Chapter Thirty-one

Expertly swinging his arm where his hand held the cue stick, he perfectly struck the cue ball that rolled and hit the target solid ball making it swiftly fall down the pocket. Tumuwid siya ng tayo bago mag-angat sa akin ng tingin, may ngisi sa mga labi para ipagmayabang na papa-ubos na ang mga solid balls na siyang pinili niya pero hindi pa ako nakakatira at unang match pa lang!

My stripes balls were still anywhere the pool table, unmoving and complete. Dahil hindi pa ako nakakatira ay hindi pa nababawasan ang bilang ng mga iyon.

"Don't be so cocky, west. You're just lucky you won the break shot, if it was me, you wouldn't have the chance for your break." Sumandal ako sa gilid ng pool table, hawak sa dalawang kamay ko ang nakatukod na cue stick sa sahig.

"Or you could've just won the break shot but you didn't. You know, in this game, hindi mahalaga kung ilang bola ang maipapasok sa pocket. The first player always wins, east." Naghanda na siya para sa susunod na tatamaan ng cue ball, yumuko siyang muli sa pool table saka inayos na ang cue stick para sa pagtira niya.

Nasa harap niya ako kaya agad kong nakita kung aling solid ball ang binabalak niyang tamaan, kakaunti na lang ang mga bola niya sa mesa at alam kong sa round na ito ay imposible na akong makatira pa.

What he just said wasn't the basic rule of pocket billiard, it was our own rule. We always didn't follow the basic rules, we would just play break shot to know who was going to play first and since we were both good at this game, it was an obvious deal that whoever got to play first always would win.

Ang panalo sa break shot ang may karapatang mamili ng mga bolang gusto niya at siya ring unang maglalaro. Ang talo sa break shot ay malabo na para sa match na ito. At ang goal, kailangan naming maipasok ang 8-ball sa pockets katulad ng sa basic rule.

It would depend, if the first player would seriously let the other play then it would be nice but it seemed like we were not having that. Sa hitsura niya, mukhang desidido siyang huwag na akong patirahin pa.

Hindi na ako nagulat nang tatlong solid balls ang nagawa niyang ipasok sa magkakaibang pockets sa isang tira lang, nakita ko nang posible iyon kanina pero masyadong risky dahil isang maling tantiya lang ay puwedeng sumablay ang cue ball at tumama sa maling bola, sa mga stipes balls, at akin iyon.

Sa akin mapupunta ang point kung maipapasok niya sa pocket ang isa sa mga stipes balls ko, at points ko, break ko.

"8-ball and cue ball, you want your break?" Dinampot niya ang chalk na nasa harap niya saka itinukod ang cue stick niya sa sahig.

Ang buong akala ko ay lalagyan niya ng chalk ang cue pero hindi niya ginawa, sa halip, nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin at naghintay ng sagot ko. It was his chance to win, if he successfully made the 8-ball into the pocket, it was the end of the match.

He won. I lost. In this match.

"I won't beg for my break. Mas gugustuhin ko namang matalo sa match na ito kaysa ang mahulog sa kalokohan mo. Strike the 8-ball and let's play break shot again." Umirap ako saka itinuro ang natitirang bolang kailangan niyang tirahin sa mesa.

His face spoke so much malice that I could just think of all the possible perverted things running on his mind. Hindi pa nakatulong na kaming dalawa lang ang narito ngayon at masyadong nakaka-akit imahe niya.

He threw to somewhere the couch the tie he was wearing earlier and got three buttons of his long sleeves polo open, making me have the privilege to see his muscular white smooth chest. Kanina niya pa rin ginugulo ang itim niyang buhok at susuklayin pagkatapos. He seemed to be undecided about his hair, I didn't know if he wanted it messy or what. O baka sadyang nang-aakit lang ang walanghiya.

"Kalokohan? Since when did you refuse having sex here? Noon nga ay nasa ibabaw pa tayo ng pool tab—"

"Strike the freaking ball, you brute!" angil ko sa kaniya sa mariing tinig, kulang na lang ay i-angat ko ang cue stick ko at itusok sa kaniya kahit na nasa kabilang bahagi siya ng mesa.

Masyado siyang malandi. Hindi ko naman pinapabayaan ang sexual needs niya, I actually submitted to him a lot and let him have his way to me but of course, there was always a right time for that.

