#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 13
Comfortable

"What are you doing here?"

I was so bewildered because of Zymond's sudden presence. How did he even manage to go inside our school and even find me here inside this wide cafeteria?

Zymond kept his smile and looked cool as much as possible. "We have a practice game with your university's team after lunch," he told me. "I actually texted you just a few minutes, but you didn't reply."

I creased my forehead and opened my bag to check on my phone. I did receive a text from him, but I wasn't able to read it since I was busy ranting about my unlucky life. If I did read it, I could've made an excuse and hid myself so that we wouldn't have to see each other.

Wala pa naman sa mga plano ko ang makipagkita ulit sa kanya ngayong linggo o kahit sa susunod na linggo.

I suddenly recalled what Hope told me earlier about dates. She really thought having dates could be a hindrance, huh? Well, that's why there's called such thing as "multi-tasking". If she couldn't do it then, that's not my problem anymore. O baka naman inggit siya sa akin dahil wala siyang date?

But anyway, Archer's always there to entertain her. Ayain niya na lang 'yon kung naiinggit siya. Tutal ay hindi siya laging matanggihan no'n kaya paniguradong papayag.

Muli akong ginapangan ng inis. Parang gusto ko tuloy ulit makipagdate nang biglaan kay Zymond para lamang mainis ko si Hope.

Ano pa kaya ang ibang ipapangaral niya sa akin?

"Uhm... Is she your friend?"

Tinuro ni Zymond si Sharry na kanina pang mukhang naaasiwa habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa. Itsura pa lang ni Sharry ay alam kong ayaw na niya kay Zymond.

Don't worry, my best friend. You're not alone.

"Ah! Oo!" sabi ko na lang at pinilit na ngumiti saka ipinakilala si Sharry. "This is Sharry, my best friend. Sharry, ito nga pala si Zymond. Iyong nakuwento ko sa'yo."

Tipid na ngumiti ang aking kaibigan at hindi na inabala ang sariling makipagkamay kay Zymond. Hindi rin naman ito nag-alok ng kamay.

I turned to look at him who was wearing a very interesting smile. It made me curious.

"Naikuwento niya ako sa'yo?" nagagalak na tanong ni Zymond kay Sharry.

My lips parted. So that's what he was thinking about!

"Kahapon ka lang niya naikuwento."

Hindi man lang nakuhang magsinungaling kahit kaunti ng medyo bumango-bango pa lalo ang pangalan ko. It's really hard to make her lie sometimes, especially when she's not in the mood.

Mukhang hindi naman naapektuhan si Zymond sa pagsasabi ng totoo ni Sharry. I thought that would pop the happy bubble he was creating inside his mind.

"Ano naman ang naikuwento niya tungkol sa akin?" natutuwa pa ring tanong ni Zymond at mukhang sabik na sabik sa isasagot ng aking kaibigan.

Sharry nonchalantly glanced at me like she could spill all my plans the moment she opens her mouth to speak.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. Handa akong ilibre siya for lunch ng isang buwan para lang hindi niya ako ilaglag. Just this once, Sharry, please!

"Tungkol lang sa dinner ninyo," simpleng sagot ni Sharry at saka biglang tumayo dala-dala ang hindi pa ubos na inumin. "Excuse me. Pupuntahan ko lang ang boyfriend ko."

I heavily sighed in relief when Sharry lied for me. Of course, she's my best friend. Kahit na ayaw niya sa ginagawa ko ay alam kong ako pa rin ang kakampihan niya. Minsan lang talaga ay kinakabahan ako sa pang-iinis niya. She looks very serious all the time.

Natigil naman ako sa pagpupuri sa aking matalik na kaibigan nang mapagtanto kong iniwan niya akong mag-isa kasama si Zymond. I really love her, but there are times that I also hate her.

"I'm glad that you told your best friend about me."

Zymond was still inside his happy bubble. Pakiramdam niya siguro ay sobrang importante niya para sa akin dahil kinuwento ko siya kay Sharry. He was clearly assuming. It was written all over his face.

