Chasing Peril Zone

Kabanata 3

Boyfriend

"Is this even some kind of miracle?"

Nakataas ang kilay at nakangising ani Arie nang makalapit sa akin. Galing ito sa dancefloor at kababalik lang mula nang umalis ito kanina sa mesa namin kasama ang bagong boyfriend nito.

"Don't start with me, bitch."

Tumawa ito sa sinabi ko. She had been like this for days. Nagsisisi tuloy ako kung bakit sa kaniya ko lang kayang sabihin ang lahat ng gustong kong sabihin sa iba.

This girl is wicked and a b***h at the same time.

"What's wrong?" She asked while smirking at me. "I'm just shocked."

She sipped from her cocktail then raise her brows at me.

"Imagine, the bad girl named Gabby who loves going around kissing different guys and having flings and hook ups is now just sitting at the corner, drinking alone."

She cupped her cheeks while leaning at the table the stare at me.

"Is that still you, Gabby baby? Sigurado ka bang hindi pa nasasakop ng alien iyang katawan mo?"

I rolled my eyes at her and drank my martini.

"Shut up, bitch." I drink another shot again before returning at her, "I'm thinking."

Tumawa ito." Thinking about what, Gab?"

Tanong nito sa nakakalokong tono.

"Thinking about ways on how to caught your so called boyfriend?"

Sumandal ako sa sofa saka walang buhay na tumingin sa kaniya.

"I'm thinking about ways to shut you up." sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "Of course, I've been thinking why he didn't contacted me yet."

Malakas itong tumawa.

"I pity you, Gabby baby." Nakangusong sabi niya, "Hindi pa ba obvious na hindi ka niya naaalala kaya hindi ka niya pinupuntahan or what so ever."

Tumaas ang kilay nito habang nakangisi.

"He's just probably too drunk that night when he asked you to be his girl then forgot everything the next day."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. There's that possibility in my head, pero ayaw ko siyang tanggapin. He promised not to forget me.

"See, Gab."

May pinupunto ang tono nito.

"Even you had that idea in your head and you just can't accept it that's why you don't want believe it."

I shook the glass wine I am holding and watched the ice inside it collided. Then whispered out of nowhere.

"He promised."

"I told you to stop it, don't push it, Gab."

Seryosong sabi nito na ikinabaling ko sa kaniya.

"Reid is not a happily ever after kind of guy, he's just a once upon a time."

"This is not a fairytale."

Walang buhay na sabi ko. Tumaas isang kilay nito.

"And this is not a dream either. This is the reality where you need to wake up. Liking that man is like falling from a cliff, you don't have any choice but to fall. Remember, everything that falls gets broken. "

She pointy said.

"Reid is a danger zone, a peril zone that you shouldn't step in. Because once you entered that dead end, there's no turning back anymore ."

"Wanting someone is far from liking."

I looked at her flatly.

"I just want to know what it feels to be Reid Montefalcon's but I didn't said that I want it to stay that way." then I looked away,

"I am not a happily ever after kind of girl, either, I'm more that thing called, the one that got away."

Umiling na lang siya sa akin. She know how stubborn I am when I want something. And once I started wanting something, it never end up without that thing being mine.

Is he really like my freedom?

Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip at napatingin sa may stage kung saan ay may nagsalita mula sa mic. May apat na kalalakihan doon na nasa tapat ng iba't ibang instrumento. Ngunit ang nakakuha ng buong atensyon ko ay ang lalaki na nakaupo sa tapat ng drums set, blangko ang mukha nito,

Nagtama ang aming mga mata at tila natigilan ako sa paghinga sa uri ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dito at tumingin kay Arie na umiinom ng cocktail na hindi alintana ang hiyawan ng mga tao.

"Who are they?" tanong ko rito, "I didn't know that my boyfriend is a part of a band, you didn't told me."

"The last time I checked wala sa apat na iyan ang boyfriend mo."

Natatawang sabi nito na ikinasama ng mukha ko.

"I don't remember anyone who I'd answered yes to be my boyfriend except from that boiling hot geek with."

