The Bad Guy's Kiss | ✔

[60] Fated to be Rivals

NAKASANDAL si Jade sa pader na nasa harap ng KFC at naghihintay kay Mavis. Pumunta kasi sa restroom ang dalaga. In fact, medyo matagal na rin nang umalis siya, marami kasi ang pumipila. And it's always a mystery for him kung bakit palaging maraming pumipila sa restroom ng mga babae. Ano ba ang ginagawa nila sa loob? Isang oras na re-touch?

Anyway, he was grateful that she agreed to be with him for a day. He wants to take this chance to tell her why he came back. The hurdle is high. Alam niyang matagal na panahon na ang lumipas simula noong umalis siya. At walang kasiguraduhan kung mutual pa rin ba ang nararamdaman nilang dalawa ni Mavis sa isa't-isa. If only he can come back to that time more than a year ago. Pero alam niya namang imposible 'yon. But still, even if there's only a millimeter of possibility that she still feel the same way about him, he'll still bet on that chance.

He sighed. Bakit ba siya nag-aalala sa sitwasyon na hindi pa nangyayari? It's useless worrying anyway. Hindi niya pa nga nasasabi kay Mavis ang sitwasyon niya. He's overthinking too much.

"Yo."

Naputol siya sa pag-iisip nang biglang may sumulpot at sumandal din sa pader sa tabi niya. May dala itong plastic mula sa department store. Tantsa niya ay magka-edad lang sila ni Mavis. 'Tsaka mukhang mayaman. Sa suot at sa porma pa lang nito malalaman mo na agad na hindi pa napuputikan ang mga kamay niya. And it must be weird coming from Jade, but he'll admit that the guy beside him has a pretty face.

"Hey, pretty boy. You lost?" tanong niya. 'Tsaka bakit mo ako kinakausap? Hindi kita kilala, sa isip-isip ni Jade. Pero nang titigan niya itong mabuti, parang namumukhaan niya ang mukha ng katabi niya. Hindi niya lang matandaan kung saan niya ito nakita.

"No. Anyway, are you waiting for someone?" tanong sa kanya ng binata.

Napataas ang kilay ni Jade. "And if I am?"

"Nah. I'm just worried about you since she's pretty clumsy when it comes to putting her blush-on, mukhang matatagalan ka pang maghintay."

Nakuha no'n ang atensyon ni Jade. He can't help but be curious about the person beside him. Kahit naman siya ay alam niyang hindi ganoon kagaling si Mavis sa paglalagay ng blush-on. But to think that this guy knows that little detail about her. "Who are you?" hindi niya maiwasang tanong sa katabi. While he said that without any ill-intention, the younger guy gave him a sharp look in return.

"Yohan."

Jade was taken aback. Literal siyang napaurong nang marinig ang pangalan ng katabi niya. Now that explains everything.

"Yoha—! Heh. So you're that Yohan." Napatawa ito ng mahina. "Hindi ko ini-expect na kakausapin mo ako rito." Now that he thinks about it, kaya pala pamilyar ang mukha ni Yohan ay dahil nakita niya ito sa party na pinuntahan niya noong isang araw.

"That's my line. Mas lalong hindi ko ini-expect na kakausapin kita rito."

"I'm Jade."

"I know."

The older guy smirked. "Alam mo marami akong naririnig tungkol sa 'yo. The Earl of St. Blue, the student council president who reigned the student body, the guy who topped all of his exams—kulang na lang magkaroon ka ng korona sa ulo." He observed Yohan's expression and it clearly showed him an annoyed face. "And so? What's the young elite want to do with me?"

"Hearing about you from others is annoying. But talking to you in person doubled my irritation."

He's hot-headed, foul-mouthed, arrogant, stubborn, and he's a pretty hard guy to approach. Sigurado akong hindi kayo magkakasundo.

Ngayon naiintindihan na ni Jade kung ano ang tinutukoy ni Mavis nang tanungin niya ito tungkol sa childhood friend niyang palaging nambu-bully sa kanya.

"Let's get to the point, okay? Why are you talking to me? Are you that worried that I'll take her away?" he felt Yohan flinched beside him. "'You damn old guy, why the hell can you read my mind' is what I'm seeing in your face, Yohan."

"Tsk. Huwag mo akong tawagin sa pangalan ko."

Napapailing na lamang si Jade. "Tama nga sila, ang bilis mag-init ng ulo mo."

"Shut. Up."

"Okay. Okay. Anyway, any minute now lalabas na si Mavis sa restroom. So could you please quietly take your leave? I reserved this day for us."

"Damn. Old. Guy."

"Hey, I'm still 24. Isn't that a little too young for an old guy?" tinapunan siya ng masamang tingin ni Yohan.

As expected, tama si Jade sa hinala niyang hindi sila magkakasundo ni Yohan. Kinukwento pa lang siya noon ni Mavis sa kanya, alam niya nang hindi sila pinagtakbo para maging magkaibigan. Even if the others say that he should act mature because he's older, he can't do that with Yohan. They're like oil and water—first impression pa lang alam niya nang hindi sila magkakasundo. They're fated to be rivals than friends.

Nagsimulang maglakad si Jade pero huminto siya sa harapan ni Yohan. He face him head on.

"You're way of bullying Mavis because you like her is too immature. Elementary student lang ang gumagawa no'n." Jade felt that his words took a huge hit in Yohan's ego. For a guy, nothing more can be painful than your pride being trambled on. "'How the hell did you come up with that idea' is what's written in your face again. Siyempre malalaman ko. Kahit sino naman mahahalata 'yon, except for Mavis though. She's a little too slow for that... but, well, it's one of her good points."

"So..." natahimik muna si Jade nang bumuka ang bibig ni Yohan. "Are you telling me to give up because my way is immature?" he scoffed and smiled in front of Jade that made the older guy confused. "Dream on, old guy. If I'm immature, then I'll take that as my advantage. It just proves that I'm not mature enough to give her up now."

Nabigla si Jade. He thought that his mental attack is working just now but it didn't affect Yohan at all. He was even surprised when Yohan gave him an unpredictable response. "You're really a tough guy, huh."

Nagsimulang maglakad si Yohan at naiwang nakatingin sa likod niya si Jade.

"I'll give you this day," sabi ni Yohan at huminto sa paglalakad. Pero hindi nito hinarap si Jade. "Just this day. Sa susunod, hindi ko na hahayaan ulit 'to. I'll play your game, old guy. Pero ngayon pa lang sinasabi ko na sa 'yo... I never intend to lose."

Nagpatuloy si Yohan sa paglalakad habang napapailing na lamang si Jade. "Bring it on, brat."

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