"Of course," I said and smiled sweetly even though I wanted to cut his fantasies already. "I enjoyed our simple dinner date last night. The tonkatsu is very delicious."

Mas lalo siyang natuwa sa sinagot ko. Mukhang ginanahan pa siya lalo at umusod papalapit sa akin.

He beamed, and his eyebrows rose. "If you had fun, there's surely next time, right?"

Syempre ay pag-iisipan ko pa kung kakailanganin pa kita, pero hangga't hindi pa ako nakakapagdesisyon, makikisakay muna ako sa mga pinapangarap mo.

"Syempre naman," walang pag-aalinlangan kong sabi. "But I'm afraid it won't be later this week or next week. Tambak ako ng research paper at tinatapos ang thesis namin."

He nodded. "I understand. I'll just wait for your text or call for our next date."

I just smiled and started to check my things inside my bag. I even put my phone back because I wouldn't be needing it.

Kita kong pinapanood ako ni Zymond. Agad na nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi nang mapansing naghahanda na akong umalis.

"Aalis ka na agad?" tanong niya sa akin.

Malungkot akong ngumiti sa kanya. "Mayroon pa akong klase," sabi ko na lang at tumayo na kahit na mayroon pa akong isang oras.

I just really wanted to get away from him. Meeting him wasn't a part of my plan for today. It was supposed to be a normal day, but Hope started to ruin it earlier, and Zymond just made it worse.

Akala ko ay papakawalan niya na ako ngunit agad din siyang tumayo at inagaw ang bag ko sa akin. Sa sobrang bilis niya ay hindi ko nagawang bawiin.

"Let me walk you to your next class," he offered with a bright smile on his face and stood beside me.

I heard some sighs from girls near our table. They were probably enchanted by his beauty, but I wasn't. Iniwasan kong ipakita ang iritado kong reaksyon.

I never thought that he was this clingy. Mukhang mali pa ata ako ng napili. I should've chosen someone who's cool with everything.

"Huwag na... You still have a practice game after lunch, right?" pakunwari ay nahihiya kong pagtanggi at saka nilingon ang ibang players na kasama niya na kumakain sa kalapit na table. "You should eat with your teammates."

He chuckled and pinched my cheek lightly without any permission. "You worry too much. They won't start without me so, it's okay. The guys can wait."

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. Sandali akong natutula dahil sa natural na pagpisil niya sa aking pisngi na kala mo ay close na close kaming dalawa.

Just what the hell?!

When did I even allow him to touch me like that?

Before I could compose myself he now, put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. Some of the girls witnessing his affection were already going crazy taking pictures of us. I heard one from his team whistled while the others were laughing.

Mukhang hindi na nila sineseryoso ang ganitong galawan ng kaibigan dahil sanay na sanay na sila. They must be thinking that I was some kind of fool being played by their star player; that I would fall for the tricks of this playboy.

Little do they know, I had the upperhand in this game that we're playing. He'd never have a chance to win against me.

Nang makalabas na kaming dalawa sa cafeteria at wala na masyadong taong nakakasalubong. Kinalas ko ang aking sarili mula sa kanyang pagkaka-akbay.

He was slightly taken aback when I escaped from his hold. He looked slightly offended.

I smiled shyly. "Sorry..." I apologized. "I'm not that comfortable."

Hindi man kapani-paniwala, pero mukhang naintindihan niya naman ang aking dahilan.

"You're not used to skinships?" he asked curiously.

I'm used to skinships, but only with people I'm comfortable with. Clearly, he's not of those people, but since I had to appeal to him...

"Medyo..." nahihiya kong sagot. "I'm not that comfortable."

Napatango-tango naman siya. "Are you like this to your past boyfriends?" bigla niyang tanong. "Kung ganito ka rin noon sa kanila, maybe it's the reason why they chose to look for someone else."

I stopped on tracks when he said something so lame that triggered my emotions. Anger was boiling inside me. He just crossed the line.

I was sweet to my ex-boyfriends that I was even clingy sometimes. So, what the hell was he talking about?

"Are you saying that boys only stay loyal to their partners because of skinships?"

