"You seriously are pussy whipped!!!" I shook my head and then ended up releasing myself in a roars of endless laughter, which echoed in the entire living room of my pad.
The least person I expected to show up in the middle of the night on my flat was my overly smitten and pussy whipped man a.k.a my brother
"I knew it! I shouldn't ask you this in the first place" He stood up from the couch and was about to leave when I grabbed his arm
"Woah, Hold on! Pikon ka naman, Iñigo eh!" I teased pulling him back to where he sat beside me
He didn't say anything but glared at me instead. He was definitely serious --- that's for sure
"Are you really---?! Why so soon?!" I asked eye-ing him for any kind of humor he might pull any minute now. I knew my younger brother, he wasn't always the serious type. He was stubborn, daring and fearless just like me. Maybe it really runs in the blood or preferably within us
I always knew him to be the type to play around especially nung college days. We went to the same university and I would often catch him lulling over blonde bimbos on campus, making out somewhere, laughing boisteriously with his friends or skipping class.
Himala na lang talagang nakagraduate pa siya on time with a GPA of 1.1386, Sagad sigurong mangopya ng kapatid ko.
But setting aside the joke part, I must say, despite the fact that he's been partying and fooling around, he wasn't that stupid to let his grades down. Sayang nga lang hindi siya nagfocus, if he did he probably had higher GPA than I do.
and he still keeps on surprising him especially now. I never thought I would live that day witnessing how he's panicking over a engagement proposal. His engagment proposal to his beautiful, demure, soft-spoken little girlfriend--- Nina who he was dating for almost a year
"So?" His question made me snapped back to reality, he was explaining how he'll do the one-in-a-million question to the girl of his dreams, he was tensed .. atleast I could clearly tell. It wasn't everyday that he'll ask for my opinion
Oftentimes he would find my opinions as naggs or sermons in local lingo that's why I was quite surprise when he wanted my words, my views regarding this rendezvous
I scoffed and rolled my eyes "Duh? Can't you even be .. a little creative? Ano? You'll be just down on your knees and then popped it? Come on! Konting originality naman, Igo!"
"That's why Im here nga di'ba? I'm asking for your opinion or even suggestion, utak naman Ate.. Utak!"
Aba! Siya pa ang may gana ...
and then, an Idea came into my head. Light bulb lit up on top of it and Ding!
"What if you get a tattoo with 'Will you marry me" crept on your chest?"
"What?!!?" He shouted in disbelief. He blinked for several times before he realize that I was indeed serious. He frown "That's bizarre!"
"Stupid, it's not bizarre! it's what you call originality! Authenticity credibility, dependability, legitimacy,"
"Right, and you'r crazy. I should probably go ask Kendra instead"
"Hah! Kendra?! isn't that your too-close-for-a-friend? I'm sure Nina wouldn't be entirely please knowing someone like her planned your engagement"
"Kendra's a friend, You know that, Ate. She's probably the closest----"
"Shut up! She's not your friend.. She's your ex! And exes shouldn't appear on the story because they antagonize it all!!!!!"
He did the most unexpected reaction I've ever seen --- My brother smirked at me!
"Oh really? And you seem to based it somewhere, My dear sister. May pinaghuhugutan ka siguro ano?"
He wobbled his eyebrow plafully up and down and dared me to fire away a quick-witted talk back. "Why you----" But truth be told, he was probably right. I was bitter and it couldn't get any worse than it is right? could it? Right, I think it's the worse
Well, guess what? My own engagement was planned by Rebecka at after ko nalaman yun, I felt like running away. Of all people Tyler could've asked? Why her?! Just thinking about it makes me want to pull all my hair out in frustration
"You know what? Forget it, Iñigo-- Go ahead no one's stopping you. Tingnan na lang natin reaction ni Nina once she hears it from me"
"You wouldn't dare .."
