The Bachelor Series 2: The Affair (Self-Published)

Kabanata 28

Tinitigan ko si Rake habang nagshushoot siya. He's busy but he wants me to go with him.

"What a day." Saad ni Lourd sabay upo sa tabi ko.

Nilingon ko siya kasabay nang pagsandal niya sa sofa at pag pikit. It's like he's really tired huh.

"Don't mind him. He's just too overreacting." Saad naman ni Drew at humalik sa noo ko.

"What is the Guillory's doing here? What happened on earth?" I asked, a bit smiling.

"Drew happened." Pagod na sagot ni Lourd.

Nilingon ko si Drew at kinukutan ng noo bilang tanda ng pagtatanong sa kanya. He just shrugged.

"Don't tell me, you're looking for Ria?" Natatawang tanong ko

"Exactly, bruh." Sagot ni Lourd sabay tapik ng balikat ko.

Hinampas ni Drew si Lourd ng throw pillow sa may ulo at hinagis iyon sa kanya.

"Damn you!" Naiinis na saad ni Drew.

Drew and Lourd Guillory is siblings. Drew is a pilot while Lourd is a famous GQ model. Both bachelors. They are close friends of Rake.

"Ouch! Stop it!" Angil ni Lourd at hinampas din si Drew pabalik

"Oh come on, Drew! Hiwalay na kayo ni Ria. Bakit hinahanap pa? She hates you." Saad ko

Napatigil sila sa paghahampasan nilang dalawa.

"See? I'm not the only one who's going to say that. I'm sure that if Caspian and Kade are here, they'll tell you the same thing." Sabi ni Lourd at nagpipipindot sa kanyang cellphone.

"What do you expect, Mr. Pilot? She'll still love you after making her your rebound?" Singit ni Rake sabay lapag ng camera niya sa side table.

Nilingon ko ang mga models na kinukuhanan niya kanina na ngayon ay papasok na ng dressing room.

"Exactly." Sagot ni Lourd muli at isang batok ang ibinigay ni Drew sa kanya.

"It's not that I want her back..." Drew sighed, "She's special to me and I just want to apologize for breaking her heart."

I rolled my eyes and punched him on his arm, "Tapos ano? Ano bang akala niyo? Lolokohin niyo kami tapos iiyak lang kami tapos okay na? Hindi na masakit? Duh."

Rake sat beside me and pulled me closer to him as he kissed the side of my head.

"It's been 6 months since we broke up." Malungkot na sabi ni Drew.

"And? You think it is easy to forgive? Na dapat kapag nag sorry ka, patawarin ka na nya ganon ba?" Tanong ko

Napa lingon ako kay Rake nang maramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa beywang ko. He gently smiled at me. I leaned forward and kissed his cheeks.

We heard groans from the brothers and Lourd stood up, walking away; 'Im out.' He said.

While Drew looked at us disgustingly. I laughed.

"What? Is it bad to kiss my boyfriend?" Tanong ko.

"Gross." Iiling iling na tumayo si Drew at sumunod sa kapatid niya palabas ng studio.

I knocked a few times on Rake's door.

"Are you still awake?" I ask

Then the door opens, letting me see Rake wearing his white v-neck shirt and a PJs. His hair was a bit damp.

"I just got out of the bathroom. You need anything?" He asks then opens the door widely.

I watched him rub his towel on his hair as I walk inside his room, closing the door behind me.

"I just want to tell you something." I almost whispered

He stopped and look at me, "What is it?" He looks worried and very concerned.

I shook my head and smiled at him. Fidgetting on my fingers.

"I... wanna go back to the Philippines."

Three months ago, Cassie flew back to the Philippines to start her new career with the Moon Magic. She has a tight schedule and she needs to start it. Manager Kath, wants me to go with them but I refused.

Kasi hindi ko pa kaya. I'm afraid of what I will know once I entered that land again. I have so many what-ifs inside my head and I'm afraid to face it.

Pero simula nung nakausap ko si Papa, nagbago. I should stop being selfish. I need to be with my father and take care of him. He's right. He is not getting any younger each day.

"When are you planning to leave?" He asks.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled me to sit beside him.

"By the end of the month," I answered.

He nodded, "Next week. That fast?"

"Papa needs me. I don't want him alone, too."

Last year, binenta na ni Papa ang buong hacienda sa Regalla. It's on my name pero dahil nagkasakit si Papa, he needs medical maintenance and that's the last resort I have. Kinailangan namin ibenta.

"I'll miss you." Rake whispered.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "You're not going with me?"

He shook his head and sighed.

"As much as I want to but I can't. I have a lot of work here."

Niyakap niya ako and kissed the side of my head.

"Susunod ako sayo pagkatapos ng mga trabaho ko dito." He said

"Matagal ba yan?" I asked

"Three to four months..."

The days went by too fast... Sobrang busy na din ni Rake sa trabaho niya and everything kaya halos hindi na din namin napansin ang araw.

Sumabay ako kay Drew pabalik ng Pilipinas. Since siya naman ang may ari ng airport ay wala na akong ginastos. Im willing to pay him but he doesn't want me too.

Rake didnt come with me. Ayaw niya ng ihahatid ako dahil baka sumama lang daw siya dahil hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili niya.

When my airplane landed, Papa fetches me at dumaretso uwi na kami. Tito Achilles, Tita Athena, Jill and some of my friends are there.

We did a dinner party before I landed on my bed.

"So, for good ka na dito?" Tanong ni Jill.

We missed each other kaya naman we decided to have a movie night together.

"Yup!"

"How about your career?" Tanong niya

"I'll be signing my contract by next week. After that, start na ng trabaho."

Tumango tango siya bago kinuha ang bowl ng popcorn na inihanda ni tita Athena sa amin saka siya dumapa sa kama.

Ginawa ko din ang ginawa niya bago kumuha ng popcorn.

"How about Rake? Ano long-distance kayo? Kaya niya? Kaya mo?" Tanong ni Jill sabay lingon sa akin.

Nagkibit balikat ako, "He said he'll follow after two to three months."

Tumango tango si Jill at hindi na nagsalita kaya nagpatuloy na kami sa panonood.

I woke up the next day early in the morning. Tulog pa sila kaya naman naisipan ko na lang mag jogging na lang muna.

I just jogged around the subdivision and make twelve laps until I accidentally bumped into Cassie with Bench.

"So, kayo na ulit?" Tanong ko habang tinititigan si Bench na kumakain ng cake niya

Ngumiti si Cassie at nagkipit balikat.

"Have you seen Barry?" Tanong ni Cassie.

Umiling ako, "I'm not here for him, Cass. I'm here for my father."

Tumango tango si Cassie.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Pain inside my chest doubled. Just his name hurts me.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, "He's married, Rain."