I Will Have You

Chapter 3

I WILL HAVE YOU 3
(10.15.18)

It was meant as a joke but it seems like Leo Madrigal doesn't know how to take a joke. Kaya sa isang iglap lang ay nagbago ang timpla ng mukha nito.

I saw how his jaw moves; how his brows furrowed and how he lick and bit his lower lip as if suppressing something. Nameywang siya at tumingin sa kisame ng ilang saglit na pati ako ay napatitig din doon para malaman kung may tinitignan ba siya. Then, he suddenly laughed. He laughed like what I said was the funniest joke he had ever heard.

Nakitawa rin ako sa kanya. Hinampas hampas ko pa nga siya sa braso. Akala ko kasi talaga ay sineryoso niya ang biro ko.

Yes, I'm mad at him but I will never doubt his preference.

Kaya nang huminto siya ay huminto na rin ako sa pagtawa only to see him so serious and without further ado, hinigit niya ako at niyuko.

Napapikit ako sa pag-aakalang hahalikan niya ako pero hindi dahil nang imulat kong muli ang mga mata ko para silipin siya ay ganoon nalang ang kaba ko dahil sa klase ng tingin na ibinibigay niya.

It's like he's ready to kill me!

"You're right. I'm gay so leave me alone. Find someone else because you will never have me. And you're still a kid, Eunice! For Pete sake!" tapos ay padarang niya akong binitiwan.

Nabigla ako roon. I know he was just bluffing so I tried laughing about it. Sino ba naman ang nasa tamang isip na aamin ng tunay niyang kulay? And to think that they have reputation to maintain in the society... napailing ako.

"You're kidding me." I said slowly but his facial features never falter. Seryoso pa rin iyon at tila naaawa sa akin.

"Go home. I have a lot of things to do." Sa mababa at malamig na tinig ay utos niya – dismissing me like a heartless man.

My brother, Dwight and Clyde, was also heartless to me sometimes and I know some cold and heartless man like Kuya Kahel and Sunny so Leo, being a heartless man was nothing to me because I already have my fair share of experiences with that kind of a man.

At sino'ng maniniwala sa kaniya kung kabi-kabila ang girlfriend niya – according to Emerald, his dear sister. So, no, Leo Madrigal. You can't fool me.

I couldn't help but grinned at the thought. Tila nakita naman iyon ni Leo kaya muli niyang itinuro ang pintuan, as if ushering me to go there and leave.

I pouted my lips. "I can't leave yet and you can't break up with me." I said with a very paawa voice. Effective naman ang ganitong paawa kay Kuya C.

Leo straighten his back and with his arms crossed on his chest, he asked "And why is that?" with his deep and serious voice.

"Because I want my first boyfriend to last longer." Diretso ko rin na sagot sa kaniya. I tried my hardest to sound formal just like him. "And when I said longer, I mean it like three to five years." Months lang sana ang sasabihin ko pero sayang naman kasi si Leo kung papakawalan ko nalang ng ganoon kadali. Ang guwapo kaya nitong Madrigal na 'to!

Nagkatitigan kami ni Leo and it seems like none of us wanted to break the stare and the silence engulfing us.

A soft knock followed by a loud shout break the ice between us.

"Kuyaaa!"

"Damn, Princess!" Leo hissed as he stood up, walk passed me and open the door.

"A certain Lynette and Irish were looking for you at the lobby. Their claiming you as their boyfriend at konti nalang, magsasabunutan na sila. The staffs even called the security but none of them wanted to back out. They knew you were here. Kapag nakarating ito kay Mommy, lagot ka talaga. Ipagbubukod ka na noon ng plato, baso, pati na kubyertos dahil baka may sakit ka ng nakakahawa!" dire-diretsong litanya ni Emerald.

"Will you stop that? Wala akong sakit! I'm clean, Princess." Tila nauubusan ng pasensyang turan ni Leo bago siya balingan na siya ring ginawa ni Emerald.

"Oh? You're still here! Well, congrats! Ikaw lang ang nakatagal dito ng," she looked at her wrist watch. "... eighteen minutes. Na-beat mo ang record na nine minutes ni Stella."

"Let's go. Ihahatid ko na kayo pauwi."

Leo holds his sister's hand at nang mapansin na nanatili lamang akong nakatayo sa gitna ng opisina niya ay nilapitan ako para hatakin na rin palabas.

Ang nangyari, dalawa kami ni Emerald na iginigiya niya palabas at pakiramdam ko, isa lang talaga akong bata na akay niya tulad ng kapatid niya.

The whole ride from the lift, I was quiet. I felt like crying for being treated like this – for being treated like a kid. Yes I am a kid but not totally. I have boobs bigger than the other girls my age, I am also taller than them and my body has curves already. I don't even have much baby fats because I do sports and go to gym every other day.

I tried pulling my hand from his grip but he just tightened his hold on my hand. Bakit hindi pa niya kasi bitiwan? He let go of Emerald's hand moments ago pero bakit iyong kamay ko ay ayaw pa niyang pakawalan? Nang-iinis? Or afraid that I might do something stupid like kissing him again?

Paglabas namin ng elevator ay itinuro agad ni Emerald iyong dalawang "girlfriend" daw ni Leo. Emerald was walking in front of us while on the phone.

Sinubukan ko ulit na hilahin ang kamay ko pero ganoon pa rin, ayaw niyang bitiwan. I looked up at him and saw his jaw clenched. Leo Madrigal's side profile is too majestic. From his forehead down to the shape of his nose and red lips is a sight to behold. Idagdag pa ang stubble niya na tila dalawa o tatlong araw na na hanggang sa ilalim ng baba ay maaaninag na. And that adam's apple!

"By the way Kuya Leo, I came here with Mom. Hinatid kami ni Mang Danny kaya sa kaniya na lang din ako sasakay papunta kila Meg. See you at dinner!" Emerald tiptoed and kissed his brother on the cheek. When she turned to me, she just winks then grins.

Pinanood namin ang pag-alis ni Emerald hanggang sa hindi na namin siya abot ng paningin. I turned to Leo and pulled my hand using the other.

"I should go. May bisita ka pa, hindi ba? Baka makagulo lang ang isang batang katulad ko sa inyo. Don't worry," I smiled fakely at him. "This will be the last time you'll see me. Ito na rin ang huling beses na kakausapin kita. I just realized that you're not worthy of my time." Saka ko pilit na inalis ang pagkakahawak ng kamay niya sa kamay ko. "Saka, baka mamaya may sakit ka pa." I added as an insult as I rolled my eyes on him. But I know he's clean.

"Leo!"

"Leo!"

The two women shouted at the same time. I looked at them; both are beautiful and sophisticated with slender body. Ganito pala ang tipo ni Leo? Not too bad pero ang mga ganoong tipo ng babae ay hindi pangmatagalan.

I glanced back at Leo and bid my goodbye before holding my chin up as I walked pass on the two women. They are taller and I couldn't help but pout.

Hindi bale na. I'm still young and for sure, I'll grow taller than they are right now.

Tila may pagmamadali ang hakbang nila habang matalim ang tingin sa isa't isa. And because I am not in a good mood so I walked in between them, casually bumping both of their shoulder.

"Ouch!" sabay ulit nilang sabi.

I didn't bother looking back until someone hugged me from the back, forcing me to stop from my tracks.

"I'm sorry. Please stay." in a baritone voice, he said.

And right there and then, I wanted to mura him. Like 'yung malutong? Because he's so gago on that part!