CHAPTER 10.2

Bitter by Fletcher

It's like being on the outside

of an inside joke.

Pagsisimula niya. Humarap siya sa mga kaibigang mahinang natatawa. Bumaking naman siya sa grupo ng kalalakihan na nasa kanila ang buong atensyon. When her eyes met Luscious' tantalizing ones. She grinned.

It's like when they only got Pepsi

and you really want coke.

It's like when you finally get a text back

and it's just your Mom.

It's like when you just broke up

and they play your song.

She's grinning like a Cheshire cat at her friends who started to enjoy the song. Nag-thumbs up pa si Joy sa kaniya.

I know they say it's kinda stupid

but it's just the way I'm feeling

right now.

And I hate that I can tell

that someone's probably in my shoes

by now.

Right now...

I know she's thinking that she found

herself a winner.

I know you f*ck her on the counter

right before you cook her dinner.

Yeah, I know you think about me when you kiss her.

I left a taste in your mouth.

Can she taste me now?

That you threw out all our furniture

and pictures.

I bet you sugarcoat the truth.

I bet you're real sweet with her.

Yeah, I know you think about me when you kiss her.

I left a taste in your mouth.

Can she taste me now?

I'm bitter.

(I'm bitter. I'm bitter. I'm bitter. I'm bitter.)

Jasmine and Joy sang the second voice's part making them all giggle.

Heard 'bout your new life

and the brandnew you.

It's like

Her two friends sang.

Heard you got a new job.

But I heard you moved.

It's like.

Joy sang loudly and Jas laughed.

I don't wanna hear it.

Don't wanna hear 'bout you.

It's like

I don't give a fuck.

Yeah, I do.

They both sang together.

"Ey!" Tinaas ni Joy ang isa nitong kamay halatang feel na feel ang liriko ng kanta.

I know they say it's kinda stupid

but it's just the way I'm feeling

right now.

And I hate that I can tell

that someone's probably in my shoes

by now.

Right now...

Iginala niya ang mga mata. Lahat ng mga tao sa VVIP room ay nakatingin sa kanila. They're just watching her sing.

Hindi naman sa pagmamalaki ngunit maganda naman talaga ang kaniyang boses. Ngunit madalas ay hanggang  C.R. lang ang concert niya.

She was smiling while singing when Luscious met her brown eyes with his. Mataman itong nakatingin sa kaniya. His eyes darkened with unnamed emotions. Hindi niya alam kung anong mararamdaman niya sa uri ng tingin nito sa kaniya. His face remained stoic, while he crossed his arms over his hard chiseled chest.

I know she's thinking that she found

herself a winner.

I know you f*ck her on the counter

right before you cook her dinner.

Yeah, I know you think about me when you kiss her.

I left a taste in your mouth.

Can she taste me now?

That you threw out all our furniture

and pictures.

I bet you sugarcoat the truth.

I bet you're real sweet with her.

Yeah, I know you think about me when you kiss her.

I left a taste in your mouth.

Can she taste me now?

I'm bitter.

(I'm bitter. I'm bitter. I'm bitter. I'm bitter.)

You're still in my head

but you're not in my bed now.

You're not in my bed now...

You're still in my head

but you're not in my bed now.

You're not in my bed now...

Ohhhhh...

Luscious' orbs never left hers. Hindi rin siya nagpatalo sa pakikipagtitigan rito. It felt like her world stopped from spinning, while looking him in the eye. Tila sila lang ang tao sa mga oras na iyon.

I'm bitter.

I'm bitter.

I'm bitter.

I'm bitter.

After she sang, the people clapped their hands. Natatawa ring pumalakpak ang kaniyang mga kaibigan.

Her cheeks flushed a little.

Bumalik lamang siya sa kasalukuyan nang makarinig ng pagsipol mula sa kung sino. Bumaling siya sa pinanggalingan nito nang mabungaran niya ang pinsang nakangisi sa kaniya.

Lalong namula ang dalaga dahil mas nagiging agaw-pansin na siya.

"Gel, come here!" tawag sa kaniya nito.

Kahit naiilang sa tingin ng mga kasama nito ay lumapit pa rin siya. Iniwasan niya nga lang na tumingin sa gawi ni Luscious.

She bit her lower lip, as she walks towards her cousin. Her pretentious facade remained impassive despite having a cold feet. She unconsciously bit the insides of her cheeks.

Inakbayan siya ng nakatatandang pinsan nang makarating siya sa tabi nito.

"Guys, meet my cousin, Angel," pagpapakilala sa kaniya ng kuya.

It was her instincts that she held her head up high. She's a woman of confidence after all.

"Oh Ms. Beautiful Engineer," bati sa kaniya ni Wrath. "Magkasama lang tayo kanina. Na-miss mo ba ako agad kaya mo 'ko sinundan dito?" pabirong tanong nito.

