Continuation…

*Mielle's PoV*

I feel like my car is violated. Well someone’s driving other than me and Rachelle, of course it’s the beast.

I really have a thing with cars, my cars to be exact, as much as possible ayokong may ibabang sasakay dun bukod sa akin, yeah I’m that kind of selfish, thank you very much.

Nasa expressway na kami and beast is enjoying himself while driving my car! Tsk!

Ang tahimik  namin, so I decided to turn the radio on.

“and I’ve got all that I need right here in the pass—“

“HEY!” reklamo ko.

Patayin daw yung radio?! I turned it on again.

“knowing that she’s inches from me”

And again pinatay nya yung radio, seriously naiinis na ako! Ang ganda kaya nung kanta!

“what the hell is your problem?!” I asked.

He sighed.

“I hate that song” he answered with serious tone.

Natahimik ako. I feel like it’s something related to Arielle.

“It’s a wonderful song, I like it, well that’s before that day” he said.

I’m not asking him! Why is he telling me this?!

“I hate that song because it brings back bittersweet memories” he said.

He sighed.

I don’t know why pero naawa ako sa kanya. The hell!?

“With Arielle?” I asked.

He nodded.

“With Arielle” he said.

Silence…

“I sang that song for her” he said.

“you know, you don’t have to tell me if you’re still hurting because of her” I plainly said.

He glanced at me and gave me a shock expression. What?!

“well wala pa naman akong nasabihan kung ano talaga yung nangyari that day” he said.

Now it’s my turn to look at him. Did he actually keep it all by himself?!

“Why me?” I asked.

Bakit sa akin pa nya naisip na sabihin yung nangyari noon? I don’t really care.

“Because I know you wouldn’t care” he answered.

Nagulat ako sa sagot nya.

“Which is why, I just wanted you to listen even though you wouldn’t care” he said.

Well…

Tumahimik na ako, waiting for him to speak.

“parang ganito din yun, I’m driving and she’s in the passenger seat. I was so damn happy kasi akala ko ako yung napili nya” he said.

He’s not yet over her.

“then that song played on the radio, naisip ko pa na perfect yung song para sa amin. I sang it for her while we’re stuck in the traffic but then minutes after that song, she rejected me and chose your cousin instead” he said then he laugh.

Nakafocus lang sya sa pagda-drive but I can clearly see that he’s still affected. He’s still hurting.

“pupunta sana kami sa tagaytay, dinner under the stars. She always wanted to stare at a starry night, unfortunately, magisa na lang akong nagpunta dun. I ate dinner alone, watched the stars alone and I even watched the fireworks display alone” he said.

A prince transform into a beast because of a broken heart.

Napalingon sya sa akin. Our eyes met, I was staring at him while he’s speaking.

“even though your face is expressionless, kita ko sa mata mo na naaawa ka sa akin, don’t be” he said.

“hindi ako naaawa sayo” I said.

“good” he said.

“I was just wondering” I said.

Tumingin ako sa bintana though ramdam kong lumilingon sya sa akin, probably waiting for me to add something to say.

“maybe she’s not the one for you” I said.

Silence engulfs us.

“madami ng nagsabi sa akin nyan” he said.

Then he laughed, a fake one, a sad one.

“First love?” I asked.

Bakit ko ba natanong yun? The hell?!  Hindi nga kami close!

“nope, actually I have this childhood friend, she’s my first love I guess?” he said.

A childhood friend as first love? Why not?

“you actually remind me of her” he said.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

Ako? Why me? Seriously, nakailang tanong na ako nyan?

“She’s stubborn, bossy and she likes apples too” he said.

Naging seryoso yung paligid namin, something felt weird. I don’t like it.

“baka naman mainlove ka sa akin” I said to lighten up the mood.

Ang kapal din pala ng  mukha ko no?

“I won’t” he said.

Medyo nakaka-offend yun ah!

“so tell me more about your childhood first love?” I asked.

I got curious. I had a childhood friend too.

“I met her in a hospital somewhere in California” he said.

Bigla akong kinabahan.

“I was seven years old back then, hindi ko alam kung ilang taon na sya. She’s a Filipina kaya sya lang talaga yung nakakausap ko” he said.

“what the hell are you doing in the hospital?” I asked.

