Bound By Fire

Chapter Two

"Hey baby.."

Kung hindi ko lang naagapan ang sarili ko, I could've slapped Nicolas on the face already!

"What the hell, Nico?" sigaw ko sa kanya at binato sa kanya ang unan na naabot ko. Malakas siyang tumawa. The audacity of this guy!

"Ang aga pa ang init na ng ulo mo. Are you on your period?" he even teased at sinabayan pa nang paggulo sa buhok ko. I swatted his hand away.

"Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi mo na lang ako gisingin nang maayos? Kailangan talaga nakalapit ang mukha mo sa'kin?" singhal ko sa kanya, pero tumayo na rin ako. Malamang kasi ay inutusan siya ni mommy na gisingin na ako.

"I like pissing you off early in the morning better than coffee," he resumed laughing. I just rolled my eyes at that and went to my closet para makapagpalit na ako ng damit. Nico automatically turned on his back.

"Bakit ang aga mo naman ata ngayon? I mean, yeah, we're going to meet today, but anong oras pa lang, ah?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan because it's also a wonder to me kung bakit nandito na siya. It's just nine in the morning at magb breakfast pa lang kami ng family ko.

"Tapos ka na ba?" tanong niya, referring sa pagbibihis ko.

"Yep, you can turn around now," I said, and then he turned to me. Kumunot ang noo ko nang bigla siyang sumeryoso.

"What's up?" I asked curiously, crossing my arms.

He looked up at me, then sighed heavily. Sa totoo lang kinakabahan ako ah. I know Nico is acting childish most of the time, but kapag ganitong seryoso siya, I know something is not right.

"Are you still on that guy, Justin?" tanong niya.

"Uhm yeah.. I mean, 'di ba nga nililigawan niya ako?"

He breathed harshly at that. "I want you to stop seeing that guy, Millicent. I mean it."

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya, but then I am curious as well. Ano kaya ang pumasok sa utak na naman nito?

Oh right.. He probably asked someone again to investigate. Damn it. Naging habit na talaga ng lalaking, 'to ang ipa background check lahat ng lalaking nagkakainteres sa'kin at gusto akong ligawan! Every damn time!

"What did you find out this time, Nic?" I asked disinterestedly as I braced myself for the worst. As much as I hate him doing that, I still know Nicolas won't lie about it.

"Well, it just happened that Jax is dating his ex-girlfriend, and she told me a lot of things. She even told me to tell you to be careful. That guy Justin is one hell of an asshole. Did you know what he did? He broke up with her when she refused to have sex with him." his voice is hard, and it's no brainer that he'll kill Justin.

I rolled my eyes at that. "Paano ka nakasisiguro naman na totoo 'yon? I mean, it's been a month since we started dating, and he's nothing but sweet and nice. He's such a gentleman that he will even carry my bag," I argued. It's not that I don't believe what he was told, but I won't take it right away.

Para sa'kin, mali na husgahan ang isang tao kung hindi mo naman siya kilala o napatutunayan mismo sa sarili mo na ganun nga siya.

"Wow, Millicent Iris Escoleto. Your definition of gentleman ay dahil binubuhat niya ang bag mo? I've done that during our high school days, but you never called me that," he snapped.

I gave him a bored look. "It's because we're best friends! Ano bang problema mo? You're starting to get on my nerves already, Blake Nicolas Gandia. Why is it na lahat na lang ng lalaking gusto ko ay hindi pumapasa sa'yo? I need to date too! I want a boyfriend!" I snapped back.

Sukat sa sinabi kong, 'yon ay napatayo siya. "What's wrong with you? Pinoprotektahan lang kita! You're my sister, and of course, ayokong maloko ka ng kung sino-sino lang!" he yelled.

Tears started to pool around my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa mga pinag gagagawa niya o dahil sa sinabi niyang kapatid ang turing niya sa'kin?

You just don't have the idea, eh?

