Bound By Fire

Chapter Four

I can't exactly remember how I fell in love with Nicolas, but I just found myself wanting to cross that boundary beyond what we have right now.

At first, it was all just an appreciation of his being with me every single day and him being protective of me. I knew and became friends with him when I was twelve. The first time we met, we clicked right away because I am just as wild as him at nagkakasundo kami sa lahat ng bagay.

Nic and I basically did everything while growing up. His parents treat me like their own, at ganun din ang akin sa kanya. We are family to each other.

"Hey!" automatic na umikot ang mata ko pagkakita sa kanya. He's running, then he stops in front of me.

"What took you so long?" tanong ko dahil halos kalahating oras ko siyang hinintay kahit na nga ba nagtext na siya kanina pa na pupuntahan niya na ako.

He's all smiles while hugging me. Alam ko na 'to..

"I met someone, and she's hot. We exchanged numbers and talked for a few minutes. You'll like her." I rolled my eyes at that.

"Ako lang ang makapagsasabi kung magugustuhan ko ba o hindi. So, whatever happened to the sis over hoe? I thought hindi mo na ako iiwan kasi baka may makalapit sa'kin?" medyo nagtatampo na tanong ko sa kanya.

Ever since Justin happened, he doesn't let me alone outside as much as possible lalo na kung walang mga tao sa paligid.

Nalaman din ng parents ko ang nangyari and I filed a complaint against him. The last time I heard, nakulong siya.

He raised a brow at that. "Do you think I let you alone here?" he asked, averting his eyes in a different direction.

"Hey, Cal!" he called out to a guy na kanina pa nakatayo malapit sa'kin and waved at him. That guy waved back at him.

"Did you just ask that guy to watch over me?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. He didn't answer. Instead, he winked at me.

Niyaya niya na ako umalis dahil pareho na kaming enrolled. Two weeks na lang and it's the start of the second semester, and we both can't wait for it already. The first semester just passed like a blur, and now we're down to the last chapter of our college life.

Nakaakbay siya sa'kin habang naglalakad habang nakahawak ako sa isang kamay niya na nasa balikat ko.

"Sino yung babaeng nakilala mo pala?" tanong ko sa kanya, going back to what he's talking about last time.

He shrugged his shoulders at that. "Wala naman akong balak na seryosohin siya. I mean, just looking at her, I know she's also the type who will go for a no-strings-attached set up, which is I am glad." I rolled my eyes at that.

"Oh, I get it. You're just horny!" naiinis na natatawa kong sabi sa kanya, but at the same time, I can almost hear my heart shattering into pieces.

May nakilala na naman siya. Alam kong hindi naman niya seseryosohin 'yon, but still, hindi pa rin ako sanay. I still get jealous every time. Hindi sila magtatagal sigurado ng sino man 'yon, but still. she will be able to kiss and hold him like a lover.

If he'll ask me to go have sex with him, papayag naman ako. But it just happens that he values our friendship so much that he won't even think of me as a woman. For him, I will always be like a sister that he needs to care for and protect. Nothing more.

***

I got bored, so I texted Nic if I could drop by their house. He agreed yet told me to wait for half an hour but I can't wait already, kaya kahit magalit man siya, nag commute na ako. Anyway, isang sakay lang naman ang papunta sa kanila. I just have to walk a few minutes from the gate of the subdivision to Casa Gandia. Hindi naman ako kinakabahan maglakad mag isa because this is an exclusive subdivision with high-end security as well.