Habang tumatagal mas lalong bumibilis yung tibok ng puso ko. Could it be him? No, it’s impossible!

“my mom is an architect , she was designing the new building in that hospital kaya lagi akong nandun” he said.

Yeah, it’s impossible. Super.

“I noticed her kasi lagi syang mag-isa, well nakikita ko namang dumadalaw yung parents nya pero walang nagbabantay sa kanya except dun sa personal nurse nya” he said.

I can’t breathe.

“what does she looked like?” I asked.

“she’s undeniably beautiful, she has this radiant smile and a very beautiful voice” he said, filled with admiration.

“pero hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya yun, kasi baka kumapal yung mukha  nya” he said.

Flashback—

“maganda ba ako?”

“hindi, ang pangit mo kaya!”

Hindi ba talaga ako maganda? Nakakainis naman kasi!

“hindi ba talaga?”

“wag mo ng ipilit, hindi talaga”

My heart sunk. Then I cried. Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to suffer like this? Why can’t I even see my reflection in the mirror? Why can’t I even tell to myself that I am beautiful too?

End of flashback—

“hey” sabi nya.

Nabalik naman ako sa katinuan ko pero mabilis pa rin yung tibok ng puso ko. Umiling ako, it’s impossible! I didn’t even had the chance to see his face kaya impossible talaga. Calm the hell down Marielle!

“nakikita mo pa rin ba sya ngayon?” I asked.

Umiling sya.

“umalis din sya, I didn’t get the chance to bid my goodbyes, though I don’t really want her to go” he said.

I sighed.

I can’t calm myself.

“w-what’s her name?” I asked. Kabado ako and I don’t know why!

No! fck it! I know why! But it’s impossible!

“secret” he said.

I frowned.

The hell?!

“bakit gusto mong malaman? So interested ka na sa buhay ko ngayon?” nakangisi nyang tanong.

I suddenly want to punch him right through his face.

“fine, don’t tell me. I don’t care” I said, a lie.

Natahimik kami. Naiinis ako. Ugh!

“I want to see her again though” he said.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

“I want to return something to her” he said.

Kumunot yung noo ko.

“she said I should give that thing to the girl I like. Well , I gave it to Arielle but unfortunately she returned it to me” he said.

What is that thing?

“Arielle said, I should give that to the girl that will turn my world upside down” he said.

“well that was a cliché kind of thing” I said.

Natawa sya.

He nodded

“or I should give it back to her” he said

My forehead creased.

“her?” I asked.

Is it Arielle again?

“to my childhood first love, to Lu—“

*rings…rings…*

I started breathing again because of that phone call. Why am I acting like this?

“sagutin mo” he said tapos inabot nya sa akin yung phone nya.

It’s Alexandrei

“what?” I answered the phone.

“what did you do to Clyde?!” Alexandrei asked.

I rolled my eyes. Really?

“I killed him and threw his body in the expressway” bored na sagot ko.

Nakarinig ako ng tawanan sa kabilang linya, probably sila Gabby yun.

“that was brutal” he said.

“why did you called?” I asked.

“gasoline station, kakain daw tapos magpapa-gas din. Traffic daw mamaya sa edsa” he answered.

“fine” I said.

“nasan si Clyde?” tanong nya ulit.

Did he actually believe that I killed that beast and then I actually threw his body in the expressway!?

“bakit nami-miss mo na?” I asked.

Natawa sya. I rolled my eyes and turn the phone to loudspeaker.

“your boyfriend’s been missing you, say hi” I said to the beast.

He threw dagger looks at me.

“still alive” sagot nung beast.

“I missed you” Alexandrei said.

That was gross!

Natawa silang lahat well except me and Arielle, hindi ko sya naririnig.

“enough with the bromance, you can kiss each other at the gasoline station” I said then ended the call.

Binato ko yung phone ng beast sa backseat.

“hey!” reklamo nya

“what? May narinig ka bang nabasag?” I asked.

Hindi na sya sumagot.

Binuksan ko yung bintana ko, then he turned the aircon off at nakigaya din, binaba nya lahat ng bintana ni bumblebee.

Copy cat.

I removed my jacket, malayo pa lang nakita ko na sila na nakapark sa may gasoline station.

Arielle and the girls went on to somewhere.

Nagpark na yung beast.

