Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[5]

"Stupid brother! Pinapunta pa ako dito!"

Padabog akong bumaba ng sasakyan at sumenyas nalang sa driver ko. Why does Kuya have to be so forgetful? I was supposed to sleep the whole day, but then he had to call me and ask me to bring this stupid USB here.

I made my way to the gymnasium, where Kuya is right now. He has training till 7PM and of all the things he could forget, iyong USB pa kung nasaan 'yung presentation nila. Wow, siya na ba talaga ang magmamana ng kumpanya ni Daddy sa lagay na 'yan?

A few people were looking back at me, while walking. Of course, I'm pretty controversial right now after that Prince and Alex fiasco. Ang iba, iniisip na ang landi ko, ang iba naman, naawa dahil may nakaalam na rin sa panloloko na ginawa ni Alex.

I know a lot of people here, so it's kinda impossible to hide while walking. Kilalang-kilala nila ang Gallego, at wala na rin akong magagawa kung ganoon nga ang tingin nila sa akin. I won't stress myself for them.

And when luck has it, nadatnan ko pa si Alex na papuntang soccer practice nila. He's with teammates, laughing until our gazes met. I sighed and continued walking, trying to forget his existence.

"Elisse!"

I groaned as I continued walking. Hindi ako titigil para sa kahit sinong lalaking tatawag sa akin. Most especially, sa kanya pa na manloloko.

"Elisse Amelia!"

I didn't stop. If he wanted me this much, edi sana ginalingan niya diba? Hindi na sana siya nagloko.

He pulled my arm and made me face him. Kunot naman ang noo ko na humarap sa kanya. I made it clear to him that we're through. Kaya ano 'tong inaarte-arte niya?

"I said, I'm sorry..."

Sorry? As if sorry can fix everything he did. I was really deeply hurt, because he cheated.

Umirap ako. "Sorry doesn't cut anything."

"I know. Pero hindi ko naman sinasadya! She came onto me, I promise! It was just one mistake!"

"A mistake that you did on purpose. Find another girlfriend, Alex. Huwag na ako. Kay Gersha ka nalang..." tinalikuran ko nalang siya at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. I knew it's a bad idea to be here! Dapat pala hindi nalang ako pumayag nung sabi ni Kuya na dalhan ko siya ng tubig at USB.

Hinila ako ulit ni Alex. I don't even know why he's here, considering that he was almost expelled. Kung hindi lang siguro siya isang Santillan, baka napatalsik na talaga siya dito sa Brierwell.

"Emma, baby..." malambing niyang tawag. "Nag-sorry na ako. Come back to me, please..."

"I don't go back to my exes, Alex." mariin kong sabi at tinalikuran siya. I don't need him. Sasayangin ko lang energy ko.

I don't believe in second chances. For me, if you give a lot of chances to a person, mas gaganahan lang silang magloko, dahil alam nilang may babalikan pa sila. So once I'm done with a relationship, 'yun na yun. I won't go back to an ex, because it will just make him think that I can accept him again, no matter how many mistakes he does just because I love him.

"What? Is this because you found a new boy toy? Si Prince Asuncion ba?" his voice broke a bit with a hint of anger.

Napatigil ako. Ang ilang tao ay tumigil at pinapanood kami. Usap-usapan sa Brierwell ang nangyari sa amin ni Prince. We're not even close! Kaya paanong naiisue-issue kami ng ganon?

"I'm not with him," humalukipkip ako sa kanya. "At kung kami man, ano ngayon? At least, I didn't cheat like you!"

I tried to lower my voice. Now that I'm single, boys have been flooding my inbox. Wala naman akong sinasagot sa mga iyon dahil wala naman akong pakealam. I'll find someone I like who'll stay, maybe in the future.