Chapter 28

I was supposed to wake up early in the morning, but my alarm didn't wake me up. Or I thought it would be. Instead of setting it at 5 AM, PM ang nailagay ko kaya alas siete na ng umaga ako nagising and when I headed to check Connagh in his room, wala na siya ro'n kaya nang maabutan ko ang mother niya sa hallway, she told me that Connagh went for a morning jog and we were supposed to be doing that together.

I even barely slept last night. The kiss happened one more time last night and it's like we'll never talk about it once again. I wanted answers so I'll try to find a way that he'll explain himself or just a few information why would he kiss me if it meant nothing.

Nakalilito kasi. Hindi lang ng utak. Pati na rin ng puso. I'm putting my attention to Berk pero ang lakas makahatak ni Connagh. Ano bang meron sa lalaking ito at kahit anong gawin, I feel like this is gonna be all about him?

Tita Azunta called me to have breakfast down in the kitchen and because Connagh's wasn't around, we're both alone. Her husband was with his friends has been invited to play golf just around the golfing club.

The way tita prepared the breakfast, alam ko na kung kanino nagmana si Connagh sa pagluluto ng almusal. Though Connagh mostly prepared me with a full-British breakfast, his mom cooked garlic rice, bacon, hotdogs, sunny-side-up, and canned meatloaf. Just like the usual breakfast I had back in the Philippines.

She just let me sit and wait for her to finish preparing for it. Kahit nga maglagay ng pinggan at mga utensil ay hindi na niya ako pinayagan. She just wanted to serve their guest at home before Connagh and I went back to our homes.

"How are you feeling now?" she asked. "Connagh said you had your period?"

"Did he say that?" I tried to laugh it off pero nahihiya ako ng slight.

"Yes." She nodded. "He even asked how he can help you. I told him it was natural for women to bleed and I'm sure he knew about that, but clearly, my son just wanted to help you. He's been just kind to you, isn't he?"

Tumango naman ako. "He's kind and everything to me—uh, not what it means that he's my world, but a definition of he's there for me when I needed some help. I respect your son and not just because he's my boss and I wanted to get some good grades—"

"Oh, he should! He's been telling us some stuff about you and we believe you're an exemplary intern. Would you work at the company right after?"

I shrugged off. "I'm not sure about that. I also think people would say things that I got hired because of my relation to my boss—not a boyfriend or girlfriend relationship, but on how we're always with each other."

"That's not new," she said. "People will always say things even if you don't want their opinions. I always believe that there are people who are striving and achieving for their success while on the other side, there are people who keep pulling someone else and that's because of their jealousy and lack of hard work. So, what you should do, don't mind what everyone would say. Focus on your journey. Make them jealous of your hard works. The hell they are."

Natawa naman ako sa sinabi ni tita and it's actually a comforting advice. And she was right and this time, I realized that Amanda was just getting into my head that's why I've created this kind of relationship with Connagh. He might never knew about it, but then again it won't happen again.

"Anyway, dear, let's have a breakfast."

Nagsimula naman kaming kumain and my mouth burst in so much nostalgia. Most of the time, back in my apartment, I never really had the time to cook for myself. From breakfast to dinner, it's either I would call for delivery or have only some cereals. It's not the same as to what I've been eating before, but I've been waking up and sleeping to these foods for the past month and it didn't make me feel sick at all.

It's just that, it hits home and I'm trying not to cry so hard and be emotional in front of Connagh's mom.

A moment later, we've heard someone just came into the door and then a second later, Connagh showed up in the kitchen all sweaty on his sweat pants and white shirt.

"I knew you guys are here," he said and his eyes trails on me then to her mom. "I smell the food."

Connagh walked closer to our table and he was about to grab a piece of hotdog, but his mom hit his hand before he could even get one piece of it. Hindi rin naman nagpatinag si Connagh at pumuslit pa rin talaga siya ng isang piraso at mabilis niya iyong kinagat. He laughed after filling his mouth full. Napangiti naman ako sa ginawa niya at nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain ko.

"You should take a shower now. You're so sweaty, son." Utos at iling pa ni tita.

"I will. I will." He said and shifted his eyes to me. "I'm sorry I didn't wake you up. You were on a deep sleep and I don't want to bother you so I just left alone."

"No, it's okay. It's my fault that I slept late last night."

