Love, D #3: Marriage not Dating

:: Chapter Thirty-Five

ERRORS AHEAD

Chaster's POV

Pumasok si Danny sa loob kaya wala na akong magawa kung hindi sumunod. Nakatingin ang mga tao sa kaniya kaya agad kong inako na kasama ko siya.

"Is that Chaster Flores?" I heard them.

Napatingin sa akin si Danny pagkatapos makita si Lucas na nasa taas at may hawak na champagne. Muntik na siyang makita kaya hinila ko siya sa bandang gilid.

"Danny, Umalis na tayo dito."

"You go and I'll stay."

Tinulak niya ako at naglakad siya ulit pasakay ng elevator. It's made of glass, obviously transparent. Kita kaming mga nasa loob. Napatingin ako kay Danny at nakatingin lang siya kay Lucas. Biglang may humawak sa balikat niya at nakita naming dalawa si Astrea.

May binulong siya kay Lucas at umalis sila doon. Agad kaming lumingon sa ibang direksiyon ni Danny nang makita naming papunta sila banda sa amin.

"Danny, This is literally a bad idea."

Pumasok sila Lucas at Astrea sa isang VIP room. Biglang tumakbo si Danny papunta doon pagkababa namin ng elevator. Nakaabang siya sa harap ng pinto at balak na kumatok.

"Danny. . . No." Bulong ko. Napapikit siya at tumulo na lang bigla ang mga luha niya. Tumingin siya sa akin at pumasok sa kabilang kwarto na katabi lang noon.

Agad akong pumasok at nilock ang pinto. Dinikit niya ang tenga niya sa pader at sinusubukang makinig. "The wall's too thick."

Nakita ko na sumilip siya sa terrace kaya agad akong humarang. "Don't jump!"

"I won't!" Tinulak niya ako sa gilid at sinilip ang bintana sa kwarto nila Lucas.

"It's too high." Sabi niya at napahawak sa mukha. Napahawak siya sa bewang niya at huminga ng malalim.

"Damn it, I'm going in." Sabi niya at agad na lumabas ng pinto. Sumunod ako sa kanya at pagkalabas namin ay nasa labas rin si Astrea at Lucas.

Agad kaming bumalik sa loob kaya hindi kami nakita. "I told you. Baka may meeting lang sila. Lalabas ako pero dito ka lang. I'll approach him so you can go without him knowing."

"I'll talk to Landon." Binuksan ni Danny ang pinto kaya tinakpan ko siya. Nakatalikod ako kila Lucas at nakaharap sa kaniya. Bigla siyang napatigil at napaupo sa sahig. Lumingon ako kila Landon bago isara ang pinto.

Napapikit na lang ako at sumandal. I closed my fist and looked at Danny. "You shouldn't have come."

"Neither should you." She replied.

Tumayo siya at tumabi na lang ako. "Your choice. Talk to him or let's go home."

"Chaster, He's my home." She answered. Dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa kaniya at para bang nanginig ang labi ko. It's too much. I already know the fact but why I'm still with her.

"Yeah, you're right." I nodded. "I know." hinawakan ko ang doorknob at ngumiti sa kaniya.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at lumabas. "I'll just wait in the car or at least text me if you're going with Landon."

Naglakad na ako papalayo. Hindi na ako nag elevator at pumasok sa stairwell. Napaupo na lang ako sa hagdan at napahawak sa noo ko.

I feel like I'm waiting for something that isn't going to happen.

//

Pumasok na ako sa kotse ko at doon naghintay. Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. I received a message from Danny so I read it immediately.

From Panget:

You go, I'll skip the company party.

Napatingin ako ng paulit-ulit sa message niya. Hindi ako nag-atubili at agad ko siyang tinawagan. "Where are you going?" I asked.

[It's none of your business.]

"Danny, I'm your boss! You are under my responsibility and my authority. You should follow me!" I emphasized.

[Then, I'll quit.]

"You can't. We have a contract."

[You bullshit.]

Napatingin ako sa backseat ko dahil biglang nagbukas ang pinto. Nakita ko siyang pumasok at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Happy?"

When did she get there?

Lumusot siya sa gitna at umupo sa front seat na katabi ko. Tumingin siya sa bintana at pumikit. "If I haven't known you for years, I should have killed you." She said irritatedly.

"Have you met him?" Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan si Landon.

"What the hell? What are you doing?" Hinablot niya sa akin ang cellphone ko at papatayin niya na sana pero nagsalita si Lucas sa kabilang linya.

[Hey, Chaster. I was about to call you. I have a meeting with our dad's business partner. You're on a speaker. Would you mind telling him about our furniture business in the Philippines? He's listening. (Greetings, Chaster.)] I heard a guy from the background.

"Well, actually. " Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin kay Danny. "Uhm, Good Day. Speaking of the fur—"

Hindi ko matuloy ang sasabihin ko dahil kinuha ni Danny ang telepono at siya ang sumagot. "Landon, you son of a bitch. A total stupid jerk!" Sigaw niya at pinatay ang tawag. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa. I can't believe that she did that.

"Danny. . ." I looked at her and laughed. "He must be embarassed."

"What's so funny?" Binatukan niya ako at sinamaan ng tingin. "He deserves that. Argh, just drive!"

"Where to?" I asked.

"I want to relax. I want peace and to alleviate my stress. Do you know a place like that?" She exclaimed. I looked at her and stopped for a moment.

"Stop, Forget it." Danny added.

"I know where." Hinawakan ko ang manibela at binilisan ang takbo ng kotse. All relationships have one law : Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you're there.

//

Hininto ko ang kotse ko at napatingin sa akin Danny. Lumilipad ang buhok niya dahil sa lakas ng hangin. Bumaba ako ng kotse at lumapit sa rail. Huminga ako ng malalim at pinagmasdan ang buong lugar. It's so calm and peaceful.

"How did you know this place?" Tanong niya at tumayo sa katabing gilid ko.

"I travelled for the last four years. Wondering why, when and how. I'm also looking for a peaceful scenery like this then I found this place." I said and looked at her.

Nakatingala siya sa langit at nakita ko ang pagtulo ng mga luha niya. "Look, Chaster. How many times have I told you that you should date another girl?"

"Why are you telling me those ridiculous words? You know I hate dating."

"Don't you want to try?"

"I don't know. I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. I can't see myself falling for another woman. You're the only person who understands me. You're the only friend I can truly talk to."

"But Chaster, we can't be friends if you're always like this. Aren't you tired of chasing me for nothing?" Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at tinignan ako ng diretso sa mata.

"Happiness doesn't have to be chased. It merely has to be chosen." She said and smiled bitterly. 

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