NERDY and PLAYBOY

N.A.P->[30]

CHAPTER 30: THIS WON'T WORK

(Patricia's POV)

"Ano ka ba Clarisse, of course di niya ako kilala. But I know him though." sabi ko at ngumiti, sakto naman na may nareceive akong text from Dannie na on the way na daw sila. "Ahm, Clarisse. I should go, may hinhintay pa kasi ako eh." paalam ko

"Yung asawa mo ba? Hmm." usisa niya habang nakangiti sa akin

"Haha. Actually, no. May inaasikaso kasi ngayon yung asawa ko, so busy siya ngayon." sabi ko at napatingin kay Brandon na nakatingin sa akin "Nice seeing you James." sabi ko sakanya at muling binaling ang tingin kay Clarisse, "Clarisse, it's nice seeing you again. Next time nalang siguro? I'll tell the others too. Bye!" sabi ko at nagsimula ng maglakad paalis sa kanila.

Kaso noong nakalabas nako dun sa shop, biglang may humablot sa kamay ko.

Nilingon ko naman kung sino, "Oh? James bakit?" tanong ko and I tried hard na maging kalmado ang itsura ko na parang walang nanyare kanina sa loob ng shop.

"Pats.." sabi niya "Let's talk."

"Eh anong tawag mo dito?" sabi ko at tinanggal ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko, "Look Brandon. There's nothing to talk about. Get back inside, that's your girlfriend in there and she's my friend. Mamaya ano pa ang naisip nun."

"But she's not my--"

Sakto naman na may sasakyang dumating at lumabas doon sina Dannie at Cheska.

"Look, I've been stressed these past weeks because of my job and my married life. Brandon, it's too much this week." sabi ko ng malumanay sakanya at napabuntong hininga. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin at parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero inunahan ko na siya. "You know why I came home early than you had expected?" tanong ko sakanya.

Nakatingin lang siya at hindi na sumagot.

"It's because I got a call from my friends telling me that my husband is flirting with another girl." nang sinabi ko yun, nakita ko ang pagkabigla sa mukha niya. Para bang hindi niya inaasahan yung sinabi ko. "Brandon, I almost believed that you had changed, but I guess you were not the same Brandon that I remembered."

Hurt was evident in his eyes or I am just thinking that he looked hurt. But I was badly hurt than he was.

"Pats, just let me explain. Please." sabi niya

"It's okay Brandon. You don't have to explain. I get it, no worries. Hindi makakarating sa parents natin ito. If kayo pa rin ni Clarisse, I won't tell them. Believe me." sabi ko "If you are thinking about us, I know naman na that this marriage won't work. From the very start, it won't work." I even faked a laugh in front of him, "I never knew you were Clarisse's boyfriend. Why don't you get back inside? I'm sure you both will have a lot to 'catch up'"  sabi ko at tuluyan ko na siyang iniwan.

Narinig ko pa ang pagtawag sakanya ni Clarisse nang makalapit ako sa sasakyan ni Dannie, "Babe, bat ka biglang umalis?"

Napailing nalang ako at pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan. Bumigat ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa nangyari, pero mas bumigat pa yun lalo nang nakita ko si Brandon na sumama kay Clarisse pabalik sa loob ng shop.

There's this part of me na inaasahang susundan niya ako pero nabigo ako. And that hurts like hell.

Nilingon naman ako ni Dannie at Cheska at halata mong nagulat din sila sa nasaksihan nila. "Was that.... Clarisse?" she said trailing off her words pero hindi pa rin ako kumikibo at dahan-dahang tumango.