I pointed the guy who's positioned behind the drums set and looked blankly at her.

"Just answer my question, bitch."

Ipinatong nito ang isang siko sa mesa at sinapo ang pisngi habang nilalaro ang inumin.

"That band was called Lizstomania, consist of four members." the she looked at me," And Reid, is not a member."

She really knows everything. Hindi na nakakapagtaka iyon. Ngunit mayroon siyang isang bagay na hindi alam at bahala na siyang umalam.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa banda na nag-aayos ng instrumento saka muling ibinalik ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Then why is he behind the drums and holding the drumsticks."

Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin dito saka ngumisi at sumimsim ng alak.

"He looks hot, though."

I heard her chuckled a little.

"He always looks hot in your eyes, Gabby." umiiling na sabi nito, "And by the way, kaya siguro siya ang nandiyan ay dahil wala iyong drummer."

Kapagkuwan at nagsalubong ang kilay nito.

"I have no memory of Aiazi being MIA."

Hindi ko pinansin ang huli niyang sinabi.

"Matagal na ako dito, but I never watched and heard them play." nakangusong sabi ko,"Bago lang ba sila?"

"Mga college students na ang mga iyan, high school pa lang ay tumutugtog na sila dito bilang libangan." sabi nito, "Saka I heard from Red that their schedule is just at every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday—and they're great, I'll give them that."

"You really know them all, huh?"

Pagkausap ko rito habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng bokalista.

Ngumiti sa akin si Arie saka kumindat.

"What can I do? I'm awesome."

Napaikot nalang ako dito ng mata at sasagot pa sana ngunit napako ang aking paningin sa stage nang marinig ang tunog ng pagpalo sa drums at ang pagkalabit sa gitara, hudyat na mag-uumpisa ang kanta.

"Sayang giliw ito ang sinapit akin lamang, napag alaman

Wala ang tindi ng puot at iyong galit kung wala ring mababalikan"

Napako ang tingin ko sa lalaking walang pakialam sa mundo habang nasa baba ang tingin at bahagya pang nakapikit, dinadama ang musika na kanilang nililikha.

He looks expert the moment he flipped the drumsticks in his hands and the way he played through it. He's playing the drums like nobody's business and damn, he looks more hot and just boiling hot in my eyes that I can't even take my eyes off of him.

"This is the first time I saw Reid play. I didn't expect that the Great Reid Montefalcon who's always in front of his books can also play drums."

Naririnig ko ang sinasabi ni Arie ngunit wala dito ang atensyon ko.

My ears are focused at the music they're creating and my eyes are darted at the man who's playing the drums like nobody's business, he's playing it without even noticing that he's driving me crazy at every beat of the music they are creating.

"Bakit hindi kita mapigil at magawa kita'y habulin hindi makakibo't paa'y kapwa aking

di magalaw

Hangang tingin na lamang akin hangang maglaho sa abo't tanaw"

Then his monstrous sharp eyes darted at me. I met his eyes. I can't help but to admire how beautiful and alluring his dangerous eyes to stare at. He's like hypnotizing me to stare at him deeply, to stare only at him.

Kung paano niya nabihag ang aking mga mata noong una ko siyang makita at kung paano niya ako binaliw nang unang magtama ang aming mga mata ay walang binatbat sa pinaparamdam at ginagawa niya sa akin sa mga oras na ito.

Para siyang araw, nakakapaso ngunit napakasarap titigan.

"Hidwaan nati'y mananatili sayo ba'y merong katuturan

Di na batid na tatalikdan ang hinagap nating

Sumpaan hahantong din pala ang lahat sa kabiguan..."

Ipinikit nito ang mga mata habang dinadama ang musika na kanilang nililikha. Ang aking atensyon ay nakapako lang sa kaniya. Napakaganda at lamig ng boses ng bokalista ngunit nasa kaniya lamang ang aking buong atensyon na kahit ang lumingon o tumingin manlamang sa iba ay hindi ko magawa.

Then he opened his eyes and I felt my heart just sunk when his eyes darted at mine.

