Kissing Fire (KD#1)

Fire 33

Secret

"Girl, turns out it's not Epiphany that's having an affair with the professor, but Gracie Bautista."

"Yeah, I heard Euphoria Delangel busted her. Nakakatakot ang Delangel na iyon."

"Remember when she got the group of guys that tried dragging the Delangels leave the university. Ngayon mapapaalis niya rin ata si Gracie."

I shook my head and flushed the toilet bowl after I finished peeing. Binuksan ko ang cubicle at napasinghap ang mga nagkekwentuhang mga babae nang makita ako. Sabay silang namula at lumayo sa pinwestuhan kong sink.

Pinagmasdan ko ang sarili sa salamin. I'm wearing a white polo that was splashed with milkshake by Primrose. My hair was a little messy because of the girl who accused me of cheating. Today was really chaotic.

Tumunog ang aking phone at kinuha ko ito sa aking bulsa para basahin ang message roon.

Heathcliffe:
I got you the white polo that you need.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago nagtipa ng aking sagot.

Me:
You don't have to. Didn't I tell you I'm done playing with you?

Heathcliffe:
Didn't I tell you I'm still not?

Heathcliffe and I got into a heated argument a while ago and we didn't manage to clear the issue. Our fight turned into a hot make out session at the back of my college building instead.

I was so flustered when we finished because whenever he kisses me, my mind just goes blank and I forget my train of thoughts. Lahat ng iniisip ko naglalaho lang na parang bula sa tuwing dadampi ang kaniyang labi sa akin.

I hate myself for that.

Pinipilit ko kasi na tapusin na kung ano man tong namamagitan sa amin. Dahil una, hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang pagtugon ng katawan ko sakaniya. It's like I can't control my body and most especially.. my heart.

Pangalawa, dahil nga sa usapan namin noong nakaraan. Lombardis have been buying stocks from different companies and they wouldn't do that unless they have an ulterior motive.

They wouldn't invest their money and their time on useless things in which they will gain nothing in return. Aking napagnilayan na ganoon din si Heathcliffe. I almost forgot that he's a businessman and there must be a hidden agenda behind his actions.

What if I'll just be an asset to him in the future? Kagaya ng ama ko na binigay sa akin ang lahat ngunit sa huli'y isa lamang pala akong puhunan para sa kanilang negosyo.

May isa pang nagtext sa akin kaya nilabas ko muli ang cellphone. It's my father bringing me good news.

Dad:
I saw the rest of your grades. I've decided to give back your car. You can fetch it later.

Nang nagtext ulit si Heathcliffe na magkita kami sa parking lot ay agad na akong pumunta doon. I handed him a couple of blue bills. I didn't dare to look at him and placed it on his dashboard.

Ito ang bayad ko sa lahat ng serbisyo at hirap niya sa akin. I know I can't pay his time but I'm parting ways with him so I wouldn't take more of it.

I slightly bowed my head before speaking sternly. "I would like to express my gratitude for your service. I truly appreciate the time and effort that you've lent me."

Kinuha ko ang paper bag bago nagtatakbo paalis. Narinig ko pa ang kaniyang tawag ngunit hindi ko na ito pinansin pa at nagdire-diretso lamang sa comfort room para magpalit.