CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

EVERYTHING WENT smoothly after a year of Wynter and Daniel becoming official. The three of them would most of the time have a family date, but sometimes, Summer would steal Damien away from them.

Naiiling na lang si Wynter kapag sinusubukan niyang bilangin kung ilang beses nakipag-agawan si Summer sa kanilang dalawa. Katulad na lamang ngayon. Wynter stared at her ceiling as she lay on her bed. "Inagaw na naman ni Mama si Damien."

Mahinang natawa si Daniel na katabi niya. "Na-miss daw ni Tita eh."

Sinamaan naman niya ng tingin ang lalake. "Pero magkasama silang dalawa nung isang araw," pagrereklamo niya.

Daniel just shrugged before standing up. "I'll go ahead and take a bath muna."

Napabuga na lang ng hangin si Wynter saka tumango. Daniel went to her bathroom and did what he said he'll do. Kauuwi lang nilang dalawa mula sa trabaho at naisipan nilang matulog at maghapunan sa unit ni Wynter.

Ilang saglit lang ay nakaramdam ng uhaw si Wyn kaya naman lumabas muna siya ng kwarto niya't dumiretso sa kusina. Upon walking to her refrigerator, she heard her doorbell ring.

Inuna na lang niya ang paglapit doon kesa sa pag-inom ng tubig. She peeked at the peephole and was shortly taken aback by the surprise visitor. Wynter opened the door. "Mike."

The man outside smiled at her. "Hey, Wyn. Can I talk to you for a moment? I need a friend." Halatang problemado ang lalake kaya naman hindi na nagdalawang isip si Wyn na papasukin ito.

When he finally entered the unit, he turned to her. "What happened to you?" Wyn asked.

"We... broke up. I-I caught her with some other guy." Mike suddenly broke down into tears. "Hi-Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Kung anong nagawa ko para lokohin niya pa ako. All I did was love her. Hindi... Hindi pa ba ako sapat?"

Mike continued to cry and all Wynter could do was hug her friend and comfort him. She slowly caressed his back to calm him down. "Iyak ka lang. Everything's gonna be okay. Go on, let it all out."

The man hugged her back and continued breaking down. Hanggang sa unti-unti itong tumigil sa pag-iyak. He was just quietly sobbing so Wynter pulled away.

The moments happened so fast that Wynter suddenly felt Mike's lips against her. As soon as she realized what was happening, she quickly pushed him away. Her eyes were wide open. "Stop it, Mike. Don't do that again."

Naguguluhan namang tiningnan ni Mike si Wyn. "Bakit?

"I'm already in a relationship with the man I love. Hindi ko nasabi agad sayo kasi busy ka at hindi na rin kita halos mahagilap," Wynter calmly explained.

Realization suddenly dawns on him. "With who?"

Wynter smiled. "With Dan."

Mike blinked numerous times, trying to pick up the information given to him. "Kayo na? And what? You love him?"

She nodded. "Yeah. So don't you ever kiss me again. My lips are solely his now—" Biglang napatingin si Wyn sa lalakeng nasa likuran ni Mike. "D-Dan..."

He was leaning against the door jamb of her bedroom, staring at them. Wynter paled. Did he see Mike kiss me?

"Daniel, M-Mike's here—"

"Nakikita ko naman, Emy." Naglakad ito papalapit sa kanila. He then stopped in front of Mike. Akala ni Wyn ay magagalit ito sa lalake o sa kanya dahil sa nangyari, pero laking gulat niya nang makitang tinapik ni Dan ang balikat nito. "I heard everything. Alam kong hindi ka okay, do you need help?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Dan sa lalake.

It took Mike a couple of seconds to be able to speak. "I only wanted a friend who would listen and not judge me." Seryoso nitong tiningnan si Dan. "I did not know that you two were together. I'm sorry for kissing her."

