My Boyfriend's Bestfriend

E I G H T

This is pure bullcrap.

Saturday na, umagang-umaga, ginising ako nito ni Devin. At ang pangit ng gising ko dahil hindi ako nakatapos sa panaginip ko. Buti ba sana kung isa-satisfy niya ako, sexually, sa totoong buhay. But of course that damned oath is against me, as always.

"Babe, meron ka ba? Ang init ng ulo mo?" pang-uuto pa niya habang hinahalik-halikan 'yung leeg ko.

Imbes na matuwa, mas na-frustrate ako. Ang bango na naman ni Devin, bagong ligo kasi, tapos ginaganito niya ako pero hindi naman paninindigan. "Tsk. Itigil mo nga 'yan, Devin Mason. Paasa ka, e."

Tumawa naman siya nang malumanay at mas nainis ako na kinagat niya pa ako sa leeg. As in nanguryente talaga ako sa ginawa niyang 'yon. Nakakabanas! Kapag ganitong bitin ako kahit panaginip lang 'yon, baka masamantala ko siya.

"Devin, alam mo, nakakaasar ka na," frustrated na sabi ko habang mariin na nakapikit ang mga mata at dinadama ang mga halik niya. "Babe, stop. Please?"

And thankfully, he does. Pero nakangising kumindat pa siya sa 'kin habang tumatayo. Naglakad siya palabas sa kwarto. "Tick-tock, babe. Kailangan na nating maka-alis agad," he shouts.

Napasabunot ako sa sarili ko. Nakakaasar talaga ang demonyong 'yan, such a tease!

Ano naman kaya ang pakana nito ni Devin at talagang may blindfold pang nalalaman? Nanahimik na lang ako sa kotse niya habang nasa biyahe kami and everytime we stop, probably because of the traffic lights, hinahawakan niya 'yung kamay ko and I just let him. Napurnada na 'yung appointment namin ni Sunny this morning dahil first, hindi naman siya nag-text and second, alangan namang magdahilan na naman ako ng kung anu-ano kay Devin just to meet her. It's so unfair na kung hindi ko pagbibigyan ang boyfriend ko para lang makipagkita sa kaniya.

"We're here!"

Finally, sa isip-isip ko na inirapan naman ni Aego. "Can I take this—"

"No, not yet!" mabilis na pag-putol ni Devin sa sasabihin ko.

Narinig kong binuksan niya 'yung side niya ng pinto at sunod na pumunta sa side ko para buksan.

"Careful," paalala niya habang hinahawakan ang bunbunan ko and at the same time, inaalalayan ako pababa ng sasakyan.

Medyo soft 'yung nilalakaran namin pero dahil naka-wedge ako, hindi ko alam kung tela ba 'to o ano.

"Kapit ka, babe, ha?"

Before I can even say something, I squeal in surprise nang bigla niya akong buhatin, newly-wed style.

"Gumaan ka, babe. Kumakain ka ba nang mabuti sa trabaho?"

Hinampas ko siya sa braso habang tumatawa. Dapat lagi kaming ganito ni Devin para hindi ako nakakaisip ng kung anu-ano. Sa sweetness pa lang namin, kahit ampalaya, lalanggamin.

"Babe, ibababa na kita. Hold on to me, okay? Baka ma-out of balance ka bigla."

Maingat naman ang pagkakababa niya sa 'kin at nanatili ang mga braso kong naka-pulupot sa leeg niya. Habang inaayos niya ang a-line skirt ko, naramdaman ko pang hinalikan ako ni Devin sa pisngi. Napangisi na lang ako sa ginawa niya.

"Ready?" excited na tanong niya.

"Kanina pa," nakangiting sagot ko naman.

Pagtanggal niya sa blindfold, ang tagal bago ko na-absorb kung nasaan kami. Tiningnan ko ang buong paligid tapos tumingin ako sa kaniya, then back at our surrounding.

"Oh my gosh," bulalas ko.

**flashback**

"Where are we headed?" tanong ko pa kahit may idea naman na ako.

Gano'n naman usually sa mga nagkakakilala sa bar, hotel ang tuloy to do stupid things that drunk people do at night only to regret them by morning.

But this stranger was no ordinary stranger. He owned a huge bar, a nice car, and he was not like the other guys who would steal a kiss and fvck you in the toilet. At least he had the decency to invite me somewhere else.

"A special place," maikling sagot niya.

I never figured him to be a man of few words and it looked funny when he did that. For some reasons, perhaps because I was damned tipsy, I was not objecting. Hinayaan ko siyang dalhin ako kung saan, all the while staring at him as he drove through the dark lights of the metro.

"Penny for your thoughts?" malokong pagkakasabi niya at nakangisi pa. He seemed to enjoy the way I was staring.

"You need a million," I snapped back with a grin.

Tumawa naman siya. "Why do you trust me so much?"

I kept my eyes on him and his eyes were focused on the road. The question hit me, why? Why was I trusting him so much when he was practically a stranger? "I don't know," was my honest answer.

