ADVANTAGE

Kabanata 18

Sofie's POV

Gosh.

Bakit ngayon pa when I am with Philip?

But who am I to demand anyway? I gave him a day to think for it but it seemed like he don't have any choice but to accept it kaya napabilis ang pag-iisip niya. From being a powerful guy, he could've just threaten to kill me para ma-delete ko yung video. But he didn't.

I erased the thoughts kung paano niya nakuha ang number ko. I glanced on Fi who's staring at me.

"Who texted you?" he asked. Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"J-just a friend from other university." I lied. I wonder what will happen if Fi will know na si Ricci ang nag-text sa akin. Baka mag-boxing pa sila through texts. Mukhang mainit kasi talaga ang dugo ni Fi kay Ricci.

"Okay. So, let's go?" aya niya na agad kong tinanguan and we went out of the Jollibee. The guard waved his hand to us and I smiled to him before turning to face Fi na sinususian na ang kotse niya.

"Pagkarating sa university, hatid na kita sa next class mo para makausap ko rin prof mo." he suggested at umiling ako na nagpakunot sa kanya. I saw him closed the door of the car to look at me. "Huh?"

"A-ano kasi... Gusto kasi makipagkita nung f-friend ko for some reasons. U-urgent e." I bit my lower lip. Gosh, since the day that I've become a fan of Ricci, I used to lie for many times! Ugh!

"Okay, hatid na rin kita?" he asked and he smiled. He's so nice that lying to him was such a sinful act. Sorry Fi, babawi ako sayo. I promise.

"A-ano wag na. I-I'll use Grab na lang." sabi ko na agad nagpailing sa kanya.

"I won't let you. Delikado."

"Ha? E umaga naman."

"Mapa-umaga, tanghali, hapon, gabi man o madaling araw, manyaks are still on the way." he said as-a-matter-of-fact. So my ex bbf is being protective right now. But how can I let him drive me to Taft? Baka magkita sila ni Ricci at baka magkaroon pa ng live boxing sa Taft at ako ang referee, chos!

Think Sofie, think. Ah!

"Sige na nga. Drive me sa Greenmall sa Taft Avenue since dun kami magkikita." I said. Di ko pwede sabihin sa kanya na sa Starbucks dahil baka masundan pa kami nito.

He just nodded at sumakay na kami ng kotse niya. Lah, maalala ko nga pala na hindi pa kami nagkikita ng mga friends ko ngayon. Hay bahala na, bukas na lang!

"So, you're gonna cut classes?" he asked in the middle of driving.

Hala oo nga! I ditched my first and second class for Fi tapos yung the rest naman ay kay Ricci since I can't finish my class if papasok pa ko. What the fuck, hatian?

Yeah, I'm ditching classes naman sometimes pero bumabalik din ako kaagad. So this is my first (and definitely the last) time to cut my class. For sure, this will forever haunt me in my whole existence! Gravy ka, Sofie!

"M-mukhang ganon na nga..." sagot ko na tinanguan niya lang.

"E ikaw? Your training? For sure, you'll have your punishment pagbalik mo." I opened up a new topic to ease the quietness here in his car.

"Probably. It's just a few push-ups to enhance my body more." he answered na lumilingon-lingon pa sa akin habang nagda-drive.

I nodded. "I see. How many push-ups? Few lang diba, so mga 50 ganon?"

"300." he answered na nagpalaki ng mata ko at nahampas ko pa siya.

"Seryoso ba! Bat ka pa kasi nag-presenta na ihatid ako leche!" tili ko na tinawanan niya lang.

"That's easy, sus. And I won't regret spending much time doing my punishment because I'm with you right now." kindat pa nito.

Inirapan ko na lang siya at tahimik na nagmasid sa mga dinadaanan namin until I feel my eyes slowly closing and drifting to sleep.

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"Hey." I felt a soft palm touched my face na nagpagising sakin. I saw Philip and he helped me to sit properly.

"We're here." he said at tiningnan ko ang labas ng MB niya. We're really here.

"What time is it, Fi?" tanong ko.

"12 PM." he answered after looking at his wristwatch.

I nodded. "Thank you so much for today, Fi. Bawi ako sayo sa susunod." I smiled at him at pinisil pa ang pisngi niya.

"No worries. Alam mo namang malakas ka sakin."

"Sus, sige na baba na ko." I said as I wore my backpack.

"Gusto mo ihatid na kita sa loob?" he suggested at akmang bababa rin nang pigilan ko siya.

"Ano ka ba, hindi na. I can handle."

"Okay. Ganto na lang, just text me pag pauwi ka na. Sunduin kita dito." he suggested na tinanguan ko na lang dahil hindi talaga siya magpapatalo.

I bid my good bye to him at bumaba na ko ng kotse. He offered pa nga na pagbuksan ako but I refused. Nakakahiya, mukha kaming mag-jowa.

Pumasok na ko sa Greenmall and the guards scanned my backpack before they let me in. Tinahak ko ang daan papunta sa entrance nito hanggang sa makalabas ako and I saw Razon where varsity players of De La Salle University-Manila (and other branches of LS) are doing their trainings.

According to my stalking skills before, tabi raw ng 7/11 dito ang Starbucks and it is located on the left side of Razon.

I walked and I immediately saw it since ang lapit lang pala. I saw a crowd of students and couples walking. Some of them were eating streetfoods while some were going to Starbucks and Agno.

Looking at myself, I'm still wearing my casual uniform. Buti na lang hindi masyadong mapagmata yung mga students dito. I heard na they're still welcoming students from other universities sa mga restos here in Taft.

Bumalik muna ulit ako ng Greenmall para mag-cr. I just need to retouch a little bit dahil masyadong gwapo ang kahaharapin ko ngayon.

Naghilamos lang ako and I applied a lip gloss at saka nagpabango. Pagkatapos ay lumabas na ko at naglakad.

I was walking straight when I noticed a group of girls outside the Starbucks. May celebrity ba dun?

Dire-diretso lang ang lakad ko and finally, nasa harap na ako ng Starbucks. I saw familiar faces of guys standing outside the entrance of the coffee shop.

Woah. The MANI Team?

I saw James, Muhammad, Bryce, Brent & Prince. Turns out, the crowd of girls whom I noticed awhile ago were fans na nagpapapicture sa kanila. Siguro wala si—

"Kuya Ricci, papicture!" one of them said and I turned around, just to see Ricci at my back, staring at me.

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