Daniel smiled. "As long as hindi mo na uulitin, ayos lang, pre. Basta narinig mo naman na ha? Mahal niya raw ako kaya 'wag mo nang hahalikan pa," malokong wika nito.

Mahina namang natawa si Mike. "I won't." He then looked at her. "She respected my decision to be with Janelle, so I'll respect hers now."

Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti. "Thanks, Mike."

Tinanguan lang naman siya ng lalake saka natigilan at tumingin kay Dan. "Does she know about—"

"About Damien? Yes, I do," Wynter cut him off.

"At okay lang sayo?"

Wynter rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn't that be fine with me? Damien's a great kid. Mas hindi okay kung may asawa na 'tong si Dan at ginawa akong kabit. Baka pasabugin ko siya."

Natawa na lang silang tatlo saka muling tumingin si Mike kay Dan. "I guess she's really yours right from the start."

Daniel smiled and looked at her. "I guess so too." He held her hand. "Mahal kita."

Wynter felt her heart melting. "Mahal din kita."

Both of them got lost in each other's eyes when suddenly. Mike cleared his throat. "Don't do that in front of me. Baka hindi niyo magustuhan kapag nagsasalita ako rito ng maghihiwalay rin kayo dahil kab-break lang namin ni Janelle."

Pareho naman silang natawa ni Dan saka inaya si Mike na uminom at magkwento muna para naman kahit papaano ay lumuwag ang pakiramdam nito. They're still friends after all.

WYNTER HAD enough of Dominique's extensions and excuses for not telling her brother the truth about their relationship status and the wedding. Gusto na rin kasing ipaalam ni Wyn kay Angelo ang relasyon nila ni Dan dahil ito na lang ang hindi nakakaalam.

Wynter invited her brother to her office to tell him everything. Every single thing about her and Dominique. Sakto namang katatapos niya lang makipag-usap at aminin sa kapatid ang lahat nang tumawag si Narae.

"Excuse me, Hermano." Tinanguan lang naman siya ng kuya. "What's up?"

(Unnie! You won't believe what's happening!) Halatang masayang-masaya ang dalaga.

Napakunot naman siya ng noo. "Hmm?"

(I have a great plan for the sixth anniversary of LD!)

"And?"

(It's actually Dom's plan. But hindi tayo mag-iimbita ng ibang tao dahil gusto niyang tayo-tayo lang ang makakaalam. Explain ko sayo pagpunta mo rito, ayos lang ba?)

"Sure, it's fine with me."

('Yun oh! Narinig mo 'yun, Dom? Unnie approved—Yes, Nar. Naka-speakers lang naman yung phone mo.) Narinig niya ang pagtawa ng dalaga. (Anyways, that's all, Unnie. Send tons of good luck to Dom.)

She rolled her eyes. "Tell him to man up or else I'll kick his ass."

(You can't do that! I'm your best friend!)

Natawa na lang siya sa sinabi ni Dom. "Whatever. We'll be there at the end of the week."

(Bakit naman? 'Wag na, Unnie.) Pang-aasar ng dalaga.

"Duh, I'm one of the owners, little miss." Wynter rolled her eyes.

(Charot lang, Unnie. Sige, sige. Ingats! Bye!)

"Yeah, yeah. Adios." Nang matapos ang tawag ay tiningnan niya ang kapatid at kinausap tungkol sa magaganap na sixth anniversary ng club nila. Binanggit na rin niya rito ang tungkol sa Vazquez-William's sacred union at ang tungkol sa plano niyang pagt-training nito sa ibang bansa.

After absorbing the information, her brother smiled widely and stood up. "Well then, see you later. Autumn's cooking dinner."

She nodded. "I'll be there."

Akmang lalabas na siya ng opisina nito nang bigla itong huminto. "How about you bring your boyfriend with you?"

Wynter froze but acted casual and rolled her eyes. "Get out, Hermano."

Tinawanan lang naman siya nito saka tuluyan nang lumabas. Wynter shook her head. Now, who told Hermano about my boyfriend?