The Hater 3: Hated to Love You (The Hater Trilogy #3) [SPG]

13 [Part 2] | Torn Between

As they all entered the camp, there greeted Cera who was furious and worried with Allen. "Allen, kumusta ka? Are you hurt?" Allen who was spacing out that time looked like he has not heard Cera's question. "Ay, snobbed ako..."

Napatikhim na lang rin si Alvin. "Nandito kasi ako na boyfriend mo, mas nauna ka pang nag-alala kay Allen, e." Tila nagtatampo pa si Alvin habang pinapasaringan si Cera. Tila ba ay nakapangalumbaba si Alvin habang tinitignan si Cera nang masama. "Magtatampo na talaga ako."

"Alam mo, Alvin, magtampo ka pa, wala akong pake. Mas nag-aalala talaga ako kay Allen kasi siya, nasa unahan kapag may laban. Mas risky ang ginagawa niya kaysa sa 'yo. Tapos, parang nakababatang kapatid ko na 'yon. Bilang kapatid, tungkulin kong alalahanin siya. Wala namang basehan 'yang pagseselos mo, e," mahabang ani Cera bago inangatan ng kilay si Alvin. "Ano ba kasi ang nangyari ro'n kay Allen? Bakit parang lutang na nag-aalala na parang ewan?"

Alvin looked at Cera with melancholic eyes. "If only you knew," he muttered, making Cera more confused. "He was eager kanina na tapusin ang laban kahit mag-isa na lang siyang natira. Hindi ko sana mapipigil pero nakaisip naman ako ng paraan. Kanina lang ayos 'yan, I don't know what happened. He's still taking the blame; I guess? I already told him not to worry as I told him he has done a great job. Well, you know, gan'yan talaga si Allen, he will be fine. Bigyan muna natin siya ng oras para makapag-isip."

On the other note, Allen threw his body on his bed and rubbed his face all throughout his face. He sighed upon feeling the frustration of being torn. He fell in love for the first time this time, he does not want to lose Serim because of his frustrations during his work. He usually thinks of his family while doing risky jobs but now, Serim is the only thing he could think of.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket and searched through his contacts. When he finally saw the number located specially, he tapped it as the ring of the phone call followed. "Hello..." It is a voice of a familiar man. "Hello, babe? I'm glad you called."

"Serim, are you free today?" Allen asked. Serim just made a sound, answering Allen's question. He was contemplating at first, thinking if he can actually meet Serim on this state of him. "Can we meet?"

---

"WAIT," SERIM uttered upon hearing three knocks on the door of his condominium. He stood up from sitting and went directly to the doorway. He smiled as he turned the doorknob and opened the door of the room. As soon as he opened the door, he was welcomed with Allen's hug upon the arrival. "Oh," he was stopped for a moment before giving Allen a pat on the head. It was a pat that shows care and concern to the other one. "Allen surely missed Serim, huh."

"Let me have a hug first," Allen uttered while seizing the hug that he is giving Serim. It was as if he did not hesitate at first in going to Serim's condominium. The latter just let him hug him for a moment before closing the door. "Give me more time..."

Serim removed Allen's cap and looked at him with adoration in his smile. "It's okay pero let us sit first, babe," Serim uttered before escaping from the hug Allen is asking for. He led the way and sat on the soft sofa sitting beside each other. Kaagad niya ring niyakap si Allen habang tumitingin sa kaniya na parang interesado pa rin sa gustong sabihin sa kaniya ni Serim. "Now, tell me what's wrong, babe? I'll be glad to listen to all your rants."

Allen first heaved a deep sigh before talking. "Nah, I'm just stressed nowadays. Ewan, I feel like I'm not enough. I feel like I'm not doing right these days." Serim was just looking at him interestedly. Tila gusto niya ang nakikita niya na sinasabi ni Allen sa kaniya ang lahat ng sama ng loob nito. "I'm thinking whether I am still doing the right thing on all my decisions."

"Is it about your work? What is making my babe like this?" Serim was waiting for Allen's response but he waited for nothing. Thoughtfully, Serim just nodded, letting Allen be silent for a couple of minutes first. "I guess I should not talk anymore. You can just continue talking, don't worry, I will just listen then."

