#COMM

Chapter 10

"Ah... okay," I said and then quietly turned my back against him. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa van. I may be all kinds of things, but I always know when I'm unwanted. He needed not to tell me twice.

Hanggang sa makarating kami pabalik sa bahay, tahimik lang ako. I had nothing to say, anyway. I felt like I was slapped on the face. Alam ko na crush ko siya... but his words were too much.

Na para bang pinagpipilitan ko iyong sarili ko sa kanya at sakal na sakal na siya sa akin.

And I didn't like him making me feel so unwanted.

Nang makarating ako sa kwarto, agad kong tinignan iyong sarili ko sa salamin. I had to smile to stop myself from feeling bad... pero sino ba iyong niloko? Jasper's words pierced through my soul. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. I barely knew the guy, but his words freaking hurt! Iyong minsan na nga lang siyang magsalita, pero ang sakit-sakit pa!

"Freaking stop feeling sorry, Maggie," I said while looking at myself. "It's just a crush. Don't feel too bad. Kadiri ka," I continued. Siguro mukha na talaga akong tanga. Kailangan ko pa ng pep talk para lang magfeel better. Bakit ko naman kasi kinausap pa si Jasper? What was I even expecting from a dull boy like him?

Like he's gonna magically grow feelings? Asa pa ako! Mas mauun pa yatang magkaroon ng zombie apocalypse bago magka-feelings iyong robot na 'yun.

"Career muna, Mags. Hindi mauubos ang mga lalaki," I reminded myself before I proceeded and chose what to wear for tonight. I spent quite some time picking out the perfect outfit. I just wanted to forget for tonight. Ewan ko ba... I needed to nurse my bruised ego. But ayoko rin naman na gamitin si Rafa for that. The guy's been nothing but nice to me... but he's also relentless and didn't know how to take no for an answer.

I guess we'd both be getting what we needed tonight.

I picked a tiny—but still decent looking—dress for tonight. I also applied dark make-up since gabi naman na. I wore my sky-high heels and let my hair down. Hindi ako tumigil hanggang hindi ako sobrang ganda sa paningin ko. I just basically got dumped by a dull boy! Of course I needed to feel good about myself. Sino pa ba ang tutulong sa akin?

"Nice. Where are you going?" Psalm asked when I passed by him on the stairs.

"Dinner," I simply replied. I needed not to have his nose on my business. Sobrang pakielamero pa naman ng tao na 'to. Akala mo walang issue sa sarili niyang buhay, e.

"Looking like that? Don't think so, Mags," he said, shaking his head.

"What do I look like?"

"Like you're out to seduce every guy."

I rolled my eyes. "Why? Are you seduced?"

"Kadiri ka," he immediately replied. "But seriously, what's up? Is it because of Aidan?"

"What? No. We're done. Don't make an issue out of it."

Psalm nodded, but I could tell that he wanted me to talk to Aidan. Hindi niya kasi alam iyong nangyari dati. I just didn't think I needed to tell everyone about what Aidan did. That's between the two of us. And he's a family friend. I didn't want to cause rift... kahit sobrang asshole niya sa ginawa niya sa akin.

I quickly made an exit at saka naglakad pababa. Nang makalabas ako, agad na napansin ko na nakuha ko iyong atensyon ni Nico at Kellan. Evan and Jasper were in deep talk.

"Can we go na?" I asked. At dahil doon, napa-tingin sa akin iyong dalawa.

I had always been confident about what I wear. Hindi naman kasi ako nagsusuot ng hindi bagay sa akin. But the way Jasper's looking at me, pakiramdam ko sobrang igsi ng suot ko. His expression was different from those of Nico and Kellan—there was a hint of disapproval on Jasper's face. And a small scowl, too, if I wasn't being ridiculous.

'Che! Tigilan mo nga 'yan, Siobhan! Kaya ka nagkaka-crush kasi masyado mong inaanalyze maski iyong simpleng tingin ni Jasper. Tigilan mo 'yan. Bad 'yan,' I chastised myself.

Nico and Kellan nodded and the got in the other car. Si Evan naman, nandun sa isang sasakyan. Tapos kasama ko si Jasper doon sa isa. Tahimik akong naglalakad papasok sa sasakyan habang naka-sunod sa akin si Jasper. I made a mental note na 'wag magsalita unless necessary.

