M A D E L I N E

WARNING: Mature scenes ahead. Reader discretion is advised. This chapter contains strong language, violence, abuse, self-harm, or highly explicit and excessive sexual activity that may be potentially offensive or disturbing to some readers. You have been warned!

Warren started taking my top off way before he started kissing me. He isn't a good kisser but he isn't that sloppy, either. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to give him a 5, and that is already me being generous.

Denver and I never made out in this studio. He would sometimes take me here to chill, but never to do anything sexually inclined. Unlike Pat and Axl who do it here all the time like it's a freaking motel, Denver actually respected the place. This studio is like a shrine to him, and up until now, I still don't know whether to admire him for that or get weirded out.

"Are you sure this isn't awkward?" Warren asked, his voice deep with lust as he pulled down my bra and exposed my breasts.

"Why would it be?" I lifted his shirt and ran my hands on his chest, surprised to discover that he's actually more well-built than I expected.

"I'm friends with your ex," he whispered hesitantly despite the fact that his erection is already starting to grow.

"I'm friends with him, too. We've both moved on so this shouldn't be an issue," I answered, gripping him in my hand.

He let out an involuntary groan.

"Besides, we aren't telling anyone so he isn't gonna find out."

I was half an hour late to my first class. Buti na lang at unang araw pa lang ng pasukan kaya puro introduction lang ang ginawa namin.

"If you and Denver haven't broken up, I would assume that you just had a quickie in the parking lot," Pat said maliciously, sneering at me. She grabbed a hair brush from her bag and quickly started combing my hair of tangles.

"Baka naman nagkabalikan na talaga sila, hindi lang umaamin," singit naman ni Ganja na ipinatong ang siko sa mesa at pinapanood kami.

"No, I don't think they did. Denver was always with Jolo and Nica during summer break, eh," sagot ni Pat.

Napansin ko rin na lagi nga silang magkakasamang tatlo, pati na rin iyong kababata ni Jolo na si Sasha. Mabuti na rin iyon kaysa naman ibang babae ang kasama niya.

"What really happened ba?" Ganja asked. "I thought you'd get back together after what happened in Pat's condo."

Akala ko rin.

"Hindi ko alam, eh," sagot ko sa kaniya. Silang dalawa ni Pat ang best friend ko, pero hindi ko magawang sabihin sa kanila ang totoong dahilan ng hiwalayan namin ni Denver.

Isang buwan na kaming hiwalay no'n nang bigla niya na lang akong hinalikan sa harap ng mga kaibigan namin at sinabihan na bumalik na ako sa kaniya. Nasa condo kami no'n nila Pat at Axl para i-celebrate ang pagbabalik ni Ganja galing Pakistan at hindi ko inaasahang makikipagbalikan siya sa akin.

Buong akala ko ay magkakaayos na kaming dalawa no'ng gabi na iyon, pero malayo pala iyon sa katotohanan.

"Kung lalayo ako, sasama ka ba sa 'kin?" bulong niya habang hinahalikan ang leeg ko.

Nasa guest room kami nila Pat para mag-usap, pero hindi na namin napigilan ang mga sarili namin at nagsimula nang hagkan ang isa't-isa.

"S-Saan?" tanong ko, habang hinuhubad ang pang-itaas niya.

Isang buwan rin mula nang huli kong naramdaman ang mga halik niya kaya pakiramdam ko ngayon ay mababaliw ako sa sobrang kasabikan.

"I'll find a place after graduation. I want you to live with me, then."

Ilang segundo akong hindi nakasagot dahil ninanamnam ko pa ang pakiramdam ng mga labi niya na gumagapang sa balat ko.

"A-Akala ko ba bibigyan ka ng bahay ng tatay mo pagka-graduate mo? Ite-train ka na niya na mag-take-over sa Romero kapag lisensyado ka na, 'di ba?"

Higit isang taon kaming magkarelasyon at miminsan na naming napag-usapan ang tungkol do'n. Hindi man halata sa kaniya, pero ang pamilya niya ang nagmamay-ari ng isa sa mga pinakamalalaking kumpanya sa Pilipinas. Hindi lang sa construction nakatutok ang Romero Group of Companies ngunit pati na rin sa telecommunications, real estate, at manufacturing.

