CHAPTER NINETEEN

WYNTER REMAINED seated on her single sofa with both of her brows raised up while staring at the guy lying on her couch. She's still surprised that Mike didn't do anything other than make out with her until they both catch their breath.

"So... what do you plan to do here other than lie on my couch?" naguguluhang tanong ni Wynter sa lalake.

Mike's arm was still over his eyes as he answered her. "Nothing."

Her eyes squinted. "What do you mean nothing?"

Mike removed his arm and turned his head in her direction. He then seriously stared into her eyes. "I wanna sleep here," seryoso pa nitong salitang mas lalong nagpalalim sa gitla sa noo ni Wyn.

"Are you drunk? Nag-inuman ba kayo ni Dan? Is that it?" Gulong-gulo na si Wyn sa inaakto ng binata. Hindi naman kasi siya ganito. "You do sleep here most of the time, but after s*x. Kaya lang sa nakikita kong akto mo, you're not in the mood for it."

She heard him take a deep breath before sitting up. "Did you two take a while arguing too before you did his request?"

Wynter's brows furrowed. Huh? "What now?"

Mike dismissively shook his head. "Nothing. I guess you do treat us differently after all," pabulong pang sabi nito pero klarong narinig ni Wynter.

"Is this about Dan?"

"Finally!" Mike exclaimed while giving her a glare. "Anong meron kay Dan na wala sa akin? Why do you treat us differently? Why do you visit him in his unit, giving him a snack? Why do you let him sleep beside you? Why do you eat breakfast with him when you don't want to have it with me?" malakas ang boses na tanong ng binata sa kanya. Halata ang galit at... Can't be. He can't be jealous.

Gulong-gulo pa si Wynter sa pinagsasasabi ng binata nang bigla itong tumayo saka siya nilapitan. He leaned down to her and cupped her chin, as he moved his face closer to hers.

"Come on, Wyn. Please answer me." With the tone of his voice, Wyn became even more confused. It seemed like he was begging her for answers. "Bakit parang mas espesyal siya? Wyn, I was your boyfriend. Why do you seem sweeter to him than you were with me—"

Hindi na niya napigilan. Wynter laughed so hard. Harder than she ever did in her entire life. Napalayo tuloy si Mike saka naguguluhang tiningnan siya. Wynter's eyes were starting to fill in with tears. She even feels her tummy aching due to laughing too much.

Nang mahimasmasan saka lang siya tinanong ng binata. "Why were you laughing?"

Wynter dried up the tears in her eyes before she composed herself and looked at him. Shivers made their way to Mike's spine when he saw the coldness in Wynter's eyes. "Why was I laughing? That's funny." Wynter straightened her back, crossed her legs, and rested her arms on each inside arm of the sofa. "Anong meron si Dan na wala ka? Hmm... let me see." Mas lalong sumeryoso ang tingin ng dalaga sa lalake. "He currently interests me." She flashed a cold smile. "Why do I treat you both differently? Because I want to. Why do I visit him in his unit? Why do I give him a snack? Because I like to. Why do I let him sleep beside me? Why do I eat breakfast with him when I don't want to have it with you? Because I... choose... to. Simple explanation, Mike. Bakit parang mas espesyal siya? Because he's new. Why do I seem sweeter to him than I was with you? Because I fancy him." She lost her smile. "And don't give me the ex-boyfriend card. Who gives a hell about the past, Mike? Not me. Ang alam ko ngayon, we're nothing but friends with benefits—f*ck buddies. So know your limits, Cabrera. Before I get pissed."

"F*ck buddies. Just f*ck buddies." Mike kept mumbling which irritates the hell out of Wynter.

"Ulitin mo man nang ulitin, that's just us, Mike. Ang mangyayari lang kapag nagpatuloy ka pa sa kakabulong eh magkaka-black eye ka," napipikong sabi ni Wyn na nagpatigil sa binata. She then took a deep breath before composing herself. "Now, if you don't need anything else other than s*x, leave my unit."

