The Real Love Story

TRLS 14

Hello, readers! Ngayon ko lang nabasa ang mga comment niyo for the past months. I realized ang dami na palang buwan ang lumipas pero hindi talaga ako nag-update :( I'm so cruel. I'm sorry guys, akala ko talaga last month ko lang hinold ang TRLS eh. Huhu but don't worry, my summer classes are done already so makakapag-update na ako :) THANK YOU SO MUCH for waiting. I need to see your comments too, andyan pa ba kayo? T_T Sana andyan pa. Mahal ko kayo! :) Tatapusin na natin to! Hahahahaha x -rhumqueen

[Scarlette's POV]

As soon as I opened my eyes, automatic na kumirot ang ulo ko. Oh, damn hangover. Ni hindi ko man lang nabilang kung ilang shots ba ang nainom ko kagabi. 

"Hey, morning. Hangover?" Napaangat ako ng tingin nung may nagsalita sa may pintuan ng kwarto. Napakunot ang noo ko nung makita ko si Alexander. 

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ko at napailing naman siya habang naglalakad papasok. He's holding a mug and he handed it to me. 

"You're in my condo, silly girl." Sagot niya at doon ko lang napagtantong wala nga ako sa kwarto ko. Oh. Maybe that's the reason why I smell something familiar but very different from mine. It's not my room. 

Magsasalita pa sana ako nung bigla uling kumirot ang ulo ko. "Damn, hangover hurts like a bitch." Bulong ko at napatawa siya. He sat down at the edge of the guest room's bed at nangingiting tumingin sa akin.

"Come on, drink the tea. It will help." Pamimilit niya at wala naman akong ibang nagawa kundi ang sundin ang sinabi niya.

"Did I say something stupid yesterday?" I asked as soon as we sat down his dining table. He looked at me. What? I'm curious.

"Just drunk words and whatnots." He answered at napataas naman ang kilay ko. "Why?" Balik na tanong niya and I rolled my eyes.

"Fully aware of the phrase, drunken words are sober thoughts?" I answered and he smiled. Boy, he smiled! 

"Nice try." Natatawa niyang sabi at tinignan ko naman siya ng masama. 

"Really now, Alexander?" Inis kong tanong sa kanya at napangisi naman siya. 

"Say it again," He commanded and I raised my eyebrows. "My name, say it again." He repeated and I rolled my eyes.

"Seriously? What's with you and your name?" Tanong ko at nakita ko naman siyang ngumiwi at umiwas ng tingin. He didn't answer me and okay lang sa akin yun. Mas mabuti ng 'wag nalang siyang magsalita. Kung anu-ano kasi ang sinasabi niya. 

But of course that silence didn't last long. What to expect? He's Alexander and he won't stop talking so after like 3 minutes, he talked again.

"If I told you the things you've said yesterday, would you want to talk about it with me now?" He asked and I felt silent. After a while, he immediately followed it with a, "I'll take that as a no." 

This boy surely knows how to shut me up.

"So, where have you been nga?" Pangungulit sa akin ni Shannon at napahilamos naman ako sa mukha ko. 

"Shan, please. I still have this goddamn hangover and I really don't want to talk about it." Inis at may pagsusumamo kong sagot sa kanya silently hoping that she'll let it slide. 

Thank God, she did!

"Fine. So, are you going to work na? Hindi ka na magkukulong sa kwarto? Damn, Scarlette. Bobombahin na yata ako niyang mga trabahante mo! Text ng text kung saan at anong nangyari sayo. Pwede ba, the next time you'll be gone, give them a heads up? Hindi yung ako yung kinukulit nila!" Frustrated niyang sigaw at napailing nalang ako.

"Shan, who are you to condemn those people? You are very similar. Pareho lang kayong makulit so deal with it." Pang-iinis kong sabi sa kanya at nanlaki naman ang mga mata niya. OA talaga!