"Bakit hindi kita mapigil at magawa kita'y

habulin hindi makakibo't paa'y kapwa aking di magalaw

Bakit hindi kita masisi pagiging tama o malibanong silbi kung tayo rin mawawaglit

Anong saysay

Kung tayo rin mawawaglit anong saysay"

Hanggang sa matapos ang kanta ay nasa akin lamang ang kaniyang paningin at nasa kaniya lamang din ang akin. Para akong malulunod sa lalim ng kaniyang titig ngunit agad din akong napaiwas ng tingin nang kalabitin ako ni Arie at napunta dito ang atensyon ko.

"What?"

May bahid ng pagkainis na tanong ko rito.

I am having a staring contest with my boyfriend and she's going to disturb me?!

"Ano bang nangyayari sayo, Gab?"

Kunong noong tanong nito.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag, but you won't look and give your attention to me."

"Ano ba 'yong sasabihin mo?"

Umikot ang mata nito.

"I was telling you that your boyfriend is here."

Walang buhay akong tumingin sa kaniya.

"I know that my boyfriend is here, Arie."

Sabi ko saka tumingin sa stage kung saan ay panibagong kanta ang kanilang tinutugtog.

"He's playing the drums."

"Reid is not your boyfriend, Gabby."

Masama ang mukhang sabi nito.

"Ilang ulit ko bang sasabihin na hindi mo siya boyfriend. And I was talking about your real boyfriend named Lancelot."

Lancelot?

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko, pilit na inaalala kung kailan ko nakilala at kung saan ko nakita ang lalaking nagngangalang Lancelot, ngunit wala talaga akong maalala kahit na anong gawin ko.

"I don't remember anything about that guy named Lancelot."

Kunot noo akong napabaling sa kaniya.

"This is even the first time I've heard about that name, except from the book of course."

Napaawang ang labi nito at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin.

"Really, Gabby? Hindi mo maalala?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong nito,"You're just kissing that guy last week and he even fetch you the next morning—introducing his self to us, as your boyfriend."

Hinila niya ako at may itinurong lalaki sa akin.

"That's him."

Tinignan ko ng mabuti ang lalaki at pilit na inalala kung saan ko ito nakilala. Hanggang sa magliwanag ang mukha ko ngunit agad ding napangiwi.

"I remember him, he's Lancelot Medina." Inalis ko ang tingin dito, "But I can't remember anything about him being my boyfriend thingy."

"You're unbelievable, Keizha Gabriella Cortez."

Ngumiti lang ako dito na sinamaan ako ng tingin. Maya't maya pa ay unti unting nanlalaki ang mga mata nito na tumingin gawing likuran ko saka lumipat ang tingin sa akin.

"Lancelot is kissing a girl, look!"

Bumaling ako sa tinitignan niya at nakita ang dalawang mahaharot na nilalang na naghahalikan. Kunot noo akong napabaling sa kaniya.

"I told you, he's not my boyfriend. So I don't care."

Ngumisi ito.

"Really?" tinaasan niya ako ng kilay," He's your boyfriend, Gab. Naalala mo man o hindi, he's still cheating. Isn't the ego shaking?"

"It's not,"

"Then prove me. He's your boyfriend and he's cheating on you." sabi niya, "You're Gabby, my friend, you don't let your boys kissing another woman when he's still yours."

"He's not,"

"Pay for the compensation, Gabby."

May naglalarong ngiti sa mga labi na anito.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Ininom ko ang lahat ng laman ng baso na hawak ko saka tumayo. Hinawi ko ang may kahabaang buhok habang naglalakad palapit doon. Walang emosyon ang aking mukha at napansin ko ang ilang mga mata ng kalalakihan nanakapako sa akin.

Huminto ako sa tapat ng dalawang taong naghahalikan. Hinawakan ko ang likod ng batok ng lalaking sinasabi ni Arie na si Lancelot at boyfriend ko daw. Napalayo ito sa babaeng kahalikan dahil sa paghila ko, mabilis kong pinunasan ang labi nito gamit ang aking palad saka sinalubong ang kaniyang mga labi at napapikit nang tugunin niya rin ito.