"And why?" he asked, arching his brow. "You're talking to Berk?"

Kahit hindi naman iyon ang dahilan ng pagkapuyat ko kagabi ay tumango na lamang ako para hindi na siya magtanong pa ulit. It was him the one I was thinking and he shouldn't know that. I can't let him know that I was thinking him and he's the reason that I couldn't even sleep.

"Maybe next time we'll do it together?" he asked. I nodded just to agree with him. "Alrighty. I'm gonna take a shower now and we'll leave in an hour, Kiersten."

Tumango naman muli ako sa kanya. "Yeah, after this I'll take a quick shower, too."

"Why don't you guys take a shower together?" Hagikgik pa nito. I almost choke sa kinakain ko kaya hindi na lamang ako nagpahalata at pasimple kong kinuha ang baso ng tubig ko at uminom. "Just kidding. Go on, Connagh. Take a shower now or you'll be taking too long to get back to your flat."

"Yup. Be back later."

When Connagh left us alone in the kitchen, nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain ko.

"Don't mind what I said, Kiersten, I was just joking." She said giggling.

Umiling naman ako. "It's alright, tita. Alam kong joke lang naman po 'yon."

She smiled. "You know what, I was wondering why my son never dated another girl other than Rebecca. I and his father don't have an idea that Rebecca died and would've been there for Connagh if he told us about that. But if that was two years ago and never dated anyone, how long will he ever be with someone again? Ayoko namang pakialamanan ang buhay niya, but as his mother, I was just concern."

"Maybe tita, he just don't want to be in a relationship right now? And he focuses on he's position as the CEO? I don't know what to say... I've only known him for the past month and I couldn't judge how he have been for the past few months or years."

"Maybe... maybe not," she said, nodding her head. "But you know what, after Rebecca, I haven't met any girl after her and then there was you. You're the second girl he brought to our home and we've met. What do you think that means, Kiersten?"

I shrugged off. Totally don't have any idea how I would answer that question. "I don't know what to say. I mean, I can't be the next Rebecca. I can't be his girlfriend. We can't be together. He's my boss. I'm just an intern and that just breaks the rule of his company. This isn't because he's not a prince of what I really hope for, because to be honest, that's just a crazy hallucination. Of course, I would never be with a prince. And I would never be with your son."

She looked at me intently after I said those words. Hindi ko rin mabasa kung anong pinapahiwatig niya kaya nagtaka ako kung may mali ba ako sa nasabi ko. Sa pagkakatanda ko, I just expressed what I'm feeling and that's valid.

"You were only saying those things because you were dating someone else, Kiersten. Am I right?" she questioned.

Napalunok naman ako ng laway na para bang na-stuck din ang hotdog na kinakain ko sa lalamunan ko.

"Why were you dating this Berkeley? For sure, that's not your priority when you came here in London, but maybe because of Connagh, you tried to sway out of your attention to him and then you put it to this other boy so you don't have to deal with your feelings with my son. I'm going to ask you, Kiersten. It doesn't matter if you're going to be honest with me or not, I just wanted to know your answer."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at saka ako tumango sa kanya. "Connagh's attractive. I've never met any other British other than him and he's not the typical one. And yeah... I might have a feelings for him, but falling in love with him is hard so I tried not to fall for him easily."

She smiled. "And do you like this other boy?"

I gave her a slow nod. "I'll get there..."

"Dear, you might be confused with your feelings right now and you thought you were doing right, but maybe, you never thought about these boys have feelings, too. You avoided it, but was it necessary? You turned to the other one just because you might hurt the other one. But because of avoiding the other one and putting your attention to the other one, you might end up hurting him because you turned to him invalidate your feelings with my son. Do you get what I'm saying, Kiersten?"

I nodded to what she said.

"But I'm not blaming or even shaming you for doing that. It's your decision, but if you're only following your heart's desire, maybe think of it again and you'll see what you need to do and change about it. Because hurting someone unintentionally is the most hurtful thing that a person could felt."

"Yes po, tita... I would think about it. Everything you said."

"I love you, hija. Don't take it bad, okay?"

I nodded. "Yes po. I understand naman po."

"Great. Kumain ka na ulit at huwag mo muna pansin ang mga sinabi ko. Kailangan niyo pang bumiyahe ng ilang oras din."

