Love Above It All

Chapter 6

"I love you, ingat ka."

Astrid kissed my cheeks before she got off Connor's car. Dito siya sa hospital ng parents niya nagpahatid pagkatapos ng nangyari sa school.

I smiled at her and waved goodbye before facing Connor, who opened the passenger seat for me before going to the driver seat. I pursed my lips.

Astrid helped me to eat kahit hindi naman na kailangan. At may pabaon pa siyang extra food para sa akin. I wonder why she didn't ask me anything. Didn't Connor tell her what happened? Tulad nalang noong sumugod ang aking madrasta. Hindi rin sila nagtanong. They kept quiet, but I'm sure they're curious.

"Idaan mo nalang ako sa mall. Late lang naman ako," kalmadong sabi ko. Hindi niya ako pinansin at nagmaneho lang siya. Sumimangot ako.

"Connor," tawag ko ulit. I saw how his Adam's apple moved. He clenched his jaw and blew a loud and harsh breath. Pansin kong iba na ang damit niya ngayon kaysa kanina. Baka nagbihis.

"About what I said earlier-"

"I'll forget about it. Don't worry, we'll continue as friends," pabulong kong sabi at tumingin sa bintana.

"Nope," he said popping the 'p'. Mabilis ko siyang binalingan. "It's still up. I don't like that we're suddenly friends now because of Astrid, when you just shut the hell out of me a few months ago. No." Matigas na ingles ang gamit niya habang nagsasalita na may halong poot ang boses.

"But I'm not a gold-"

"You're not, Serafina." Kumalma ang boses niya. He glanced at me before fixing his eyes on the rode again. I was frozen in my seat every time he calls me Serafina. Paano niya nalaman?

"I'm just asking you to be my pretend girlfriend for a while..." Tumikhim siya tila hirap din sa sinasabi. Napakurap ako. Pretend girlfriend?

"Ano? Pretend? Ano 'to? Pelikula? Libro? Ano bang trip mo, Connor?" I asked in confusion and irritation. Bakit ako pa?

"I mean, I need someone to pose as my girlfriend in front of my parents-"

"Bakit ako?!" tumaas ang boses ko na ikinangiwi pa niya. Kasi naman! Nanggugulat!

"Bakit hindi? Kaibigan naman kita-"

"Astrid is your friend, too!" I fired.

"Oh no, my twin's gonna kill me if that happens! You're my only salvation-"

"Explain!" I hissed.

Sobrang gulat at inis ko kanina dahil bigla-bigla nalang siyang magsasabi na syosyotahin niya ako tapos ngayon pretend girlfriend naman pala! Sana nilinaw!

"You see, the past few months my parents has been throwing me to random girls that I don't even want to date!" he wailed all of a sudden. Hinampas pa niya ang manibela at ginulo ang buhok.

"Atat na atat na silang magkagirlfriend ako. So for them to stop, I need someone to pose as my girlfriend. Maipakilala ko lang kila Mama. Dadalhin sa events, gatherings, and stuffs," he added. Sumulyap ulit siya sa akin.

"Like the dates you had on the fast food? Emma?" I recalled. Umasim ang mukha niya.

"I take them there because I want them to leave me alone. Nakikita ko kung sino ang maarte at hindi, totoo o nakikisama lang. They're all maarte so.." He shrugged.

"In short, you're going to use me?" Naningkit ang mga mata ko. He rolled his lips over his tongue.

"In the first place, lahat sila mayayaman. Ibig sabihin mayaman ang gusto ng mga magulang mo para sa'yo. So I'm not what you need-"