"Trust me, Iñigo. It would be my pleasure" I raised an eyebrow and triumphantly felt my victory within reach
And with a grin, I saw his chest heaved in defeat "Fine, fine! book me a schedule on a tattoo man the following day"
"Sweeeeeet! I'll call up Frezo right now"
Frezo was that same guy I asked to give me a tattoo back in the days. He was pretty artistic, he actually drew up vines and butterflies on my lower back and I certainly wouldn't doubt his skils
Now that I've mentioned my century-old tattoo, I wonder if it's still there hhmm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was running restlestly for I dont know why or how long. My feet were bared with icky mud around my toes. I was wearing a white dress which appear to be a weeding gown and then later on I realized I was holding a bouquet of wedding flowers.
My hear was a little tossled, some curls went in disarray around my face but my nape was bared. I was running faster this time despite the fact the I can't fathom why I was running. I dont even understand where I was going. My breath caught my throat, my forehead was drenched with sweat and the white gown was now partly torn and muddy.
I wanted to stop but my heart tells me that I shouldn't.
Why was I running?
And then by the end of the woods, I saw ... Scarloe --- My baby whose back was turned against my direction. She was now walking on her own now which made me happy, her gangly arms were spread wide keeping herself in momentum. She was taking her time.. one foot at a time going to the.....
Oh no!
End of the cliff, She was almost there and I should stop her. She might flaw, she's probably too naive to tell she's going to jump off a cliff
I must stop her
"Scarloe! Baby!! Dont!!"
I shouted at her but she didn't turn around, she continued until -------
"Noooooooooo!!!!!!"
I woke up with sweats all over my forehead, I was panting heavily and brought my shakey hands on my face.
Bad dream, Diane. It was only a bad dream!
I glanced at my digital clock and noticed it was only in the early time in the morning --- 5 oclock and for sure, If I went back to bed .. I wouldn't be able to sleep anymore
I run my hands frustratedly on the locks of my hair and sighed. I right away grabbed on my phone right next to my bedside table and called home
It took several minutes before finally someone answered it
"Hija, napatawag ka?" It was manang Lourdes whose voice seem tired and hoarse "May problema ba? Tatawagin ko ba Mommy or yung Dadd--"
"Wag na po Manang, For sure Mom and Dad are on their deep slumber I wouldn't want to disturb them .. I just----" I sighed once again and began to pace back and forth "I called to check on Scarloe.. Is she?"
"Naku, Hija .. Wag kang magalala, mahimbing pa tulog ni Baby sa crib. Bakit? May pabibilin ka ba?"
I smiled, imagining my baby sleeping soundly on her pink lacy crib I bought from Milan.
"Wala, Manang .. Called to check on things. It bothers me that my baby's not with me tonight that's why"
"Well, That's normal, Hija. Mothers feel that way when their baby's away. Go back to bed, mukhang pagod ka pa."
"Sige manang"
I still wasn't relax despite the fact that I already called home. It wa slike that dream meant something else or maybe I'm just being paranoid and all that or probably tired from work. There are so many things happened to me within this week
Yeah it was probably that. It seems that I was convincing my self more than the others. I seem to be tense for some reason.
"Good Morning, Maam!" I nodded at Jena, one of the company's employee as she greeted at the hall way. For the first time, I wasn't late .. For the first time, I came in the office earlier than my Dad
I can't even ease up when I'm at my flat alone. I wanted to release the tension I was feeling after that nightmare.
I was deep in thought that I never notice Liam already pressed the lift
"A penny for your thought" He said smiling at me. It was unusual for him to smile the way he just did, he seems to be in a good mood and I get that really weird feeling whenever he offer me with his good gestures
I shove him back and rolled my eyes "Someone woke up in a right side of the bed" I cooed
"Hhmm, Yeah you can say that but you still owe me a date " He wobbled his brows playfully before winking at me
I almost forgot about the supposed "date" that I owed him yesterday. I dont know but just staring at him right at the moment, I could tell he has something up on his sleeves and I dont really like surprises---- Any kind of surprises for that matter
"But---" He brought his index finger to my lips which sends some alienated reaction in my body. Was it the blasted force of aircondition?
"I may not claim it just yet. Well, not today"
His smiled wider as I turned my attention fully on him. It was Tuesday morning afternoon and I didn't have any more things to worry for the day, Not at the moment actually.
While I should have been working on my presentation and another pile of paper works for next week, I found myself more inclined to stay out of doors.
It was an uncharacteristically warm, breezy fall day for the city, and I wanted to make the most of it.
