Jecho's POV
I was smiling like an idiot for what happened last night. After that kiss, she drinks again. And can you guess what happened? She got drunk at kung anu-anong pinaggagagawa. She put my phone in the blender tapos sabi niya gagawa daw siya ng apple juice. She even called her dad at tinanong kung single ba siya. Not only that, she called her mom at tinanong kung virgin pa siya. Then she called the police telling them that marami daw patay sa sementeryo. She even take out one pineapple from the fridge at hiniwa yun tapos kinausap sabi niya "Spongebob lumabas ka na alam ko andiyan ka". I can't help but laugh at her actions. I have learned my lesson na wag siyang lalasingin.
Pagkauwi ko sakanya I went to my dad and have a serious talk to him. Kaya nandito ako ngayon sa bahay namin at kaharap si Dad. He is talking about marrying Maui again. Kailan ba kami matatapos sa issue na to?
"What I'm trying to say is that while you're still young, you should consider marrying," he said.
"What do you mean by that dad?"
"I have talked to Maui. Given her personality and conditions, she is the best one to be our daughter in law." Napabuga na naman ako ng hangin. Kelan ba matatapos ang pagdidikdikan nila sakin kay Maui? "Besides in daily life, she can take good care of you."
"So? What on earth do you want to say dad?" iritado kong sagot sakanya.
He sighs. "I am old now Jecho. I can't afford seeing you making trouble again and again. So, marry Maui as soon as possible."
"Dad I've made this clear already. Why can't you even understand me? Alam mo ba anong mga iniisip ko ngayon dad? Hindi ang pamilya Villas. Hindi ang career ko. Pero ang sarili ko. All my life dad I'm living for others. I'm living for the company. I'm living how you want me too. Dad, I never seriously thought about what I really want." Huminga ako ng malalim kasi naiiyak ako sa mga ginagawa ni dad sakin. "But this time I finally know what I really want."
"You can't really say that it is that Athena that you want?" he is eyeing me seriously.
"What I want to say is that I don't want to live for others anymore. Dad please let me do what I wanted in my life. This is the only thing I will ever ask of you."
He stayed quiet. He didn't talk. Di ko alam anong iniisip niya o kung anong pinaplano niya. After a few moments, he stands up and went to his room.
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Athena's POV
Lumipas ang isang araw na di ko nakita si Jecho. After what happened to us that night di ko pa siya nakausap ulit. Pinauwi kasi ako ni Mama dito sa bahay namin.
Me, Mama and Papa were currently sittong down at the sofa here in the living room. Seryosong nakatingin si Papa sakin samantalang si Mama ay nasa tabi ko.
"Nababalitaan ko ang mga bagah na pinaggagagawa mo Athena," panimula ni Papa. "You know that I am letting you live your life right? Kahit di ako payag sa pakikipagkita mo dun sa lalakeng Kang di kita pinipigilan diba?" tumango naman ako sa sinabi ni papa. "But you should know your limitations anak. Though we aren't like them na sobrang big deal ang business rivalry, wag mo paring kakalimutang isa kang Chua. You are an heiress of a big corporation Athena."
Napatungo naman ako sa mga sinasabi ni Papa. Inaamin ko naman na naging makasarili ako. Di ko na inisip ang mga trabahong iniwanan ko dahil sa paghabol kay Jecho. "I'm sorry, pa." Yun na lang ang nasabi ko. I'm not good in talking back to my father especially when he's serious like this.
He sighed and nods. "Next you will go to US for your shot." Napatingin naman ako sakanya bigla.
"N-next month pa?!" gulat kong bulalas sakanya.
"Yes. Nawawala na ang epekto ng shot sayo kaya madalas mamanhid ang mga paa mo. We can't risk your life Athena."
"A-ano po bang mangyayari pag di ako nagpa shot pa?" I aaked him at biglang naiyak naman si Mama. Napatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa ng nagtataka.
"If you fail to take the shot, your mucles will surrender at tuluyan ng mamamanhid hindi lang ang mata mo pati buo mong katawan," napaawang naman ang bibig ko sa narinig. I looked at my mother na hinawakan ang kamay ko.
"Anak, you should take the shot. We would rather wait for many years basta alam naming buhay ka kesa sa..." humikbi si mama kaya niyakap ko siya. Whatever my decision will be, I will still leave them. I looked at them and smiles.
"I love you Ma, Pa," I said. I might can't say it anymore. I might not have the chance to say it again. Walang kasiguraduhan ang pagbabalik ko kung pupunta ako dun. I did researched about that shot and according to them the second shot is more dangerous than the first one. My parents might not know it yet. Walang kasiguraduhan ang buhay ko. I might leave this world for real.