She sneered, and rolled her eyeballs heavenwards. Angel didn't reply, instead a meaningful half smile made it's way on her lips. It's the same as saying, "You're not my type."

Kasi si Luscious ang gusto ko.

Sunod-sunod ang naging kantyaw ng mga kalalakihang naroon kay Wrath dahil sa hindi niya pagsagot. Napasimangot naman ang binata sa kaniya na tinawanan niya lamang.

Tila ata napapadalas ang kaniyang pagngiti at pagtawa nitong mga nakaraang araw. Napailing na lamang siya.

"You're brutally savage as always even without any word," komento ni Wrath nang nakanguso.

"Magkakilala kayo?" tanong ng isang binatang may abuhing mga mata. "Shy, by the way," pagpapakilala nito sa kaniya. He offered her his hand, but Ace slapped it off in an instant.

"Back off, f*cker!"

"Chill Acey, I'm just introducing my handsome self, geez!"

"Introducing my a*s." Another blonde man interjected. "Trevor, the 'handsomest'." Inabot nito ang kaniyang kamay at akmang hahalikan nang magbanta ang kaniyang pinsan.

Ace glared at the man. "Kiss my cousin's hand and you're dead!"

"Sabi ko nga." Naiiling na binitawan nito ang kaniyang kamay.

Mukhang hindi lang gwapo ang mga lalakeng ito. Mukhang sandamukal na babaero rin ang mga hinayupak.

Isa-isa itong nagpakilala sa kaniya namg hindi siya hinahawakan. Her kuya Ace was either giving his friends a death glare or 'touch her and I'll kill you' look. Napaka overprotective talaga nito.

"Those are Livid, Dread, Lust, and Luscious," pagtukoy nito sa iba pang mga kaibigan.

'Lust? That's a really weird name.'

Kilala niya naman na si Luscious, kaya hindi niya na ito pinansin. Hindi niya rin nagugustuhan ang mabilis na pagtibok ng kaniyang puso sa tuwing magkakatitigan sila ng binata.

"She's Luscious new secretary, Ace. They knew each other," Wrath suddenly interjected.

Mabilis niyang pinanlakihan naman ng mga mata ang binata. Napakadaldal talaga nito!

"Secretary?" Ace's eyebrows furrowed. Nagtataka ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kaniya.

She bit her lower lip. Hindi niya naman pwedeng sabihin ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagtatrabaho sa binata.

"Yes, kuya—" she faked a smile, "just for experience." Lihim na lamang siyang napangiwi sa ginamit na dahilan. What a lame excuse. "Babalik rin naman kami agad sa Singapore."

"You're not staying here for good?" 

"No, Kuya." Umiling pa siya.

"Like Tita would let that happen." Ace tsked.

He's right. Siguradong mangungulit ang kaniyang inang manatili na lamang siya rito.

Angel sighed at the thought.

"Sige, kuya balik na 'ko kila Ja." Nilingon niya ang dalawang kaibigan, ngunit wala na ang mga ito. Saang

lupalop ng mundo na naman kaya nagsuot ito?

She puffed under her breath. Wala siyang panahon para hanapin ang mga ito. All she wanted was to find an excuse to avoid her boss, and the endless questioning.

"Excuse me." Tipid siyang ngumiti sa mga ito, pagkatapos ay umalis na.

Naglakad siya papunta sa comfort room na para lamang sa guests at members. Hindi na siya nagabalang kilalanin pa ang mga nakakasalubong.

She was washing her hands without any guard, when the door opened behind her. Hindi niya naman na ito pinansin dahil malamang ay hindi niya rin kilala ang pumasok.

"You're leaving for Singapore, huh?"

Angel immediately felt her body stilled, hearing that deep and baritone voice. Natulos siya sa kinatatayuan habang naririnig ang mga yabag nitong papalapit sa kaniya. Angel gulped when she gazed up. Luscious strong and masculine built reflected in the mirror in front of her. Napalunok siya ng sariling laway at mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong humarap rito.

"This is not—"

"Like I would let you leave."

Napaatras siya nang malalaking hakbang itong naglakad palapit sa kaniya.

Lihim siyang napamura kasabay ng malakas na pagkabog ng dibdib. Halos mapugto pa ang hininga niya nang hapitin siya ng binata.

Luscious yanked her by the waist, pulling her closer to him. Ipininid nito ang kaniyang pulsuhan kasabay ng marahas at marubdob nitong halik na tila gumising sa sistema ng dalaga. Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata.

Her body quivered because of his fervent kiss. She was shocked! Angel felt that familiar tingling sensation seeping through her that made her legs weak. It was running down her spine.

'Oh God! This is getting bad. Very bad...'