Ngumuso lang siya at matamlay na tumira pero kahit na ganoon ay nagawa niya pa ring ipasok ang huling bola sa pocket na gusto niya at dahil ako ang talo ay ako ang kumuha ng mga solid balls sa mga pockets para i-arrange sa loob ng triangle kasama ang mga stipes balls.

It annoyed me how our meal service was taking too long to arrive. Hindi naman ako nagugutom pero kailangan ko ng iistorbo sa amin ngayon dahil hindi ko maipapangakong magagawa kong tiisin ang lalaking ito. Lalo na at naglalaro na sa utak ko ang mga ala-ala ng mga pinaggagawa namin sa loob ng pool room noon. We were very immature and so lost in our own desire but it was perfect 'cause it was us.

Now, I couldn't get lost in my own thoughts!

I would seriously thank whoever that would come now to bring our meal, whoever that was would seriously save this pool room from our lovesick sinful selves.

We ordered foods a while ago, it would be just a complementary for this little game we had, beers and walnut cookies had always been good for us. Umungot ako kanina ng nachos sa kaniya pero matigas na iling lang ang ibinigay niya sa akin bago tuluyang itaboy ang female staff, nakatapos na kami ng isang match pero wala pa rin ang pagkain namin.

"West? You said you didn't sleep with those girls you dated but could you be honest with me once more?" Habang ipinaghihiwalay ko sa loob ng triangle ang mga solid at stripes balls ay muli akong nagsalita para ilihis ang takbo ng mga isipan namin. I lamely pushed some strand of my long hair on my back when they fell beside my face, kindly disrupting me from arranging the balls, it was on loose and was very long actually. I didn't really tie them in a ponytail unless I was at home during my lazy days.

"Could you answer my question honestly?" I asked him in a low voice, taking the 8-ball to put it on its right place.

"What is it, east? Is something bothering you?"

Narinig ko ang nag-aalala niyang boses kasunod ang ilang mga kalmadong yapak kaya mabilis akong lumayo sa pool table at nilingon ang kinaroroonan niya. My insides quickly panicked when I saw him quickly walking towards me, still holding the cue stick in his hands as worry filling his handsome face. His lips a light bit ajar and his brows soon crossing, sign that he was also confused over my suddenly changing mood.

"Did you ever touch nurse Ham?" Mabilis kong isiniwalat ang tanong na nananatiling malabo sa akin simula nang aminin niyang wala naman talagang nangyari sa kanila ng mga babaeng naka-date niya, ginawa ko iyon para matigil siya sa tangkang paglapit sa akin.

Damn it, I was just barely holding myself from jumping onto him!

Luckily, he halted before he could even cut the distance short between us. And I didn't need to hear it from him anymore 'cause his face already told me his answer, his face already showed me truths that would probably hurt if twisted or said otherwise by his mouth.

"Hindi ako magagalit, Jimin. Just tell me the truth. Hindi ko pa alam ang nararamdaman ko noon para sa'yo, iba ang estado ng relasyon natin noon, so you just need to be honest with me." I assured him.

The last thing I want to happen right now was for him to get the wrong idea. Hindi naman ako magagalit, gusto ko lang maliwanagan.

"It was… it was just a q-quickie…"

I silently gasped. It still hurt me, coming truthfully and honestly from his mouth.

May nangyari rin sa amin noong araw na iyon.

Mabilis akong yumuko saka tumalikod sa kaniya para kunin ang cue stick kong inilapag ko sa pool table. Pushing my hair all to my back, I straightened my body and walked towards the other side of the pool room, far away from him.

I was not mad, just, it hurt.

"Since we're already talking about honesty… I wanna say something to you too…" He softly told me, his voice only above a whisper. Lihim akong nagpasalamat nang hindi naman siya nagtangkang sumunod sa akin.

There was only one reason why would he stay far from me too while we talked, because what might he tell me now wouldn't be so good and I might get angry.

Sa mga oras na ito, I wanted nothing from him but honesty.

We remained standing across each other, the pool table in between us to keep us from the reach of one another as it both pleased us.

Mabagal akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya at nang makita ko ang nahihirapan niyang mukha ay kusang gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa mga labi ko para bigyan siya ng courage na sabihin ang gusto niyang sabihin.

Honesty, right?