“sht” he cursed.

The hell is his problem?

Hinampas nya yung manibela and cursed again.

“isa pang hampas, I’ll throw you out of this car” I said.

“ughhh! Sht!” he said.

“the hell is your problem?!” inis na tanong ko.

He sighed.

“see that girl” he said then he pointed at his car in front of us

Kumunot yung noo ko.

The girl is talking with Alex, what’s the problem? Don’t tell me nagseselos sya?! Pati ba naman kay Alex!

“what’s with the girl?” bored na tanong ko.

“she’s my latest fling” sabi nya.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

Fling?! The hell!

“latest?” I asked.

He nodded.

Tumingin ako sa babae. Morena sya, makinis tapos matangkad, brown yung buhok nya, mukhang maganda.

“gago talaga si Alex” bulong nung beast.

Nakita ko namang papalapit yung babae sa sasakyan ko.

Napataas yung kilay ko, well not bad, maganda nga pero mas maganda ako. Aangal?

Inayos nung beast yung buhok nya tapos shades bago bumaba.

“Lira” he said then he closed the car door.

Hinalikan naman sya nung Lira sa lips.

The hell?!

Hindi ko alam kung masusuka ako? Or bubungguin ko na lang sila? On second thought, baka magasgasan si bumblebee kaya wag na lang.

“I missed you” sabi nung Lira. Yeah whatever.

“me too” sagot nung malanding beast.

“nice car” she said.

Aba! Nice talaga, mas makinis pa sayo si bumblebee no!

“thanks, by the way sinong kasama mo?” he asked.

Why am I eavesdropping?

“I’m with my girlfriends, pabalik na kami ng Manila” she said.

Hindi ako chismosa ok! I was just curious! Kaya ako nakikinig, can you imagine? The beast has a fling?! Nakakacurious kaya yun!

“oh” he said.

Hinawakan naman nung Lira yung dibdib nung beast, seriously? Ano ba?!

“so do you mind if I ride with you?” malanding tanong nung Lira.

No freaking way! Mag commute silang dalawa nung beast! Fine by me, wag lang syang tatapak or hahawak sa sasakyan ko!

“uhm why don’t you ask my girl, instead?” he said

Nagulat ako sa sinabi nya.

Now, who the hell is his girl? Wag nyong sabihing ako yun?!

“may girlfriend ka na? or it’s just another fling?” tanong nung Lira, parang di sya nagulat na may girlfriend yung beast. Wait naniwala ba sya?

“it’s my girl, Lira. I’m done with flings” mayabang na sabi nya.

Lira just smirked at him.

“yeah, where is she?” she asked.

“nasa loob” he answered.

Napatingin sya sa sasakyan, heavily tinted yung glass, stupid! You can’t see me!

“bakit ayaw lumabas? Shy type ba? Or pangit kaya ayaw magpakita?” she asked.

Ako pangit?!

“she’s just sleeping” he said.

“oh really, Clyde? Baka namang mukhang katulong yang girlfriend mo? It’s a downgrade I’m sure. I’m still better” she said.

Downgrade? Excuse me!

I’m waiting for the beast to defend me, but he didn’t! ugh the jerk!

“Clyde, darling. Hindi bagay sayo yung mga pangit. Dapat ako na lang kasi yung ginawa mong girlfriend, maganda, mas bagay sayo” she said.

Owkay? I’m way far from that chill moment. I want to wring that neck of hers!

“she’s ugly, right?” natatawang tanong nung Lira.

I opened the car door tapos lumapit ako sa kanila.

“Are you done wasting your time, Sweety?” I asked.

Shock was written all over their faces, yeah I’m that kind of beautiful, thanks.

Lumingon ako sa paligid ko, then I stop my gaze at her, I removed my shades and smiled at her.

“may iba pa bang pangit dito, bukod sayo?” I asked calmly.

Her jaw dropped.

Serves you right.

“I’m sorry sweety” he said.

Inakbayan nya ako.

“Lira, this is my girl” he said.

I smirked.

“you bitch” she said.

I laughed.

“why thank you” I said then I smiled.

Inis na inis na sya sa akin.

Any moment feeling ko sasampalin nya ako, I’m not scared though, I can punch her in the face and I can break her legs.

She gritted her teeth.

“bitch” she whispered.

