Crashing into Love

Chapter Seventeen

"Anong nangyari dito?" Takang tanong ko kay Claire isang araw ng makita kong may pasa siya sa braso. She was about to take her arm away from my hand but I held her firmly and gave her a serious look.

She just sighed. "Wala lang yan. Nabungo sa gilid ng mesang kahoy sa bahay." She replied with nonchalance. I tsked and brought her arm closer to my lips and lightly kissed her bruise. She was looking at me intently and when I was done, I set her arm down and inched forward so I could claim her lips.

She kissed me back and I swear that in that short moment I felt the universe in motion. Pinagdikit ko ang mga noo namin. Her breathing was ragged and mine was too. I felt her arms circling around my neck and I smiled. "That was spectacular."

Napagdesisyunan naming maglakad lakad sa buhanginan. We were holding each other's hands as we told stories about ourselves. She would laugh and I would too. This day is perfect. Ito yung uri ng araw na babalik balikan ko sa mga alaala ko kapag tumanda na kami.

I smiled at that thought. Kapag tumanda na kami. It sounded so appealing to me. Sandali panahon palang kaming magkasama pero nararamdaman kong siya na talaga. Nakakabading yung feeling. I just knew that it was her every time she gives me a smile. Ngayon palang gusto ko na siyang pakasalan. It's too quick, I know. At ayoko ring mapressure siya, gusto ko munang magenjoy siya sa kung ano mang meron kami ngayon.

"I never knew I could experience this kind of happiness. Yung tipong parang ayaw mo ng matulog dahil sa sobrang kaligayahan mo." She said while smiling. I pressed her palm. Umupo kami sa isang duyan na nasa pagitan ng dalawang coconut trees. We spent the afternoon watching the people in the beach. Ng magdidilim na ay napagdesisyunan na naming umuwi.

Sabi ko sa kanya na sa bahay nalang siya magdinner at buti nalang pumayag siya. We walked to the house and I frowned when I discovered that the door was unlocked. Sigurado akong nilock ko ito kanina bago kami lumabas.

I twisted the door open and saw someone seated on my living room couch. Sandali akong nagulat pero nakabawi rin agad. She saw me and instantly her face lit up. I felt Claire's hold on me tighten but I gave her a smile to ease her worries.

"Ianna.." I mouthed her name and her gaze drifted to my hand intertwined in Claire's. She stood up and hugged me. "Kuya." She muttered. I kissed the top of her head, I know my sister's been worried sick about me when I left Manila without telling her. At minsan niya lang ako tawaging Kuya. Kapag naglalambing lang o nalulungkot. Alam ko ring matagal niya ng alam na dito ako sa bahay ko sa Laguna nagtatago. I almost forgot that she has a spare key.

Before I could even forget, I put my arm around Claire's waist and introduced her to Arianna. "Panget, I want you to meet Ia, my younger sister. Ia, meet Claire. My girlfriend."

Claire extended her hand but I was apalled that Ia just looked at it. There was no hint of friendliness in her expression and I even glared at her but she didn't budge.

"Girlfriend? Nababaliw ka na ba? You left Manila right after you broke off your engagement and now, after two and a half months may girlfriend ka na agad? Who are you kidding?! Niloloko mo ang sarili mo, Drei! Stop using this girl here as a rebound!" Naningkit ang mata niya. Umahon ang inis sa dibdib ko.

"Ia, let's talk some other time, okay? Privately." Diniinan ko ang pagsabi ng mga katagang yun. I don't want to upset Claire. She's been moody lately and I know that just a small thing can make her feel bad. Ayokong pag-awayan pa namin ang pagdating ni Ianna.

"Bakit? You don't want your pseudo-girlfriend to hear what I have to say?! Natatakot ka dahil baka maliwanagan ang babaeng ito na hindi mo naman siya mahal? Na panakip butas lang siya? In short nagpapakatanga siya sayo." Naiinis ring sabi niya. Claire was silent and I was starting to worry. Binigyan ko ng masamang tingin si Ia. I missed her, pero ngayon hinihiling ko na sana hindi na lang siya pumunta dito.

"She is not my pseudo-girlfriend, Arianna! Stop addressing her like that because I love her! Just because you are my sister doesn't mean that you have any right to speak like that in front of her!" My loud voice boomed inside the room. I felt Claire's hand on my arm, coaxing me to calm down. But f**k, I've never felt so offended all my life. Mahal ko ang kapatid ko pero hindi ko naman hahayaang ganunin niya si Claire. There is a fine line between being a good brother and being a good boyfriend.

