Torn Between The Bad Boy and The Nice Guy

-13-

Loving you is like breathing. I do it without realizing, without thinking, and without really knowing how to make it stop.

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"Alam mo ang hilig mong magpunta dito." I told Brix nung makarating kami ng beach. Hindi ko alam exactly kung asan kami but I know for sure, we're outside Metro Manila. Napatingin ako sa kanya as I caught my hair, nakatitig lang siya sa papalubog na araw at tahimik. Naglakad ako papunta sa tabi niya and watched the sunset with him. 

"My Mom died somewhere in the sea, lagi akong nandito para sa kanya." He said. Mahina akong napasinghap at napatingin sa kanya. 

"S-Sorry.." I bit my lower lip. Umupo siya sa may buhangin at ginaya ko siya. I didn't know na may hugot rin pala siya sa buhay niya. 

"It's okay. It's been years." He sighed. "I know she's happy somewhere." 

"She is... I knew she is." I smiled at him. He smiled softly at me and my heart started to beat furiously kasabay ng pamumula ng pisngi ko. 

Shet.  

Tumalon ang puso ko sa simpleng ngiti lang niya. He again stared at the sea at bumuga ng hangin. I caught my hair at nilagay sa gilid ng leeg ko. 

"Let me tie it for you." Brix told me. 

"Huh?" 

May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya. He held my shoulders and slightly pushed me patalikod sa kanya and started stroking my hair. My cheeks flushed as a big smile formed on my lips. I pressed my lips tightly as he started tying my hair. 

"There done!" 

Napahawak ako sa hair tie na nilagay niya sa buhok ko and I can feel a tiny ribbon on it. 

"Where did you get this?" I asked him. 

"May nadaanan akong nagtitinda, I thought it would look good on you kaya binili ko." He said. Napaiwas ako ng tingin para itago ang pamumula ng mukha ko. Huminga ako ng malalim and tried to glance at him. Nakatingin na siya ngayon sa dagat at nakangiti. 

One thing I like about being with him is that I always learn new things about him, mas nakikilala ko siya at mas napapalapit ang loob ko sa kanya. I like seeing his smiles na hindi namin nakikita sa school, his funny and sweet side na walang mag-aakalang meron siya. 

"Pwede ba kong magtanong?" I asked him. Madilim na ang paligid. Napayakap ako sa spare jacket niya. 

"What is it?" 

"U-Uhm, anong r-relasyon niyo ni Angelica?" I asked him. I pressed my lips tightly ng mapansing kong may kakaiba sa mga mata niya. Parang may sparks, may ningning sa mga mata niya. And I didn't know why I am not happy seeing it. '

"She's someone important to me, she's someone I wanted to protect." He said. Pilit ang ngiting binigay ko sa kanya. Parang piniga ang puso ko sa mga katagang binitawan niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko iyon nagustuhan.