REBEL CELESTINE

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THRASHER AND BELLE'S CONTRACT

1. Thrasher has to take Belle to school everyday.

2. Belle has to attend Thrasher's dance competitions and some of his practices. Belle also has to go with Thrasher during parties. (For support, bbg.)

3. Thrasher has to write Belle notes everyday and vice versa. (I think it's cute. Don't fight me on this.)

4. Belle has to bake for Thrasher, at least thrice a month.

5. Thrasher and Belle will tell each other the truth and nothing but the truth.

6. Nobody is supposed to know this except for Thrasher and Belle.

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"What do you think?" Nandito kami ngayon sa labas ng bahay nila Thrasher, nakaupo sa may hagdan sa labas ng bahay. He took out a jacket for me which I find genuinely cute.

"Ano 'to? Bakit may paganyan? Explain mo nga." Sabi ko sa kanya habang inaayos 'yung jacket. Hawak ko ang kaliwang parte ng jacket gamit ang kanang kamay, at ang kanang parte gamit ang kaliwang kamay. Hinigpitan ko ang kapit nito sa'king katawan.

"Number one, kailangan sabay tayo lagi or else people won't believe us. Lagi kong hinahatid si Jordyne. Dati. Dati 'yun." Umubo siya at inayos ang pag-upo.

"Number two, just be there. Girlfriend obligations. Hindi ka ba pamilyar doon?" Umiling ako sa tanong niya. I'm exposing myself again. "Bakit hindi?"

"I-I never had an actual r-relationship." Umiwas ako nang tingin pagkatapos ko magsalita. Ano iisipin niya? Na masyado akong inosente? Masyado akong conservative when in fact I slightly am?

"So I'm your first?!" Saya at kuryosidad ang nasa tono ng boses niya. Tumango ako sa kanya. "Then I'm honored to be your first boyfriend, Belle. Kahit fake lang."

"I also am not a fan of parties. I'm sorry, hindi ako party girl." I softly added but his assured I'll be fine. "Kasama mo naman ako. Kaya natin 'to."

"We'll do a lot of firsts. We'll work out with that."

Tumikhim siya at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita na parang hindi niya alam ang dulot sa'kin noong mga nasabi niya. "Number three... Personally, I like notes. Don't you like notes?"

Ngumiti ako. "I like notes. Hindi ko naman inaayawan 'yung number three."

Tumango siya nang isang beses bago nagpatuloy. "Number four, uh, baking. I missed your treats. You used to make those brownies that taste just perfect. Nakamimiss 'yun."

Kinagat niya 'yung labi niya, tila nag-aalinlangan sa sasabihin, bago tumingin sa'kin. "Are you going to reject this?"

Umiling ako. "Nope. Gumagawa naman ako minsan para kay Misty kaya hindi masyado magiging pabigat." Hinabol ko ang kanyang mga mata para sa'kin siya tumingin. "Ano gusto mong gawin ko para sa'yo?"

"Brownies! I love your brownies." I chuckled before nodding.

"For number five, isn't this well-written? Honesty, Rebel. I want that." Parang nagmamakaawa ang kanyang mga mata. What happened to you, Thrasher? Why are suddenly pleading for honesty?

"Okay, I'll be honest with you."

Again, silence crept in. I placed my head on my hands while staring at the road. "So, hanggang kailan natin gagawin 'tong fake relationship thing?" Humarap ako sa kanya kahit nakapatong pa rin 'yung ulo ko sa dalawang kamay ko.

"We'll end this as long as we want to. Dapat mutual agreement." He coolly said with both hands placed on the floor behind him. I tilted my head once, telling him it's cool with me.

"You really cool with this?" Tanong niya habang lumalapit lalo sa'kin. Tumango ako habang nakatingin naman sa mga tala na nakatingin din sa'min.

"You know we're now both lying to tons of people. Are you really cool with that?" Kahit nakapatong pa rin 'yung ulo ko sa dalawang palad ko, inilipat ko pa rin 'yung tingin ko sa kanya.

"Are you underestimating my lying skills, Wilder?" Tumawa naman siya sa tanong ko. May nakatutuwa ba doon? "Just asking, Belle. Baka lang kasi mapagtantuan mong ayaw mo na bigla, ako naman mapahiya sa'ting dalawa."

