Risk it, Lose it (Remington Series 3)

Chapter 5 - Roses and Rivalries

Rylee's POV

Tinitigan ko ang mukha ni Tristan bago lumabas ng kwarto niya. I don't know why, but every time Tristan is near, it feels like my sanity slips away. Bumuntong hininga ako nang gumalaw siya, it's already 3 am at balak ko nang umalis. It's like the first time, kailangan kong umalis agad para hindi na niya ako maabutan. Because I need to make him realize that I will always leave first. Every time we do it, I will be the one to leave first.

Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan, hinanap ko ang dress ko sa sala at sinuot. As I busied myself with dressing up, my gaze lingered on a particular painting. A portrait of a little girl cradling a rose, her nose was as red as the vibrant bloom. I couldn't put my finger on why this artwork felt so eerily familiar. Sa ilalim ay may pirma ni Tristan, and the title was in the middle bottom.

'False Bloom'

Iniwas ko na ang tingin doon at tinawagan si Charles. Huli ko na narealize na alas tres na, he's probably sleeping already. Kung 'di ka ba naman tanga, Rylee. Mang-iistorbo ka pa ng tulog. Papatayin ko na sana ang tawag pero sinagot ito ni Charles sa pangatlong ring.

"Rylee?"

"Charles, gising ka pa?"

"Yeah, I'm waiting for your text. Nakauwi ka na ba?"

Uminit ang puso ko sa sinabi ni Charles. Just wow, Rylee. Did you really abandon this guy for a steamy night with Tristan?

I let out a deep sigh, comforting myself with the thought that this is all part of a calculated plan to make Tristan fall for me. Pero hindi ko pa rin mapigilang tanungin ang sarili ko. Was it necessary to use your body, Rylee? Or was it simply your own desires taking control? The truth stung, I wanted it too. I craved him as much as he craved me.

"Okay ka lang?"

Tears pooled in my eyes.

"Sunduin mo ko, Charles. Sa condo ni Tristan."

Nanginig ang boses ko nang sabihin 'yon. Charles didn't answer, akala ko nga patay na ang linya sa sobrang katahimikan. Nagsimula na akong maglakad palabas habang kausap ni Charles. Sumakay ako ng elevator na tulala.

"I'll get you, Rylee. Can you wait for me?"

Namamaos ang boses ni Charles nang sabihin 'yon. Charles is everything I could wish for, yet a sense of discontent lingers within me. I don't want to let go of my plan because of Charles, I refuse to waste the years I've invested to be this close to Tristan. Ngayon pa, Rylee? Ngayon mo pa maiisipang sumuko? Nasa harap mo na, nakakasama mo na.

Hindi naman nagtagal nang makita ko ang kotse ni Charles na palapit sa akin. The cold wind messed my hair, and I hugged myself tightly, dahil sa lamig at hiya kay Charles. Tinatanggi ko si Tristan sa kaniya pero susunduin niya ako ngayon dito.

Lumabas si Charles mula sa kotse niya at tinitigan ako, his eyes glistened with worry. Inilabas niya mula sa loob ang jacket at marahan iyong isinuot sa akin. I stared at him with a heavy heart. I'm sorry, Charles. This is just not the right time for me to focus on you, on myself.

Tahimik ako sa byahe, mabuti na lamang at wala na masyadong traffic, marahil ay tulog na ang mga tao.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Charles nang huminto siya sa stoplight.

Nilingon ko siya at binigyan ng tipid na ngiti. Tumango ako sa kaniya. I like how he always make sure that I'm okay. Parang nag-iinit ang puso ko nang maisip na may isang taong may pakialam sa akin. Tumitig siya sa akin nang matagal bago umiwas ng tingin. He smirked before speaking again.

"Your nose..." He shooked his head in disbelief. "It's turning red, Rylee."

Lito akong lumingon sa kaniya. Tumawa siya at nagmanehong muli nang magberde ang stoplight. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya hanggang sa makarating kami sa dorm. The thick air didn't leave us the whole ride, or maybe it was just me? I was just guilty.