"Kuya please, makinig ka sakin. You know I hate Cassidy for hurting you pero alam kong mahal mo siya and I can adjust for your happiness. She's getting married tomorrow. Pwede mo pang pigilan ang kasal niya. I want you to be happy, I want the best for you because you are my brother and I love you." Ia looked convinced that I still love Cassidy, I was about to contradict her when I felt Claire's grip on my hand loosen. And then she just ran outside, leaving me here with Ia.

Naihilamos ko ang kamay ko sa mukha ko, I steadied my breathing and forced myself to keep calm even when my annoyance was raging inside. "Ia, please. Makinig ka sakin. I don't love Cassidy anymore. Kahit halughugin ko pa ang puso ko para lang mahanap ang pagmamahal kay Cassidy wala na talaga. Zero. Ever heard of the word anagapesis? Yun yung state kung saan hindi mo na mahal yung isang taong sobra mong pinahalagahan dati. She's not my happiness anymore. Yung babaeng tumakbo palabas? Siya. Siya yung kaligayahan ko, Ia. Claire is my happiness and I don't care whether Cassidy marries Aaron tomorrow. Wala na akong paki sa kanya, Ia. My world, my entire universe is with Claire Faith. No. Let me rephrase that. She is my entire universe."

Naguguluhang tinignan ako ni Ia pero hindi ko na hinintay na makasagot siya. "She's the best for me and I love her. Even when the sky falls, it will always be her." And after that I left her gaping inside my house. I ran after the thing I loved the most, I ran after the person who makes my world spin around its axis. I ran after my twisted creature.

Sobrang bilis ng takbo ko papunta sa bahay niya. Hindi ko hahayaang pag-awayan namin ito. Ayokong isipin niyang tama ang mga sinabi ni Ia. Because my sister was wrong about many things. Ako lang ang nakakaalam ng tunay kong nararamdaman. Ako lang.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng matanaw ko si Claire sa bahay niya. She was sitting on the front porch steps. Tulala. Nagmamadaling tinakbo ko ang natitirang distansya namin. She looked shocked when I hugged her. I felt her struggling under my embrace. She was pushing me away but I just tightened my hug on her.

"Panget, sorry." I mumbled but she just pushed me with a blank expression. I cupped her face and told her to look at me but she wouldn't. "Just go, Raven. You have a wedding to stop." Malamig niyang saad pero hinuli ko ang kamay niya at kinulong ang mga iyon sa palad ko. I kissed her hand.

"No, I have a relationship to fix." I replied. Inis na tinapunan niya ako ng tingin. Akmang tatayo siya pero hinigit ko siya. "Ano ba! Let go! Dun ka sa Cassidy mo! Tutal rebound lang ako! Lagi na lang! Lagi nalang nilang sinasabi na walang wala ako kumpara sa Cassidy na yan. Na siya parin ang mahal mo. Una si Cesca, pangalawa yang kapatid mo!" She was becoming teary-eyed so I kissed the tears away.

"Kumalma ka na panget oh, hindi yun totoo ha? Wag kang makikinig sa kanila. Ako lang ang paniwalaan mo. Mahal kita at hindi ko pipigilan ang kasal ni Cassidy. Ilang beses ko bang kailangang ulit ulitin sayo yan?" Masuyong tanong ko.

She stayed silent. Hinaplos ko yung pisngi niya. "Hey, look at me."

She followed. Nakaluhod ang isang binti ko para magkapantay kami. "Pakinggan mo ang sasabihin ko ha?"

She nodded and I smiled. "Mahal kita, Claire Faith Santiago. Wala akong ibang mahal. Ikaw lang. At kung meron man akong kasal na pipigilan ay yun ay ang kasal mo kung sakali mang maisip mong magpakasal sa iba."

Her tears were threatening to fall again but I wiped it using my thumb. "Actions speak louder than words nga pala." I smirked before leaning forward and giving her the most mindblowing kiss ever. She was responding and I slowly put my arms around her to pull her closer. My tongue dug deeper and I was enjoying every bit of this kiss. I only stopped when I felt her experiencing breathing difficulties.

I let go and fixed her disheveled hair. She was looking at me with parted lips. I gave her a small smile before asking. "Do you believe me now?"

Dahan dahan lang siyang tumango. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips before kissing her forehead.

"Good." I hugged her and she slowly hugged me back.