"I have a plane to catch," Liam said, stopping at a moment when the lift finally opened and staring straight right through me
"Oh," I nodded, squinting in an attempt to make eye contact. It was unnerving, not being able to see him properly.
Even more upsetting was how easy it was to tell that he was attractive with so much of his face skewed from my vision.
He was not my type, I reminded herself. Not that I had a type. But Liam's confident grin verged on cocky, and the strong line of his jaw and shoulders was appealing in a way that made me take a subconscious step back. If I had a type, surely he would not be it.
What was is it with dirty stubble on a man's strong jawline glinted in the light emitted from the window that I find really hot?
Tyler exactly had those kind of---- Wait, Why did Tyler came across my mind just now? Why?!
I frown, my brows automatically pulled together by force.
That was not a good sign, Diane
I noted my self
He continued to study my expression for a long moment before his smirk wavered a bit.
"I hope you wont miss me that much"
I couldn't resist the smile that tugged on the corners of my mouth. Biting the inside of my cheek to prevent it from spreading, I shrugged. "Perhaps. But I can't guarantee that I wont"
Holy cow! Did I just flirt on him like that?
"Sure." He resisted his grin to be back at full-force and I felt strange being on the receiving end of it. "But good things always come in threes. See you in a couple of days, Dee"
I watch his back as he slowly made his way out of the lift
Dee?! Whatta----
"Diane" I called to his retreating back. And only because he couldn't see me, I let out a scowl
He definitely reminds me a lot of him---- Ugh! of all people!
Tyler Walton, why do you have to hunt me with someone else's presence?
Shaking my head, I smiled to my self thinking about the memories of the first time I had met Tyler. It had been my fifth week at Princeton, and my two roommates had practically dragged me out on a Friday night claiming that I needed to relax and have some fun for once.
I had been unenthusiastic about the party at first since the event was supposed to be for the celebration of the newbie members of the said brotherhood "Alpha Sigma Phi", A notable fraternity on Princeton at that time , not really being one to enjoy drinking and partying with frat boys– or social awkward situtation, for that matter with them – but eventually decided that I did indeed deserve a night off from the cramming I did for the consecutive exams.
I mean, who gives exams two weeks after school opening?!
The bar my roommates, Quinn and Selena had taken me to, had been busy that night, but having been there many times before, They were able to secure a booth, which we settled in for the night.
After twelveth drinks and lots of laughing, I was buzzed. It was then I first fully noticed Tyler Walton. He had been in the process of taking his shot during a game of pool, his friends standing around him and cheering him on.
For some reason, I hadn't been able to take my eyes off of him. I got lost in the way his body leaned over the pool table, the way his hands held the cue loosely but expertly, the way his arms moved as he made his shot, but even more so, the way his eyes were narrowed in concentration.
They had been intense, and I had been able to tell when I looked into them, that he had blocked out any and all distractions.
Selena, being a keen observer with an eye of a tiger, had noticed me looking at Tyler because a few seconds later, she smiled and told me who he was. "He's single," she added, her eyes twinkling at me in amusement which earned her a scowl from me
I rolled my eyes. "Obvious, much?"
Selena threw her head back and laughed. Quinn chose that moment to return to their booth with more drinks. When she asked what Selena was laughing about, she pounced. "Diane here was just blatantly checking out Harvard's golden boy The Tyler Walton"
Quinn's eyebrows lifted as she smiled and glanced over at the pool table, obviously not needing an explanation as to who Tyler was because at that time, being a heir of a long running successful business on US already got a lot of heads turning on his direction to pounce his already-God given good looks
"Not a bad choice, Diane You know he's single?" she asked sliding in next to Selena.
"Yes, I was just told," I nodded, taking a sip of my Malibu and Coke.
"Why don't you go over and introduce yourself?"
"What, I can't just appreciate the looks of a guy from afar? I have to go over and try and hook up with him, too?" I asked.
"Oh hell no," Selena said. "Appreciate all you want, but there was a look there…"
"What look?"
Selena thought for a moment. "I don't know. It was like time stood still for you when you were looking at him."
