Kissing You Goodbye

Chapter One

Issabelle's POV

"Ano ba Jiggy?" I shrug off Jiggy's hand away from my shoulder. Sa bewang ko naman yun nagpunta. He's caressing my tummy. Bago pa man umakyat yun sa boobs ko, "Will you stop it?!" Nanggigil na saway ko.

I am alone in my condo checking my accountant's and manager's report. I am also busy thinking of a strategy. Until Jiggy, my fiance, arrived. Doon na lang daw sya matutulog. Of course, I knew what he was thinking. I am just too tired and busy to mind his advances.

He just laughed and rested his chin on my shoulder. He was sitting behind me. I am trapped between his legs. "Maybe I could help." He kissed my shoulder.

I shrug it off again. "You may help if you stop disturbing me."

Sa wakas tumayo sya. "Fine! I'll just watch TV outside."

"Buti pa nga." bulong ko. Bumalik na ako sa ginagawa ko.

I am too pressured to have sex. Marami pa akong dapat gawin. I had been taking care of the coffee shop business of the family. Dad and my older twin brothers are too busy with the rest of the company. At bilang nag-iisang babaeng anak, pressured ako na patunayan ang sarili. I always strive to be the best but rarely be one. Ni hindi nakikita ni Papa kung gano ako nagbibigay ng effort mapagmalaki nya lang 'cause to him I'm the girl, the weakest, the one to be always taken care of. Nabawasan lang ang pressure na naramdaman ko ng in-announce namin ni Jiggy ang engagement namin. Papa seems to be happy and I am more than glad to know that.

Ang totoo nyan, si mama ang nagpakilala sa min ni Jiggy sa isa't isa. He is a family friend. Anak sya ng isa sa mga stockholder ng kompanya. My parents were happy when they found na Jiggy and I were exclusively dating. We were on for months and now we are engaged. And my family life improved ever than before. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang sinabi sa kin ni Papa nung engagement party, "Finally, hija. You made a right decision." Para syang bumata nang ngitian nya ako and I realized I have not seen that smile for as long as I could not remember.

"Hey, hon, why are you crying?" napalingon ako sa may pintuan kung san nakatayo si Jiggy. Kung hindi nya pa napuna, hindi ko pa mapapansin na naiyak na pala ako.

Wala namang ibang dapat sisihin kung bakit nag-iba na ang pakikitungo sa kin ni Papa. Wala namang ibang dapat sisihin kung bakit nagpapakahirap ako just to win my father's trust again.

It was all my fault.

Napahagulgol na ako sa balikat ni Jiggy. "Don't cry, hon." Alam ni Jiggy ang frustrations ko about the family. Hindi nga lang sya nangingialam doon. He just comfort me and I knew it was more than enough. I love him for that.

Niyakap ko sya. "Don't leave me. Please."

"Of course, I won't." He saved my files and shut my laptop down. "You're just tired. Matulog na tayo."

I am too tired to take a short bath or even to change clothes. We just lie down. Nakaunan lang ako sa dibdib ni Jiggy at hinahaplos nya ang buhok ko. Naramdaman kong hinalikan nya ang buhok ko.

"You are such a cry baby."

I laughed faintly. "Funny."

"Seriously, I know a place. It's a bar. And Nine Tails sings there."

I knew the band. Sikat ang mga ito dahil sa mga revival songs na ginagawan ng acoustic versions. Plus I heard, the members are all good looking. Lalo na raw ang vocalist.

"Paano ka naman napadpad don, hon?" Sa pagkakaalam ko kahit kaylan hindi sya nahilig don.

"Well, the vocalist is Hera's boyfriend. He also happened to be the owner of the said bar."

As far as I know, Hera is Jiggy's bestfriend.

"Punta tayo don?"

"You would go there?"

"Para malibang ka. You're such a workaholic."

How sweet. He would go there kahit hindi sya mahilig don just to make me feel better.

"When?"

"I'll arrange it with Hera para makakwentuhan na rin natin sila. In the meantime, you get enough rest." He kissed my forehead. "Goodnight, hon."

"Sweet dreams." I closed my eyes with a smile.

Riley's POV

Taliwas sa paniniwala ng marami, I am not a playboy nor a heartbreaker. I'm just a practical guy. If I fall out of love, then, I would just have to be honest with myself and broke out of the relationship.

Hera was the record breaker. Sya ay ibang-iba sa lahat ng nakilala. Sana ay sya na nga. Sya pa lang ang girlfriend ko na nagtagal ng isang taon. We've been on for two years now. Hindi ko alam kung gano eksakto kami nagtagal ng ganon. I am busy with Nine Tails and my own bar named Hailey. Btw, I named it after me and my sister.

Hera, on the other hand, was busy with her own charm bracelet business.

We rarely see each other. Ironically, for some reasons, our relationship survived.

We dated. We had sex. We laughed together. Pero recently, ang daming nagbago.

ang kaso she's hot then she's cold. she said yes then says no. She's in then she's out.. She's up then she's down. She sounds wrong when it's right. It's black and it's white. We fight, we break up. We kiss, we make up.

Ang buong akala ko talaga hanggang pagkanta lang sa Hot n Cold ang gagawin ko. Mararanasan ko din pala yon?

Wait!

Baka naman..

She doesn't really want to stay? and that she really wants to go?

NO!

We are compatible. When I am busy, she doesn't mind. When I don't have time for her she does not demand. At ganun din ako sa kanya. I decided to keep her. Hera is what I need my woman should be.

"Babe naman." hinawakan ko ang braso nya at hinimas yon. Gusto nya akong tumugtog sa Hailey this thursday. May ka-double date raw kami. Fiancee ng bestfriend nya. But Nine Tails had a gig out of town. Hindi ako pwede.

"You agreed to be there!" Pinalis nya ang kamay ko.

I hug her from behind. "Babawi na lang ako. Promise."

"Hmp!"

"Sorry na... kung nagalit ka.. Hindi naman... sinasadya.." I sang while nibbling her ear.

She put her arms on mine. "Okay. Just promise to be there the next day."

"Sure." I kissed her nang lumingon sya sa kin.