Napahinto siya sa ginagawang paghalik sa akin at saka ako tinitigan sa mga mata. "I don't want anything to do with him or the company. Darwin's the eldest. He should be the one handling our family's business. Not me."

Si Darwin ang panganay na anak ng tatay ni Denver, pero anak lamang ito sa labas. Ang nanay ni Denver na si Tita Claire ang siyang kasal kay Tito Delfin, kaya siya ang legal na tagapagmana ng kumpanya nila at hindi si Darwin.

"But Darwin is illegitimate. You're your father's legal heir. Dhie, are you just going to throw all that away?"

"You know I don't care about that crap," Denver answered, pulling away from me and shaking his head. "Nag-Engineering lang naman ako dahil sila ang nagpapaaral sa 'kin. But I know better, now. I know what I want to do with my life at hindi kasama ro'n ang maging puppet ng tatay ko."

"So, anong gusto mong gawin?" tanong ko. "Ano ba iyong gusto mong gawin sa buhay mo na handa kang isakripisyo ang pagiging Romero mo?"

He inhaled loudly before letting out a loud sigh. "I want to play music, Madeline."

"Music?" Hindi ako makapaniwala sa naririnig. Alam kong mahilig siyang maggitara, pero hindi ko naman inakalang handa siyang isuko ang magandang buhay na nakalatag sa kaniya para lang do'n.

"Is that a problem?" tanong niya nang makita ang reaksyon ko.

Umiling ako. "Lasing ka lang. Bukas na tayo mag-usap kapag nakakapag-isip ka na nang maayos."

"I am sober," he said with a straight face. "What makes you think I'm not?"

"Kasi kabaliwan 'yang pinagsasabi mo," sagot ko. "Masuwerte ka nga dahil malaking oportunidad na ang naghihintay sa 'yo pagkatapos mong mag-aral. Hindi ka na magpapakahirap. Hindi ka na dadaan sa baba. Diretso ka na sa taas dahil Romero ka, pero isusuko mo lang ang lahat ng iyon dahil gusto mong tumugtog?"

"Madeline—"

"Maggitara ka pagkauwi mo sa trabaho. Puwede naman iyon, 'di ba? Ano ba kasing nakakaulol sa music na 'yan at mas pipiliin mo 'yan kaysa sa sarili mong pamilya?"

His mouth dropped open and he looked at me like I just said something really offensive.

Kinuha niya iyong damit niya na hinubad ko sa kaniya kanina at muli iyong isinuot. "I thought you supported my music," dismayadong bulong niya.

"I did," mabilis kong sagot. "I mean, I do!" I said, immediately correcting myself. Bago pa man kami magkakilala ay alam kong tumutugtog na siya ng gitara. Sa katunayan nga ay isa iyon sa mga bagay na tumawag sa atensyon ko. "But there's got to be a limit. Oo, hobby mo 'yan. But you don't have to give up your future just because of it. Matalino ka, Denver, you know what I mean."

"You don't understand." Iling niya. "It's not just a hobby. Madeline, I live for my music. It's not just my passion, it's who I am," paliwanag niya. "Hindi ko naman isusuko iyong kinabukasan ko kasi puwede pa rin naman akong kumita ro'n, eh. I can do what I want and still earn a living—"

"But earning a living is different from running your own company," I interrupted him. "Magkano lang ba kikitain mo kapag nagbanda ka? Baka mas mataas pa sahod ng mga janitor sa Romero."

His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes showed so much disappointment and disbelief. "I can't believe you're saying that."

"I can't believe you're expecting me to support your foolishness. Tingin mo ba tatanggapin ka pa ng tatay mo kung iiwan mo siya sa ere? You know how much he invested in you. Are you really gonna give up the chance to become a CEO just to be... a musician?"

He met my eyes for a few seconds, betrayal etched across his handsome face. Judging by the look in his eyes, I know that he has so much to say. He probably wants to argue with me. Our relationship has always been made up of debates and discussions. Denver is very competitive and always likes to prove that he's right. But this time, it's like he has completely given up trying to convince me because he just shut his mouth and turned his back on me.

"Denver—" tawag ko sa pangalan niya, pero hindi na siya lumingon pa at tuloy-tuloy lang na naglakad palayo sa akin sa pangalawang pagkakataon.