Change Me

Chapter 8: The Girlfriend

[ CJ's POV ]

Tumayo ako galing sa pagkakahiga at dumeretso sa bintana. Nakita ko ang babaeng nagmamay-ari ng boses na 'yun.

She's around on her 20's. Caramel-colored hair. She's tall, wearing decent clothes. I can't see her face though kase nakatalikod sya.

Nakita 'kong lumapit ito kay Justin. She hugged him from behind causing him to look at her. Agad nyang hinalikan ito sa cheeks.

Oh the girlfriend.

"What the-" I stopped myself.

Lumipat ang babae sa may harapan nya at ngumiti ito.

Sinubukan kong 'wag tumingin sa kanila pero 'di ko magawa. The girl might give him a lap dance any minute, you know.

May sinasabi sa kanya ang babae, parang nagku-kwento ito. And Justin sat there, he's actually listening to what the girl's talking. I can only see the back portion of his head kaya 'di ko masabi kung anong iniisip nito. It's odd though, he neither hug nor kiss her back earlier.

Hinawakan nito ang kamay ni Justin at tumayo naman ito, following her heading to the house. Agad akong nagtago sa kurtina, making sure I'm out of their sight.

Maya-maya pa, narinig kong bumukas ang front door sa labas. "Lola Percyyyyyy!" her voice echoed around the entire place. God, she's so loud. " 'Li ka dito, lemme give you a hug!"

Who is she? It seemed like close na close na sila sa isa't-isa.

Narinig ko ang bahagyang pagtawa ni Lola Percy. "Sweetie, nandito ka na pala"

I felt a sudden jealousy. Ako lang dapat ang tinatawag nyang 'sweetie'.

Are you nuts? Obviously, mas nauna sya dito kaysa sayo. Kung makaasta ka parang mas matagal kayong nagsama ah, sabi ng utak ko.

Yeah, yada yada, whatever you say.

Siguro nga baliw na 'ko kase nakikipag-away na ako sa sarili ko ngayon.

But try to ponder about it. It's obvious na malapit sya kay Lola at McCann. Perhaps nga dito sya nakatira, eh. And it's my second dreadful day here at ngayon ko lang sya nakita. Asan sya nanggaling? For sure hindi alam ng mga pulis na malaya palang nakakagala sa public places ang mga taong malapit kay Justin McCann. They must be so careful for being able not to let this out. God knows their ways.

A loud knock almost gave me a heart attack. Napatingin ako sa pintuan clutching my chest. Bumukas ito at nakita ko si Lola Percy, gently pushing the door wide open. "God, Lola you scared the crap out of me."

She chuckled, "Sorry, sweetie"

Don't even call me that.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Tara, punta tayo sa baba. May ipapakilala ako." she smiled.

"Oh I see," I replied "Pero 'wag na Lola , I'm fine here." I lied.

Why would she even like to introduce us to each other? I mean, that's insanely ironic. Nakalimutan nya bang kinidnap ako ng apo nya? Gusto nyang ipakilala kami sa isa't isa na parang bang hindi ito big deal. Well, judging Lola Percy, I highly believe she's normally like that

"No, hija. 'Wag kang magmukmok dito. I won't take no for an answer."

Bago paman ako makasabi ng mga excuses ko, hinila nya na ako papalabas ng kwarto.

Habang pababa ng hagdan all I could feel was my anxiety level at 99999999. I can't face McCann again. I don't want to even see his face anymore.

Napansin siguro ni Lola na kinakabahan ako, kaya't pinisil nya ang kaliwang kamay ko. "He's not that bad," she told me, reading what's in my head.