"No, it's not that I do not want to hear you talk but I was contemplating whether to tell you or not..." Allen really looked like he was torn that time. It is still about his issues in his work and at the same time, with his personal matters. "Well, to answer you, I admit you guess that right. Pero hindi lang naman tungkol sa trabaho ko, e. I was also thinking about my personal issues... like our relationship..."

"Ako na mismo ang magsasabi sa 'yo, you are really doing a great job for being my boyfriend. Alam ko namang I'm not the only thing you should mind, so, whatever and whenever it is that you can give me, I'll be glad with that." Serim even gave Allen a warm kiss on the cheek. "Anyway, if your job is demanding to the point that it already harasses you, I think you should quit on it..."

"It's not demanding, actually," Allen retorted. Tila palaging nagdadalawang-isip si Allen na magsabi pa ng detalye, sa takot na masabi niya ang trabaho niyang ayaw malaman ni Serim. "It's just... I don't know, I can't seem to describe this feeling."

"Are you still happy with your job?" Serim's direct question that made Allen silent for a minute. "Allen, babe, find a job that makes you happy. If you're doing this because of something but not happiness, you'll gain nothing nor happiness. Also, if that feeling you are talking about is being lost in what's making you happy, you should think twice starting now."

What Serim has told Allen made the latter think for a moment and found some realizations. "I grabbed this job because first because I wanted to do this. But as time goes on, this something that I always wanted to do has become something that I am doing because I was pushed."

"Does this job push you to blame yourself?" Serim questioned him once more. All that Serim talks Allen finds something really helpful in making some realizations. "If it is, then it's not healthy."

"Sa tingin mo, dapat na ba akong mag-quit?" Allen asked for Serim's thoughts about his problem. "Or should I still continue?"

"That, I'm sorry, babe, but I think you should find the answer by yourself," Serim uttered while looking directly at Allen's pouty lips. "Don't worry, in the perfect timing, you'll be able to find the answer."

Allen turned his gaze and looked at Serim who was just hugging him tightly. "You think so, babe?" Serim went raising his head up and down as a response. "I guess; I should wait for that perfect timing that you are talking about."

"Yeah, kaya don't be sad already. It makes me sad as well seeing you having pouty lips and ranting about all your negative thoughts."

Allen smiled and smacked Serim on the lips that made Serim shocked for once. "Smile isn't enough for you, I know. Alam kong gusto mo pa ng something more."

Serim looked at him with naughty gaze. "Ano ba 'yang more na sinasabi mo, babe? Am I guessing the right thing?"

"That kiss is that something more I was pertaining, babe. 'Yan ka na naman sa mga malisyoso ta's maloko mong mga idea." Serim avoided gaze, something that he does when he's shy or something else. "Kidding aside, thank you for listening to my rants, babe. Hindi ko alam at hindi ko inaasahan, having someone who listens to you with his utmost attention feels good pala. Having you here beside me really is the best thing that happened to me these last months."

"I am glad to find you in the most unexpected way and unexpected time." Serim gave him a tighter hug and smelled Allen at the same time. "Kaya don't worry, okay? I'm perfect with how our relationship goes. Kahit na kaunting oras lang tayo nagkikita, seizing that littlest time and do something together is okay with me."

"Yeah, yeah, I didn't know you can tell something valuable. Hindi ko inaasahan ang mga sinasabi mo sa 'kin. I mean, imagine those words coming from this cold person, it's totally unexpected."

"I'm not cold, I'm hot. That's why you fell in love with me." Pikon na tinignan lang ni Allen si Serim habang binubuhat ang sarili niyang bangko. "Also, don't you like it. Sa 'yo lang ako ganito. Sa 'yo lang rin ako kakalampag."

Allen shook his head as a disappoinment. "I actually think na nasa tamang huwisyo ka na, tapos heto ka na naman sa yabang na tinatago mo." Serim never answered but he looked at Allen intently with something in his gaze. Allen scoffed out of disbelief. "Alam ko na 'yang mga tinginan mo, Serim. Nag-uusap pa lang tayo ng mga problema ko ta's 'yan na naman ang naiisip mo? No, I don't feel like doing it. Not today."

"Well, gusto ko." Kaagad na binuhat ni Serim ang kaniyang boyfriend at inilagay ito sa ibabaw ng kama. Allen was stopping him but due to Serim's strength, he can't and just went with the flow thinking that with Serim, he cannot resist it. Serim looked at Allen with seductively dangerous look as he bit his lip. "Let's cook something hot throughout the night, babe. Shall we?"