LOVE AGAIN: Chapter 3

Okay, Chapter three is up!

Just a few shout outs before going on with the story. Salamat nga pala sa mga nag-comment. Promise, I love you all. :D

@The Great Pretender @ Allen RN @Ivan D. @cyril21cute @Randzmesia and to @anonymous - kung sino ka man... hihihihih

Okay, I know I said Tuesday ako magpopost pero alas, my boss wanted me to stay in Boracay kaya ayun.. waley post.. hehehe.. Anyway, here it is, Chapter 3..

Don't forget to give me your thoughts on this one okay?

Chapter 3

Sa totoo lang, hindi naman kalayuan ang edad naming dalawa ni Jared. He’s 24 and I’m 25. We’re about the same height. Me being slightly taller than him at 5’10”.

“So I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at work Jared.”, sabi ko nang marating namin ang parking lot ng office building namin. It so happened that he also left his car kaya sumabay na ito sa akin sa paglalakad. Marami kaming napag-usapan on our way back. He was making this ridiculously corny jokes and I can’t help but laugh along with him.

“Alright Mark.”, sabi naman nito saka naglakad papunta sa kotse nito.

I closed my window and drove off.

Nang marating ko ang apartment ko ay agad nagpahinga ako ng kaunti saka nagshower. Isa sa habit ko ang mag-shower sa gabi after work. A hot shower always relaxes my muscles and I always get a good night’s rest.

Nang matapos akong magshower ay nagsuot ako ng bagong pares ng boxers saka pinatay ang ilaw at nahiga sa kama. I felt comfortable with just my boxers on kapag natutulog. Although on most occasions, I’m lying naked because I’m too lazy to get dressed after having sex. But I always make it a point to have my partner leave before sleeping. I’m only in it for the sex after all and I make this pretty clear to them before we have sex. On some occasions though, like last night, I’m so wasted to even bother so I just have them leave when I wake up in the morning. Either way, alam nilang pleasure lang ang hanap ko and that’s what they agreed on.

Suddenly, Jared popped into my mind. I can’t help but smile seeing him so animated habang nagkikwento ng experiences niya. He’s really an outgoing and positive person. Yung tipo na kapag tumawa siya o kahit ngumiti lang eh nakakahawa.

And the way he makes me blush. God! It’s so embarrassing. I mean, I know I like him as a person. I’m just not quite sure if I like him as more than that.

I’m just gonna have to wait and see. Maybe I can have fun with him. Yeah. A little fun would definitely be nice.

Nakatulog ako sa isiping ito.

Kinaumagahan ay maaga akong pumunta sa opisina. Though I didn’t want to admit it, I’m actually looking forward to seeing Jared.

Nang makarating ako sa office ay naroon na si Jared. I merely nodded towards his direction and he smiled in return. I think I saw him blush but maybe it was just my imagination. Dumiretso ako sa office. Something’s different. My office smells different.

I looked around at nakita kong may isang cup ng Starbucks coffee. It’s what I always have ‘pag naroon ako. I picked it up and took a sip.. I was about to put it down when I saw the little note underneath where it was. Binasa ko ito.

Thanks for the chat Boss. Jared.

I smiled and looked outside. I saw him smiling back.

JARED’S POV (Point of View)

I saw him smile while reading my note. I’m glad he appreciates it. Matagal ko nang gusto si Mark Rindel. I just didn’t have the courage to say anything. Why? I’m scared. Scared of what people will think about me. Scared of what society considers as an abomination. Scared of being thrown out by my own family – well, at least my mom and dad, because I very well admitted to my sister that I was gay and I’m pretty sure she was more than happy to know about it. Pinapangarap niya pala talagang magkaroon ng kapatid na makakasama niyang mag-shopping, talk about boys with and all those girly stuff. Instead, she got me. I still laugh about it ‘pag naaalala ko ang naging reaksyon niya.

“Oh my God! You’re shitting with me right now, aren’t you?”, she said.

“No. It’s true. I’m gay.”, I replied scared what she would think. I was getting ready for the worst.

“Oh my God! This is great! I always wanted a sister!”, she said hugging me and slightly jumping up and down.

“Uhhh, not the reaction I was expecting.”,sabi ko rito saka ito bumitaw.

“Not that you’re a girl dear brother. But I am happy. At least I could talk to you about boys and stuff.”

“Uhhhm, I’m not entirely sure about that though Jie-An. I mean, I only like one particular guy.”

“Talaga? Sino?”

“My boss.”

Napangiti ako nang maalala ko ang pag-uusap naming iyon.

Yeah. I like my boss. Pero at that time he was with that asshole, Luke. I knew about him cheating. Nakita ko ito countless of times with different guys. Pero hindi ko magawang sabihin kay Mark dahil hindi ko ugaling manghimasok sa problema ng iba. But then I saw him three months ago and I knew that he’s heartbroken. Then he changed. Kung noon ay lagi itong nakangiti at lagi itong bumabati sa mga empleyado niya, three months ago, it stopped. Naging workaholic ito. Sometimes, the smell of alcohol would linger on him and I knew instantly that he’s hungover. Noon ko napansin ang dala-dala niyang kape galing sa Starbucks. I wanted to hug him back then, tell him it’s gonna be okay. Pero ni hindi niya ako makita. I mean, he does see me obviously dahil nasa iisang opisina kami. But not the way I see him.

