Loving Aria

Chapter 23

Aria

"Can I have a minute with you?"

Napalingon sakin si Grant. She sexily pull her lips upside while raising her bottle of Johnnie Walker.

Napailing na lang ako. Grant has been always like that. Heavy drinker. Just like Sam. Kahit nung mga panahong kami pa never ko sya napigilan uminom.

"Whatssup?" She uses her Latina accent. Medyo tipsy na din siguro dahil slurred na sya magsalita.

Umupo ako pasalampak sa tabi niya sa buhanginan. Umusod siya ng kaunti para makaupo ako ng maayos.

"Di ka pa ba lasing nyan?"

Tumawa lang si Grant bago uminom ng diretso sa hawak na bote.

"Wanna bet, hmm?" Gone is her composure. Ipinunas nito yung palad sa gilid ng labi nito na natapunan ng alak.

"You really have to quit drinking that much, Grant. You know why she's like that."

Yumuko lang si Grant at hindi nagsalita. Alam kong alam na niya kung sino ang tinutukoy ko.

"Tell me, Grant." Bahagya ko siyang tinapik sa braso. "Why did you do that? Paano mo ko nagawang paniwalain na gusto mo ako?"

Natigilan siya sandali at tumitig sa akin. Halatang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko pero mabilis din na nakabawi. She put her attention back to her drink.

"I-I.. I really like you Aria." She whispered. "I really liked you."

Ngumiti ako ng tipid. I really wonder how Grant can do such thing. I thought we're friends. I really thought that we do.

"Sam loved me."

I noticed how her hands gripped the bottle of Johnnie Walker tightly upon hearing that statement. She can't even deny that.

"She loved me, Grant." ulit ko pa. Gusto kong makita how violent she can become. Grant never really hurt me or anyone. Not physically. The only time I saw her that abusive ay yung time na sinaktan nya si Kiel. Yun lang. Seeing how that stupid guy assault Sam.

Si Samantha. The girl she truly likes that time and not me. I was so stupid to even believe that it was me who broke her heart. Well, partly yes. Because it was me. Ako yung mahal nung taong gusto nya. Nakakatawa di ba? Masyadong naging kumplikado lahat samantalang hindi naman ako dapat nadamay ng ganito.

"Ako yung gusto ni Sam, Grant." tumawa pa ko ng mahina. "What's so hard accepting that?"

Sinalubong ako ng galit na mga matang iyon. May bahid ng pagkamuhi. The emotion that I never thought to see on her.

"Ano bang meron ka na wala ako?" Galit na sigaw ni Grant. Unti unting nabasag ang boses nito habang isa isang nag uunahang umalpas ang mga luha. "Bakit ikaw pa Aria? Bakit ikaw yung gusto nya? I am way better than you!"

Natawa ako ng pagak. There I thought Grant is into me. Pero ang totoo. She was always been in love with Sammie. But Sam likes me. So to screw it up, she made me believe that she likes me. And she took the only thing that will make Sammie to step back, my virginity.

"Wala akong maalalang ginawa kong masama sayo, Grant." sumbat ko sa kanya. Hindi ko napigilang hampasin sya sa braso.

"I know." Mahinang sabi ni Grant. "That's why I promised myself that I will take care of you for the rest of my life."

"Did I deserve that?"

Mabilis itong umiling bago binitawan ang hawak na alak at hinawakan ako sa balikat paharap dito.