I glanced at Quinn and then back at Selena before bursting out with laughter. "That was so cheesy, Sel," I managed to get out, clutching my side in pain. Quinn joined me in laughter, the two of us mocking Selena for her remark.
I glanced back at Tyler. He was standing with one hand in the front pocket of his jeans and the other hand holding a mug of beer, talking to the guy standing next to him.
Even from my seat across the room, I could see that Tattoo on his arms, and while I had always fancied guys with tattoos before but Tyler made his tattoos look sexy---A turn on to be exact.
I felt an instant attraction to him, too, which I had never felt with a guy before, not that I never got attracted--- It was just different looking at his perfection. It was a little overwhelming.
As if sensing someone looking at him, he suddenly looked in my direction, but before he could notice me fully and make an eye contact, I looked away.
"Nah, I don't think so," I finally said in reply to Selena's suggestion. "He's not really my type."
That was a lie, A really bad lie because If he wasn't really my type back then I wouldn't be this fvcked up just thinking about him
Tyler, Tyler .. What you do to me
College was eons ago but still it got me hanging by the edge and as I remember those memories fumbling down my head, It made me realize things in my mind
I'm stupid for falling in love with him--- Hard and painful kind of way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A group of guys wearing an Atenean sweatshirts and navy blue jacket practiced their stops, hockey skates skidding and propelling snow onto their peers' pants legs.
I felt a grin inch across my features as I glanced into snapshots of these people's lives. So different, but united on the rink for a common thread of entertainment.
I thought I'd rather like to go skating, if only I had a partner.
While Liam was away to attend some business matter across the globe, He didn't miss a bit to chat with me on Facebook or catch me online on skype or update me with his tweet. He was constantly making his presence visible and sometimes he would throw flirty banters on me which I find really cute
For several more weeks, We were more than just acquantance but still I couldn't say we were close friends---We were like socially responsive to one another and instead of the usual scowl, We now exchange silent conversation on our head with just one look on another as we connect with smile
And just like I promise, Days after he went back to Manila. He right away asked for the date I owed him the other time.
My sigh was followed by a short puff of white, and I watched as it disappeared into the cool afternoon air. Just as I was about to pull away from the glass and continue on my lazy, Wednesday stroll a warm hand encompassed my shoulder and I jerked back in surprise.
The tall, not-quite stranger chuckled as he brought his arms around me protectively. Placing a hand over my heart, I inhaled an exaggerated breath before readjusting myself
"Hey," Liam smiled as way of greeting, watching me as I resumedmy position, staring out onto the sea of ice skaters.
My eyes held a faraway look as I responded, "Hey."
Liam grimaced as he turned her eyes towards the mass of people swarming the ice rink of MOA Spending hours upon hours a day on the ice didn't take away from the pleasure I seem to notice on his face
However, as he caught my small smile from the corner of his eye he couldn't help the words that spilled from his mouth.
"Want to skate?"
I immediately made my way to the middle of the rink and glide, my hands were carefully spread across one another to ensure my balance and then, I flipped which got him in surprise
I smiled widely at his dumbfounded expression on his face
"Oh," He blinked, his smile fading back to the hard, thin line I usually see him wore. As his hazel eyes met mine, I shifted my weight to my toes and save he gave an imperceptible shrug.
"I thought I didn't know how to skate huh?"
Liam laughed. "Well, You dont seem to be the type to give a fuss over skating"
I chuckled "Sorry I ruined your perfect plan on playing Prince Charming rescuing his Damsel " I replied tucking a strand of my ebony brown hair behind my ear as I continued to observe the skaters gliding by. "I still can pretend I dont know how"
He smiled down at me and laughed "Nice try but I dont think it will work now that I knew you could but I think you needed more practice"
My eyes darted to meet his and saw how his lips were lifted into that cocky smirk she was beginning to resent.
"Oh really?"
When my only response was to stare one brow raised up to question him "I'm an excellent skater." He boast
"I'm sure you are." I said my eyes were back to staring at the crowd, watching a couple laughing as they groped the wall, still struggling to stand upright on their awkward skates. "What if we race to the other side of the rink, see if who's the first one who could reach the end"
He shrugged. "By all means, Miss Bustamante, Are you challenging me for a match?"