"Sa Power Plant," I said bago pa man ako tanungin ni Jasper kung saan kami pupunta. Kasi magtatanong siya... tapos syempre hindi naman ako bastos na bata kaya sasagot ako. Tapos dahil hindi pa ako over sa kanya, magtatanong ako... hanggang sa kung saan na naman mapunta iyong usapan namin.

Ending? Sasaktan na naman niya ako sa mga salita niya. Kaya 'wag na, no.

The whole ride was freaking quiet—which was nice. Rafa sent a text asking me if on the way ako. I sent a yes para hindi naman siya paranoid.

'Love?' a text was sent. Agad na tumaas ang kilay ko dahil isa lang naman ang tumatawag sa akin ng love na 'yan! But seriously, saan ba niya nakuha iyong number ko?! Sino sa mga kapatid ko ang nagbenta sa akin sa cheater na 'yun?!

I was about to delete the text and even block Aidan's number when I noticed that Jasper was actually peeping at my phone! Chismoso na 'to!

"Excuse me? Privacy?" I asked, arching my brow at him.

"Where are we really going?" he asked.

"Power Plant nga, 'di ba?"

"Who are you going to meet?"

I bit my tongue, but the words just needed to get out of my mouth.

"I thought strictly professional? Why are you meddling with my life now?" I shot back at him. I knew this was petty, but it felt freaking good to be able to throw those words back at him. Aba para naman ma-feel niya how bad he made me feel!

He looked taken aback, but he was quick to get back on his feet.

"This is me being professional. I need to know who you're meeting, Sio—"

I quickly cut him off. "I'd rather you not call me Siobhan if we're really keeping this professional."

The intensity of his gaze was making me crazy, but I needed to stop all the crazy thoughts inside my head. I needed not to feed the fantasy. If I were to keep this crush, alam ko naman na ako lang 'yung kawawa sa huli. It's hard to have feelings for someone who's clearly carrying a torch for someone else... kahit ilang no pa ang sabihin niya. Ramdam ko naman na may iba.

Ako lang naman 'tong tanga na pinipilit na may dahilan lahat ng ginagawa niya. Ilusyon ko lang lahat. Baliw na nga yata talaga ako kagaya ng sinasabi palagi ng mga kapatid ko.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo na naka-tingin lang sa akin si Jasper matapos kong sabihin iyon.

"Okay," he said after minutes of deafening silence. "Where are we going, Ma'am?"

"Power Plant," I replied, not breaking his gaze.

"And who are you meeting?"

"Rafa..." I answered. "And Aidan."

I thought I saw Jasper's jaw clenching. Nababaliw na yata talaga ako. I was beginning to imagine things.

* * *

Upon arriving at the destination, I checked my phone. Rafa said na nasa resto na siya and the text was sent ten minutes ago. In fairness, he's on time.

"Where are we going after this, Ma'am?" Jasper asked while I was fiddling with my phone. Crazy na yata talaga ako pero parang inis iyong boses ni Jasper.

'At paano naman naging inis iyong boses, Siobhan? Baliw!'

"Not sure. I'll text Aidan muna," I answered and then pretended to call Aidan. Medyo lumayo ako nang kaunti mula kay Jasper. Hinihintay pa rin kasi namin iyong sasakyan nila Nico dahil nahuli dahil sa traffic lights.

"Hey. Yeah. Where am I meeting you?" I asked kunwari sa sweet voice pero asa naman if I'd talk to Aidan ever again, no! After everything, hindi naman ako tanga to fall for his trap twice.

"Okay, I'll see you in an hour," I said and then pretended to be sweeter habang nagba-bye. Kadiri lang talaga. Things I do to pretend that Jasper didn't really put a number on my ego.

I put my phone inside my bag and then came back to where I was standing.

"We'll meet daw sa BGC," I said to Jasper. "Aidan already reserved a spot. If you don't feel comfortable standing with the other guards, do tell para mapauwi na kita."

Was I being harsh on him? Yes. But I just really needed this! Para akong mababaliw na hindi ko siya kinakausap! Pero para rin akong mababaliw kapag naiisip ko 'yung sinabi niya. I felt like I was at an impasse and whatever I do, it's me who'd end up hurting.

It's just so unfair. Kung sino iyong unang nahulog, talo.

