Aphrodite (Complete)

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Three

You're so attractive

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"How was your date with kuya?" Iyon ang pambungad ni Ingrid sa'kin as soon as I headed home. She called me in the phone dahil nauna na raw siyang umalis. Pagka-uwi ko naman, Marquis also excused himself at umuwi na rin dahil may importante daw siyang kailangan gawin.

I sighed. "Is your kuya always like that?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Weird?" I answered.

"Depende 'yan kung anong klaseng pagka-weird. Did he talk about jackets again?" Tanong niya.

"No. Not that. May sinabi siya sa'kin that is... totally absurd."

"Akala ko pa naman jackets naman ang pinagusapan niyo. Curious ako, ano ang sinabi niya sa'yo." Doon ako natigilan sa tanong niya.

Should I tell her? I don't know. Is it necessary? Nagtanong naman siya. Plus, she doesn't know anything about what's between Diana and I. I asked myself. Should I? My guts tell me I could tell her. I trust her. But I trusted Marquis more. Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Marquis: never trust her too much. But it's harmless, she's harmless. Wala naman sigurong magbabago kung sasabihin ko. It isn't even anything big. "He told me that... he prefers me... over Diana. Ang sabi niya sa'kin, there's something in me that's... I think... ugh, Ingrid! See? Just how weird can your brother be?"

I heard her squeal from the other line. Nilayo ko ang phone ko saglit. "I can not believe the almighty emo-ass Lucian say that! That's great Venus! That's great!"

Napataas ang kilay ko nang sinabi niya 'yon. "What do you mean by 'great' Ingrid?"

"Lucian is finally moving-on! Na hindi na lang kay Diana ang atensiyon niya. Nakita ka niya! You know, Venus, maybe you two can take this slow, you know? Get to know each other-"

"Whoa there, Ingrid. I have absolutely no intentions on dating your brother." I cleared her out.

"You two should date, Venus! You're single, he's single, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Malay mo mag-click kayo?" She jeered.

Hinimas-himas ko ang sentido ko. Bigla akong nainis sa sinabi niya. "Ingrid, I have already told you, hindi ako gamit para gamitan. I'm not looking for a date. At kung ano man ang sinabi niya sa'kin kanina, he probably didn't mean it." Sabi ko. "Don't push me to things I have no interest in. It upsets me."

"S-Sorry."

"Please don't make any reason to make me hate you, Ingrid. I'm hanging up, bye." Tsaka ko na na in-end ang call.

Napahiga ako sa kama. Totoong hindi ko talaga nawawala sa isip ko ang nangyari kanina. It held great effect in me at pakiramdam ko hindi iyon tama. Hindi talaga 'yom tama! Bakit niya sinabi 'yon sa'kin? Why did he kiss my cheek? Napahawak ako bigla sa pisngi ko. It felt... pleasant though. Tumingin ako sa gilid ko, nandoon ang coat na binigay niya sa'kin kanina. Kinuha ko 'yon. Inamoy. Niyakap. Inamoy ulit. Mabango. How does it feel to be in his arms? Niyakap ko ng mahigpit ang coat.

No! V! Snap out of it!

Tinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

Tinapon ko sa malayo ang coat.

What the heck did I just do? Parang hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. It just reacted... or something.

Natigilan ako nang may kumatok sa pintuan ko. Pumunta ako roon para pagbuksan ang pinto. As opened the door, a Celeste with crying face while hugging Tofee. Agad akong lumuhod para malebel ko ang mukha ko sakaniya. Her tears were silently falling at pilit niyang pinapahid ang luha niya. Hinawakan ko ang mga braso niya. Who made my baby cry? "Is there something wrong?"