Saglit na nanahimik si Mike at nanatiling nakatayo sa harap ng dalaga. "So if I want to have S*x right now with you, I still can?"

Wynter flatly looked at him. "Do I have to welcome you with open arms?" she sarcastically asked.

"I can have s*x with you... but as well as Dan," bulong nito pero narinig pa rin ni Wyn.

"What can I say? I'm a free b*tch."

"And if I ask you to be mine again?" biglang tanong ni Mike na nagpasama pa lalo ng mood ni Wyn.

She glared at him. "Then you're an idi*t to think I'll ever say yes." Wynter stood up. "Tandaan mo, Mike. Kaya tayo naghiwalay ay dahil sinabi mong mahal mo pa rin si Janelle. Don't make me punch you this time. Pumayag lang ako sa setup natin dahil bored ako at hindi dahil mahal kita. Because fun fact? I never loved you." Nilampasan niya ang binata at akmang pupunta na sa kusina nang tumigil siya. "Leave my unit now. I'm no longer in the mood," she coldly said before walking to her kitchen.

Nang makapasok sa kusina at kinuha na niya ang niluto sa kanya ng kapatid niya saka pinainit iyon. Ilang sandali lang ay narinig niya ang pagsara ng pinto ng unit niya. Saka lang siya nanghihinang napaupo sa lapag. Isinandal niya ang likod sa counter cabinet saka inihilamos ang mga kamay sa mukha niya.

Why the f*ck did he bring that up? Why is he acting like a j*rk? What the hell is his problem?

Iritado't naguguluhan na si Wynter. Gusto na lang niyang sapakin ang lalake. Maayos naman sila noon pero bakit nagkakaganyan siya?

Kahit inis na inis na si Wynter at kahit may nararamdaman pa rin siyang kirot ay hindi pa rin niya kinayang umiyak. He doesn't deserve my tears. No one does.

Lalo lang pinapaalala ng binata ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niyang pumasok sa isang relasyon.

Dahil pagdating sa dulo, ikaw lang din naman ang masasaktan.

Dahil ang totoo, ikaw lang naman ang nagmamahal.

Dahil kahit balik-baliktarin man ang mundo, hindi ka pa rin sapat.

Dahil kahit anong mangyari, hindi pa rin ikaw ang pipiliin niya.

SATURDAY CAME and as expected, Wynter's mom called her this morning.

"Sinasabi ko sayo, Wynter Emerald, kapag wala ka rito o kapag hindi mo kasama si Daniel, hindi ka na makakabalik sa pamamahay na 'to," wika ni Summer na hindi na makalimutan ni Wynter kahit nang makarating na siya sa trabaho niya.

"Buenos dias, señorita," bati sa kanya ng sekretarya niya.

Tumango naman si Wyn. "Buenos dias, Ella. How busy is today?"

"Not that much, señorita. Eight AM to nine AM is an appointment with Mr. Robinsons. Nine-thirty to ten-thirty is for Mrs. Lopez. Eleven to twelve is for Ms. Rafael. Two to three is for Mr. Valenzuela. Three to four is for the signing of documents. Once done, Mr. Marquez will pick you up for the family dinner—"

"Hold on. Back up a little," biglang putol ni Wynter sa sinasabi ng dalaga.

"Mr. Marquez will pick you up for the—"

"He's picking me up?" gulat na tanong ni Wynter sa sarili pero sumagot si Ella.

"Sí, señorita. As per señora's order," magalang nitong sabi.

Wynter's eyebrow raised. Why yes, of course! Mom has always something to do with this. Why was I even surprised? Napaiing na lang si Wyn saka nagpasalamat sa sekretarya bago tuluyang pumasok sa opisina.

Wynter's work would start at eight. So she still has some time to stare at her office wall, thinking if she should look forward to tonight's dinner or if she'll create an escape plan. Either way, I'll still be one of the people under the spotlight tonight.