"They say, one finds it hard to trust a person either because you don't know that person or you already know that person."

Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya. Hindi naman siya lasing, nakainom lang siguro, pero ganito na kadalasan ang ganap kapag alcohol talk. Nagiging counseling na ewan.

"But I prefer to think of it the positive way. And I'm glad we're on the same page," he added.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "You lost me."

"I trust you because I don't know you yet. And I know I'll trust you even more once I get to know you."

My interest was piqued. "Why do you say it like that?" I challenged.

"Because you don't know me, too. Apparently, blank papers tayo na may kapangyarihang magsulat ng mga gusto lang nating malaman. We don't have to be too careful with our words kasi kahit sabihin kong hindi mahal ni Charlie si Vina, it doesn't matter because you don't know them. O kahit sabihin kong hindi kay Aries 'yung pinagbubuntis ni Micah, it wouldn't reach them because we know nothing of each other's personal lives."

Nakuha ko 'yung point niya at sa totoo lang, I was impressed. "So we'll share the night as strangers, then?"

"Yep. And just forget about everything that will happen tonight if you'd hate mulling over about it the next morning."

Napaisip na ako do'n. Obviously, he was talking about one night stand and I was thinking if I'd give it to him just like that. He's my first time if ever. Handa ba akong ibigay na lang agad 'yon?

Ang totoo, ang hirap magdesisyon kapag lasing ka. Nandiyan 'yung nakakaramdam ka ng impulsions and stupid sh!ts at kagaya ng sinabi ko, you'd regret it when you're sober.

"We're not going to have s*x, if that's what you're horrified about."

Namula ata ultimo kili-kili ko nang sabihin niya 'yon. Alam kong hindi ako ganoon kadaling mabasa pero siguro naman, it's not normal for a good-looking guy like him to just drag a random stranger out of his bar, let her sit in your car, drive her away without expecting anything in return.

"We're not even going to make out. Don't worry, Rain. I'm a very wholesome person." Parang may private joke na kahalo 'yung pagkakasabi niya nito dahil sa ngiting nakakaloko niya.

"So you'd not harass me?"

Tumawa siya bigla. Natulala ako sa kaniya when he did that because he looked so perfect. "God, no. Gusto ko lang ng kasama and you happen to be someone I don't know."

Lumakas 'yung mga t***k sa puso ko and I could almost hear it in my ears.

"For once, I just need someone who doesn't know about me yet. Nakakasawang mahusgahan ng mga taong kilala ka na. So I thought, why not let others that I don't know judge me, too?"

At ayun na naman ang lungkot sa mga mata niya kahit nakangiti pa rin siya. "Why?" ang tanging nasabi ko.

"Because the pain is doubled when you are being judged by people who already know you."

And he had me at that. I was not one who took it on just words, kasi hindi ako utu-uto. But I thought, I had nothing to lose. If something had happened, Dad knew I was with Arlou. And Arlou knew I walked out with this guy. Maybe, trust was still a big word, then. Perhaps I could say it was empathy he needed.

"Ta-da! My comfort zone," he excitedly said as he hurried out of his car to assist me on my side. What a man with gentle bones.

I almost had my eyes puckered out of their sockets. "Holy sh!t..."

"I know. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I just nodded in response and he held my hand as we walked to the hood of his car. At first, I was hesitant to mirror his actions. He sat on the hood and tapped on the space beside him, asking me to do the same. But I still did, anyway. Man, this guy had his way in convincing me.

"So... You like it?" he asked.

"Uhm... I was half-expecting a hotel. Alam mo na... That thing," parang nahihiya pa na sabi ko.

He pouted. Oh my gosh, my heart. "This is way better than five star hotels, restaurants, whatever. Are you disappointed?"

I stared at him. Just this view could've been perfect. What more when we're sharing this one night in a place that I rarely see even in my wildest dreams dahil sa City na ako lumaki?

I shook my head and smiled. "I'm not."

"Would you rather I get you to a hotel, or something?" he asked again as an assurance. Gentle as ever.

"This place is perfect. But with you..." I paused for effect and— "...it's perfectly magical," I said, holding his hand.

And we spent the night hand in hand, gazing at the stars, listening to the soft hums of the cricket under just the lime light of the moon, lying on the hood of his car. It was a magical night. And I thought, that was something I'd like to mull over in the morning and do again the next night. He brought me to this beautiful place. And it was so special because no one had brought me closer to nature than this stranger named Devin.

**end of flashback**

"Babe, are you okay?" pag-aalala ni Devin.

I nod as he wipes the tears away from my face. Bwiset kasi hindi naman ako iyaking tao, it takes a lot of pain to make me cry. Ngayon, dahil lang sa surprise na 'to, napaiyak ako nang wala sa hulog.

My heart contricts, it's becoming a struggle to stay calm.

This is the rainforest lake kung saan ako dinala ni Devin the night we first met.

"You like it?" he asks, and it's like a sweet sense of deja vu because it's the same thing he asked six years ago when he first brought me here.

