With Love, Rae

P.S. VII

Ang bilis. Alam kong ang bilis pero ano bang magagawa ko. Ugh! Baliw! Baliw!

Traise gave me knowing look while he was with some of his friends at the counter, and then he bit the corner of his lower lip, before giving such an amused grin. I was sitting on a couch in the middle of the room. Turns out may party na naman.

May feeling talaga ako na hindi reunion 'to. Doubtful, I shoke it off and just focus on the guy in front of me, trying to distract me with his oh-so alluring gaze and his heaven-taste lips.

I rolled my eyes and mouthed hate you.

His grin grew wider.

Suddenly I felt someone nudged me, sitting next to me. It was Pauline.

"Something's up with you and my brother, eh?"

I looked at her, dazed. "B-brother?"

Tumawa si Pauline and nodded. "Surprised you did not know that."

"Sorry," sabi ko. "I know, I think, Palermo. I just...did not realize it?"

"No, ayos lang," she said and smiled. "So, with Traise?"

I looked at her. She stared back then grinned. Hindi ako makasagot.

"Let me know first kapag naging kayo na. Okay?" sabi niya and hugged me out of a sudden. "Make him happy, Rae."

And then she left.

Make him happy? Hindi pa ba siya masaya sa lagay niyang 'yan? Isang sikat at successful na businessman, hindi pa masaya? As far as I know, sobrang supportive ang pamilya nila. I don't think may puwang para hindi siya maging masaya.

Traise Palermo.

Napahalukipkip ako at umiling. So complicated, aren't we?

"Donna."

Naramdaman kong nanigas ang kalamnan ko. Just when I thought I'd be freed from complications, Kevin showed up. I did not know why it was hard for me to look at him, but I tried anyway.

"K-Kevin."

"Can we talk?" his voice hoarse.

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. Bakas sa mukha niya na gusto niya akong kausapin and bakas din sa mukha ko na gusto ko ring kausapin niya ako. Minsan hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang sarili ko at kung bakit ba ako nagiging tanga.

"Please," and that's it, I said yes.

Kevin offered me his hand which actually made me feel nauseous. I mean, maybe because I hate him for hurting me or maybe he's an idiot; he should have done it sooner.

"Pwede tayong mag-usap nang hindi tayo magkahawak kamay, Kev," I said, then smiled mildly.

He snickered. "Whatever, Donna. Just spare me from this embarrassment and take my hand now."

I noted that thing I feel. It was the friendship behind everything else I tried putting forward. And Kevin knew that also. He knew na magwowork yun and he made use of it. Ewan ko ba kung ano na bang nararamdam ko sa mga bagay-bagay. All I knew is that we should really talk.

So I extended my hand to his, and rolled my eyes in the process as I stood up, letting Kevin lead me somewhere. And that somewhere was outside, at a cottage. It was dark, unusual atmosphere but I shook it off. It's just the feeling when you're meeting with someone like Kevin who left such big impact in your life.

That's the feel.

"So what is it, Kev? I don't really have plan to have this talk with you for hours. Oh, maybe 30 minutes is enough, right?" It just slipped out that way. I don't even know why I sounded sarcastic.