The Egoistic Bastard

Chapter 10.1 - Falling Slowly

(Honey's POV) 

"So, is she your new bunny, playboy?" sabi nung babae. 

Hayup 'to ah. Kapal ng mukha, retokada naman. 

Buti na lang si-nave ako ng knight-in-shining armor ko. Bwaha. 

Joke lang. Si Julian pala. "Nope, she's my Assistant Director, actually. Honey Ramos." 

She didn't bother to introduce herself. Ha! Pahiya ka 'no? Pfft. 

I smiled smugly. "Nice to meet you." Plastikan gusto mo. Grrrrr. 

Buti na lang umalis na siya. Pero umepal nanaman 'tong si Gel.

She sat beside me while Julian was talking to someone. 

"So. How's life with him?" she said. 

"Sorry?" I asked. 

"Imposible namang maging Assistant Director ka kung hindi ka nakipag-flirt sa kanya diba? I know how it is. And you like it, too, right? It's like shooting 2 birds with one stone." sabi niya, with I must assume as a seductive voice. More like her bitchy voice. Kapatid ba talaga ni Harvey 'to? Ampon yata 'to. 

"Excuse me?" eto na, kumukulo na dugo ko. 

"Ay sorry, bingi ka ba? Sabi ko nakipagflirt ka kay Julian para maging Assistant Director." napalakas na sabi niya. 

WHAT THE ACTUAL-- 

"Gelaine, you have no right to accuse innocent people like that. You don't even know her! She made her way from the bottom until now. She's one of our best employees, do you know that?" 

Hindi ko napansin, bumalik na pala si Julian sa tabi ko. At yung ginawa niya, parang bumilis yung tibok ng puso ko sa ginawa niya. 

That shut her up. Hahahahaha! 

"Oh, so now you're defending her?" sabi ni Gelaine, nung makabawi sa shock. 

"What's the matter with you? Why do you hate me so much?" sabi ko. 

"Oh, I don't hate you. It's more than that. I loathe you, actually." sabi ni Gel. 

"What did I do to you? I don't even know you!" I scoffed. 

Ngayon medyo marami nang mga tao sa paligid na nakikinig. 

Buti na lang pinigilan ni Harvey ang kapatid niya bago niya ako sabunutan. Pfft, sayang naman ang hair ko 'pag nagkataon. Ang mahal kaya magpa-salon! 

"Gel, let's go. You're drunk." pigil ni Harvey sa kapatid. 

"Get off me, Harv! Why are you protecting her? She's not even worth it!" sabi ni Gel. 

Aba aba aba. Gaguhan ba 'to. 

"Get here out of here, Dela Rosa." sabi ni Julian. 

And he did.

Hinatid ako ni Julian pauwi. Very awkward and ride, I swear. 

Buti na lang in-on niya yung radio. Kasi kung hindi, malamang maririnig niya kung gano kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko ngayon. 

"Sorry about that." nagulat naman ako, nagsalita si Julian bigla. 

"About what?" lumingon ako sa kanya, di siya nakatingin. 

"Everything." sabi ni Julian. 

"Including the dance?" tanong ko, nakakahurt kaya. 

"Except that. Nope, scratch that. I'm sorry about Gelaine. That's all." sabi niya, sabay lingon saglit, baka mabangga kami. 

"Hindi ko lang talaga ma-gets kung bakit ganun siya." sabi ko. 

"Me neither." sagot niya. 

"Kapatid ba talaga ni Harvey yun? Ampon siguro siya." I voiced my thoughts. Amazing. Nagiging open na yata ako masyado sa taong 'to. 

He laughed. A soft, musical laugh. Good to the ears. "Maybe." he said. 

Ang ganda ng tawa niya. Mas maganda pa saken. I swear. Nahiya naman ako.

Aw. Dumating na kami sa condo. 

He walked me upstairs. Hanggang sa may pinto. 

"Gusto mo pumasok?" sabi ko. Out of courtesy lang, ayoko talaga siya pumasok. At tsaka, anong gagawin namin sa loob? Nganga? 

"I really want to, but I guess I'll give you a rest. Maybe next time." he winked. 

Ay shemay. Nalaglag panty ko sa kindat. 

"Alright. Goodnight." sabi ko. Pagtalikod niya, may nakalimutan akong sabihin. "Julian?" 

Humarap siya. 

"Thank you. For everything. Goodnight." sinara ko yung pinto. 

Bastos lang? Hindi inantay sumagot. 

Sumandal ako sa may pintuan, yung kamay ko nasa may left chest. Anlakas ng tunog, parang may karera ng kabayo. 

Siguro dapat magpa-checkup na 'ko, abnormal na 'tong puso ko. Baka mamaya mamamatay na 'ko. 

Nagulat ako ng biglang may kumatok. Akala ko si Julian. Si Elise pala.

"Anyare sayo? Ba't pawis na pawis ka?" sabi ni Elise, pagpasok niya. 

"Elise...I think I'm dying." sabi ko. 

"WHAT?!" gulat niyang tanong. 

"My heart...oh my god, my heart is beating so fast." sabi ko. 

"Were you with Julian? Hinatid ka niya?" tanong niya. 

I nodded. 

She smiled wickedly.

And then it clicked.

I'm starting to fall for Julian Araneta.