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Concern ka ba talaga sa'kin o ayaw mo lang na sumaya ako?" putol ko sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya, then wiped my tears angrily.

"I'm just protecting you, Millie. I know it really looks like I am the villain every time, but the hell do I care? Ayokong mapunta ka sa taong alam kong sasaktan ka lang," he said gently, inching towards me. He wiped my tears using his thumb at niyakap ako.

Ayaw mo akong mapunta sa taong alam mong sasaktan lang ako? Then why are you here?

"I know you're concerned because you are my best friend, but I don't want you always sticking your nose on my business. I don't know what happened between Justin and his ex-girlfriend, pero masaya ako sa kanya. Isa pa, pwede naman magbago ang tao di ba? Come on, Nic. Kung sex lang din ang habol niya sa'kin, he could've done it already," I said and hugged him back. Ramdam ko ang tensyon niya dahil medyo dumiin ang yakap niya sa'kin.

"And I promise to be careful. Kapag nararamdaman kong hindi na ako nirerespeto, ako na ang unang kakalas. I don't intend to be disrespected, you know." I assured him that I wish he'd believe dahil totoo naman 'yon.

Humiwalay na siya sa'kin at mataman akong tiningnan, "If he's making you happy, sino ba naman ako para pigilan ka di ba? After all, you're right. You need to have a boyfriend too. Hindi naman pwede na ako lang ang kasama mo lagi di ba?" hindi ko alam pero sa sinabi niyang 'yan parang mas nasaktan ako imbes na makahinga nang maluwag.

I just smiled at him and pinched his nose. "Tara na. Nagugutom na ako," inunahan ko na siya sa pagbaba, where we found my parents and my brother on the dining table.

"Umupo na kayong dalawa rito. Millie, mayroong manga sa ref. Pwede ka mag shake kung gusto mo," mom said, then averted his attention to Nicolas na umupo sa tabi ko. Napailing na lang ako. My family is really fond of him, dahil na rin sa magkaibigan ang mga parents namin.

"Kailan niyo balak mag-enroll? Malapit na ang pasukan," dad said, and the question is for the both of us.

"Next week pa po kami, tito. Sabay kami ni Millie kasi magka schedule ang initial ng surnames namin," it's him who answered. Dad just nodded at that.

"Parang kailan lang ang babata niyo pa. Imagine now that you're about to finish college. I just realized that I am getting older too," we all laughed at that.

Nicolas is the center of conversation, and I am thankful because I get to enjoy eating.

"Di ba may lakad ka ngayon, darling? You're off to see Justin, right?" saglit akong napatingin kay Nico because, like what I expected, his expression changed.

"Ugh, yes, dad. He will take me to a bar tonight. Birthday po kasi ng best friend niya," I said, and dad just nodded at that. Hindi naman kasi siya mahigpit, and one more thing: he met Justin already, and he adores him.

Pagtapos kumain, lumabas kaming dalawa ni Nic sa porch, and he helped me na paliguan ang aso naming si Bacon. It's the dog we picked up from the street two years ago. Bacon is supposed to stay with him, but hindi pumayag si Tito Blaise because Bliss, their youngest, has asthma.

"I didn't know that you'd be going to a bar later," he started.

Napabuntong hininga ako. "I thought we already talked about this. I'm going to be alright."

He remained quiet as he just continued rubbing Bacon with soap. I caught his hand and clutched it with mine.

"Don't you trust me?" I asked.

"Sa kanya ako walang tiwala," his jaw clenched as he freed himself from me. Bacon licked his face as if sensing his distress.

"How about this? If you want, you can go there too, but just maintain your distance," I offered.

His face brightened up at that. "I can do that?"

I nodded na halatang ikinatuwa naman niya.

"Okay," there's a smirk on his face, and I know from here that he's fine already.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Out of all the people in this world, bakit ikaw ang naging best friend ko, Nicolas?