CHAPTER 6

The next morning, nag-meet kami sa library and damn, I think I am in the worse situation than I thought.

Red showed up with glasses. Reading glasses. Para siyang isang main character sa isang drama. Like the male lead author sa Chicago Typewriter. Yep. The vibe is like that right now. And the fact that he's even holding a mystery book tucked between his right now doesn't even make my situation much better.

“Stop looking at me like that,” sabi niya habang paupo sa tabing upuan ko.

“I can’t help it. You’re so... theatrical," pagsabi ko ng totoo habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya.

He smirked. “Thanks." Nakita ang mga mata niya nang may tinignan sa likod ko at mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya. "Just wait. The show will begin in three... two...”

Bigla siyang nag-lean in sa upuan at nilagay ang braso sa mga balikat ko. My heart skipped a beat again.

“You smell like strawberries,” he said, not even whispering.

I almost snorted. “You’re ridiculous. I'm not."

“You love it,” he shot back, eyes twinkling. 

Sinundan ko ang tingin niya. Across the room, Jared sat two tables away. He was pretending to read—but his eyes never left us.

I smirked and continued the act. I leaned my head on Ted's shoulder and smiled at Jared, waving my fingers in his direction.

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata niyang nanlilisik sa inis. Bigla niyang hinila ang katabi niya at hinalikan iyon. I didn't noticed that it is the girl who he cheated on me with until now.

My smile faded quickly.

May gana pa talaga siyang halikan ang pinagpalit niya sa akin? Ang lakas talaga ng loob niya.

Without any second thoughts, I pulled the collar of Red's shirt and pulled his face towards me.

"Hey, what do you think you're d---"

And I felt my lips come into contact with his.

Despite being so unsure of what's happening, in the corner of my eye, I'm pretty sure I saw Jared's eyes widen once again.

Checkmate.

---

Noong kinagabihan na iyon, umuwi na ako ng bahay nang sobrang pagod. But strangely enough, may energy pa akong makapag-isip. 

Red was a natural at this. Too natural. Like it was so easy for him. As if nagawa na nito noon ang mga ganitong bagay. It was so easy to fall into rhythm with him as well.

Maybe too easy.

Natandaan ko tuloy ang nangyari kanina sa library. Napahawak ako sa mga labi ko. I never thought I would do something so sensual like that to someone other than Jared before.

This is Red's fault.

 His way in doing this fake relationship is making me follow him so naturally too. It was so natural na minsan nakakalimutan kong peke lang pala ito. And it is just day one of us pretending.

It was way too natural.

My phone buzzed on my bed, and I immediately picked it up, hoping it would be Carla. Pero hindi. It was my partner-in-crime.

> Red: Next plan. Lunch. You sit on my lap. I’ll feed you fries.

I stared at the screen, heart hammering.

I replied to his text by saying: "You're insane".

This wasn’t part of the plan. Or maybe it was not part of my plan.

No rules, that's what he said nung nakausap ko siya about sa deal namin na 'to.

> Red: And yet, you keep playing.

I smiled at his response. But then, I immediately dropped it.

Hala, ba't ako napapangiti sa message niya?!

Gising, Ellyn! Hindi mo 'to ginagawa para lumandi, kung 'di para magkaroon ng revenge and you're using Jared's cousin to make him fucking regret it, right?!

>Me: Just so you know, this game is playing dahil may kailangan ako sa'yo, hindi dahil sa gusto kita.

> Red: I don't like you either. Just teasing you. You're so cute when you're teased.

Damn, this man... He really knows how to flutter me.

>Me: Oh, shut up.

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