Change Me

Chapter 13: "Take that damn shirt off."

[ CJ's POV ]

"May boyfriend ka ba?"

I nearly choked my own spit. I sat there just staring at him, utterly flabbergasted. I mean, what the fudge? Why would he even ask me that? Why would even Justin McCann ask me that?

Well not to brag but most people I know thinks I'm attractive. Marami narin akong mga naging suitors since 6th grade.

Did someone, who probably hated all women alive in the world, found me attractive too? Kaya ba bigla sya nagka-interes sa love life ko?

And here my heart went again. Kung paano ito tumibok nung matamaan ng siko ko ang 'drool-worthy' abs nya nung isang araw, ganon rin ang pagtibok nito ngayon.

"H-huh?" I stuttered. I'm not sure how to response.

"May boyfriend ka ba?" ulit nito. I swallowed hard. Parang nakalunok ako ng bato. "Kase," he continued. "Kase kung meron man, he must be out of his mind for dating someone as annoying as you."

My mouth swung open, literally.

Please tell me I didn't blushed earlier. Please tell me I didn't looked like a complete idiot earlier. At this very moment, isa lang ang hiling ko; ang bumukas ang lupa at lamunin ako ng buhay.

Ugh, i hate him. That bruised my ego. Minsan 'di ko maiwasang isipin na baka bakla sya kase kahit konti 'di nya magawang magpakita ng interes sakin -o kay Seige.

"At least may nagkaka-interes sakin. Eh sayo?" I argued, rolling my eyes.

He scoffed. "Believe me, I can breathe without having one." and he looked away in a wala-kang-kwentang-kausap manner. Sarap upakan neto.

Sa inis ko, inirapan ko ito. If he thinks I'm annoying as hell, that doesn't make every single man in the world.

Tumingin ako ulit rito, still annoyed with his sassy remark. Habang nakatingin sa kanya, that's when I realized that since day one I still haven't seen this guy smile. He was always grumpy and short-tempered. I wonder what he would sound like when laughing.

Here we go again, CJ. Stop it.

May dalawang ibon ang dumapo sa lupa, about a meter away from us. They're so cute.

Bahagya akong nagulat nang may biglang inihagis na bato sa mga ito. The birds instantly flew away. I looked at Justin, my eyebrows pulled together. "What's your problem?"

"No, what's your problem." sabi nito. "Pati 'yun big deal sayo?"

I was about to open my mouth to cause another argument pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. I hated to say this but may point sya. I sighed. "I just love birds," I pouted. I heard the devil scoffed but I chose to ignored him. "I mean, yeah I love birds kase bukod sa ang ku-cute nila, gusto ko yung idea ng pamumuhay nila." I explained. "Sa lahat ng mga hayop na nilikha, they're the ones that are so free. They can just spread their wings and fly-"

"Pano kung ikulong ko sila?" he suddenly asked, not looking at me.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I threw another question, confused.

He leaned forward, both of his elbows on his knees for support, crossing his fingers. "What if I place them in a cage full of anger, anxieties, pain, and revenge?" he said, face still impassive.

That was quite deep at agad kong na-realize na may hugot sa tanong na 'yon. I chose to be quite and let him carry on.

"Pag nakakulong sya 'dun kahit ano pang kalayaan ang ibigay ng Diyos sa kanya, wala paring kwenta. It would be that bird's hindrance of staying free." patuloy nya, his voice full of bitterness. "You must know the world isn't all cupcakes and rainbows. What's the point of being free if it's possible for someone to take that freedom away from you?"