Crazy in Love (Captivating Aphrodite Side Story)

ME-TIME

Scarlett Blair's POV

The moment I said "I'll think about it.", Damien never stopped bombarding my phone with calls that I intentionally miss, and texts that contain sweet messages. Kung hindi ko alam ang intensyon niya at isang bobang babae ako ay baka nanginginig na ako sa kilig ngayon pero hindi. Hindi ako tanga parang hindi makita ang rason sa likod ng mga efforts na iyon. Ano pa ba? E di gusto niyang makuha ang matamis kong oo! Ang matamis kong oo na magiging confirmation ng pagiging fuck buddies namin!

I wanna slap myself for being so stupid! I could have said no at that very moment pero sinegundahan ko pa ng "I'll think about it."! At ngayon, heto ako nakaharap sa laptop ko habang nagbabasa ng articles about fuck buddies. Pucha, nababaliw na talaga ako!

Mabuti na lamang at nang umuwi ako sa bahay three days ago ay wala ang parents ko. Naabutan ko lang ang mga maids at sinabing agad-agad daw na lumipad papuntang Paris ang dalawa using our private plane dahil sa business, of course. Ganoon lang kadali sa kanila ang umalis, anytime. Hindi raw nila alam kung kailan ang balik ng dalawa dahil hindi naman nagsabi. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring tawag from my mom or dad, and that's okay. Not that I don't care but I'm just used to that set up. Bata pa lang naman ako ay ganoon na ang mga bagay, magugulat pa nga ako kung magbabago iyon.

I tried calling Molly pero it's useless. Busy ito sa dinedesign niyang gowns for a certain event. Yes, Molly's a fashion designer and she's really good at it. It's her dream ever since we're kids. And she achieved it. Masaya ako para sa bestfriend ko but sometimes, I couldn't help but to feel jealous. Hindi ko natupad ang pangarap kong maging isang magaling at sikat na journalist. Engineer Scarlett Blair Gray sounds good, but it's not what I want.

I sighed. I'm truly in despair. Jealous over my bestfriend at times and now, obviously freaking out over an offer...a fuck buddy offer!

I shut my laptop and stood up. Damn, I need some fresh air. Ilang araw na rin akong nagkukulong dito sa kwarto at sa mansion. Baka matagpuan na lang ako ng mga katiwala na bulagta na habang nagbabasa ng article sa google on how fuck buddy relationship works. That's not how I imagine myself dying. I wanna die for something heroic. Hindi yung mamamatay dahil sa katangahan!

I took a quick shower and dressed up. Tama. Magliliwaliw ako. Pupunta ako sa coffee shop pero bago iyon eh dadaan muna ako sa book store. I need a new book to brighten up my day. Hindi ko dapat binuburo ang sarili ko rito.

Nagpaalam ako sa mga maids. I told them to not pressure themselves, wala naman dito ang mga magulang ko. Masaya silang tumugon. I even gave them money for them to go out too. May guards naman sa bahay, I don't think it's fun to stay here the whole day. Ako ngang pa-easy-easy lang, nabuburyo. Sila pa kayang may mga duties?

I settled for taking a cab than driving. Ayokong mang-abala. Like what I planned, I asked the driver to take me at National Bookstore. I really want a new book. Ano na kayang out sa market? The last time I read was....weeks ago? I don't remember and it's sad. I don't remember a thing about my life. All I know is that I'm unhappy.

Unhappy and freaking out.

Shiz! Erase that! I said I want a time for myself. And a Me-Time doesn't include unhappiness and freaking out.

Hindi ko namalayang nandito na pala kami sa harap ng mall kung saan nandoon ang National Bookstore kung hindi pa ako tinawag ni Manong driver. I gave him five hundred pesos kahit na one fifty pesos lang ang nasa metro. Maliit lang namang halaga yun for me, but the Manong thanked me a lot. Bumaba ako ng taxi na may ngiti sa mga labi. It feels good to help. Kailan ko kaya ito magagawa sa Africa?

This is what I wanted when I turned 18. Gusto kong tumulong sa Africa, kahit sa isang community lang. Gusto ko magbigay ng pera, ng pagkain, ng tulong. Kayang-kaya naman iyong ibigay nila daddy but they chose to throw a big and marvelous party for my party. Who cares about Africa raw. I really cried that day because they didn't grant my birthday wish. I never liked a party. Lagi na lang may party. What I want is to help. Iyon lang. Pero hindi iyon maintindihan ng mga magulang ko.

I sighed. Dumiretso na ako sa bookstore and immediately went to the book shelves. Oh, the smell of new books feels good. Instantly, narerelax na ako. I started picking some books and reading the synopses of those nang biglang may humapit sa bewang ko. Napasinghap ako.

"What the fu--fudge." I swallowed nang makita ko kung sino ang pangahas na humapit na lang bigla sa bewang ko. It was no other than Damien. What the hell. Bakit siya nandito?

"I didn't mean to scare you, lovely. Choosing new books, eh?" He said. Instead of pushing him, I smiled. I don't wanna act so weird and pathetic. That's not me!

"Y-yes," what the hell, Scarlett! Why are you stammering?! "Ikaw? What...are you doing here?" And I gave my most pilit smile. I hope I didn't look funny!

"Actually, I'm buying books for my mom. She requested kasi. Luckily, nandito ka rin pala. I missed you." He said. Parang nagtayuan ang lahat ng balahibo sa katawan ko. For fuck's sake, he's standing so close to me, at nang sinabi niya iyon ay direkta sa tenga ko. Oh my gosh, Damien.

"Oh..Oh...kay."

"Teka, may free time ka ba after this?" Please say no! Wala kang time! Magkocoffee ka after nito! This is a ME-TIME Scarlett! Hindi mo kailangan ng kasama at kung kailangan mo man ay hindi si Damien Alegro! Lumayo ka sa tukso hangga't kaya mo!

"Yes."

"Great! Then let's have coffee together!" He said beaming with happiness, kulang na lang ay sumuntok siya sa ere para ipakitang success siya.

What the hell, Scarlett. Anyare sa ME-TIME?!