Clash of the Campus Sweethearts

Chapter 10

Venice's POV

We were eating silently nang biglang tumayo si Kurt. He walked out of the dining room looking angry.

"Won't you say sorry, Nikki?" Logan asked his sister.

"What for, Kuya? Why would he be angry for such a lame reason? It's not my fault na ganun ang tingin ko sa kanya..."

"Still, you should apologize. Don't act like a child, Dominique. His pride was hurt. His ego was hurt. This is supposed to be a stress-free vacation, settle things with him..." I can't hold it anymore kaya tumayo na din ako at lumabas.

I saw a bench near a fountain kaya umupo muna ako don to cool myself.

I was surprised to see Logan walking towards me. He sat right next to me.

"Gusto mo?" He offered me a beer in can na hindi ko alam na dala niya.

I reached for it at agad itong binuksan. Ininom ko agad ito upang mabawasan ang pait sa aking sistema.

"Why were you here?" I asked him pagkatapos ng ilang segundong katahimikan.

"Nasa loob si Kurt. Nag uusap sila ni Nikki kanina paglabas ko..."

"Good for them. Atleast maaayos na nila kung anong meron sa kanila."

Tinuloy ko nalang inumin ang beer na binigay niya. I know that he is looking at me. I can feel his intense stares, pero hindi ko na lamang ito pinansin.

I wonder kung anong mangyayari kung hanggang ngayon, kami pa rin. Bitter sweet memories from the past flushed in my mind. I shouldn't be reminiscing these scenes pero I really cannot help it. Lalo na tuwing malapit siya sakin. He's always near, yet so far.

What if... hindi siya sumuko sakin? What if, naging better ako? What if ginawa ko na lang ang lahat para hindi siya magsawa sakin? What if binigay ko na lang ang lahat?

He was my first love. Being this close to him makes me insane. How could he be so fine na parang walang nangyari? If what we had was real, how could he be fine?

Tears were streaming down my face. I didn't even seem to notice.

"Are you crying?"

Dahan dahan kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko. Stupid tears.

"Napuwing lang ako..."

He moved closer to me. Hindi ko na alam kung aalis ba ako o hindi, lalo na nang lumapit siya sakin para yakapin ako.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I cried. I cried while he was hugging me.

"Hush, baby..."

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong umiyak, pero I feel so comfortable in his arms.

Nararamdaman ko ang haplos niya sa braso ko, na para bang pinapatahan ako. He was slowly caressing it to make me feel better. Nakasandal na ang ulo ko sa balikat niya habang yakap niya pa din ako. And it was really comforting. I was content.

My phone beeped.

From: Kaye Antoinette

I'm here at Logan's room, Ven. I am comforting Nikki. She's been crying for how many minutes already! Please, tell Logan na ako muna ang bahala kay Nikki. She doesn't want to face them now. Love you, Ven. Thank you.

"How's Nikki? What happened?" He asked. He probably saw Kaye's message.

"I don't know. Probably nagkasakitan sila ni Kurt verbally..."

"I'm worried on my sister... she may be strong outside but she's really vulnerable. She's fragile. How I wish that the pain she's feeling now will just subside. She can't make it..."

"Trust your sister. I trust them both. I know they can make it through, sila pa ba? Kurt is a nice guy... he won't let Nikki be miserable..."

Bumalik ako sa pagkakasandal sa balikat niya, and I felt his hand on my waist.

His touch was so comforting. It was so comforting na hindi ko na namalayan na nakakatulog na ako.

--

*Phone ringing*

Nagising ako sa tunog ng cellphone sa gilid ko. Umaga na pala... napabalikwas ako ng higa nang marealize na may katabi ako sa kama.

An arm was wrapped on my belly.

Someone's face was buried on my neck.

I turned around just to see Logan's face sleeping peacefully. He looks like an angel, tho.

What a good morning. It's so nice to wake up with this view. So nice to wake up with him by my side.

Tinapik ko siya ng mahina dahil patuloy pa rin sa pag ring ang cellphone sa tabi ko. "Logan, your phone..."

Pero instead of picking up the phone, mas lalo lang siyang sumiksik sakin.

"I'll answer it, okay?"

Tango lang ang isinagot niya sakin at siniksik muli ang mukha niya sa leeg ko, at mas hinigpitan ang yakap niya.

"Hello?"

["Good morning, Logan. Where are you?"]

Tinignan ko ang pangalan ng caller dahil boses babae ito.

Veronica Valderama

"Who's this, please?" Good, Venice. Diyan ka naman magaling. Sa pagpapanggap.

["Pardon? I should be the one asking that! Who the hell are you, bitch? Let me talk to my boyfriend!"] Napapikit ako sa tinis ng boses niya. Napabangon din si Logan dahil sa lakas. Alam kong alam niya na kausap ko ngayon ang babae niya.

"Don't talk to me like that, girl. Baka gusto mong hindi na masinagan ng araw kinabukasan?"

Pilit kinukuha ni Logan sa akin ang cellphone niya pero hindi ko binibigay. I looked at him sharply kaya wala siyang nagawa kundi mag buntong hininga at mag hintay. I pressed the loud speaker button.

["I don't care about you, bitch. Mind your own business! Let me talk to my boyfriend! Sino ka ba?!"] Natawa nalang ako sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.

"I didn't know that you are still desperate as ever, Veronica. Still possessive of someone who's not yours, huh? You don't just call me bitch. Well, sige, let's see. See you around, sis. Tignan nalang natin kung saan ka pupulutin if ever na malaman ng Daddy mo ang lahat ng kakatihan mo sa buhay..." Alam kong natigilan na siya ngayon. Suits you, slut.

["V-Venice? V-V-Venice V-Valderama?"]

Bingo. Bingo pero may mali.

"Nice talking to you, my dearest Veronica. The next time I talk to you, don't call me by the surname I don't own. Bye, bitch..."