Sighing deeply, he tightly shut his eyes close before finally spilling the words he had been keeping within himself. "The real person behind the video is still out in the open, Hannan."

It didn't hurt me, though it devastated.

Kusang dumulas mula sa mga kamay ko ang hawak kong cue stick at lumikha ng ingay ang pagbagsak nito sa carpeted floor, hindi iyon ganoong malakas dahil mas binibingi ako ng katahimikang namagitan sa amin na nagbibigay-daan sa nag-iingay kong puso. It drummed, it drummed wildly and loudly, almost choking me and bringing tears to fill my eyes.

"T-Then who the freaking hell did you meet that d-day?" mahina kong tanong, tinutukoy ang lalaking nahuli ng Min Agents na buong akala kong siyang nasa likod ng video na iyon.

Did I feel nervous? Yes, damn nervous!

Ang katotohanang hindi pa pala talaga tapos ang problema namin sa video na iyon ay nagbibigay ng takot sa puso ko. Maraming mga posibilidad ang gumugulo sa isipan ko at natatakot akong ang mga iyon ang tuluyang sisira sa akin, sa amin.

Could I afford to lose him? No, freaking no. We were just starting and I still had so much things I wanted to do with him.

Bago pa man siya makasagot ay may kumatok na sa pinto saka ito bumukas at niluwa ang isang food cart na tulak-tulak ng pamilyar na female staff. Bahagyang tumango ang staff para ilahad ang presensiya niya, at dahil masyado pa akong lunod sa mga nalaman ko ay hindi ko na siya nasagot pa pero napansin kong sinenyasan siya ni Jimin na pumasok.

She silently obeyed, carefully putting the foods on the table then went out too after, leaving us still frozen and very dazed by the conversation we just had a while ago.

"Someone who just got asked to send us the video. He said he was just paid to do it. We could've taken from him all the information we need, nakuha namin ang phone niyang ginamit sa pag-upload pero walang kahit na anong information tungkol sa kung sino ang nag-utos sa kaniya." Jimin gently explained, walking towards the food table to take two can beers. Nang bumalik siya sa pool table ay hindi siya lumapit sa akin, sa halip ay inilapag na lang niya sa pool table ang beer para sa akin matapos niya itong buksan.

The brute still didn't want to get near me.

"And how's that possible? Gaano ba kahirap mapa-amin ang taong iyon? Was he protecting whoever the real person behind all this?"

Umiling siya habang binubuksan naman ang beer niya. "He was also clueless about that person. He works dirty jobs for people, you know, those people who get paid to do bad things. Sinabi niyang nakatanggap siya ng tawag sa isang taong handang magbayad ng malaki kung susundin niya ang gusto nito. Whoever that was refused to tell its personal information. Kinda witty but very frustrating!" Sa marahas na tono nagtapos ang paliwanag niya saka niya tinungga ang beer.

"What the hell does that cunning crook want from us?!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sumigaw ng malakas kasabay nang pagtilapon ng can beer na hawak ko sa pinto dahil sa lakas ng pagkakabato ko.

It frustrated me how this unknown crook was making all this difficult and miserable for Jimin and I. Ni hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit niya ginagawa sa amin ito, bakit hindi siya magpakilala sa amin at harapin kami?

That coward crook!

"We'll find whoever that is. One thing's for sure, he's a man. Lalaki raw ang naka-usap ng taong nahuli namin. The phone used couldn't be tracked anymore, sabi ng Min Agent na personal na trumabaho nito, destroyed na raw ang phone o baka disregarded na. We're still holding the man captived so he can help with the investigation."

Mabilis niyang nilingon ang pinto kung nasaan ang lata ng beer, ang laman nito ay kumalat na sa carpeted floor at bahagyang nayupi ang lata. When he turned to look back at me, his face softened as his shoulder fell. Ibinaba niya ang lata sa pool table at nang maglakad siya palapit sa akin ay hindi ko na siya pinigilan pa.

He immediately held me near his body when he reached me, making me feel again how everything was going to be fine.

"Malalagot sa akin ang taong iyon kung sakali mang gawin na naman niya ang ginawa niya. One more video leak and I'll seriously hunt him down to fvcking deplete his race. No more again, hm?"

Once again, he assured me.

