Pieces of an Amaranth Affection(Fate Collides Series #4)

Chapter 5

“Saan ka galing? Hindi ka sumabay sa aming mag-lunch.” Sambit ni Zades.

“Tinapos ko ang mga school works, ang dami pala. Nag-party lang ako nung nakaraan. Natambakan tuloy ako.” Sagot ko na nagpatawa sa kanila. They know how much I love parties. I feel like I'm a wild animal inside the bar. I am free.

“I agree, buti tinapos mo na. Wait, off ba ang phone mo? Lander keep asking me if ever I saw you around?” Sambit ni Cose. Kumunot naman ang noo ko at agad na chi-neck ang phone ko. Damn, ang daming calls at messages.

“Ah, I just need to return something to him.” Agad akong umalis doon kahit halatang gusto pang magtanong nila Cassy. Nagmamadali akong pumunta sa soccer field. Naabutan ko si Lander doon na tulala at pawis na pawis habang nagpapahinga.

“Hey.” Pagtawag ko sa kaniya. Napatingin siya sa akin at agad na umiwas ng tingin. Galit ba siya? Lumapit ako at umupo sa damuhan sa tabi niya.

“My phone was on silent. What's up?” I said in a cool tone.

“So, that's how you treat your boys?” He asked while clenching his jaw.

“What the hell are you talking about Italian boy?” I asked. Umiling iling siya at ngumisi na parang may hindi siya nagustuhan. Tumayo siya at nagsimulang mag-stretching.

“Look, I don't know what's up to you and your grumpy ass. I made an effort approaching you to clarify things unto why I didn't answer your calls.” I said while rolling my eyes. Humiyaw ang mga team mates niya at ngumisi kay Lander. Pinandilatan lang sila ni Lander ng mata at dumako ang tingin sa akin.

“You treat me as if I'm nothing. We enjoyed each other's company, so that's all?” He asked.

“Woah, wait. Do I have any responsibility to you? We could be friends but not as demanding as you.” I said and left him. Nagmamadali akong umalis doon pero agad niyang hinila ang braso ko at dinala ako sa tahimik na lugar.

“Look, I'm sorry. I'm just paranoid. I thought that's all.” Sambit niya na parang frustrated.

“What? A playboy is scared to be played?” Napatawa ako kaya sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. “Just focus on your practice and win the game loser.” I said while teasing him. He just smiled.

“I'll just finished the practice. Can we hang out after this?” Napaisip ako at tumango nalang habang nakangiti. Ngumiti rin siya at iniwan na ako doon. This is hella one of a bumpy rides.

Natapos nga ang practice ni Lander ay gaya nang napag-usapan, niyaya niya akong lumabas. Sumakay kami sa kotse niya at buong ride ay hindi siya nauubusan ng kwento. I really love listening to other people's life, experiences, sentiments, I just feel like I am someone to lean on. I really admire how talkative he is.

“I'm just curious, did you have any serious relationship before you fuck around?” I asked and he dramatically touched his chest.

“Woah, grabe sa fuck around? Well, to answer your question Miss Blunt Lady, nagkaroon din ako ng serious relationships before.” He said.

“Relationships, that means more than one?” I asked curiously.

“Hmm, curious aren't we?” He laughed after that but I just rolled my eyes. “Yeah, they are actually three but they just all betrayed me.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't ask you this kind of question.” Napangiti siya nang makitang guilty ako sa pag-usisa sa nakaraan niya.

“It's fine. I'm open with this kind of topic, it's all in the past. Yeah, they cheated on me. Maybe because we're too young to be too serious in relationship.” Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya.

“It's not an excuse!” Nagulat siya sa naging sagot ko.

“Hmm, so ngayon pagtatanggol mo na ako? Dati ayaw mo sa akin ha?” Nakangising sambit niya. I truly feel guilty that I judged him too quickly. Hindi ko alam na ilang beses na siyang niloko pero naniniwala pa rin siya na he's capable of loving.

I look at him and he don't seems to be bothered about his past. Maybe he just hide it or maybe he already moved on. Those three consecutive cheating in a relationship was too much. If I were him, I don't know if I will still gonna believe in love.

Nakarating kami sa isang fast food at nagulat ako na Jollibee 'yun. Napatingin ako sa kaniya na nagtataka pero nagkibit balikat lamang siya. Nag-order siya ng food para sa amin, habang nakapila siya sa counter may biglang lumapit sa akin na lalaki.

“Hi, Miss. Are you alone?” Sasagot na sana ako pero narinig ko ang hiyawan ng mga kasama nito. Maybe they asked him to talk to me. I was about to reject his idea of interacting with me but Lander came.

“Dude, what do you need with my girl?” He asked with his deep masculine voice. Lander lean on me and he put his hand behind my chair. Napaatras naman ang lalaki at umalis na. Napatingin ako kay Lander na mukhang wala sa mood at umiiling iling na hinawakan ang noo.

“Hey are you fine?” I asked. Napatingin siya sa akin at ngumiti, agad na nawala ang pagdilim ng mga mata nito.

“Ang hirap mo kasama, agaw atensyon ka.” Ngumisi siya at inayos ang mga pagkain namin. Parang wala lang 'yung nakakatakot na aura niya kanina. Mabilis niya iyong natanggal.

“I ordered spaghetti so I can judge it.” Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi nga pala siya sanay sa pasta na sweet, hindi ko akalain na ita-try niya ito. Tinikman niya ito at inabangan ko ang masasabi niya.

“It wasn't bad at all.” Kibit balikat na sambit niya. Napatawa ako at kumain na rin.

“Masarap kaya, anong klaseng panlass mayroon ka?”

“I grew up eating different type of pasta and this one is the most terrible.” Agad ko siyang binato ng takip ng ice cream kaya napatawa lang siya nang maka-ilag.

“Hoy, italiano! Hindi kita pinapakialaman sa mga trip mo kaya 'wag mo rin pakialaman ang trip ko. Bumalik ka na sa lungga mo.” Pagtataray ko. Napatawa lang siya.

“Mukhang hindi muna ako makakabalik sa lungga ko.” Sambit niya habang nakapangalumbaba at nakatitig sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko at inirapan siya.

“Ayoko sa European, masyadong possessive.” Agad na kumunot ang noo niya at parang na-offend. Nagpipigil lang ako ng tawa sa naging reaksyon niya, I love teasing him. Namumula ang mukha niya at ang tainga niya.

“There's nothing wrong with being possessive. That means we cared a lot.” Pagtatanggol naman niya sa sarili.

“Ayoko ng pinagbabawalan ako.” Nakangising sambit ko.

“I won't forbid you, you can do whatever you want. But I won't let any man close to you.” He said proudly.

“Wow, parang girlfriend mo ako ah? Makasabi ka ng 'my girl' kanina.” Pang-aasar ko. Namula naman ang pisngi niya at umiwas ng tingin. Nagpatuloy nalang ito sa pagkain at hindi na nagsalita. Kapag naririnig niya na natatawa ako, sasamaan niya ako ng tingin.

Poor Lander, I won't let you invade my system.