Her Prince

- 52 -

- ADDYSON LOPEZ -

I knew this would happen.

I knew that the Engineering Hotties bring nothing but heartbreaks.

I knew this... I witnessed my own friends suffer, their hearts broken because of them. And yet here I was, diving straight into my own curse myself.

Julien, whom I thought was the prince who could save me, but ended up cursing me with a broken heart as well.

This is the second time, good job there, Addy.

"I'm just a friend." I mumbled to myself. Right, of course I was. All this time, he was just really being kind. Bakit ba binigyan ko ng meaning? Bakit ba hinayaan ko ang sarili kong kiligin? How dare I?!

Anong gagawin ko? Paano ko pa siya mahaharap?

I can't face him like this.

I can't face him again, ever!

Kahapon, nagmessage lang ako sa kanya na 'something came up', at kailangan kong puntahan agad si Hana kaya hindi ko siya nahintay. Hindi pa ulit ako nagbukas nang messenger since then. It was a lie of course, dahil umuwi lang ako sa condo. Dapat pala nagpunta na lang talaga ako kina Hana!

But Kuya Sana would be there...

I can't see him too, when I just got my heart broken again.

Covering my face with a pillow, I screamed. Bakit ba kasi ang rupok ko? My poor heart... how could you still beat when it hurt so much?

At least, I wasn't crying. Umiyak ako kahapon, but that should be it.

Should I go back to Lingmell? At magpasama kay Hana? I needed to nurse my heart, far and away from Julien. Kailangan kong kumalma, para makapag-isip.

Julien was a good friend. We can stay as such. A girl and a boy, could stay just like that... kailangan ko lang ibaon sa limot ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya. I could do it right? I did it with my feelings for Kuya Sana, I could do it again with Julien!

With that in mind, I got up and grabbed my phone. I was in the middle of texting Hana when the doorbell rang, I almost jumped in shock.

Jules!

But I can't.

I can't!

Hindi ko pa siya kayang harapin!

It rang again, and I realized it wasn't Julien. It couldn't be him. Ang alam niya I was still with Hana, and he never had to ring the doorbell twice.

I had a bad feeling, but the need to know who was behind the door was stronger.

"Is Julien here?" asked the blonde girl pagbukas ko ng pinto. She was a few inches shorter than me, her face small and pretty. Like a barbie doll.

"No." I managed to answer.

"Oh. Wrong door, then. Sorry." She turned, heading for the next door.

To Julien's door.

"Excuse me but, why are you looking for him?" habol ko sa kanya.

"You know him?"

"May I ask who you are?" with a clenched fist, I silently prayed. Please don't be who I think you are.

"Trina." she responded, smiling proudly. "His one and only."

She beelined for Julien's door, and I was frozen in place, watching her press his doorbell. My neighbor opened his door only after a few moments, his pretty eyes widened in shock as he beheld the girl in front of him.

Julien's dim eyes at the mention of the girl he liked was all I could think of. His sad smile, his tone... he was hurting. And the reason for it came back, right at his doorstep.

"Zeus!" Trina squealed, lifting her hands as she reached for Julien.

My body moved on its own. Before I realized what was I doing, nakapagitna na ako sa kanilang dalawa. Tatlo kaming nagulat sa ginawa ko.

Trina's face contorted in annoyance. "What the hell?!"

Taas noo ko siyang hinarap, spreading my arms protectively para hindi siya makalapit sa kaibigan ko. "Yeah, what the hell?"

"Sino ka ba? Zeus, kilala mo ba 'to?" Her nostrils were flaring. Pinigilan kong matawa. Marunong naman palang mag-Tagalog eh!

"I'm Addyson, his friend." sagot ko para kay Julien. It stung, but I had a promise to keep.

"A friend, huh." She scoffed, raising her voice. "Then do you know who I am? Why the hell are standing in my way? Zeus, paalisin mo nga 'to!"

"Trina." Julien called from behind me, his tone soft. He stayed calm, despite Trina's rising temper. "Nakipag-break ba ulit siya sa'yo?"

She was taken aback, not expecting the blunt question from him. Her reaction was answer enough. "Let me explain first, please—"

"No." I cut her off with a stern look.

"This bitch!" She was getting violent as she tried to push me, but unfortunately for her, I caught her wrist. She tried to break free, but my grip was firm.

I look at her straight in her stubborn brown eyes, "I won't let you hurt Julien again. Malaki ka na, you should already be aware of the consequences of your actions. Do you enjoy hurting the person who did nothing but love you? Or do you just don't care?"

"Ano bang alam mo?!" Trina swatted my hand away, but I let her go before she could touch me.

"I know enough, and it's about time you stop. As long as I'm here, you're never crying back your ass to Jules again. I won't let it!" I pulled Julien back with me inside his unit, and slammed the door on Trina's face.

I took several deep breaths to calm myself down. Binitawan ko na rin ang kamay ni Julien, dahil nakahawak pa rin pala ko.

He did not let me, he squeezed my hand instead but didn't say anything.

There was a moment of silence, and it made me reflect on what I had just done. "Did I... go too far?"

Julien only pulled me closer, letting go of my hand once I was near enough. He slipped his hands on the space between my sides and arms, wrapping them around my back. His chest was pressed firmly against mine, I could clearly feel the rapid beating of his heart, in tune with my own.

Securing my arms around his waist, I clutched his clothes and snuggled his chest.

He nestled on my neck in return.

"Thank you, Addy." He whispered in my ear, hugging me so tight. The kind of hug that could fix every little broken pieces... but it did the opposite to my heart, tearing down the remnants of the wall I tried to build up to protect it. Whatever resolve I had up until earlier, evaporates.

I'm liking him even more.

There was no turning back. I couldn't just be his friend.

It felt so right, inside his arms, pressed against him like this.

He felt so right.

I kept the tears at bay when we let go.

"Should I stay? At least, while Trina's here." I offered, despite my aching heart. Julien needs my help, he comes first... before my unrequited feelings. Isasantabi ko muna lahat, this was more important.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She'd keep coming back until she gets what she wants."

"Then I'll be here, as promised. I'll protect you, Jules." I was tempted to hold his hand again, pero nginitian ko na lang siya.

Warmly, like the sun in mid-morning, he smiled back. "Thank you, Addy. Really. I'll buy you lots of ice cream after this." Julien reached for my hand, but I walked past him, heading straight to his kitchen.

"I'd love that! I mean, what are friends for?" ngumiti ako nang mas malawak, hoping he wouldn't sense my feign excitement, "We still have the mint choco ice cream from the other day, right?"

As I faced his freezer, I huffed.

So much for nursing my heart far and away from Julien.