My glided my way right in front of his face and crossed my arms on top of my chest
"Why? Are you scared?"
I saw how he tried catching up his breath the moment I bent my face closer to his, he took steps back before he said
"Who me?"
Biting the inside of my cheek, I turned at glanced up to meet his eyes once again, He was certainly way taller than I do
"Well? If not, try catching me up before you lose" I stucked out my tongue before I turned my back and swiftly skate my way to the other side--- but faster this time
I was half way across the other side of the rink--- Almost touching the railing but I stopped, when I turned around and saw Liam face plant on the ice
Wide eyed, I quickly skate my way ot his direction and bent to reach him
"Liam! Liam" I shook his shoulder "Are you okay-- Ugh! How stupid of me, 'course you're not but-- How did you end up in that?"
He flipped to the other side and was now lying flat on his back, He didn't seem to mind the stares we get with the commotion he created, instead he smiled boyishly on me as his locks fell on his forehead
"I fell ...."
"Well.. obviously---"
"... Hard on you" and then he winked
And I was even surprised to find that familiar sensational feeling as blood rushed through my cheeks
"Ha.Ha.Ha, Nice one Liam .. But I ain't gonna buy that"
"Well, Your cheeks say otherwise" He winked
I just rolled my eyes and said "Yeah. Right"
"Aren't you gonna help me up?"
"And I should do that because?"
"Oh, come on .. That's not the nice way to treat a date" He reach out both of his hands for me to reach
I just shook my head and sighed "You'll never learn" I grabbed on to his hands and tried pulling him up but the sneaky guy had other plans on his mind and pulled me down so that now I was lying on top of him
I just stared at him wide eyed before I shove his chest away from mine and stood up
It was awkward---- plain and simple awkward accompanied by some really suffocating dead air between us. We didn't speak a word upon each other. We just stayed like that for a couple of hours before we reach right in front of his White Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
the Corvette stable has enough broad-shouldered, eight-cylinder force to satisfy even the most depraved speed fiend. Yes, Im getting somewhat distracted considering its a european-style sports car I'm riding. I always fancy these kind of things since all of us in our family are racing enthusiast
Shame that Liam can't drove it as fast as I wanted it to be.
Tyler used to ---- Wait, What?!
I groaned when my mind drifted to he-who-must-not-be-mention. These past few dates I've been with Liam, I always ended up comparing him to Ty-- I mean, He-who-must-not-be-mention. I simply can't help it
He-who-must-not-be-mention drives the metal ,a base Coupe, from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds! He was also mischievous in the drive way, making cops chase after him and play hide and seek with them which is something that drives my adreline into full speed
His days was somewhat exciting, dangerous and addicting as well especially when he took me out of the plane and we went sky diving .. When we went to Miami beach and taught me weight boarding, diving deep down the sea and extreme rock climbing.
It was always extreme that got my heart speeding up 400 mph!
Meanwhile for Liam, He was okay. He acts normal for a date, he opens the door for me and does the almost forgotten tradition "Ladies first". He doesn't take advantage of the date, he doesn't take his chances in holding my hand or rest his hands on my lower back. He often assist me through walking me through by holding the back of my elbow
He takes me to some extreme fancy restaurant overlooking the city, or on a yacht that he rented for the entire night exclusively for us. He was genuinely sweet and he listens whenever I say something to him. He was laid back type of guy.
One time he took me to the rooftop of this skycraper in Makati and we just sat there for awhile mesmerize by the beautiful city light right below us
He was definitely perfect and any women on my place would surely be sweep on her feet even by just gazing on his eyes
He was pefect --- Almost.The thing about Liam is that, he's too laidback that he sends me mix signals. He does things unexplainable .. such as asking me out on a date which is now a regular night basis. I'm getting the clue out of it but I dont want to hold my hopes so high
I got to know him better, Yes but he still have a lot of things he doesn't know about me. He doesn't know that I had a tattoo on my lower back, he doesn't know I had a pierce on my belly button.
He doesn't know that I sleep with just my undies. He doesn't know that one of my guilty pleasure during sunday night is watching chick flicks
He doesn't know those kind of things, although I'm aware I should tell him but I can't seem to bring my self to it. And the most important of all is the fact the he doesn't know that I was once engage and that I have a little baby with me.