"As always. Bakit ngayon mo lang ulit ako dinala rito?"

I look around the green flowers of the forest na ngayon ko lang nalamang meron pala rito. The first time we were here, medyo madilim. It's even more beautiful kapag ganito kaliwanag. Matataas ang mga puno, but there's a wide entry way kung saan pwedeng idaan ang four-wheel drive or even a truck, at space para i-park ito. Sa center ng rainforest, may malinis na lake na para bang wala pang nakaka-discover dito na iba. The water is clear green, dahon lang na iba't ibang shades of orange or green ang lumulutang and it's a wonder how they make the lake even more relaxing to look at. Even the trees are not all green kung papansining mabuti dahil behind these trees na malapit sa'min, I can see orange-colored trees, too.

"Because you're not asking for me to," simpleng sagot niya at niyakap ako.

"I didn't ask you now," I infer with a stupid grin.

"I know. It's just the perfect timing to get the magical feelings back," nakangiting sagot din niya.

"Like strangers?" I playfully ask.

Ngumiti muna siya bago ibinaon ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. "Like strangers."

Ang lamig talaga sa lugar na 'to, kahit may mga sinag na ng araw. "How did you know about this place?" naisipan kong itanong habang naglalakad kami papasok pa.

Kahit pa sabihin nating ang sarap titigan ni babe ko, hindi ko talaga maalis ang tingin ko sa paligid. Napaka-peaceful.

"This place is owned by the Larquezas."

Biglang napatigil ako at marahas na napatingin kay Devin. "What?"

"Sunny's father owns this. This is the Season Sisters' Head Quarters, babe."

Hindi ako nakasagot ulit. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ang sasabihin, sa totoo lang. O kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman. If a week ago, nalaman ko 'to, baka nagtampo ako nang sobra kay Devin kasi 'yung place na witness ng sweet start of romance namin, property pala ng pinag-seselosan kong best friend niya. But now... now I don't know what fo feel.

'You're confused,' bulong ni Aego.

Naglakad pa kami ni Devin through the forest until we stop sa maliit na passage way. May nakita kaming two-storey house and who would have expected na may bahay palang nakatayo rito? Not just an ordinary house, but a classy one.

"That's Sunny's place."

Na-stiff ako pagkatapos i-click ang shutter ng phone ko when he says that.

'You stalker. You just took a shot of Sunny's house,' Aego spits at me.

Medyo natulaley ako. Nakatanaw kami ngayon sa isang bahay na yari sa bricks. As I've said, I'm not a fan of orange but this is one of the times that I admire its classy and cozy aura. Orange ang over-all theme ng bahay with white brick roof and metal railings. Orange, auburn, and green trees are surrounding the house.

"Tara, babe. I want you to meet the family I grew up with."

Pagkasabi ni Devin nito, parang na-pressure ako sa kung ano at bumalik ang kaba. Ang daming pumasok sa isip ko like kung nandito kaya si Sunny ngayon, kung sino ang pupuntahan namin... o kung bakit ako dinala ni Devin dito, in the first place.

After three knocks, a young lady in orange uniform greets with a curtsy. Napataas ang kilay ko dahil para sa isang maid, mukhang banyaga din ang isang 'to. Pinapasok niya kami at pinaupo sa cream leather couch. Like its outer shell, napaka-cozy din ng loob ng bahay na 'to. There's a glassed balcony with another living room set, smaller version ng nandito sa baba. Parang 'yung may-ari ng bahay ay maka-classify mo bilang isang mahinahon na tao at open book lang but you'll never know so much. Konti kasi ang gamit and most of the walls are glassed. Very Sunny. The house reflects her personality that I know.

"Is anyone home?" Devin asks with a sweet smile.

"Lady Summer and Lady Winter is in, sir."

Summer? Si Sunny ba 'yon? Suddenly, I'm excited.

"Sinong nandiyan?" a voice of a lady calls out, walking in from the other door, hindi 'yung dinaanan namin.

"And a visitor," tila dismayadong dagdag pa ng maiden in orange natin na may Aussie accent. Gosh. Magkano kaya ang binabayad nila rito?

Sabay naming nilingon ni Devin ang direksyon ng paparating na babae. Napamulagat na lang ako nang makilala siya.

'Anong ginagawa ng mahaderang 'yan dito?' panggagalaiti ni Aego habang nagkakasa ng imaginary shotgun.

Mga dalawang taon na rin kaming hindi nagkikita nitong babaeng 'to dahil sa sinabi niya sa 'king hindi maganda. No'ng sinabi niyang wala akong karapatan na paglayuin si Sunny at si Devin. 'Yung sinabihan ko na mukha siyang paang naipit sa imaginary glassed shoes ni Cinderella despite being physically pleasing to the eye.

That strawberry blonde haired girl who has threatened me a bunch of times regarding Devin's closeness with Sunny. Of course, I will never forget her. And when she takes off her sunglasses, she looks directly at me with a half smile.

"Hi, Rain."

With all sarcasm I can muster, I smile back at her and say, "We meet again, Lola."