Binalewala ko 'yung sinabi niya. "Can you tell me a story?" I softly asked him without even looking or glancing ay him. From his comfortable leaning posture, he crouched a little bit, making his face nearer mine while his hands were on top of his knees, intertwining.

"What story do you want?" His eyes looked intently at the road. His eyes were always like that for no reason. You would feel intensity out of it kahit hindi siya nakatingin sa'yo. I love how intense his eyes were, although his eyes scares me.

"About how you and Jordyne broke up. Like how it really happened." Agad naman akong tumingin sa kanya. "But if you don't like to share, it's totally fine! I won't push your buttons," agap ko. Tuluy-tuloy ang aking. pananalita noon, para bang natatakot maunahan sa pagsasalita.

Tumawa siya habang ako naman ay medyo nakanganga dahil sa reaksyon niya. I expect him to at least feel insulted and hurt, I guess?

"I'm just a naturally inquisitive child, that's all." Depensa ko naman para sa sarili ko.

"Sasabihin ko rin naman sa'yo, Belle. Natatawa lang ako sa'yo." Umiling-iling siya habang nakangiti which made me feel more comfortable around him.

"I told you I knew she was dating Tyrone, 'diba? She was kind of obvious. Hindi naman ako ganun katanga pagdating sa body language. Hindi ko lang alam sa sarili ko pero binalewala ko na lang. Hinayaan ko siyang lokohin ako. Wala na rin siguro akong pake?"

"Pero napagisip-isip ko, bakit ko hahayaan 'yung sarili ko na makulong sa kanya? I'm young and handsome, why would I settle for someone who's cheating on me? I broke up with her but she was really furious at me. Ayaw niya! Damn her, right?"

"I don't know if you're actually aware of this, Belle, but Jordyne and I have been doing sex since ninth grade." I know, everyone knows. Pero hindi na lang ako nagreact or nagsalita.

Too young? Yes. Too early? Still a yes. Who are we to dictate what they want?

"Naiinis ako sa sarili ko, sobra! Break na kami tapos pumayag pa ako na maging ex with benefits?! Who does that? Stupid people do. I guess I'm stupid after all."

Tila nakagiginhawa ang pagdalos ng kapaligiran. Ang liwanag ng  nakatinging buwan, ang lamig ng dumadaang hangin at ang ingay ng mga tumatakbong kotse.

"To make it short, I broke up with her first but when I saw her at the bar, doon na siya nagsalita. Ayaw na niya, at ayaw ko na rin. But one day, needy Jordyne is calling me to provide her needs. Well, call me horny for not stopping my raging hormones."

Humalakhak siya pero nanatili pa rin ang titig ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam ano ang dapat kong maramdaman para sa kanya. I feel like he's confused and I'm making him confused even more.

"A million for your thoughts?" Nahihiya naman akong ngumiti dahil sa sinabi niya. "Well, a penny is too cheap for someone like you. Dali, tell me what you are thinking right now."

"Nothing. Kalimutan na lang nating tinanong kita." Nilabas niya ang kanyang ibabang labi, kaya nagmukha siyang nagmamakaawa.

Tinignan ko ang relo ko. Medyo lumalalim na ang gabi. Kailangan ko na umuwi kahit hindi naman nagtetext sa'kin si Mommy. Misty's too busy at her sleepover to care about me.

"I'll get going. Baka hinahanap na ako sa bahay." Tumayo na ako and pinagpag ang likod ng pantalon. Narinig ko ang tunog ng susi ni Thrasher.

"Hahatid kita." Tinignan ko siya gamit ang ekspresyon na nagsasabing hindi na niya ako kailangan ihatid pa, pero tinaasan lang niya ako ng kilay. Hindi papatalo eh.

"Belle, nakalagay sa kontrata na kailangan kita ihatid." He arrogantly smirked while waving the small piece of folded paper. Inagaw ko sa kanya 'yun at tinago sa loob ng phone case ko.

"Fine! Don't use this against me." Tumango naman siya at pinatunog ang sasakyan. Agad naman akong sumakay sa loob bago pa niya ako pagbuksan. Nakita ko kasing naglahad siya ng kamay, pero naunahan ko siya.

Pumasok siya sa loob ng sasakyan at pinaandar ito. Tumingin siya sa'kin saglit bago pinatunog ang leeg at humawak sa manibela. "You're going to be a real handful, I'm sure of that, but still too fucking adorable."