Princess Series Two: The Bitter Bitch

14: The Gift

PS: Remember that this story is on hiatus mode due to prior commitments made. Thank you!

JASMINE

"You damn bitch!"

Tumawa si Ariel at natatawang niyakap ako. I hugged her back and gripped her so tight, thanking the Lord silently. "Is that the proper way to greet me, Jas?"

Humiwalay ako at inirapan siya. "And you think what you did was any better? Idiota!"

She chuckled at patalikod na sumalampak sa couch niya. Diretso naman ako sa kusina niya. "So, you're my babysitter for how many hours?"

I rolled my eyes and grabbed two beers from her fridge. "Why the hell do you have alcohol, Ari?" tanong ko at binuksan ang mga 'yung isang bote. "And aren't you happy to see me after a month, Ari-bells?"

"I am," sagot niya. "Pero hindi ko kailangan ng babysitter, Jasmine. Kanina si Erella, at bago siya umalis dumating na si Belle. And I'm pretty sure she only left when you arrived."

Tinitigan ko siya bago ako nakangising lumagok ng beer. "You scared us shitless, Ari. How do you fucking expect us to react? Kung hindi pa kami pinuntahan ni Eric, hindi pa namin malalaman na wala ka na pala."

She flinched. "Try not to say his name."

"So ayaw mo na sakanya?"

She shrugged. "Hiatus mode."

Tumawa ako. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith?"

"Yes. Nasa ilalim ng TV, I think."

Masuri ko siyang tinignan. "Kahit ayokong umalis ka, I'm glad you did." Sa sinabi ko ay kunot-noong tinignan niya ako. Ngumiti ako sakanya. "You found time to love yourself. 'Yun ang pinaka-importante sa lahat." Napaluha siya kaya agad akong lumapit sakanya at niyakap siya. "Hey, hush."

Yumakap siya sa akin. "Mahal mo ba siya, Jasmine?"

"Sino?"

"Si D-derick... mahal mo ba siya?"

I remained silent.

Suminghot siya. "Kasi kung hindi mo siya mahal, don't lead him on. A-alam mo kasi... masakit 'yun. Huwag mo siyang paasahin, okay? Kung hindi mo siya kayang mahalin don't lead him on. Because it hurts so much. S-so much."

I hugged her tighter as she sobbed. Napapikit nalang din ako dahil naramdaman ko ang sakit na pinagdadaanan niya. She was going through so much pain that I felt it. And I promised myself na hinding-hindi ko hahayaan na maramdaman din ni Derick ito. I'm willing to do anything to protect him from this pain.

If that's not love, then fuck.

=•=

{ Jasmine, three weeks mo na 'tong na-delay. }

I rolled my eyes. "Alam ko, Keslow. I'm packing right now and will be in your resort by tomorrow morning."

Napabuntong-hininga siya. { Okay, fine. This was really unprofessional, Jasmine. Even you know that. }

I pursed my lips. Of course alam ko 'yun. Pero priorities are priorities and Ari is above my business. Maski nga si Belle ay nag-vacation off sa two weeks na hinanap namin si Ari, e. Feeling special talaga 'tong gago. "You can always withdraw and hire another interior designer," asik ko sakanya.

{ No! It's okay, I forgive you anyway. }

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya at inis na napapikit nalang ako. Ang epal talaga niya kahit kailan!

{ I will see you tomorrow, Jas. }

"Yeah. Bye," masungit na paalam ko at agad binato ang phone ko sa kama. Kung p'wede lang siyang kalbuhin, ginawa ko na! "Bwisit lang," inis na sambit ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagi-impake ng luggage ko.