Mr. Wrong (Mr. Series #1)

Chapter 36

"Let's get out of here," sambit niya bago ako hinila paalis sa kinatatayuan ko.

My eyes were blurry. Hindi pa rin ako tumitigil sa pag-iyak. Ngayon lang ako nakaiyak nang ganito katindi. At hindi ako nahihiya kahit kaharap ko si Jhunel. Wala naman akong pakialam kung pagtawanan niya ako o malaman niya ang kahinaan ko at kung gamitin niya pa iyon laban sa akin. Ang gusto ko lang ay maibsan kahit papaano ang nararamdaman ko.

"Here," sambit niya sabay abot ng ice cream. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o ano pero inabot ko na lang at kinain. Pero sa tuwing naaalala ko ang nangyari kanina naiiyak ako.

We were sitting in front of a convenience store and watching people across the street.

"Baka akalain nila, ako ang nagpapaiyak sa 'yo," komento ni Jhunel.

Inirapan ko siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito ang isang ito pero gusto kong magpasalamat sa kaniya dahil tinulungan niya ako kanina. Maybe if he wasn't there earlier, I wouldn't be here either.

"Okay ka na?" Nilingon ko siya. Napaatras ako nang makita kong parang may ididikit siya sa mukha ko. Bandage pala.

Hinayaan ko na lang siya na gamutin ang dumugong parte ng pisngi ko.  Bahala siya diyan, kumakain ako.

"Paano mo nakuha 'to?" pagtukoy niya sa sugat ko sa mukha.

Umiling ako. Ayokong sabihin sa kaniya na sinampal ako ng ama ko dahil nanampal ako ng tao sa harap ng university kanina.

"Bakit ka nandito?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan. Lumayo siya at tumingin muli sa harap namin.

"I was planning to visit you to check if you're okay because of what happened earlier, and I wasn't expecting to see you in the middle of the road. And I was thankful that I went for you because if not, what might have happened to you," he explained.

I nodded, convinced that he was not here to mess with me.

"Looks like you really fall for that guy, huh?" I want to take back what I've said.

"Don't freakin' mention about it."

"Alright, I'm sorry," he chuckled. What seems to be funny, Jhunnel? "So how do you feel now? Are you feeling better? Hindi ka na ba nahihilo?"

Doon ko naalala na dinala niya nga pala ako sa clinic kanina dahil nahihilo ako.

"Thank you for helping me," saad ko na ikinagulat niya.

"So you're saying thank you now." Ngumiti siya. "It feels new."

"Somehow, I feel relieved that you finally appreciated it."

I remembered how many times he helped me and defended me from Dhonna and Klarissa. I didn't even thank him before.

Napansin niyang naubos ko na ang kinakain kong ice cream.

"Gusto mong maglakad-lakad?"

"Nalakad ko na 'yan," sagot ko.

"Eh 'di lakarin mo ulit pero kasama na 'ko. Malay mo, after no'n okay ka na."

I stared at him, unconvinced.

"Alam ko namang ayaw mo pang umuwi," dagdag pa niya bago tumayo.

Honestly, he got that right. I still don't have the courage to face my father. It's exhausting to argue with him, but somehow, at this moment, I felt relieved because of him. I feel like it will be fine with me if we become friends again like before or are casual like this.

I don't know why I suddenly felt soft for him—kung dahil ba may pinagsamahan kami kaya nailalabas ko ang tunay kong nararamdaman sa kaniya o dahil wala lang akong mapagsabihan na iba kaya ine-entertain ko siya.  I don't know, but I am thankful.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad. I just followed him, but I wondered why he seemed to slow down. He turned to me and stopped.

"Why?" I asked in confusion.

"Nothing."

But he took off his jacket and put it on me. "I remembered you easily get cold."

Mahina ko siyang hinampas, pero hindi ko na ibinalik pa sa kaniya ang jacket dahil tama siya, medyo nilalamig nga ako. It's already night, and I haven't changed my uniform yet. My skirt is short, and it's a little bit freezing because of the cold breeze.

"How about your foot? Can you still walk?" he asked, and then I remembered that I was wearing heels.

"You invited me to walk, and then you're going to worry about my feet?" I proclaimed.

"You want to ride behind me?" he suggested.

"Tsk. Stop messing with me, idiot! Keep your distance!" I pushed him. He just laughed, as if he had won the teasing.

"Tama 'yan! Bumalik ka sa pagkainis sa akin dahil d'yan ako sanay; you seem to be in yourself when you do that," he commented.

How can I not be annoyed if he acts like we're close? Look where you stand, stupid!

I laughed. Teasing him is funny somehow.

"Pipisilin ko ang pisngi mo kapag nakita kitang umiyak ulit," he threatened.

I stopped walking when I saw the playground we always used to go to—where we talked about what was going on in our lives to catch up, because we were in a long-distance relationship. It was our place.

He also stopped walking. We were both looking at the swing where we used to hang out.

"You want to sit there?" he offered.

I shook my head. "I'm going home," I said.

He nodded. I let him take me home. I was surprised that our maids knew him.

"Mr. Mercado, Mr. Velasco is waiting for you."

I looked at him. He just shrugged.

"Your father wants to see me."

Mukhang alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit gusto siyang makita ni dad.  I let Jhunel wait in the living room.

I just went straight to my room to change my clothes. I didn't even bother to find out what they were talking about. It must be about our marriage, and I don't want to listen to that.

The next day, I went to class early. Sabi na nga ba't ganito karaming atensyon ang makukuha ko mula sa kanila. Hindi sila tumitigil na pagbulung-bulungan ako, na akala mo naman ay hindi ko alam na ako talaga ang pinag-uusapan nila. Sana mas nilakasan pa nila para maitama ko lahat ng mga ipinagsasabi nila tungkol sa akin. Mukhang tungkol naman iyon sa naging eskandalo ko kahapon sa labas ng campus. 

Anne caught my eye. I sighed.

I still feel bad for her. She didn't even apologize or try to talk to me. She just proves more and more that my suspicions about her are correct. She betrayed me.

Jhon Rey also arrived, but I didn't look at him again—not because I'm ashamed of what I did but because I absolutely hate him. I don't even intend to tell him about my situation. Because no one will know about it except me and my mom. Walang ibang dapat makaalam na buntis ako.

Jhunel also came and hurried to sit next to me. He was smiling as if he were carrying good news. It seems that the conversation between him and dad last night was in his favor.

"I talked to Derrick; I'll take you home," he whispered.

I glared at him. "Are you planning to take away his job?"

He laughed. "Why? Rather than him waiting here, I told him that he can take some rest because I'll be coming home with you later."

"Why are you coming with me?" Nakakunot-noo kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Your father invited my family to dinner."

Family dinner?