Dahan-dahang akong tumango para ipakitang naiintindihan ko saka ko siya bahagyang itinulak, itinuro ko sa kaniya ang mesa para utusan siyang kuhanan ako ng beer pero nagsalubong agad ang mga kilay ko nang makita ko ang isang cigarette box sa gilid ng round plate.

Sure, I didn't smoke, sure, he didsn't smoke… or he did now? I remembered the last time I tasted cigarette from his mouth.

"Since when did you start smoking?" takang-tanong ko, unti-unti na namang nabubuhay ang inis sa sistema ko at mukhang napansin niya iyon kaya mabilis siyang umatras palayo sa akin saka nagtungong muli sa kabilang bahagi ng pool table. "Jimin!" I screamed at him.

"The night I came home from Min Agents! I needed a sniff to think and release the stress!" He shouted back to defend his indecent doing while now striding towards the food table, probably too desperate to get away from me 'cause he knew, masasaktan talaga siya kapag nakalapit siya sa akin.

He just didn't know how I always battled with myself over the fact that I couldn't really hurt him, both physically and emotionally. Just, why was he so damn precious for me?

"Jimin." Muli ko siyang tinawag pero sa pagkakataong ito, kalmado na ang boses ko kaya lumingon siya sa akin. "Are you sure that's the only thing you want to tell me? Nothing more?" I asked, careful not to trigger any weak spot between us.

"I'm sure," he answered, smiling innocently at me as disappointment started bathing my whole system.

Right, he was sure. He was damn sure.

As Jimin's car stopped in front of the Park Mansion, our eyes both found each other upon seeing the front filled with black cars and that one familiar luxury car. Once again, it was like I was just staring at a mirror while seeing obvious fear from his dark circles.

"C-Could it b-be Tito Van's family?" utal kong tanong dahil pinangungunahan na ng takot ang kalooban ko lalo na at bukod sa kilala ko ang pamilyar na sasakyang iyon na siyang pinagigitnaan ng ilan pang itim na mga sasakyan, isang puting van lang naman ang madalas gamitin nina Tito Van.

I couldn't even take my eyes off him, afraid that if I stared longer at the car, it would only stress me the reality that started to creep fear within me… but seeing his eyes that held the same reflection as mine, it felt even more terrifying.

I was afraid? Either was he!

Hindi ko naman inaasahang magagawa niya akong ipagtanggol sa mga posibleng mangyari ngayon, he might be brave for me but not when we were both facing the person who held so much power and authority over me. So yes, he could be afraid. He could always be terrified 'cause he was not some superhero who could do anything for me… he was just a human, he had flaws and he had fears just like how he always feared to lose me.

I hardly pursed my lips when he forcefully took his eyes away from mine only to stare at the series of cars, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as his arms that were stretched forward to the steering wheel cording tensely. He looked frustrated and very much resigned.

Mahigpit na kumapit sa seatbelt ang mga kamay ko, they were shaking and very cold because of fear and I didn't want anything right now but to run away, escape and hide.

"Let's just go a-away, Jimin! Umalis na lang tayo, tumakas na lang tayo! I told y-you, let's book a flight to Hawaii! He won't stop, he'll sell me off to Jeon family and will make me d-date Jungkook! Let's elo—" He cut me off, he smoothly cut me off by softly cupping my face with his cold hands and gently trapping my rambling lips with his soft ones.

Painfully shutting my eyes close, set of fresh tears freely streamed down my face representing the burning pain in my heart for this relationship we had that would soon be out of our grasp, just like how I could feel myself slowly being tear off him.

We were just starting and it hurt knowing that our relationship quickly disappearing as how quickly it appeared. And I had only cried even more, painful sobs then resounded from me when I felt his lips tremble against mine. Cold soft lips, trembling but unmoving. Cold soft hands, tightening but still very gentle.

I had never imagined myself hurting him so much like this.

Ang mga kamay kong nakakapit sa seatbelt ay nahanap ang parte ng damit niya sa dibdib at doon ako kumapit ng mahigpit, dinadama ang nanginginig niyang mga labi sa akin.

"I love y-you." He shortly pulled away before once again kissing me, gentle and unmoving still.

Unti-unti kong idinilat ang mga mata ko para makita ang mukha niya, muling pinalabo ng mga luha ang mga mata ko nang makita kong basa ang mga pisngi niya at pinasakit ng nahihirapan niyang mukha ang dibdib ko.

