Chasing Fire (Completed)

Chapter 28

Time

Zandra was so happy as soon as she saw Lex entering the doorway. Yes, mas close sila ng kapatid ko. Sarap lang pagsuntukin ng lalakeng 'to eh.

"Kuya! I thought sa graduation ka pa ni Ate pupumta dito!" She smiled then received her favorite cake.

"I'm done with what I have to do, so..." He said then winked at Zandra.

Lex greeted my Mom too then had a conversation over a bottle of wine. Mom and Lex seemed so close kahit na buwan buwan lang naman bumibisita si Lex. This man, he's also trying to win not only mine but my family's hearts too huh?

I smiled when he joked about something that made Mommy laugh so hard. Walang nakakapatawa kay Mommy ng ganyan, only Lex. Is that why she likes Lex for me that much?

"Your graduation is in two days Vien, what gift do you want?" Mommy suddenly asked na hindi pa nga siya natatapos sa pagsasalita ay todo iling na ako.

"Nothing Mommy."

"Nothing? Come on, honey. A trip with Lex maybe? Where do you want? I know hindi mo gusto sa Greece because you always visit there. So maybe Indonesia? Or maybe Maldives? You two will have alone time there together."

Napasapo nalang ako sa noo ko. Mommy will always be Mommy. President yata siya kung may fans club kami ni Lex eh. At parang pinamimigay lang ako ah!

"Mom!" Tutol ko sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

"That was a joke!" She laughed. "But that offer will always be available for the two of you."

Napatingin ako kay Lex na nakangiti lang. Enjoy na enjoy ah? Kung sapakain ko kaya 'to.

"How dare you smile like that!" I said.

Agad niya kinagat ang labi niya para pigilan ang pagngiti pero mas lalo lang siyang nangingiti!

"Bakit ba kasi ayaw mo? I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Mapaglarong sabi niya kaya tinampal ko ang braso niya na mas lalong nagpangiti sa kanya.

"Lex is right Vienna. You too will surely enjoy!" Si Mommy.

At bakit parang pinagkakaisahan ako dito?!

"I hate you both!" I said then walked out.

"Vien!" I heard Lex's call but I just rolled my eyes.

Nahawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at pinaharap ako sa kanya.

I glared at him. How dare him bully me! Sarap hatakin ng buhok eh.

"Hey... I'm sorry." He chuckled.

"Panget mo!"

He just chuckled then hugged me.

Nang gumabi ay nagpasya na si Lex na umuwi na sa hotel niya. Hinatid ko siya pababa at susunduin naman siya ng isang SUV na nag-aantay na.

"I'll go now." He said.

"Take care."

Unti-unti siyang lumapit at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko para halikan ako sa noo.

"I love you." He whispered, pain is evident on his voice.

My heart suddenly ached. I feel sorry for Lex. He was there with me when I was recovering from the pain I felt. Six months after I came here, we saw each other.

He tried to talk to me again and asked for forgiveness. And asked for friendship and now this relationship. I feel sorry for him because I just can't say those words back as of now.

I stayed silent as he guided my head upang tumingin sa kanya. He smiled painfully.

"Kahit ako lang yung magmahal, remember?" He still managed to smile kahit na puno ng sakit ang mata niya.

I feel bad for myself. Dahil pumayag ako sa gusto niya na kahit siya lang daw yung magmahal sa aming dalawa, that is enough for him. As long as I am with him, he is fine with it.

But I feel so selfish dahil pumayag ako. Dapat hindi ako pumayag so I wouldn't give him false hopes.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

"No Vien. I'm sorry dahil nagpumilit ako sa sitwasyong 'to. But please know that I didn't regret anything."

Pero hindi dapat ganito. Dapat noon palang tinapos ko na 'to.

"But this isn't right Lex-"

"Vien. I know what you're thinking. At hindi ako papayag sa gusto mo. Please." Halos mag makaawa na siya.

I smiled and held his face.

"We started wrong so we have to end this so we could start something new... Yung hindi nalang ikaw yung nagmamahal." I said softly.

"W-What do you m-mean?"

I just smiled at him at nagulat siya nang halikan ko siya sa pisngi. I've never done that to him before.

"Take care, Lex." I whispered at tatalikuran na sana siya nang pinaharap niya ulit ako.

"What was that Vien? A goodbye kiss? Ano 'yon Vien? Please answer me now."

Napatawa nalang ako dahil mukhang mababaliw na siya sa paraan ng pagkasalita niya.

"I think I like you already. Not as a friend, but more."

His eyes slowly widened. He muttered a curse before he hugged me so tight.

"God, I am so happy... I love you. I love you so much." He said a he hugged me tight.

I laughed at his reaction. I only told him I like him ngunit halos hindi na ako makahinga sa yakap niya? Lex being Lex.

"Thank you..." His voice was shaking.

Lumayo ako sa kanya para makita ang mukha niya only to be shocked because a tear literally fell from his eyes! What the... Really Lex?

Dali-dali siyang tumalikod sa akin para punasan ang luha niya at nang humarap ay mukhang hindi parin makapaniwala.

"I know this is already too much but you're still my girlfriend right?"

What?

"Sino ba kasing nagsabi sa'yong naghiwalay tayo?"

Hindi na halos gustong umalis ni Lex. I don't know how I managed to force him to go already. That was almost half an hour!

Bumalik na ako sa bahay only to be welcomed by Lex's call. He's still not done?

Sasagutin ko na sana nang narinig ko ang boses ni Mommy na mukhang galing sa kitchen.

"I'm trying, alright? Just give me more time!" Irritation was evident in her voice.

My forehead ceased at agad akong naglakad patungo doon kung nasaan siya. She saw me and she was even a bit shocked.

"I'll call you later. I'm busy." Then she hanged up.

"I really hate these clients! Pinapadali yung mga projects! It's not even the deadline yet!" She said, maybe directed to me.

If that was a client, why is she shocked when she saw me?

Pinilig ko ang ulo ko at iniwala iyon sa isipan. Who will that be if not a client you dummy.

"Don't stress yourself too much Mommy. Magpahinga na po tayo." I said then guided her to her room.