Which is somewhat scary at this point. I think I'm getting used to his company that I might crave for it for more. I dont want setting up my expectations. I dont want us to end up like what I had with Alex before when I found out he slept with another girl whilst I runaway on my wedding day for him
I'm scared that once he'll find out of Scarloe, He might degrade me or worst baka maiba na pakikitungo niya sa akin. And I certainly dont want that, whatever we have between us .. I'd like it to stay that way
"-----Like you"
I didn't make out the first words he said, I didn't even notice he was talking to me, I didn't even recall when he pulled his car to a (what it seems to me) a dark alley in Ortigas
What did he say?!
He suddenly grab my hand and then squeeze it "I said, I like you Diane .. And I feel like I should tell you that I like you more than just a friend. I like you in a special kind of way"
I was a taken by surprise that I wasn't able to utter a thing. I didn't find the right words to say after hearing it from him.
What should I tell him anyway?!
I looked down on our hands before I looked up to his face once again then, my initial reaction after I've got my brain to work for me was to pull it off from his grasp
"You can't like me that way, Liam" I uttered with such stern on my voice
I saw how he was stung by my words but he kept it cool and said "Why not?"
"Because, You just cant!" I was surprise how my voice became louder and firm, I threw out my hands in the air and released a not-so-exhilarated sigh
"Listen, Liam. You and me can't --"
"Well, I'm sorry if I did. You got me at that one look on a plane before. You got me on those expressively beautiful eyes. You're easy to love, Dee I hope you see that. I wont pressure you. You dont even have to like me back. We can stay this way, but I think you can't stop me from having this little infatuation I have in you"
I was taken aback right when the words rang on my ear.
Did I just heard it right?!
I was even more surprise when he entwine our hands together and he seems persistent about it
"You don't have to freak out, Dee.. I just want you to know that"
Then later on I found my self smiling back at him---- That heart-stopping kind of smile and satisfation
"Well then ... "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My heart was literally pounding against my chest that I can practically hear it next to my ear. I wasn't nervous, It's just that I'm scared of Liam's reaction after I spill everything to him
I brought him to Barangay Carmona Makati City, which is at the boundary of Makati and Sta Ana Manila and now we're standing right in front of St. Therese's Nursery school where I enrolled Scarloe since I can't always attend my full attention to her all because of work
She wasn't clingy at all nor did she cried when it was her first day. She was the entire opposite of a typical kid's reaction that I expected. She was smart enough to understand things when I explained it to her, although I couldn't really tell what's going on inside her head when I told her but she seems reluctant (or I would like to think that way)
"What are we doing here?" Liam asked when he got off his car
Then, just before I could answer him back .. A familiar person walked out right on the exit. It was Manang Rosario and my baby on her arms
She was more than surprised when she saw me but she right away approach us. "Diane, Hija!"
"Mummaa!" Scarloe reached out her hands ---- A sign that she wanted me to carry her and I did. I locked her on a warm tight embrace and kissed her cheeks
Almost forgetting the fact that Liam was right behind watching the whole scene and when I turned around I saw that unexplainable and unreadable expression on his face
"Is that your kid?"
Uh-oh.This better be good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(A/N: First of all I would like to say sorry if natagalan. Things got it the way. Sad ako d nanalo ang front liner namin sa party. Pero, I know you wouldn't care less if I tell you that no? So basically, Gusto ko lang mag thank you din sa mga tao who kept supporting this story .. Few more chapter guys ..
And don't forget, I'll release the first chapter of "when bad girls fall in love" soon. Need your support there too. pls pls?
So ayun nga, Ano nga sa tingin niyo magiging reaksyon ni Liam upon knowing kung ano ba talaga si Diane? Saan na nga ba si Tyler? babalikan niya pa kaya si Diane? Sila p rin kaya? find out on the next chapter! )
BINABASA MO ANG
The Runaway Bride
RomancePerfect ---- The understatement of Diane's life. Former playgirl Diane Bustamante felt happy on her upcoming wedding. Finally, She was ready to tie the knots with Tyler and was content on settling down once and for all. But WAIT!! -- CANCELED...
