Umupo si Jake sa harap ng cottage at sumandal sa pader. "Ano, masaya ka na sa palabas mo ngayong gabi?!" Tumayo ako sa harapan niya at na-mewang. Pumasok na ang lahat sa cottage at nagkanya-kanya na ng usapan. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala sa taong ito! Akala ko pormal na tao na cool lang sa trabaho, may toyo din pala! Hay!
"What do you want me to say? Mag-sorry ako sa'yo? Sa kanya? Hell no." At umiling-iling siya habang nakangiti na pang-asar. Parang masaya pa siya sa nangyari!
"You were out of your mind, Jake!" Napataas ng konti ang boses ko. Naiinis na talaga ako sa taong ito.
"Malabo pa ba sa 'yo yung sinabi ko kanina?" Tumayo siya at nagkalapit na naman ang mga mukha namin. Andun na naman yung kakaibang pakiramdam ko nung andun kami sa beach. Hindi. Mali yan, Lacey. Binulungan na naman ako ng kunsensya ko. But I remained standing there, inhaling his scent, waiting for whatever's going to happen next. "I care for you...a lot. And I hate seeing you getting hurt, crying and trying your best to move on. I--"
I took a step back. Buti bumalik na ang senses ko, kasi mali ito. Mali talaga. But he pulled me closer and kissed me again. My heart froze then jumpstarted. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko bigla at hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. His one arm was wrapped around my waist and he was kissing me. I quickly laid down my options and made an answer--I pushed him as hard as I can and went back inside the cottage.
I woke up early and saw everyone's still asleep, including Jake. Malamang matagal pa siya magigising, bilang lasing siya kagabi. Naalala ko na naman yung nangyari kagabi. Tama lang ang ginawa mo. Letting him kiss you once is okay, twice is ridiculous! Buti na lang, you have a very good judgement. I decided to go speak with Quin and apologize for what Jake did.
I knocked on his cottage door and surprisingly, bumukas siya. It's 5 am, I brought coffee para may peace offering kahit papano. Quin peeked and groaned. Mali yata ang timing ko. I started to turn and walk away nang tawagin niya ako, "Lacey." Lumabas siya ng cottage and he was wearing nothing except his black sweat pants.
I exhaled heavily and offered him the coffee. "Sorry sa nangyari kagabi." I looked towards the direction of the beach. This is so uncomfortable.
He didn't seem to notice how awkward this was for me. O sinasamantala niya ang moment na ito? Boys! "Hindi ka dapat nag-aapologize, wala ka namang kasalanan." He smirked and walked closer. Wag kang kikilos ng masama kung ayaw mong maligo ng kape! "Yung Jake na yun, totoo ba yung sinabi niya na gusto ka niya?" Tumingin din siya sa beach.
"Ewan ko. Honestly, hindi ko talaga alam." Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko pag iniisip ko kung ano ba talaga.
"I saw you. That night at the beach. You were--"
"Lasing kami nun. That doesn't count." Pero laging andun yung feeling na yun pag malapit siya sa akin.
He dropped the topic. "Anyway, I'm really sorry. Again, I want another chance."
Sana pala tinuloy na lang namin yung Jake topic. Mas madaling tapusin yun, kesa dito. "Quin, kasi...Mahirap yang hinihingi mo. At saka, di ba may Ellie ka na?"
"Wala na kami ni Ellie. I broke up with her."
Ganun ganun lang? Eh mayabang ka pala talaga! I stared at him in horror. "Ano?! Pagkatapos mo akong iwan for that girl, iniwan mo din siya agad?"
"Kasi na-realize ko yung mga mistakes ko. And I never loved her the way I loved you." Humarap siya sa akin at humakbang palapit. I faced him but I focused on his eyes only. Ayoko ng distractions.
"Quin, kung anuman yung meron tayo dati, wala na yun. Tapos na. We can't--"
"I'll do everything, Lacey, bumalik ka lang sa akin. I'm so sorry for hurting you. For doing things na hindi mo naman ginagawa dati nang dahil nasaktan kita."
I stopped him with my index finger. "Don't be so conceited, Quin. Don't think na nasira ako ng dahil lang sa iniwan mo ako." Tama! Show him you're not hurt anymore!
"Lacey, are you hearing what you're saying? I know you can't live without me. And now I realize, I do too. Please, come back." Inoffer niya ang kamay niya sa akin. Akala mo ba madadaan mo pa ako sa mga pa-cute mo na yan? I shook my head and walked away. Don't look back, walk as fast as you can.
"Girl, ang haba lang ng hair mo. May effect yata sa 'yo 'tong beach resort na 'to." Nag-uusap kami ni Rika sa isang bar kinahapunan. I really need a girl talk.
"Rika, ano bang gagawin ko? I don't want anyone to get hurt. Pero ayoko din naman i-lead on ang kahit sino."
"Lace, in your situation, meron talagang masasaktan. You can't be nice to all and wish na mag-end ito ng mapayapa. Nakita mo naman kung anong nangyari kagabi. If you don't make your decision early, baka mas malala pa yung pwedeng mangyari."
"Ano ngang gagawin ko?" Kailangan ko na yata ng biogesic, sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko.
"Sino bang mas mahalaga sa'yo? Yung minahal mo pero niloko ka, tapos humihingi ng second chance? O yung nagmamahal sa 'yo at pinapakitang hindi ka niya pababayaan?"
Si Quin-- may pinagsamahan kami, pero sobrang sinaktan niya ako. Tama siya, hindi ko naman mararanasan at gagawin yung mga bagay na nangyari sa akin kung hindi dahil sa kanya. Sa ngayon, hindi ko na nararamdaman yung dating nararamdaman ko sa kanya.
Si Jake naman...He made things light and easy for me. Andun siya sa lahat ng kabaliwan at kalokohan ko sa buhay. Sa mga panahong wala si Quin sa tabi ko. Tinanggap niya ako kahit sira ako and I felt like I'm unfixable. At...At...
"So...?" Rika raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for an answer.
I've made a decision. And it's final. I looked at her straight in the eye and said, "Wala akong pipiliin sa kanilang dalawa."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Ex Factor: It's NOT a Love Story!
قصص عامةFirst book in The Ex Factor series. Lacey's boyfriend just broke-up with her. She was hurt very bad at hindi niya malaman kung paano makaka-get over. Join her in her ups and downs and how she would move on and find happiness in this chicklit story.
