Stolen Heart

Kabanata 11

"Why your eyes are swollen, anak?" mommy asked me

"Napuwing ako mom.... Sobrang kati kasi kanina, kaya ayan." rason ko.

Nix standing in front of us. His both hands are on his pocket. He looked at me so worried. 

"Thanks for the dinner, Kendrick, Paige..." sabi ni daddy.

Humalik naman ako sa pinsgi ni tito Ken, tita Paige at Kennedy bago umalis sa bahay nila. Hindi ko tiningnan si Phoenix. Sobrang gulo ng utak ko!

Habang na sa sasakyan ay naiirita ako.

"Francine is really lucky noh? Ken will give the company to Nix." said mommy.

"It's not about the company, Meredith. Mahal naman ni Francine si Nix." sabi naman ni daddy.

What about granny's intentions dad? I really envy Francine now! Bakit kasi naging pinsan ko siya? Bakit kasi nauna siya? Damn it!

I went to Bern's room. Iyak ako ng iyak sa harap ng pinsan ko habang sinasabi sa kanya.

"Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko, Iana..." he said.

"Bern... God knows how I wanted to hug him earlier!" pag-amin ko. His eyes widened.

"Bern this is so wrong. Hindi pwede 'to." dagdag ko.

"Quiana, listen. Kapag dumating ang araw na aayaw si Nix sa kasal nila ni Francine, ayaw kong sisihin mo ang sarili mo, okay? Wala kang kasalanan dito. You fell, yes, but you didn't do anything to make him fall for you back." I shook my head.

"Bern, may kasalanan ako! It's so damn obvious---"

"Iana naman! Kung gusto mo magkasala talaga! Edi patulan mo!" sigaw nito sa akin.

Tanging hikbi ko lang ang nag-ingay.

Hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos sa gabing iyon. The kiss, his words, his touch, his stare, and the beat of my heart didn't let me sleep. Siguro na sa 4am na ako inantok at nakatulog.

I woke up very late. 2pm na akong nagising.

"May ginawa ako kagabi for Francine's  second gown." rason ko sa kanila.

"Nix went here earlier. May lakad pala kayo?" tanong ni granny. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Bern na dalawa.

"Granny, Nix said it was unplanned. Hindi alam ni Iana kaya hindi siya nagising." thank God for Bern!

"Okay... Don't be home late you two." humalik naman kami sa pisngi ni granny.

I need my friends. I need to enjoy. I need to chill.

I play the stereo. We got stuck on the traffic!

♪I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you

Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo

By the way, right away you do things to my body

I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you♪  

Mabilis ko naman pinatay kaagad ang stereo.

"Why? The song's nice, Iana." Bern said and turned it on again. Pinatay ko ulit. He looked at me with curiosity written all over his face. I rolled my eyes at Bern.

I just want to get drunk tonight. Every night just to forget him and his talkshit!

"Iana, tama na yan." awat ni Madison sa akin. Hindi ko sila pinansin at uminom ulit ako.

And another glass. And again, and again.

"Ha! Fuck him! Hindi niya ako mapapaniwala!" sabi ko. Kinuha ko ulit ang baso at uminom.

"Couz." awat ni Bern at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

I smiled at him buy my eyes were very lazy. "Don't.... Let me!" 

"Do the last straw, Bern." I heard Lexa suggested. Bern just shook his head and took his phone out.

"Madi! Pretty please? Let's dance!" sabi ko kaibigan ko at hinila-hila ito.

"You're drunk!"

"I am not! I can still remember him! I am not still drunk!" 

I don't want this kind of relationship. Hindi magandang simula, hindi magtatagal ang ganyang klasing relasyon. 

I fucking stole his heart to my cousin! Oh my god!

The most hated song played. Umalingawngaw iyon sa bar! I hate the song but I can't help but to dance. Hindi ako pinapaalis ng mga kaibigan ko at pinsan ko sa pwesto. Bantay sarado ako ni Bern. Kaya doon na lang ako sumasayaw.

♪By the way, right away you do things to my body
I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you♪  

"This song is so stupid!" natatawang sigaw ko pero patuloy lang ang pagsayaw ko.

♪You know just how to make
My heart beat faster
Emotional earthquake,
Bring on disaster

You hit me head on, got me weak in my knees
Yeah, something inside me's changed
I was so much younger yesterday, aye
So much younger yesterday, oh, yeah♪

I hate how  easily he took my heart. I admit, nagkagusto ako sa kanya, na tipohan ko siya pero hindi pumasok sa isip ko na agawin siya sa pinsan ko. Hindi pumasok sa isip ko na hahantong sa ganito. Ikakasal na siya at alam kong mahal niya ang pinsan ko! Impossible na magugustuhan niya ako!

I felt an arm snaked around my waist.

♪I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you
Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo
By the way, right away you do things to my body
I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you♪  

Parang may kuryente na dumaloy sa paghawak niya. Hindi ko pa rin ito nilingon dahil baka isang lasing lang rin na sasayaw sa akin. But I don't get it why my friends didn't react! Hindi nila inalis ang lakaking nakayakap sa bewang ko.

♪By the way,right away you do things to my body
I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you♪  

A familiar scent caught me. Doon ko na lang napagtanto kung sino ang nakayakap sa akin. Mabilis naman akong pumiglas, na out of balance ako sa ginawa ko pero mabilis niya pa rin akong inalalayan.

Nix with his red face! He is now mad huh?

I gave dagger look to my friends. How could them call this guy who making my life in trouble?!

"Iana!" sigaw ni Phoenix sa akin. Pinulot ko ang clutch ko sa mesa at pagewang gewang na lumakad. Hindi pa ako nakalayo ng hapitin niya ulit ang bewang ko.

"Ano ba!" sigaw ko at tinulak siya. Pero matigas ito.

I am scared. I can't look straight into his eyes. Parang tinutunaw ako ng kanyang magagandang mata.

"Why are you doing this to me, Phoenix? I... I was peacefully living at Paris, Francine announced she will get married, so I went back. I didn't get know that her invitation will fuck me up. I hate you! Sana kahit ikaw na lang nag pigil rin!" naiiyak kong sabi sa kanya.

We are still in the club! Maingay ang musika at madilim. Nakikita ko lang mga galit niyang mukha kapag napapadaan ang ilaw dito.

"Do you think I didn't stop, Quiana?" he asked.

"You didn't fight enough!"

"QUIANA!!!"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Sobrang galit ang mukha nito na para bang bubuga ng apoy in any minute.

"Iana, you didn't know how... Fuck! Damn it! Let's go!" sumigaw naman ako ng binuhat niya ako. Hinampas hampas ko naman siya pero parang wala lang ito sa kanya.

Lumalabas lang ang luha sa mga mata ko habang hinahampas siya. Tumatama na ito sa mukha niya at alam kong masakit iyon pero parang wala lang sa kanya iyon. Iniinda niya iyon.

I looked sharply at him when he placed me at the shotgun seat. He leaned close to me at isang galaw lang ay mahahalikan ko na ang labi niya.

"Ninakaw mo ang puso ko, panindigan mo ito." he said and it made my jaw dropped.

What the fuck?