Death Wish

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
Bait

"Hi, Thana."

Jefferson grinned when he greeted me. Hindi pa siya nakuntento sa pagbati at nakuha niya pang umupo sa aking tabi kaya naman bahagya akong umusog palayo sa kaniya at tumuwid ng upo.

I'm not really comfortable around him. Parang may ibang klase ng espirito sa paligid kapag nandiyan siya.

He's been hitting on me since the last two weeks. Rumor says that I'm his flavor of the month. But I'm not the type of girl who should be someone's girl for only a month. I'm not disposable. I know my own worth. I want someone who's ready to be with me for a lifetime. I deserve way better than a jerk like him.

I casually glanced at him, sitting by my side, and gave him a forced one second smile before paying my attention back to the book that I was reading.

"It's my birthday tomorrow, Thana. And there's going to be a small party at my condo. Only close friends are invited," he told me like I care about his birthday celebration.

Kahit magpa-party pa siya sa pinakamahal at pinakamagarang hotel ay wala akong pakealam. Mas gusto ko pang magkulong sa apat na sulok ng kwarto ko at mag-aral nalang buong araw. Kundi naman ay hahanap ako ng ibang mapag-aabalahan.

"Eh, 'di maganda," simpleng komento ko. "It's good to celebrate your birthday with friends. Pero sana makasama mo rin ang pamilya mo sa kaarawan mo."

"I expect that you'd be coming," he said.

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa aking matalik na kaibigan na ngayon ay kunwaring walang pakealam ngunit alam kong naaapektuhan na siya dahil sa sobrang tahimik.

Danayah is my bestfriend ever since we were in grade school and she has a huge crush on this jerk beside me.

I don't know why she fell for someone like him. Sobrang daming lalaki na mas karapat-dapat pagtuunan ng nararamdaman ay sa kaniya pa siya nahulog. I tried so many times to convince her in diverting her feelings to someone who's worth it enough, but she didn't listen.

Siguro'y ganoon talaga kapag nahulog ka na, sobrang hirap makaahon kahit na naglaglag na ng tali ang isang tao para matulungan ka ay hindi mo pipiliing hawakan ang tali lalo na kung ginusto mo naman ang pagkakahulog.

"I'm sorry, Jefferson, but I have other scheduled plans for tomorrow night," I politely rejected his indirect invitation.

"Kahit sandali lang ay hindi ka makakapunta?" nahimigan ko ang inis sa tono ng kaniyang pagtatanong.

"Hindi talaga. I'm sorry. Maybe next year?" pampalubag loob ko nalang upang tigilan niya na ang kakapilit.

"Next year?" he mockingly laughed. "We're already graduated next year, Thana. Niloloko mo ba ako? Ngayon pa nga lang na nakikita kita dito sa campus ay ang hirap mo nang mapapayag, sa susunod na taon pa kaya?"

Bumuntong hininga naman ako at muli siyang tinignan.

"I'm really sorry, Jefferson, but I can't," paghingi ko ng paumanhin dahil sa aking pagtanggi sa kaniya.

"Look, Thana... If you're rejecting my invitation dahil baka ma-out of place ka, you can let your best friend come with you if you want," sabi niya at saka nilingon si Danayah. "I bet you don't mind coming along with Thana to my intimate celebration tomorrow night, right?"

Napapikit naman ako ng mariin at muli ring dumilat nang makita ang pagkagulantang ni Danayah ngunit agad din siyang tumango.

Of course, she would love to come. Himala nalang kung tatanggihan niya ang imbitasyon ng lalaking gustong-gusto niya.