Jasper ended up saying nothing. Nang makarating na finally sila Nico, nagsimula na akong maglakad. Usually, si Jasper iyong naglalakad sa tabi ko tapos si Nico sa likod at si Kella sa harap. But tonight, Nico's the one walking beside me.

"Bakit ikaw tonight?" I asked before I even thought my question through.

Napa-kamot sa ulo si Nico. "Ginalit mo yata si Sir, e..."

"What? Bakit ako na naman ang may kasalanan?" defensive na sabi ko. Narinig naman kaya nila iyong usapan namin ni Jasper kanina! I was sure since lagi namang naka-buntot sa amin 'yung tatlo na 'yun.

"E ginalit mo yata talaga, Ma'am..."

"Wow, ako pa? You heard what he told me!" I hissed.

"Ganon lang talaga magsalita 'yun, Ma'am."

"So, because he just talks like that, I'm supposed not to care that he hurt me?"

Nico shook his head. "Di naman ganon, Ma'am... E 'di ba crush mo nga? Dapat alam mo na na ganon talaga si Sir Jasper bago mo pa naging crush... Bakit parang nagugulat pa po kayo na ganon siya magsalita?"

I couldn't believe that I was having this debate with Nico while on the way to my date with Rafa and my imaginary date with Adain. Ano'ng nangyayari sa buhay ko?

"Basta! Ako dapat 'yung kampihan mo kasi 'di ba you heard what he said before? Ako 'yung na-hurt!"

I saw Nico's small smile. "Sige po. Ikaw na 'yung mas nasaktan," sabi niya na parang may ibang ibig sabihin. I wanted to grill him alive pero nakarating na kami sa resto.

"Hi!" Rafa said, enthusiastic.

"Hi. I'm sorry, I'm a bit late," I said, though I was on time. Super aga niya lang talaga dumating.

"It's okay. I reserved a table for us," he said and began to usher me. I looked around and saw that the whole place was occupied. Hindi naman masikip, but every table's filled.

"Can we go to some other place instead?" I asked.

"Ha? Why? I thought you said this is you favo—"

I cut him off and glanced at my bodyguards who were standing outside and watching every movement. My paranoid guys.

"Yeah, but I need a resto with free tables."

"Why?"

"My guards haven't eaten yet."

"But they're just your guards," Rafa said. And just like that, I got disappointed in him. The word just really put him in a bad light. Lagi kasing sinasabi ni Dad na you'd really know someone based on how he treats not those who are equal with him, but those who are beneath him.

I tried to mask the disappointment, but Rafa seemed to have noticed. Pumayag siya na lumipat, but the whole night ended with me just smiling and politely answering his questions.

I guess wala na talagang next date.

"BGC," Jasper told the driver nang nasa sasakyan na kami.

Tahimik lang ako. I'd just probably tell him that Aidan couldn't make it because of some emergency. I didn't have the energy to come up with an excuse at the moment. Not when Jasper seemed tensed—imagination ko na naman yata.

Nang makarating kami sa BGC, I just picked the most decent looking club at doon ako pumasok. Jasper didn't seem happy with the fact na papasok kami sa isang masikip na lugar. I was sure that his paranoia reached an all time high.

I pretended to talk to the bouncer and ask him kung saan iyong VIP lounge, but truth was, I just said that I was related to Santi para makapasok kami. That guy's into business and he's part-time owner of most bars in BGC.

Pagpasok namin, dumiretso ako sa vacant na couch sa VIP area and ordered drinks sa waiter. But as I was waiting, napaawang iyong labi ko nang makita ko si Aidan.

"Of all places that I'll see you, love. Trying to bring back the past?" he asked upon seeing.

I gritted my teeth. "Go away, Aidan."

But instead of heeding my request, he sat on the space beside me. He placed his drink on the table and draped his arm on the space behind me. I was about to twist the freak out of his arm when I noticed the very visible scowl on Jasper's face. By this time, I was sure I was not hallucinating! It was too vivid to be my imagination!

Aidan leaned in to whisper something in my ears. "Let's talk properly, Maggie. Please? At least hear my explanation."

I smiled and pretended to like what I was hearing. "Over my dead body, Aidan. And even then, I still won't listen," I said and then sweetly smiled at him and patted his cheek...

And then I saw Jasper's jaw clenching, Evan's disapproving look, Kellan's amused face, and Nico's confused face.