"Scarlette, baka nakakalimutan mong pinaghintay mo ako ng dalawang oras sa parking lot ng Restau, add the fact that you declined all my texts and calls and you still owe me an explanation for not going home yesterday. Then sasabihin mo sa akin yan? God, don't me!" Exaggerated niyang sabi sa akin at umiling iling naman ako.

"Bakit ba big deal sayo kung hindi ako umuwi dito? Dati naman akong hindi umuuwi ng bahay ha." Tanong ko at ngumisi naman siya.

"Well, I really don't care where on Earth you're going Carleey. Malaki ka na naman. Ang akin lang, your mom has been bombing my inbox and call logs! God, I still have to block her number para lang hindi niya na ako matawagan ulit. Alam mo ba yun?" Paliwanag niya at napatigil naman ako. I don't know but suddenly, I felt weak. Nawalan yata ako ng gana.

"Bakit di mo sinagot? You should have told her that you didn't know where I am." 

"Why? Tingin mo hindi ia-announce ng nanay mo sa buong Pilipinas na nawawala ka? Trust me when I say Tita was the most exaggerated person I have ever known, Carleey."

"Hindi ba ikaw?" Pagwawala ko sa topic at inambahan niya naman ako ng suntok.

"Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo. Aalis na ako. Go home, will you?" Paalala niya sa akin at tumango nalang ako. 

"Where on earth have you been, Scarlette Marie Guevarra?!" Napanganga ako ng marinig ko ang sigaw na iyon.

"What the?" Bulong ko nung makita ko ang lolo at lola ko sa living room namin. Kasama niya ang mga magulang at ang kapatid ko na parehong nakatayo na. Mabilis akong pumunta kay Lola at akmang yayakap pero pinigilan niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paglalagay ng palad niya sa noo ko. 

"La naman..." I pouted as I saw her gritted her teeth. 

"La naman ka dyan! Where have you been? You are not answering our calls and text! Shannon doesn't have any idea where you are, hindi mo rin tinext si Manang Nancy mo and you're employees have been contacting us non-stop!" Napakamot naman ako sa ulo ko nung ma-realize ko na inulit niya lang ang sinabi ni Shannon kanina. 

"La, I slept over a friend's house. That's no big deal." Simple kong sagot at napailing naman siya.

 "You don't get it don't you? We're worried sick, Carleey. Ni hindi mo man lang kami kinontak!" Saad niyang paulit ulit naman. That's the thing about her, nakakalimutan niya yatang sinabi niya na iyon kanina at inulit na naman niya. Maybe because she's already growing old. Oh how time flies so fast.

I looked at Lolo who snorted in disagreement. "Come on, amore. Our Carleey is already old enough.  She's free and single and successful. You can't expect her to stay at home with that age and status." Pagpapaliwanag ni Lolo at tumango-tango naman ako.

I heard my Lola sighed. "I'm sorry, Carleey. We're worried. The next time this happens, I'm gonna get you where you are and bring you to the mansion. And I'm serious." She said with authority when she glanced at my parents who are giving each other some unknown look.

"Lola, I will not be home for tomorrow and the other day and the other. If you are worried again then find me at Shannon's. I'll gladly go with you to the mansion. I'll just pack my things." Mabilis kong sabi at dali daling tumakbo. Nakita ko pang napanganga sila ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinansin. Pero napahinto ako nung marinig ko ulit ang pangalan ko.

"Scarlette," 

Lumingon ako sa tatay ko. "Yes?"

"Hindi ka man lang ba magso-sorry sa amin?" 

Kumunot ang noo ko, "Why?" 

"Because you didn't go home last night! You made your Lolo and Lola flew here all the way from Davao! You owe us an apology." Pagpapaliwanag niya at ngumisi naman ako sa kanya.

"When you left for 5 years, did I demand for an apology? Hindi diba? Please, Dad. Not me." Inis kong sabi at pinagpatuloy ang pagtakbo papunta sa kwarto ko. 

I'm going to leave this house, I promise. This isn't my home. I'm gonna leave soon.

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