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I decided to leave for a while. I want to have a time alone with myself. Naisip ko kasi si Jecho. Iiwan ko din siya. I wanted to spend my remaining days with him, but I don't know if I have the courage to. Naalala ko ang mga sinabi ng dad niya sakin. Do I really deserve him? Especially now that I will soon leave him?
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Jecho's POV
"Hello?" I answered my phone. Nandito pa ako sa bahay namin.
"Jecho? It's Keiry," I heard her say.
"Yes, what's the matter?"
"Athena left Jecho. Di ko siya napigilan. She---she..."
"What?! Tell me where is she!" I went outide immediately went to my car and droves to her condo. I dialled Mr. Han. "Locate Athena now." Then I dialled Keiry's number but she isn't answering anymore. Fuck. Napasuntok ako sa manibela. I decided to dial Angelo baka alam niya.
"Hello?" sagot niya sakin.
"Kasama mo ba si Athena?" I asked him.
"Hindi. Bakit?"
"Alam mo bang aalis siya?"
"Hindi. Bakit? Nasan siya?!"
"Bye," I said at pinatay na ang tawag. Di sila magkasama. Where could she be? I drove faster at nakita na malapit na ang condo niya. Namataan ko ang isang taxi sa harapan. I have a gut feeling na si Athena ang lulan nun kaya maa pinabilis ko ang pagpatakbo at inovertake ang taxi kaya napapreno ito bigla. Lumabas ako sa kotse at nakitang bumukas din ang pintuan ng taxi ay niluwa si Athena.
"Jecho?! B-baliw ka ba! Alam mong delikado ang ginawa mo. Pano kung napano ka?!" sigaw niya sakin pero di ko siya pinansin. I walked towards her.
"D-don't come closer. What are you doing?" she said na lumalakad palayo sakin. "S-stay away. What are you doing?"
"Aren't you leaving? What are you afraid of then?" I said to her. Hinarap ko siya ng seryoso. "After fooling with my heart you will just leave me like that? Sa tingin mo ba hahayaan kitang umalis ng ganun ganon lang?"
"A-ano bang sinasabi mo? Plano ko lang namang mag bakasyon ng ilang araw ah! Saka ano naman sayo kung aalis ako? Ikakasal ka na naman diba?" she said.
"So after you pestered me, lied to me, made me misunderstand and made me felt guilty, you will leave without telling me? I know I shouldn't approach you in the beginning. But I still stepped into your trap again and again. Now I like you, what should you do with it?"
Bigla naman siyang tumingin sa iba na parang nababalisa. "I... I didn't meant to make you like me. I just... Just let you feel what I feel for you. I didn't say that you---"
"I want you to be responsible," I said to cut her statement.
"F-for what?"
Mas lumapit pa ako sakanya. "W-what are you doing?" she said
"Do you know that I've been waiting for you? Do you know that I am afraid that you'll leave and my family will make trouble for you? Do you know that I'm waiting for you to tell me again that you like me?"
She is looking at me with a serious expression as if she can't believe what she's hearing. Yes, I don't want to fool myself anymore. I know that I like her but I just can't accept it before. But now I'm ready to face it. I'm ready to give her the love she deserves.
"I... Don't..." she said na nakatungo amg ulo.
"Then why don't you look at me?" I said pero bigla siyang tumalikod sakin kaya hinawakan ko ang braso niya para pigilan at hinigit siya palapit sakin. "Look at me. Sabihin mong di totoo lahat ng pinakita mo sakin. Sabihin mong di mo ako nagustuhan?"
Humihinga siya ng malalim na nakatingin sakin. Pero di siya nagsalita.
"Say it Athena," I said to her. Begging her to say otherwise. Begging her to say she likes me. Begging her to stay by my side.
Then she said it. But those words... Are not what I expected. "I don't like you. I've been faking it from the beginning. I approached you on purpose and seduced you to take revenge for fooling me in the past. I hate you. I don't want to see you again. Is it enough?" tuluy tuloy niyang sambit na nakatingin sa aking mga mata.
"What if I say I like you still? Even if you tell me that you were taking advantage of me, I still like you Athena," I said kaya napaawang ang labi niya. When I said that I will take risks for her, I will really do it. I will definitely fight for her this time.
Di siya nagsalita ng ilang minuto. I know that she's faking it. I know there's something wrong with her. She will not act like this if everything is alright. I need to know it. I need to know what's wrong.
"Y-y-you," nauutal niyang sambit. Her expressions say it all. She likes me. "W-what are you talking about? D-diba nga galit na galit ka sakin?" sabi niya na nakatungo.
At di na nga ako nakapagpigil. I held her head and pulled her in a kiss. She didin't move for a while but later on she responded. I smiled between the kiss. I know right then that she feels the same way as mine. (A: But di nila alam sa kabang side ng daan nakatingin si Angelo na nasasaktan. He knew right then na talo na siya. He drives back his car and leaves them.)
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