Pinagpatuloy ko naman ang pagkain ko at nang matapos din ako ay si tita na naman ulit ang naghugas ng mga pinagkainan namin. Naligo na rin naman ako at naghanda para umalis. I met Connagh down in the living room and he's all ready to leave.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Napakunot-noo naman ako sa tanong niya. "Of course, I am. And you?"

"I'm good baby—I mean, oh crap, just forget about it. Don't think I called you baby, alright?"

Napangisi na lang din ako sa sinabi niya. After what his mom said to me earlier, napapatanong na talaga ako sa sarili ko kung tama ba itong mga desisyong ginagawa ko. Pero hindi rin naman din ako sigurado sa intensyon ni Connagh sa akin. Does he also likes me? Ano ba kasing ibigsabihin ng mga paghalik na ginagawa niya sa akin? Why do I feel like na ako lang ang kailangan isipin ang ganitong bagay?

Bakit napaka-komplikado naman ng sitwasyon ko ngayon?

Hindi na rin naman ay nagpaalam na kami kay tita. Hindi na namin nahintay ang father niya dahil after lunch pa raw makauuwi iyon at kapag hinintay pa raw namin na dumating ang father niya ay gagabihin na kami sa biyahe. Tinawagan na lamang ni Connagh ang father niya para magpaalam.

Tumungo na rin naman kami sa sasakyan at nagsimula na kaming bumiyahe dahil aabutin ulit kami ng apat na oras sa daan. Connagh played some music kaya naman nakatulog din ako buong biyahe at nabawi ko ang tulog. Ginising na lamang ako ni Connagh nang makarating na kami ng New Ham kung saan ako nakatira. Good thing, he didn't talk about what his mother and I talked about. I was spared to that moment.

He parked his car just near the complex of my apartment building. Before I step out of his car, he suggested he should walked with me back to my room and I agreed to that. Wala na naman akong binanggit na ibang bagay kung hindi nag-thank you na lamang ako sa kanya habang papunta kami sa room ko.

But what we didn't expect, we saw Berk sitting from the bench just outside of the building where he lives. Kinawayan ko naman siya, but he didn't give any reaction to me dahil ang mata niya ay nakatutok kay Connagh ang nanlilisik niyang mga tingin.

"Berk, what's the prob—" Connagh didn't even get to finish his sentence when Berkeley hit him right into his face. Bumagsak si Connagh sa sahig at nabato na lamang ako sa kinatatayuan. Nanlaki ang mata ko at napauwang na lamang ang bibig ko sa ginawa ni Berk kay Connagh.

Hindi ko alam kung anong rason bakit niya ginawa 'yon.

Connagh immediately stood up on his feet at agad na binawian ng suntok ni Berk sa mukha. Napaatras ito at muntik pang mawalan ng balanse. I can see the rage in Berk's face and I don't know where that was coming from. Connagh's face was full of confusion and he wouldn't also let Berk hit him again. Babawi pa sana ulit si Berk ng suntok kay Connagh nang sigawan ko silang dalawa, but they didn't listen to me. Not even questioning my presence.

When Berk missed hitting Connagh, Connagh then threw his face, but not to Berk, but to me when I step foot between them. Bumagsak ako sa lupa at sinalo ako ni Berk. I felt my face numb. I felt like I had a concussion because of how hard he threw that punch to my face.

Connagh's face was shocked, but when he tried to reach me and ask me, I shouted and make him go away. Berk then pushed him away from us. Umaatras si Connagh sa ginagawang pagtulak ni Berk and I was just here watching them fight.

"Leave!" I shouted.

"I'm sorry, Kiers—"

"Just leave!" I exclaimed and then I turned to see Berk. "Why would you do this?"

"You were always with him, KC. He might've fuck you already."

Agad kong hinabol ng sampal ang kanyang pisngi.

"You're such a dumbass to think that, Berk. I hate you. I hate the both of you!"

I ran back to my room and locked the door. At this moment, I felt my face hurting so I headed to get an ice from the freezer and pressed it to my face. I don't know what just happened and everything just turned out a disaster. I didn't expect that it will happen. Never in my life that I thought this would happen.

Connagh called my number and left it unanswered. And I don't know how I will show my face to everyone when I have a black eye on my face. Nakakapuñeta!

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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