INTO YOU

12

I woke up with no sign of Maureen beside me kaya napabalikwas ako ng bangon at tinignan ang phone ko kung anong oras na. It's already 11:04 am. Bumangon na ako at inayos muna ang kama bago ginawa ang morning routine ko. Nagpalit na rin ako ng shirt at shorts.

Matapos ko mag-ayos ay lumabas na ako ng kwarto. Nasa sala silang tatlo at tila may pinag-uusapan na seryoso. Hindi ata nila napansin na lumabas ako ng kwarto dahil sobrang seryoso pa rin nila habang nakatingin sa kanya-kanya nilang phone.

"Did she see it?" I head Elliot asked. Lahat sila ay pare-parehong nakakunot ang noo.

"She was still sleeping kanina bago ako lumabas ng kwarto, kaya siguro hindi pa." Maureen said.

"Don't let her see it." Elliot said with a serious tone which was unusual.

"But she needs to see it. Nililigawan na siya ni Lance 'di ba?" Riz sighed while still looking at her phone.

"See what?" I asked. Lumapit na ako sa kanila at tumabi sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Maureen. "What do I need to see?" nakita ko na tila natigilan silang tatlo sa bigla kong pagsingit sa pag-uusap nila.

"Nothing." maikling sabi ni Elliot. "I'll just cook our brunch." tumayo siya at dumiretso sa kusina, obviously ignoring na matanong ko pa siya.

"What is it, Riz?" I frowned. Nagtitinginan lang silang dalawa ni Maureen. "Ano? Magtitigan na lang tayo dito? Ano ba kasi 'yan?" inagaw ko na yung phone ni Maureen para makita kung ano ba ang tinutukoy nila. Aangal pa sana si Maureen nang tinignan ko siya nang masama kaya nanahimik na lang siya at hinayaan akong tignan kung ano 'yon.

It was an article. Agad ko namang binasa 'yon. "Kiara, you don't have to read that." Riz said. I just ignored her and read the article.

Is Lance Montenegro dating his ex-girlfriend, Althea Tadeo, again?

It has been almost 6 months since we witnessed the two of them, together, on ramp for the final time. Since then, there has been a huge heartbreak for their fans when they knew that their favorite model couple broke up. Throughout their 1 year and 3 month relationship, they had shown how sweet and caring they were for each other in public that made their fans go crazy whenever they see a picture of them walking hand in hand on public. They were known for being one of the hottest model couple in modeling industry. The reason of their break up was because of the leaked photo of Althea kissing a man in a bar.

Yesterday, some fan saw them in a restaurant and it seems like they were dating again because of the sweet gestures they did. That was not all of it! Last night, they were spotted in front of a hotel owned by Lance's friend's family. Althea was seen kissing Lance's cheek that made their fans go crazy again.

Their agencies were still not giving a statement if they are dating again, but it seems like we don't need any confirmations from their agencies because it's obvious that they're dating again.

I mouthed an 'O' as I nodded. "Ito lang pala, akala ko naman kung ano yung ayaw niyong ipakita sa'kin." binalik ko na kay Maureen ang phone niya.

I felt a pang of pain, but I didn't mind it. As I had said last night, wala naman akong karapatan sa kanya. Atsaka 'nanliligaw' kuno lang naman siya.

I saw a disbelief expression sa mukha nilang dalawa. "What?" I asked.

"Dear, he's freakin' courting you." Riz stated which made me frown.

"Hmm, so?" I heard them sighed. Hindi ko na hinintay kung ano pang sasabihin nila at pumunta na lang ako sa kusin para tulungan si Elliot sa pagprepare ng kakainin namin.

"Did you already see it?" he asked. I just nodded and helped him prepare.

After we ate, we decided na umuwi na kaya nag-ayos na kami ng mga gamit. Hindi na ako naligo since naligo naman na ako kagabi at sa bahay na lang ako maliligo pagkauwi. Matapos namin mag-ayos ng mga gamit namin ni Maureen ay nagpaalam na kami sa magkapatid na uuwi na.