It was like seeing my beloved suffering for me. It was like watching the love of my life slowly slipping away from me. But despite the heartache and the blurry vision, I still managed to smile against his quivering lips, my mind slowly processing the words he just said.

I had waited for it, and who would have thought he knew when to freaking spill those eight letters?

"And no, hindi t-tayo magtatanan, Hannan. Hindi tayo gagawa ng bagay na mas ikagagalit ng Daddy mo. One night, tomorrow night, you can do everything with J-Jungkook but after that night, hell will break loose after he can again touch even a single strand of your hair. After tomorrow night, you'll be wholly mine, I'll be ready then to bravely take you from your Daddy."

Marahan akong napapikit muli, dinadama ang hanging lumalabas sa bibig niya habang sinasabi niya sa akin kung paanong hindi kami matatapos sa ganito lang.

Tomorrow would be just a break for us, after that, no one could tear us apart anymore.

Inhaling the smell of beer from his mouth, I slowly nodded my head, making our lips brush past each other sensually and lifting both of our courage over this challenge in our relationship.

Yes, just a challenge. So, hand in hand, both brave enough and had taken more courage to go on, we strode inside the Park Mansion.

Everything happened so fast, he was just tightly holding my hand when I was suddenly and forcefully pulled away from him. It was too fast. Nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong malakas na umiiyak habang mahigpit na hawak ng dalawang naglalakihang mga lalaki at pinapanood si Jimin na nakahandusay sa lapag, hawak niya ang dumudugong labi at masama ang tingin sa dalawang lalaking may hawak sa akin.

"You don't punch him, you fiend!" galit na sigaw ko sa lalaking nangahas na sumuntok sa kaniya.

"Pasensya na Miss Hannan, pero utos ng Daddy mo na ilayo ka sa kaniya." The guy dared to stand in front of us so I couldn't see Jimin.

"I will kill you! You don't freaking dare lay a hand on him! Let me go, I'll kill that stupid fiend!" Halos magwala na ako at kung hindi lang ako hawak ng dalawang lalaking ito ay baka nalagot na sa akin ang lalaking iyon. And he dared to talk back to me!

"Don't move so much, Hannan, you'll get hurt. I'm fine, I'm fine. Calm down, okay?" banayad na sabi ni Jimin, hindi ko siya makita dahil sa lalaking nakaharang sa pagitan namin pero bahagya nga akong pinakalma ng boses niya.

It was too fast, naging malabo na lang din sa akin nang lumitaw mula sa living room sina Tita Janna at Tito Nigel kasama si Daddy, kung paanong galit na galit si Tito Nigel nang makitang may pasa si Jimin at kung paanong hinabol ako ng tingin ni Jimin habang kinakaladkad ako palabas ng Park Mansion ng dalawang lalaki.

They were Urduja guards.

"How dare you let your men hurt my son?!" Tito Nigel was only held by Tita Janna to stop him from reaching my father who only stood calmly.

"Your son dared to lure my daughter, Nigel. Hindi naman siya pasaway pero dahil sa anak mo, natututo siyang sumuway sa akin," Daddy answered, signing the men who held me to bring me out of the house.

"Feb, we shouldn't get involved with the kids. Isa pa, they're not doing anything—" Tita Janna got cut off by Tito Nigel's angry voice again.

"For your information, Febrero, my son's just too nice to comfort your daughter from your not so fatherly care! Get out, get out of my house!"

We left Park Household with a stain in between our families.

It was too fast and almost vague for me because I just found myself being tossed inside my room and being locked up, too fvcked up and very much shocked over all that happened that I just realized how Daddy just easily took me away from Jimin, and how he just destroyed the beautiful relationship my mother had established with the Parks.

"I didn't raise you to become a very stubborn lady, Hannan. How could you leave and be with Jimin? What's going on between the two of you? You know I couldn't let you be together. You're not for him, you're for someone else. Now, forget about him and I'll forget what you did."

Having what my father said in my mind as I lay pathetically crying at my bed, I started growing loath and hate for him in my heart. It was for the best, so I wouldn't have a hard time bending his rules and his orders anymore. So I would grow a stone cold heart for him, and it wouldn't be difficult to choose Jimin over him.

I wanted to choose Jimin over him.