 
Tumango ako. "Hindi rin naman niya sinabi," sagot ko. "Pero may kutob na ako na baka bumalik siya ro'n dahil kasama niyang umuwi ng bansa ang kapatid niya," dagdag ko pa.
 
"Hindi naman niya talaga kasabay umuwi ng bansa ang kapatid niya," sabi ni Regie. "Pag-uwi ni Aiden sa bansa ay sinalubong ko siya sa airport. Siya lang mag-isa, wala siyang kasama."
 
"E'di sino ang kasama no'ng Luca na pumunta rito?" Tanong ni Cynthia.
 
"No one. He just probably followed his brother secretly," Regie answered. "Hindi ba't okay na kayo ni Aiden, Wyatt?" Baling niya sa'kin.
 
Nilunok ko muna ang nginunguya ko bago sumagot, "Oo. Bakit? May problema ka ba ro'n?"
 
He smirked. "But knowing that he just informed you today that he would be back in California means he doesn't want to stay with you here. Don't you think?"
 
I gritted my teeth, and my hands balled up into a fist. I was about to respond when Grandpa interrupted. "Regie, you shut up. Why are you dissing him?"
 
Regie sighed and stared at his food. "I don't. I was just asking him. And why are you even supporting him after knowing what he did to Aiden? H'wag niyo nga'ng kunsintihan 'yang apo niyo!"
 
"Regie!" Pag-awat ni Ryan kay Regie.
 
Tumayo ng marahas si Regie at lumabas ng dining room. I excused myself and followed him.
 
Agad kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Regie, at nang humarap siya sa'kin ay sinalubong ko siya ng isang malakas na suntok sa mukha. Nang matumba siya ay dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang tingin niya sa'kin. Bakas sa mata niya ang galit.
 
Pinunasan niya ang dugo sa gilid ng kaniyang labi bago siya tumayo. He grabbed my collar as soon as he stood up. "Why? Are you mad? You don't have the right to stay with Aiden! You deserve all of the things that are happening to you! You deserve to be left alone by Aiden. You... You are a piece of shit."
 
I scoffed. Marahas kong tinanggal ang kamay niya sa kwelyo ko at pinagpagan ang damit ko. "Then, who does he deserve? You? Don't fuck with me. You are nothing compared to me. You stayed in contact with him, right? Nakakausap mo siya ng ilang taon na hindi ko nagawa, pero nakuha mo ba siya? No, because you can't force someone to love you back. He... Will never reciprocate your feelings, kahit na ano pang gawin mo dahil iisa lang ang taong gusto niya. You know it too." I pushed him with my index finger. "Is that why you didn't tell us that he came back and that he still needs to go back to California? To hurt me? Huh?!"
 
"Let me say a few things, Wyatt, because you're being so full of yourself. When he was staying in California, he asked me to live with him because her mother doesn't let him live alone. He asked me. Me. Wyatt," he said with emphasis, pointing himself out. "He even gave me a condition; he said that he would date me if I agreed. But what did I do? I refused because I don't take advantage of people, unlike you."
 
"So, mabuting tao ka na niyan? Hindi ka lang pumayag dahil wala kang pera papunta ro'n, 'yong lang ang sabihin mo!" Tugon ko.
 
"Hindi mo ako katulad, hindi ko kailangan ng suporta ni Lolo, ng nanay at tatay ko o kung sino man para lang makuha, o magawa ko ang mga bagay na gusto ko. I rejected his offer because I don't want him to suffer in the end. Why should I force or date someone who doesn't even love me back? And that question, you should also ask that to yourself," he said and turned away.
 
I clenched my fist as I stared at his back. He wasn't wrong. But he said that I should ask myself: Why should I force or date someone who doesn't even love me back? Why? Because I love them. Fuck.
 
I want to think that he's just lying to make me feel like shit, but I know that Regie will never do that just to hurt me. Because if he really wants to hurt me, he will slap me with the truth.
 
We are totally opposite. Aiden deserves Regie more than me. If I were Regie, I might take the offer that Aiden gave him because I am stupid, selfish, and stubborn. The total opposite of Regie.