He pursed his lips. "Of course, it's not the only reason, but it's one of the major reasons," he answered — doing his best to defend his point. "Imagine I have a girlfriend or I'm dating someone who won't even hold hands with me while we walk together side-by-side, doesn't it look stupid? It's kinda embarrassing, you know."

I creased my forehead. "And that's how you picture our situation, right now?" I grilled him with question which could catch him off guard and twisted my reasons to it look like he's a total jerk for his way of thinking. "We look stupid and embarrassing because I didn't let you wrap your arm around my shoulder because I'm feeling uncomfortable showing PDA inside the campus?"

Now, he looks so panicky. Hindi niya na ngayon alam kung ano ang dapat niyang sabihin para maisalba pa ang sarili. He must be thinking that I was turned off, and he's right about that.

"I'm sorry," he just apologized when he couldn't find the right words to reason out.

I let one corner of my lips rose. "It's fine."

I didn't let him speak again and continued walking. He immediately followed me, though.

"Anyway, why didn't you text me last night? You also didn't reply to my message?" he fired me with questions when he caught up with me.

"I was tired when I got home and didn't check my phone," I just blurted out a quick explanation.

"Then, why didn't you send me even a good morning message earlier?" sunod niyang tanong at saka ngumisi. "Huwag mong sabihing hindi mo pa rin tiningnan ang phone mo."

Dahil sa inis ay hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Hinarap ko na siya habang nagpupuyos ang iritasyon na nararamdaman ko.

Even though I admit I still needed him for my plans, I'd rather look for someone else. He's just too toxic. I'm going to set this game over.

"I read your message last night this morning. You also sent me a morning message while I was on my way to school, and sorry if I didn't send you one because I believe it's not even my reponsibility. I don't see the reason why I need to do it. I mean, is it necessary? We're not even official in the first place."

I didn't even bother to sugatcoat my words anymore.

"What are you talking about?" He looked confused now.

"You may not notice, but you're being freaking entitled right now — acting like you're already my boyfriend by demanding these things that should be given wholeheartedly," I told him his faults. "Now, if you're still planning to wait for my text or call for our next date, might as well just delete my number because you won't be getting one anymore."

Mabilis ko siyang nilagpasan para makakawala na sa kanya. Akala ko ay hahayaan na niya akong umalis dahil tinapos ko na, pero nagulat ako nang hulihin niya ang aking braso. Sinubukan ko itong bawiin ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil sa higpit ng hawak niya sa akin.

"Let go of me!" I demanded with an authoritative voice.

He remained firm and looked angry. "Do you think you can just end it that easy?" he asked. "I am Zymond Ambrioso."

Tinapunan ko siya ng masaming tingin habang pinipilit na bawiin ang aking kamay.

"I don't care just let go of me!" I said as I felt his grip tightened, and I could feel his fingers seeping through my bones that it already hurts.

"She said to fucking let go of her."

One low and dangerous baritone caught our attention. There I saw Archer just one meter away from us. He was looking intently at Zymond before his eyes travelled to my arm.

"Let. Go."

Bawat salita niya ay binigyan niya ng diin.

"This is just a lover's quarrel. You can go now and do your thing," Zymond simply told Archer.

I thought Archer would go, but he just smirked.

"Lover's quarrel when you're not even a couple in the first place?" he said with sarcasm before he became deadly serious. "Now, let go of her."

"And why would I listen to you?" Zymond raised his eyebrows. He didn't look threatened.

"Because I can simply destroy your career by reporting to the officials about this incident," Archer nonchalantly answered. "This won't be good for your career. Not that you have a good reputation, anyway. I guess you really don't care about it."

With that, Zymond's facade had finally worn off. He slowly released me from his grip. Before he could even step back, Archer already snatched me away from him.

I clashed on Archer's warm body as he pulled me closer. His arm, then, wrapped around my waist to support me.

I looked up to him, but he was still staring at Zymond and his eyes were filled with threats. Nang binaba niya ang tingin niya sa akin ay hindi ko ito nakitaan ng kahit anong emosyon bukod sa galit at pagkadismaya.

"Let's go," he coldly said and finally took me farther away.