Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 31

I left him.

Like I always did. It's what I was good at leaving him hanging in the air while I was always saving myself. I'm taking all the fall with this, afterall it was my decision.

He never fails to surprise.

And in return, I never failed to leave him. It was... complicated.

Magulo. 'Di ko maintindihan. How can I believe his words when Natalie's words were more plausible.

Simula ng bumalik siya ng pilipinas ay ni wala ako narinig tungkol sa babae. But people already knew that Akio's married. How can it be impossible that he's not married like what he claimed when everyone knew that he left the country after getting married.

Hindi na nakakapagduda, hindi ako maniwala sa sinasabi kung ganitong maraming bagay ang hindi tumutugma.

I've already learned my lesson and don't be too naive on things that you are not sure of...

"Maya?"

Lumingon ako sa aking likuran ng may tumawag sa aking pangalan. My eyes widened as I saw a familiar face that I haven't seen for years.

"Jason!" I exclaimed, accepting his friendly hug.

I tapped his back and chuckled lightly because his embrace tightened. He must've missed me.

"Wow! You look like you haven't even aged!" puri niya.

"It's been years since I last saw you, I got busy in law school but it seems like your beauty doesn't even falter no matter how many years it'll never pass."

"Whatever! Stop with the compliment okay, it might get on my brain." Ikinumpas ko ang kamay.

Iginilid ko ang cart na dala para bigyang daan ang ibang mga mamimili. It was a lazy sunday with Malaya, and I didn't expect to see friends from the past.

"What are you up to now?" He asked, glancing from my behind.

"Nothing much," I pucker my lips. "I stayed at home most of the time to take care of this little devil."

"Oh..." naghugis bilog ang bibig niya.

"You're married?"

"No," I laughed dismissively. "I own a coffee shop, alam mo na... it grew big and I can hire more workers to work for me. Basically, I am just chilling in my life now."

I avoid more questions, but summarize my life to fill him in ideas and he'll be swayed from asking about my niece.

Before he can even open his mouth, I raise a question, "how 'bout you? I remember you talking about going to law school, are you a lawyer now huh?"

"Oh well, I ended up quitting 'cause I lost interest along the way. I decided to go into business."

"Mr. Businessman, I like that!" pabiro kong hinamapas siya aa braso.

"Momma, can we go now?"

Nilingon ko ang pamangkin at hindi na maganda ang timpla. Ang tingin pa nga ay masama, ikinabahala ko tuloy baka isipin ni Jason na sinasamaan siya nito ng tingin.

"I'm hungry na, and we need to pick up Taro in the vet po," malamig niyang dagdag.

"Oh, sorry! You stop being moody and we'll go eat after this, wait," I gave him an awkward smile.

"I'm sorry we need to go. I have errands to do pa rin kasi."

"Sure, sure. Let's just see next time."

"I'll get your contact, is that fine?"

Smooth, huh? I smirked inwardly to myself, he hasn't changed. I bit my lips to hide the smugness on it while I typed in my number on his phone. I can feel his stares at me but I didn't mind it.