His Invisible Halo 17 Chapter 16

When I woke up the next morning, Ersy's voice echoed my ears. Masakit pa din yung ulo ko dahil sa hangover. Great! My plan didn't succeeded. Instead of Asher being drunk, mukhang ako pa yata ang nakagawa ng mga kahihiyan kagabi.

"What's going on between you and Asher? What actually happened last night?" she asked. Sinubukan ko namang alalahanin lahat ng nangyari kagabi hanggang sa nasapo ko yung noo ko.

"Nothing." sagot ko habang iniisip kung may mukha pa ba akong ihaharap sa kanya. I told him I like him. That's true pero dati lang 'yon at ngayon ay hindi na. I just found him attractive. That's all. Baka umasa ang isang 'yon.

"Okay. I won't ask for more. Baka lang kasi kayo na tapos hindi ka man lang nagkwekwento sa akin." reklamo nya pa.

"It's impossible." sagot ko na lang. Mabuti na lang at holiday ngayon kaya walang pasok. We just decided to go to citimart to have a grocery. Habang naglalakad kami ay hindi ko pa din maiwasang mahiya para sa sarili ko. Next time, I will never drink again! Damn this drunk habit of mine.

"I'm just wondering what funny things you did last night. Did you call your ex again telling him you still love him or what?" Ersy laughed. I thought she won't ask for more but here she is again bringing back the topic.

"Stop it. It's not funny." I replied. I just decided to get the stroller and started getting the things we needed.

"Babyloves, what are you doing here?" napaangat ako ng tingin ng magsalita si Ersy. Then I saw River and Asher kaya't mabilis akong tumalikod. Kapag minamalas ka nga naman! Hindi ko alam kung may mukhang ihaharap pa ba ako.

"I'll just go to the comfort room." mabilis kong paalam sa kaibigan ko at ipinakahawak sa kanya yung stroller. I don't want to face him now.. He saw the worst side of me last night. I'm very sure that I look crazy and stupid. Kung bakit ba kasi hindi ko man lang ncontrol yung sarili ko. I was in a hurry when I accidentally bumped into someone. He helped me to stand and I was late to realize that it's Noah, one of my batchmates in highschool.

Napaiwas naman ako ng hawakan nya yung braso ko. Knowing him, he's actually a womanizer. Madalas kong naririnig na pinag uusapan sya ng mga kaklase ko dahil sa iba't ibang babae na kasama nito kada araw.

"You're still the most beautiful, Kelsey. Do you want to go out with me now?" he asked. Kung akala nya ay katulad ako noong mga babaeng isang kindat nya lang ay mapapayag nya na, pwes nagkakamali sya. He should make me an exemption. Masyado syang mabilis.

"I'm busy." tipid kong sagot ko bago sya nilampasan. I thought that I'll be able to get rid of his way but he blocked me. Ayaw nya akong padaanin.

"I said I am busy Noah." I irritatedly said.

"I'm sure you'll be happy with me Kelsey. Just for this day and I wont bother you anymore." he added. Bakit ba ang hirap isiksik sa kukote nya na busy nga ako? Another thing, ayoko din naman na makasama sya.

"I told you I am busy. Bakit ba ang kulit mo?" hindi ko na napigilan yung sarili ko. Hinawakan nya yung kamay ko pero mabilis ko iyong inagaw mula sa kanya. He tried again for the second time but he didn't succeeded kasi may tumulak sa kanya mula sa akin. Naramdaman ko na lang ang kamay ng lalaking ito na gumapang sa bewang ko.

"I'm her boyfriend. What the fuck do you want?" I looked at him and there I saw the cold and emotionless guy, Asher. Nakita kong gumalaw yung panga nya. I don't want to conclude anything but I can sense that he's mad right now.

"You already have a boyfriend, Kelsey?" Noah asked. Hindi naman ako makasagot. What will I answer? Is it right that I'll tell him a lie?

"See? She's not answering so fuck off!" nakita kong tinulak nya si Asher kaya't inawat ko ito.

"Stop it will you? He's my boyfriend. Kaya't pwede ba umalis ka na!?" sigaw ko kay Noah bago pa magkaroon ng eskandalo dito. Hindi naman ito bumitaw ng tingin kay Asher hanggang sa makaalis. Galit na galit ito na parang gusto na yatang manuntok.

Nang masigurado kong wala na si Noah ay inalis ko na ang kamay ni Asher sa bewang ko.

"Thanks." I told him bago ko sya tinalikuran. Binilisan kong maglakad papalayo ngunit hindi ko alam na nakasunod pala ito sa akin.

"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap ito. Sinubukan kong kalimutan yung kahihiyan ko kahapon at tumingin sa kanya. I shouldn't be affected. Si Asher lang 'yan.

"I'm not. I'm just busy." sagot ko.

"Busy? Or you're avoiding me because of what happened last night. Do you remember anything?" tanong nya na sigurado akong nang aasar. I'm very pissed right now lalo na ng kinuha nya yung phone nya at may ipinakita sa aking video. I'm not aware na nakuhanan nya pala lahat ng nangyari kahapon.

"Delete that!" inis na wika ko. Lumapit ako sa kanya at pilit na inagaw yung cellphone pero hindi ko magawa dahil mas matangkad ito sa akin.

"It's not funny, Asher! I'm warning you! I-delete mo 'yan!" kahit anong agaw ko sa kanya ay hindi nya pa din ito ibinibigay. I don't know what he's planning pero isang bagay lang ang gusto kong mangyari ngayon. I want him to delete that video kasi sobrang nakakahiya ang mga ginawa ko kahapon.

