I Can't Make You Love Me

Chapter I - Catherine Aphrodite Steele

I was driving really fast. All I can see are lights from the street posts. Ang lakas din ng hangin. Masarp sa pakiramdam. 

Mas lalo ko pang binilisan ang takbo ko. I looked at the person driving as fast as I am. You will never win. My inner bitch stated. 

I saw the stop light, and I'm sure that in any second, that green light would turn red. I drove faster together with the wind. May kotse na paparating sa kanan ko, but I didn't mind. Mas binilisan ko pa ang takbo ko. 

I victoriously laughed ng malagpasan ko ang kotse and all I heard was his honk. Binusinahan ko din siya. I have a horn too, you know. 

I looked back to see if he has also passed the stop light. I frowned when I saw him driving beside me. He gave me an 'ok' sign before hitting turbo. 

I also hit the turbo. You will never win. 

He was looking at me from behind, he has that stupid smirk in his face. Not on my watch. 

I hit the breaks and stopped. Tumigil din siya. Para ngang nagulat siya sa ginawa ko. 

"Aww! I think I broke my ankle!" Sabi ko habang hawak hawak ko ang kaliwang paa ko. Hindi pa din ako umaalis sa motor ko. 

Bumaba siya sa motor niya at lumapit siya sa'kin, "Hey! You okay?!" I saw worry on his face. Aww. Sorry brother. 

"Yeah. I'm just about to kick you ass. Bye!" Halatang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. Pinaharurot ko na yung motor ko. Siya? Still in the state of shock. 

I peeked at my side mirror and saw him back in track. Ohhh~ The lion has awaken. 

I reached our house that serves as the finish line. Pinarada ko ng maayos ang baby ko. I removed my helmet and fixed my hair. He parked in front of me and removed his helmet. I wore my chesire smile. 

"Hoy! Ang daya mo ah! That was chaeting!" 

"Chill ka lang kuya. Lumalaki butas ng ilong mo eh!" I laughed at him. Pinanlakihan niya ko ng mata so I stopped. "It's what you call acting, my dear kuya. You should try it sometimes." I tapped him in the shoulders at bumaba na sa motor ko. Napailing na lang siya sa ginawa ko. 

Hinabol niya ko at inakbayan. My brother could be very clingy at times. 

"Kuya, hindi mo ko madadaan sa pa akbay akbay mo. We had a bet remember? Baka nakakalimutan mo."

"Naaah. I'm not giving you my motorcycle, since you cheated."

"Pero wala naman tayong rules ah?!"

"Minsan, iniisip ko kung babae ka ba. You're too sneaky."

"Shut up kuya."

We seperated our ways, me wearing my frown, kuya, wearing his smirk. Ang sarap niyang tanggalan ng mukha! Bwisit siya. I can't call it cheating... cause it's acting. Right?

I went straight to my room and laid on my bed. I reached for my phone beside my lampshade and saw several text messages from my oh so loving boyfriend. I can't help but smile. 

From Babe: 

Hey. I've been texting you for ages? Kumain ka na ba? Call me back. 

I do have a sweet boyfriend. Sweet na siya sa lagay na yan. He maybe a little bossy, but hey, I love him still. Bukas ko na lang siya tatawagan, since tinatamad na ko. Mahal naman niya ko eh. 

Hi. I'm Aphrodite Steele, a Goddess. No need to elaborate myself too much. And my boyfriend? His name is Eros. What can I say? If I'm a Goddess, I have my God. He's every girl's dream. Too bad he's already mine. We've been together for 2 years now. Kaya everyone is backing up. Dapat lang. What's mine is mine alone. 

Okay. So much for that. I need to clean myself and rush to bed. Night. 

~ 

"Good morning, sweetheart." I saw mom making breakfast. Sa kanya naggaling ang pagiging Goddess ko. Looks so much young for her age. 

"Morning, mom." And I kissed her cheek. "Where's dad?" 

"Umalis na siya eh. You know how workaholic your dad is. Minsan nga gusto ko ng mag selos eh. It seems like, mas mahal pa niya ang trabaho niya, kaysa sa akin." Then she pouts. My mom is hella cute! 

"Mom, alam mo naman kung gaano ka kamahal ni Dad eh." My kuya Dionysus said, and kissed mom sa cheek. Siya yung ka motor racing ko kagabi. 

"Oh anak, Good morning. Kain ka na din."

"Morning bunso." Then he kissed me too sa cheeks. I told you, my kuya is a flirt- i mean- clingy. 

"Hey Dion! Who said you can go drag racing with princess?" Uh-oh. Well that. That's Kuya Hermes. Siya ang panganay namin. He's a little bossy and over protective. But he's a really nice guy... pag nakilala mo na siya. 

"Kuya! Chill! Ang aga aga eh! Tatanda ka niyan sige ka!" At ako na mismo ang humalik sa kanya sa pisngi. 

"Hindi mo ko madadaan sa ganyan, princess." I frowned. Kung under ko si Kuya Dion, under naman kami ni Kuya Hermes. Si Kuya Dion? Under niya yung mga chicks niya. I take back what I said. His a total flirt. Baka nga di na virgin yan eh. Yuck. 

"Kuya. I can take care of myself, okay? And besides, I was trained to ride a bike. I'm not a wimp." Napailing na lang si kuya sa sinabi ko. He can't resist me. I'm his princess. 

We continued eating habang nag-aaway pa din ang dalawa kong kuya about last night. I just sighed and looked at my phone. And to my surprise, Eros just texted me. 

I'll pick you up at 9. See you. 

Napangiti na lang ako sa nabasa ko. Nag madali akong tapusin ang pagkain ko at nag-ayos. Syempre, kailangan lagi akong maganda. Mahirap na. Pinaliligiran ng mga linta ang boyfriend ko. 

And at exactly 9, nakarinig ako ng busina. Nagpaalam na ko kila mom at sa mga kuya ko. I glance at the mirror for one last time before heading to the gate. And there. I saw him. 

I whistled, "Sweet car you have there."

"Just bought it yesterday."

"Know what? You really can be boastful at times, noh?"

"Mahal mo naman."

"Not saying I don't." 

Lumapit na siya sakin, kissed me, and we drove with smiles on our faces.