Lihim ako napangiti. Hmm. He's a good kisser.

No doubt he became my boyfriend.

Itinulak ko paalis ang babaeng nasa harapan niya at iniyakap sa leeg niya ang mga braso ko. "Hey, Lance."

I whispered as I bit his lower lip and pulled from his. Our faces was just an inch away.

"How are you?"

Naramdaman ko ang pagyakap ng mga braso nito sa beywang ko. Sinalubong niya ang aking mga mata saka bumulong.

"Missing you, babe."

Bahagya akong sumimangot at ang hinlalaking daliri ay nasa kaniyang labi at humahaplos doon.

"Arie, my friend, told me that you're my boyfriend." nag-angat ako ng tingin dito, "Is that true, hmm."

"Yes. You're mine."

Bulong nito.

I don't like what he said. I don't like being owned by someone, by anyone.

Ngumiti ako ng matamis dito.

"Then lets break up. Now."

"W-what?"

"Don't worry, babe." I said before pressing my lips on his, silencing him.

"I'll pay for the compensation."

I said in between our kisses before closing my eyes.

Naglalaban ang aming mga labi habang eespadahan at nagsisipsipan ng mga dila. I give him back his kisses with the same ferocity. We kiss aggressively and it takes minutes before I pulled away and smiled at him.

Bumitaw ako sa kaniya at lumayo habang may ngiti sa mga labi. Bahagya kong inangat ang aking kamay at kumaway ng paalam dito.

"Bye, Lance."

Sabi ko saka tumalikod na dito ngunit bago ako makaalis ay muli ko itong nilingon.

"By the way, you're a good kisser."

Naglakad na ako palayo dito habang may naglalarong ngisi sa aking mga labi. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at kaagad na natigilan at nawala ang ngiti sa labi nang masalubong ko ang matatalim na mata ng isang halimaw.

Hindi ko manlang napansin na iba na pala ang nasa tapat ng drums set at ang tumutugtog nito.

Napako ang tingin ko sa kaniya at hindi ko maigalaw ang aking mga paa. Naglalakad ito papunta sa akin. Walang emosyon ang supladong mukha at blangko ang matatalim na mga mata. He's clenching his jaw while walking towards me and staring deeply at my eyes.

Then a frown form in his handsome face. Handa na akong kausapin siya ngunit tila may gumuho sa akin nang basta nalang niya akong lampasan nang hindi manlang binibigyang pansin.

I can feel my heart clenching but I don't understand why I am feeling this. Is this some pride or ego?

Yes, Gab. That's just an ego. Your boyfriend just walked passed you without even giving you an attention.

Nang makabawi ako ay napalingon ako rito at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit tila may kumurot sa akin nang makita siyang hawak ang pulsuhan ng isang ubod ng puting babae. If I am not mistaken, she's just a year younger than me or just at my age.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang bahagyang pag-iinit ng gilid ng aking mga mata lalo na nang hawakan niya ito sa beywang at igiya palabas ng lugar.

Is she a bad girl and he's bringing her home?

Mabilis kong pinahid ang isang butil ng luha nalaglag sa pisngi ko.

Dammit!

My boyfriend just hold other girl's waist and go out with other girl. My ego is shaking.

Naglakad ako pabalik sa mesa kung saan ay nasalubong ko ang mga mata ni Arie na nanunuri. Kaagad akong nagsalin ng martini sa baso at ininom iyon.

"What was just that, Gabby?"

Tanong nito na may naglalarong ngiti sa labi.

"Your boyfriend just walked passed you and went out with some other girl."

Hindi ko ito ipinansin at ipinagpatuloy lang ang walang habis na pag-ubos sa alak. Pumangalubaba ito sa mesa saka nakangising tumingin sa akin.

"I bet your ego is shaking."

Damn this ego! I won't let that monster escape from me. He's my boyfriend and he's mine. I'll get him and cage him in me.

And if it means stepping out my ego just to chase him, then so be it.