Kryptonite

Concealer

"Gusto ata ako patayin ni Nadine," Janella grumbled as she dropped her phone on the table and fell back onto the couch. 

"Jea, let's think positive," Marlo said as he sat next to her.

Janella glared at his direction. "She didn't check into the resort tapos di niya ako nirereplayan," she pointed out. "She never does this! Even if may hook up siya dati nagpapaalam siya sakin."

"Does Ron have a tracker on her phone? Maybe she's not using it so he can't detect her location?" Marlo suggested.

"Not anymore," Janella replied. "And well, when she did have one, we used to switch phones if she was going to go somewhere." 

"Wow," Marlo said with a chuckle. "You go between her best friend, the sister she never had, her mom, and her partner in crime."

"Nung na sa college, it was the last two. No in-betweens," Janella responded, sighing as she looked out her window.

"Why don't you call James?" Marlo suggested. "Aren't they always together? Wait--what if nagtaanan sila?" he teased.

"Hoy," Janella replied, slightly slapping his shoulder. 

"I'm just joking, Jea. She needs to admit her feelings first to herself before that anyways," he replied with a chuckle. 

"That makes me more worried," Janella replied. 

"Why? Do you not like him for her?" Marlo asked.

"Well, he sounds nice. I appreciate him being there for her right now, especially since I can't do much. It's just...I'm hesitant with anyone for her kasi ayoko siyang masaktan. But also, may pagkarecklessness siya pagdating sa pagibig," Janella replied. "I mean, it seems he does like her too from how she describes but...I don't know, ayoko lang masaktan siya. Yun lang."

"Sobrang protective kayo sa isa't isa, no?" Marlo commented, placing a hand on her shoulder. 

"When we were younger, she always protected me. Like I said before, hindi ako ganyan katapang dati. I got pushed around, bullied even for my class status and not having a dad. She really helped me learn to be more out-going and stand for myself. I mean, she's been through so much. Someone like her deserves someone who will love her truly and take care of her too," Janella replied. "Which is what he's been doing pero...basta, I'm sure if I met him, I'll fully approve. But for now, I'm like 85%."

"She's been through a lot," Marlo replied. "I can't blame you."

"If kasama niya talaga si James, hopefully okay sila," Janella replied. "He's the only person there I'd trust her to be with now, so he has that."

---

"I can't believe ginagawa ko 'to," Nadine mumbled to herself as she walked into the store. 

Never in her life had she felt so...for lack of better word, desperate to get a reaction out of someone. But as someone who was prideful, and though all was well, she needed answers for what the hell was that kiss and just what he was really feeling.

Apart from the fact no one had dared walked out on her like that without any explantation, thinking of all he's done and said to her, there was no way in hell she was the only one feeling something. 

I swear...kung hindi lang kita mahal, Nadine thought to herself as she watched as James walked in after her.

Hinalikan mo ako, tapos bigla ka lang umalis? Tapos parang walang nangyari? Pero tatlong beses mo ako pinagluto, hinahug, and in general ang sweet mo pa rin sakin? Pero kapag nilalandian kita parang no-reaction ka lang? So ano, ikaw lang ba pwedeng lumandi sakin? Nadine thought to herself.