"Kanina ka pa?"
Umangat ang tingin ko mula sa pagkalikot sa phone nang marinig ang boses ni Third. Umiling ako bilang sagot at tinanggap ang cup na iniabot niya sa'kin. Hot chocolate. Gaya ng dati.
"I thought about getting you tea or coffee pero baka lalong di ka makatulog," he explained, habang umuupo sa tapat kong sun bench. Nasa poolside kami ngayon, at dahil gabi na wala nang nagsswimming. Tahimik rin ang lahat bukod sa tunog ng kuliglig.
"It's okay," I waved him off. Humigop saglit sa tasa. "I still like hot chocolate."
"Like how you still like me?"
Pinaningkitan ko lang siya ng mata. Pinipilit niyang magseryoso but I can see him holding back a smirk.
"You're too confident," irap ko.
"I'm just teasing," he laughed softly. "I'm actually really nervous."
"Because of me?"
"Because it's you," kibit-balikat niya. Ibinaba niya ang hawak na tasa sa lamesita sa pagitan namin. I knew what was coming next, kaya inilapag ko rin ang akin.
"Five years ago, when Arianne and I were partnered together for a film, they asked us to pretend to be a couple for publicity," umiling si Third. "Ayoko talagang gawin nung una. It's bullshit to try to win an audience just because curious sila kung anong relationship ko sa lead actress. They should be drawn by the plot, or by our talent, not because of some stupid rumour. But it was my job and Arianne kinda asked for a favor."
Napakunot ang noo ko. Hindi ko alam na may paghingi ng favor na naganap.
"Her career wasn't doing so good that time, even after the film," Third continued. "It's how the industry works talaga, and it's fucking stupid, but she asked me to pretend with her for awhile at least hanggang maging stable lang yung career niya. She risked a lot just to be an actress, and she didn't want to lose the chance."
Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa'kin at mas naging malamyo ang boses. Mababa pero masuyo. "I planned to tell you then, pero I couldn't even see you. I didn't want to explain it through text or chat because it's too complicated. Gusto ko sanang ikaw ang unang makaalam but then..."
His jaw clenched. "May nag-leak nung article bago pa kami maging handa lahat."
Ah. The day we broke up.
"Pero hindi talaga kami," dagdag niya, masuyo ulit. Nangungusap ang mata. Nakatitig sa'kin nang matagal na para bang may hinahanap siya. I didn't know what it was before, but I have an idea now. "Hindi talaga naging kami. Please believe me."
Umiwas muna ako ng tingin at tumitig sa tahimik na pool. Mahirap mag-isip kapag nakatingin siya sa'kin at nakatingin ako sa kanya. Hindi biro nung sinabi ko kina Selene na wala akong kahit anong resistance sa lalaking 'to—like he was made to be my weakness.
"Thank you for being honest with me," I said slowly, nang hindi pa rin tumitingin sa kanya. "I guess it's my turn to be honest now."
Huminga muna ako nang malalim para pababain ang mga luha ko. I swallowed the lump in my throat and started with a low voice—if I tried any louder, I might start crying. "I sort of knew you and Arianne didn't have any relationship to begin with. You weren't that kind of person. I was jealous, yes, and the articles and the rumors didn't help. Especially kapag ang kwento, galing talaga sa mga taong malapit sa inyo at nakakasalamuha niyo palagi. Kasi, di ba, anong laban ko 'don? Kayo yung palaging magkasama. Kayo yung palaging magkausap."
"I felt like," huminga ako nang malalim. "Like I was being neglected. And I hated myself for feeling that because di mo naman kasalanan. Trabaho mo yon. Alam ko naman pinasok ko when I decided to stay with you. Akala ko, kaya ko eh. I thought with time I'd be used to it. Pero hindi pala."
BINABASA MO ANG
bad romance
Фанфик[COMPLETED] The memories of yesterday still haunt me. - Ireneia Salvador Five years ago, Ireneia and Third broke up. Five years later, they are the nation's newest love team, thrown together to work on the most ambitious film of the decade. No press...