“you know darling, it takes a bitch to know a bitch…bitch” I said.

Her jaw dropped once again, seriously? She should stop that, kawawa naman yung langaw pag pumasok yun sa bibig nya.

“and for the record. It’s not a downgrade, it’s a million times upgrade. You’re better? Well I’m the best” I said.

Tumingin ako sa beast na to na kanina pa nakaakbay sa akin.

“sweety, is she worth your time? Because definitely she not worth my time, not even a second” I said then I leave them both dumbstruck, bahala sila dyan.

Ika-ika akong naglakad papunta sa starbucks para umorder ng frappe.

Nakita kong nandun si Alex pati si Alexandrei. Ang laki ng ngisi nila pagpasok ko ng store.

“sweety is a good endearment, right?” tanong ni Alexandrei kay Alex.

Natawa si Alex tapos tumango. Sinamaan ko sila ng tingin pero natawa lang sila pareho.

Dumating din yung beast tapos binatukan nya agad si Alex.

“java chip” sabi ko sa barista.

Umupo muna ako, agad namang lumapit sila sa pwesto ko at naupo din.

“may paakbay-akbay ka pang nalalaman” natatawang sabi ni Alex dun sa beast.

“kung hindi mo ako tinuro, hindi mangyayari yun” inis na sabi nung beast.

“haha at least, hindi na bubuntot si Lira sayo, you should thank my cousin” sabat ni Alexandrei.

I rolled my eyes at them.

“anong sinabi mo?” tanong ni Alex.

I took a sip from my frappe.

“nothing” I said.

“talaga?” Alexandrei asked.

“why don’t you ask him instead” I said then pointed the beast bago ako umalis.

“wait wag mong iwan yung sweety mo” natatawang sabi ni Alexandrei.

I just raised my middle finger to salute him.

Pumasok na ako sa sasakyan, I put my earphones on, matutulog na lang ako.

HOURS LATER~~~

“ang pangit mo Lulu!”

“maganda kaya ako!”

“paano mo nasabi? Nakita mo ba?”

Yeah right, paano ko nga ba nasabi? I can’t even see myself.

Napamulat ako.What the  hell is that dream?!

Agad akong napaupo, how did I get here? Bakit nasa kwarto na ako? My room to be exact.

I glanced at the wall clock, it’s already 11 p.m.

Tumayo ako nakaramdam kasi ako ng gutom. Magpapadeliver na lang siguro ako, hindi naman kasi ako marunong magluto.

Napatingin ako sa salamin, agad kong hinablot yung sticky note sa noo ko.

‘Good Evening, Mahal na Prinsesa’

That beast.

Lumabas na ako ng room, sakto namang lumabas din si Alexandrei, agad nya akong nginisian.

“anong oras tayo dumating?” I asked.

“9 na kami dumating, mas nauna kayo sa amin, mga 7:30 yata or 8 nandito na kayo eh” he said.

Kumunot yung noo ko.

“why?” I asked.

“gusto kasi ng sweety mo na makatulog ka ng maayos kaya nagmadaling umalis para makahiga ka na sa higaan mo” he said while smirking.

“he carried me to my room?” I asked.

“Obviously” sagot nya.

Inirapan ko sya.

“balita ko ang sungit mo kanina” natatawang sabi nya.

Whatever.

“kawawa naman si Lira” sabi nya.

“she should be thankful, hindi ko sya binalian ng buto” malamig na sagot ko.

Sabay kaming bumaba tapos pumunta ng kitchen, gutom na din to.

Kinuha ko na yung phone para magpadeliver pero bigla kong narinig na tumawa si Alexandrei.

Sumunod ako sa dining area, may mga pagkain na dun.

“may katulong na tayo?” I asked.

Natawa sya tapos kinuha yung plato nya tapos umalis na.

Where the hell is he going?

Kumuha ako ng tubig sa fridge tapos umupo ako sa usual spot ko.

Napatingin ako sa apple sa tabi ng plato ko.

Then suddenly I can’t stop myself in cracking a small smile.

Did he actually cook this? But why? He doesn't have to!

How can I thank the beast? I don’t usually do that!

I took the sticky note.

One moment he’s mad, then he’s annoying, then he’s concern, then now…

‘You’re Welcome  :)’

*end of chapter*