"Ano bang problema mo?" I irritatedly asked killing him with my stares. Ang sarap nyang tirisin ng buhay.

"I will delete this in one condition." he said using his voice full of authority.

"What is it? Sabihin mo! Gagawin ko lahat!" I may look desperate now but I just want that freaking video to be deleted. I wonder if how many times he watched that.

"I'll tell you tomorrow." wika nya bago ito naglakad papalayo sa akin. One thing's for sure, he's planning something na hindi ko magugustuhan. I'm sure he's doing that to get my attention. Alam ko naman kung gaano sya kapatay na patay sa akin.

After our grocery, we just decided to go to our apartment. Panay tanong tuloy sa akin si Ersy kung bakit ko iniiwasan si Asher. I don't know that it's too obvious or baka magaling lang talaga sya manghula.

"I know you, Kel. Hindi ka naman magkakaganyan kung walang nangyari." tukso nya pa. Fine! I decided to tell her everything happened and as expected, mamamatay ito sa kakatawa. That's why I don't want to tell her because I'm pretty sure that this will be her reaction.

"Okay. I'll stop. Anyway, I just want to ask you if you will go with me later. River and I will go on a date." wika nya na mabilis ko namang inilingan. I don't want to be a third party at paniguradong makakagulo lang ako sa kanila. Another thing, baka mamaya sumulpot na naman si Asher. Ewan ko ba, naiinis na ako sa kanya ngayon. I never thought that pissing me is the definition of friendship for him.

Naiwan ako sa apartment ng magpaalam sa akin si Ersy bandang hapon. I just decided to watch a movie not until someone knocked on the door. Ayoko pa sana itong buksan dahil natatakot ako na baka mangyari ulit yung nangyari kung saan wala akong kaide ideya na napasok na pala si Jerome yung apartment namin. Until I heard my phones beep. Nakita ko yung message ni Draven.

Draven: I'm outside. I miss you.

After reading that, dali dali kong binuksan yung pinto. Napangiti naman ako ng makita ko sya.

" Are you busy? Can you go out for a dinner with me?"

Mabilis akong tumango dahil sa sinabi nya. Last week pa magmula noong huli kaming kumain dalawa. I told him to go inside. He told me he'll wait for me.

"I'll just change my clothes. Don't worry. Mabilis lang 'to." paalam ko.

"Take your time, Remy."

I just decided to pick the comfortable one. Pants lang tsaka isang oversized shirt. Nagdecide din ako na i-bun yung buhok ko. I don't want him to wait for so long that's why I made everything in a hurry.

"Sorry Draven. Medyo matagal ba?" nahihiyang tanong ko.

"No. Actually, you're worth waiting for, Remy." he said. I don't know if it's just normal for him to say sweet words. Baka makasanayan ko na.

Lumabas na kami ni Draven. Hindi ko alam kung namamalik mata lang ba ako o kung ano. Asher is standing beside his car as if he's waiting for someone. Nakapamulsa itong lumapit sa akin.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm here to pick you up." he replied kaya't napakunot ang noo ko. Ano bang pinagsasabi nya? Wala akong natatandaang may lakad kami ngayon.

"I have a dinner with Draven, Asher. Sa ibang araw ka na lang." inis na wika ko dito. Hindi ba talaga sya makatagal ng isang araw na hindi ako nakakasama?

"Go out with me for a dinner or I won't delete your video. You choose." napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa sinabi nya.

"Are you blackmailing me?" inis na tanong ko dito. Ang sarap nyang ibaon ng buhay sa lupa.

"What do you think?" He asked again. Kinuha nya yung phone nya. He also told me that he'll upload it kapag hindi ako pumayag. Even if I don't want, I ended up apologizing to Draven.

"Sorry, D-draven. I forgot about my dinner with Asher. Can we just go out next time?" nahihiya kong tanong. I don't want him to be disappointed. Ngayon na nga lang ulit kami makakain ng magkasama kaso may epal nga lang.

"Let's just eat together then. The three of us." he suggested. I was about to speak pero naunahan na ako ni Asher.

"I don't want a dog tailing us." wika nya. I just raised my eyebrow at him para hindi na ito magsalita. Mamaya ka sa akin Asher.

"Draven, sorry talaga." I bit my lower lip. Knowing this cold guy, hindi ito papayag na kasama si Draven. I remember what he told me last time. He doesn't want him and I'm still wondering about his reasons bukod sa pagseselos nya sa amin.

"See you next time, Remy." wika nya. Nakunsesya naman ako ng maglakad na ito papalayo sa akin. Inis ko namang hinarap si Asher. He didn't say anything instead he just went inside his car. Padabog naman akong pumasok sa loob.

"Alam mo bang isa kang malaking epal? Don't you ever deny it! Halata naman na may gusto ka sa akin. Hindi mo ba matiis na hindi makita yung kagandahan ko kahit ngayong gabi lang?" nagtitimping tanong ko sa kanya. Sa dinami daming araw pero ngayon pa talaga sya sumulpot.

"I don't like you." He lied.

"Stop denying it! Are you jealous?"

"No."

"Then why do you ask for a dinner with me now?"

His jaw clenched. He look at me before stating his reasons.

"I want you to go out for a dinner only with me. Not with anyone else. Not even with your pet."

I didn't expect what he said. He's never been very straightforward about saying these things to me unless he's drunk.

"Your answer says it all, Asher. Nagseselos ka nga."

Chapter end