Yesterday, I decided that I would definitely make him happy again. I can’t stand seeing him so depressed. I was really happy when he smiled for me yesterday. And the walk back to the office last night was definitely one to remember. His laugh, as cliché as it sounds, it was music to my ears. Hearing his laugh is definitely something I want to get used to.

Kaya naman kaninang umaga ay nagdesisyon akong bilhan ito ng paborito nitong kape. And seeing his smile, it’s worth it.

Now, I will make him notice me. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at tinawagan ang bestfriend ko. She answered on the third ring.

“You better have a good reason for interrupting my alone time with Phillip!”, sabi nito.

“Ewe! Krista, I do not want to know about my bestfriend’s sex life, thank you very much.”, sabi ko rito.

“Oh shut up! Ano’ng kailangan mo?”

“I need a makeover.”

“FINALLY!!!!”, sigaw nito.

“What did my eardrums do to you?!”

“Stop being a baby Jared! I told you, you needed to get rid of those circus costumes.”, sabi nito.

“Alam mo naman kung bakit ko sinusuot yun.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Natahimik kaming dalawa. It’s a memory that I would rather not think about anymore.

“So anyway, when are you free?”, tanong ko rito.

“Tomorrow would be okay.”, sabi naman nito.

“Thanks Krista. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I ended the call after that.

Now to ask Rindel for that day-off tomorrow.

“Jared.”, tawag sa akin ni Mia. Isa sa mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho.

“Yup?”

“May communication letters para kay Sir. Pwede bang ikaw nalang ang magdala?”, pakiusap nito.

“Sure thing.”, sabi ko.

Nang pumasok ako sa opisina ni Mark ay narinig kong may kausap ito sa phone.

“Yeah. Meet me tonight sa apartment. Yes. Around 10 PM would be okay. Yes. Remember my rules though. Okay.”

I cleared my throat.

“Sir, may mga dumating pong communication letters para sa’yo.”

“Ah, thank you Jared.”

“You’re welcome Sir at magpapaalam po sana ako para mag-leave bukas.”

“Why?”, tanong nito.

“Personal reasons.”, I shrugged.

He looked at me for a second before nodding.

Agad naman akong tumalikod at lumabas ng opisina nito. He’s most probably hooking up with some random stranger. I’m not going to let that get me down. I’m going to make him want me. I’m going to make him fall for me.

MARK RINDEL’s POV

He looked angry.

Wait, why would I care though? It’s not like were an item or something. Could it be that he likes me? I guess that could work to my advantage. After all, I’m planning to sleep with him.

But tonight, someone else will have to satisfy my needs.

Maaga kong tinapos ang trabaho ko dahil na rin sa usapan naming ni Ivan. Our deal was dinner then after that will be the exciting part.

Dumating ako sa Afrique’s a little past 7. I looked around and heard someone call my name. Nagulat ako nang makita si Luke with his smile plastered on his face.

I’ll admit. Gwapo ito. He’s got that boy next door look that makes girls worship him at his feet.

Agad akong tumalikod at akmang aalis sa restaurant nang bigla ako nitong pinigilan. His hand on right arm and turned me to face him. At that instant my left fist flew straight to his face hitting him square to the jaw. Napatingin naman ang mga tao sa amin. The security guard looked like he wanted to stop us pero hindi ito gumalaw.

“That’s for everything asshole!”, sabi ko rito.

Tumayo itong hawak ang pisngi.

“Can you let me explain?”, tanong nito.

I laughed. A humourless one.

“Sa tingin mo maniniwala pa ako sa’yo?  You’ve cheated on me Luke! Our whole relationship was practically a lie! Tapos ngayon, mag-eexplain ka? We are way past explaining! It’s been three fucking months when we broke up! If you wanted to explain, you should have done it a long time ago. And maybe, if you didn’t fuck up our relationship then we wouldn’t be in this mess! So, no thank you!”

With that I turned and walked out of the restaurant.

How could I have been so stupid?! Of course it was him all along. Ivan Luke Fernandez.

With that I drove straight to my cousin’s place. I can’t believe he still had this effect on me. I can’t believe I’m still crying over that worthless shit.

I pressed the doorbell and after a few minutes, bumukas ang pintuan ng bahay ni Rhoi.

“Oh shit!”, sabi ni Rhoi at agad ako nitong niyakap. Kumalas ito saka nagsalita. “Let’s go in. Have an ice cream or something.”

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko at saka sumunod rito. I would have to explain what happened and I can tell that Rhoi will not just sit back and watch this time.

ITUTULOY…..

Whooooooooooooooo!!!! Okay, I know it's short. But I had to make up for lost time.. So there you have it.

Do you think Jared is just another one of Rindel's "fuck and run" cases? Will he ever learn to love again?
Do you think Jared can make Rindel fall for him?

What do you think about Rindel's feelings for Luke?

Give me your feedbacks and all.. I love you all! :))