How To Have You (Professors Series #1.)

Chapter 29

"Hay, nako! Bakit ba bumalik pa siya?!"

Napabuntong hininga ako habang pinapanood kong magdabog si Sefanie, I'm in her condo. Hindi kasi ako makatulog and I know that I needed to get out.

"I told you, ang sabi niya he wants me back." I shrugged before drinking my beer straight from the bottle, umiinom kaming dalawa.

"Ano? Babalik? E, kung siya kaya pabalikin ko sa America!" Napairap naman siya. "Ano ba 'yon? Alam mo! Pakana lahat 'to ng tatay mo e!"

"Calm down, mas galit ka pa yata sa'kin." Nagtawanan kaming dalawa 'nung humarap siya sa'king nakakunot ang noo, doon naman siya bumuntong hininga at kumalma ng bahagya. "Why don't we talk about you instead, ha? Anong balita sayo?"

"I'm okay." Simpleng sagot niya. "Life's still life? Okay naman ako. I'm dealing with someone, kaya busy ako! Akala niyo kayo lang ang may lovelife?"

"Is it the woman you were with at the parking lot?" Napatanong ako. I figured that it might be her.

"Pa'no mo nalaman?" Tanong niya ulit. Bakas ang pagkagulat sa mukha at mukhang hindi inaasahang maitatanong ko 'yon.

"It's just my assumption. Gusto mo na?" Tanong ko pa. Tumango siya habang kagat ang labi niya, halatang pinipigilan ang sarili at doon naman ako napangiti habang umiiling ang ulo. "I guess Hazel Ramos is not so straight after all."

"Shut up," Saway niya at pinalo ako. "Yeah, you met her already 'di ba? Her name's Riley. Masungit parang ikaw or more likely mas malala sayo... but I do like her and I'm still trying to pursue her even though she... you know."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Let me guess, ayaw sayo?"

"I don't know. She's not good with words but she'll get there, I don't wanna pressure her tutal she's still a student." Tumawa siya ng bahagya but I can see pain in her eyes while looking at the ceiling. "Napapaisip lang ako na sana ako nalang ang gusto niya, instead of that person. I'm here, why can't she pick me instead?"

"Hazel..." I tried caressing her back pero pinigilan niya ako at tumawa siya. "It's okay..."

"I'm okay. Nevermind it, sa'kin pa rin naman ang bagsak niya and I will make sure of that."

Pilit akong ngumiti habang nakatingin sakanya, umiwas lang ako 'nung bumaling siya. I drank my beer while looking at the ceiling too, thinking about what she just said. She's in pain too. She needs someone too. To that Riley, I hope she takes good care of Sefanie. My heart wouldn't bear it 'kung masasaktan si Sefanie dahil sakanya.

"Have you told my cousin?" She broke the silence after waiting a few minutes. I looked at her.

Tumango ako. "I told her... but not everything."

"What do you mean not everything?"

Claine's face flashed onto my mind again, I remembered her gloomy and hurt face. Ayokong makita siyang ganon. I don't wanna hurt her at alam kong lalo ko siyang masasaktan kapag sinabi ko 'yung nangyari. Just knowing that I hurted her hurts me too. Lalo na 'nung nakita ko ang mukha niya kanina, it was filled with pain and curiosity.