The Bad Boy Syndrome (COMPLETE) - Published under PHR

Chapter 1

HERSHEY has had it with men, specifically men with a bad boy image. Isinusumpa niyang ito na ang huling pagkakataon na magpapadala siya sa charms at mababangong salita.

Kasalukuyan siyang nakaupo sa bar area ng bar and restaurant na ito habang pinapanood ang walanghiya niyang boyfriend, or rather ex-boyfriend, na nakikipagflirt sa kasama niyang babae. Actually, matutulog na sana si Hershey kanina nang makatanggap niya ang tawag kakambal niyang si Reese. Sinabi ni Reese na nakita daw niya ang boyfriend niya papunta sa bar and restaurant na may angkas na babae sa motor. She didn't believe her sister at first. Then Reese dared her to go there and see for herself.

"Bakit nga ba ako naniwala sa lalaking 'yan in the first place?" Hershey muttered to herself. Naaalala pa niya ang conversation nila ng kakambal nang i-annouce niya na may bago na siyang boyfriend.

"Tick?" Reese looked at her incredulously. "Sinong matinong magulang ang papangalanan ang kanyang anak ng Tick?"

Natawa si Hershey sa expression ni Reese. "That's not his real name, sis. You know he's a musician. Parang stage name ba."

"Sinasabi mo bang siya mismo ang pumili ng pangalan niyang iyon?" Nang tumango si Hershey ay lalo pang nalukot ang mukha ni Reese. "That guy has a weird taste."

"Ano ka ba, sis? Ganoon lang talaga ang mga artist, may pagka-eccentric."

"And you actually fell for that?"

"Come on, he's a nice guy. Give him a chance. Sinabi ko sa kanyang may kakambal ako. Excited na siyang makilala ka," nakangiting sabi ni Hershey.

"Kapag tumagal na kayo ng ilang taon saka mo na siya ipakilala sa akin."

"Ouch, I'm hurt."

"Oh please," pinaikot ni Reese ang mga mata. "We've been through this before. Nakalimutan mo na ba si Ronald? 'Yung ex mong nagpapainit parin ng dugo ko hanggang ngayon."

Naaalala nga niya si Ronald. He was the spoiled son of a mayor in some far-away province. She was warned about Ronald's playboy image in the province pero hindi niya iyon sineryoso. Nagpromise naman kasi sa kanya si Ronald na tsismis lang iyon. Napatunayan lang niyang totoo lahat iyon ever since he started asking Reese to come with them on dates. It turned out that he wanted to date the two of them at the same time, which was really sickening.

"And that guy with the convertible, I forgot his name," pagpapatuloy ni Reese. "Iyong muntik nang makadisgrasya dahil nagpumilit na magdrive ng lasing. Ni hindi man lang niya inisip na kasama ka niya sa kotse!"

Napabuntong-hininga si Hershey. "His name was Snitch."

Umiling-iling naman si Reese. "Sa pangalan pa lang, alam mo na agad na hindi gagawa ng mabuti."

"Well, he was fun to be with when he's not drunk." Hindi inamin ni Hershey na talagang natakot din siya at that time. She was well aware of Snitch's daredevil attitude. Sa katunayan ay iyon mismo ang dahilan kung bakit siya na-attract kay Snitch in the first place. Pero hindi niya ine-expect na idadamay siya ng gagong yun sa stunt niya.

"Fun? That man already had his one foot buried on a grave. Mabuti na lang at nauntog agad ang ulo mo at hiniwalayan mo 'yon."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, sis. Nag-aalala ka lang para sa akin."

"At may dahilan naman ako para mag-alala. You just got yourself another bad boy. Hay naku, nakikini-kinita ko na ang ugali ng Tick na 'yan. I bet it wouldn't take him a month before showing his true colors."

True enough, wala pa ngang isang buwan mula nang opisyal na maging boyfriend niya si Tick pero heto at nangtu-two-time na agad. She really had it with these bad boys. All they ever do was charm her and promise to change for her. Siya naman si tanga, ang dali-daling naniniwala.