Before kami makalabas sa unit ni Riz ay hinila ni Elliot nang bahagya ang braso ko para humarap ako sa kanya. "Don't believe anything na nasa article. Trust him. Just trust him." I just nodded at him and bid him goodbye.

Hinatid ko muna si Maureen sa kanila. Tahimik lang kami buong byahe at parang iniiwasan niya na magbukas ng topic kahit napapansin ko na gustong-gusto niya na magsalita.

Nang makauwi ako ay agad akong naligo at kumain ng meryenda. My parents were not here at tanging mga katulong na naman namin ang mga kasama ko. Hay.

I bet they don't even know na hiwalay na kami ni Kyle months ago. They were not like that noong highschool ako. Lagi silang updated sa lahat ng bagay tungkol sa'kin. Hindi nila hinahayaan na hindi kami sabay-sabay sa hapagkainan. We were happy. But something happened, my mom was supposed to give birth to my baby brother pero nakunan siya. Hindi malakas ang kapit ng kapatid ko. Simula noon, mas nakafocus na sila mommy sa trabaho, para na rin siguro makalimot sila sa nangyari. Apparently, hindi nila napansin na hindi na nila na napagtutuonan ng pansin yung nag-iisang anak nila.

I was bored kaya napagdesisyunan ko na lang manuod ng kdrama. Hanggang sa umabot ang gabi ay hindi pa rin nakakauwi sila mommy, kaya mag-isa na naman akong kumain. I did my night routine after that and nagpahinga na sa kwarto ko.

Habang nakatulala ako ay hindi ko napansin na iniisip ko na pala yung article na nabasa ko kanina. Are they dating again? Nakita ko na once si Althea. I saw her sa bar nila Riz while I was err- making out with Lance. She was the woman who called his attention and they kept on talking about things hanggang sa napagpasyahan ko na umuwi.

She's really pretty and hindi pagkakaila na maganda ang kanyang pangangatawan. Bigla akong nainsecure, but sino nga ba ako para mainsecure? She was once part of Lance's life. I'm just a no one, and I'm not even sure sa nararamdaman ko towards him.

Since hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok ay nag-phone na lang ako to check out my social media accounts. Ngayon ko na lang ulit halos ginamit yung mga account ko dahil I'm trying my best to focus na lang sa pag-aaral ko.

While I was scrolling sa feed ko sa Instagram, I saw Elliot's account kaya I decided to stalk him. His feed were mostly sceneries and photos of him with his friends, they are indeed models. I clicked a photo of them, and noticed na naka-tag ang mga kaibigan niya kaya inisa-isa ko tignan ang Instagram account nila and followed them. Huli kong tinignan na account ay yung kay Lance. I also followed him.

His feed were also mostly sceneries, photos of him which is I think for promotions, some photos of him with his friend and photos of his dog. While scrolling, one photo caught my attention. It was a photo of him and Althea. They were both smiling sa camera while his hand was on Althea's waist. Hindi pagkakaila na bagay talaga silang dalawa.

Just then, a direct message suddenly popped up on my phone. I frowned before clicking it. It was Lance.

[@lance.m] done stalking me, baby?

Oh my gosh. How did he know? I was still thinking kung anong ire-reply nang bigla na naman siyang nag-message.

[@lance.m] you liked a photo, baby.
[@lance.m] and i find it amusing na it's a photo of me and my ex.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat at agad binalikan yung photo na 'yon. Gosh! I really did liked it. Oh, crap. Napatampal na lang ako sa noo ko dahil sa katangahan ko. Agad ko naman in-unlike yung photo na 'yon. Gosh, nakakahiya.

I don't know what to reply to him kaya ide-deny ko na lang.

[@kr.dlcrz] I didn't.

I was literally bitting my nails while waiting for his reply. I'm nervous as fuck, I don't even know why.

[@lance.m] dinemonyo kamay mo? kaya unknowingly mong nalike?🧐
[@lance.m] anyway, whether you like it or not, I'll fetch you tomorrow sa school mo. let's talk, baby. okay?

I didn't know what to say kaya I just left him on read. Hay. Why does he have this effect on me? My heart keeps beating really fast. I do like him already, don't I?