Chapter 20: All about connection.

Chapter 20: All about connection. 

I woke up with the touch of sunlight in my face. Then I realized that I slept in my boyfriend's house. 

I smile just thinking of that. Then suddenly all what happened last night before I slept came to my mind. My jaw dropped after realizing what was about to happen. Gosh, did I expect to make out with Rage last night. I mean almost, like really almost. Konting konti na lang talaga may muntik nang mangyari. I gasp thinking that way. Shocks, nakakahiya ka Lexia. Shet. 

I am now sitting at his bed. Sa sobrang pag iisip ko hindi na ako bumangon na literal. 

I heard a knock coming from the door. I knew it's Rage, that's why I didn't have to bother opening the door. 

"Good morning. Babe!" Sinalubong niya ako ng yakap ng nakatayo ako galing sa kama niya. 

"Morning Love." I said back. He kisses my forehead after. 

"Baba ka na. Kain tayo breakfast I cook for us." He held my hands. Hinila ako para lumabas. I'm still sleepy kaya niya pa akong hilahin ng matiwasay. 

"I can walk." Depensa ko kahit nakapikit pa ng konti ang mga mata ko. He didn't say anything and just laughed at me. 

Nang makarating na kami sa kusina niya. Siya na rin ang naghanda ng pagkain ko, pinapanood ko lang siya habang ginagawa yun. I was pouting the whole time watching him.

"Stop that. It looks like you are asking for a kiss." He stopped and said that to me. He also wink. I made a face, then again I remembered what happened last night. I feel a sudden heat on my face thinking that thing again. Though we're still not doing 'that' but it marks on me. 

"Hey, what are you thinking, are you okay?" He asked me. He panicked and almost dropped the spoon just to sit beside me. 

"Yeah. I'm fine." I said and tried to sound so serene. 

"Then why is your face red? Are you hot? May lagnat ka ba?" Damn. He asked too many questions, without thinking about what was on my mind. Why would I have to remember that anyway?

"Wala. Okay, OA ha." I said back. 

"OA. Just being concerned, baby." He said while kissing my forehead. What's with my forehead at iyon lagi ang kini-kiss niya. Naiinggit na ako sa noo ko ha. 

After that we eat and sabay na kami papasok sa university. 

"Here are your clothes." He handed me a paper bag with a branded name on it. Sa sobrang gulat ko at doon na lang ako napatingin sa paper bag niya na yun. 

"Para saan to?" I asked him without looking at him and my eyes focused on that paper bag. Shocks, bakit naman ang mahal nito. 

"Wala kang damit dito sa condo ko. Kaya bumili ako kagabi nung nakatulog ka. Suotin mo." He said to me. Gosh, hindi ko nga kayang magipunan itong branded na damit. Tapos siya kaya niyang bilhin ng isang gabi. Like, sana all. 

Ginawa ko ang sinabi niya at sinoot ko na lang din yun at naligo. I notice that Rage doesn't like to be late. But I remembered he is late at one time with Mr. No subject. 

We really both come to university together. Pero s***a sis. Alas sais pa lang may mga reporters and media na sa labas ng gate. Like, they really into celebrities life kahit dito sa college days nila hindi lubayan ng mga reporter na ito.

Hindi ba sila napapagod shocks. 

No choice si Rage kung hindi ay sa likod ulit dumaan. 

"Hindi ba mahirap?" I asked him. Out of the blue. 

"Ang alin?" He turned back at me then looked. 

"Yung ito. Yung pagiging artista, pagiging kilala mahirap?" I clear my questions. 

"Hmm. I don't know what should be the proper answer to your question baby. However, being a celebrity has become my escape from my Family's Political matter and to my Mother's death. Doing movies and dramas. I escape from the Rage Suarez. It feels like I'm changing my identity and ability. I just love how my character became famous and well-known not just for being Rage Suarez the son of a freaking Congressman. That's why I don't bother with all the media because this is what I love. I think. It's that enough, baby?" He said. Gosh, that's mind blowing. I thought he pursued becoming an artist because he wants to become famous. Though he is famous already because of his surname. 

"That's a great definition, Love." I said and smiled. 

"I really love the gap between your teeth." He said and smiled too. Ano daw? Gusto niya ang tinga ko? 

"Gusto mo ang tinga ko?" I was confused. 

"That's a Taylor Swift song. Shocks. Don't mind it." He rolled his eyes. Ito naman di mabiro. 

"Di ka mabiro ha." I told him, hindi na naman siya sumagot. May pagka suplado talaga ang mokong. 

Pagbaba namin ng kotse niya. Naghiwalay na kami kasi magkaiba naman kami ng course. Pero bakit nga ba kami magkaklase kay Mr. No bakit ko pa ba iisipin yun? 

Nakasalubong ko si Jen na mukhang kinuyog ng media. 

"Oy, anyare?" I asked. Tinutulungan ko na rin siya ayusin ang damit niya na nalukot, nicheck ko rin kung may sugat ba siya. 

"I don't know. Those reporters don't know the meaning of 'privacy' . I'm still in college but they act like that. Urgh. So demanding!" Jen is really so mad. I pouted seeing her like that, I never saw Jen get mad. Palagi kasi siyang gumagastos sa aming tatlo kung baga siya ang wallet ng barkadahan namin and she don't care. Pero ngayon nakikita ko siyang ganito and I find it in a good way. Like, Jen is not afraid to show who she is in front of me. 

"By the way sis. Ali is going to be discharged from hospital this afternoon. Her Mama told me. Kaya punta tayo oki." Inakbayan niya na ako at lumakad na kami papuntang klase. 

---

I'm just waiting na lumabas si Jen. Wala pa kasi siya nandito na kami sa parking. 

Maya-maya pa nakita ko na ang sasakyan ni Jen. As expected there's a lot of media cornering her even though she is already in her car. Jen's car is not tinted, that's why she can clearly see outside. Sumenyas siya na pumasok na ako. She smiles at those media and ask if they can give way to me. 

"Artista din ba siya Jen?"

"Socialite? O model?" 

Gosh ang dami nilang tanong. 

"I'm sorry they are so annoying. Let's go." Jen whispered to me. I just nod. And didn't look at the camera cornering us. 

Jen and I just keep quiet inside her car. Medyo antok na rin ako. Halata din sa kanya na pagod na siya. Siguro dahil puyat siya kaka-trabaho. 

It took half an hour before we arrived at the hospital. Marami na ang nakakakilala kay Jen. That is why she has to disguise a little bit. 

"I'm glad you're okay now." Jen kisses Ali's cheeks. 

"Okay na ako." Ali replied. Halata pa rin na nanghihina siya. 

"Sure. But are you really alright?" Jen sounds so calm. 

"Hmm. Oo sa ngayon." Ali answered. I know that words have double meanings. 

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jen asked again. Ali just smiled. 

"I just trusted him. But then I realized. Being in love just because 'kinilig ka' is not enough. It can be manipulative to your feelings." Ali answered. 

"Ali. Look, we're sorry because we didn't know. I hope that you become alright after this. We're here for you. Love." I kissed her forehead. 

Jen hugged me and Ali. Then suddenly Ali starts crying. 

"Stop. Your tears are precious, don't let anyone ruin it." Jen said to Ali and wiped Ali's tears. 

"Salamat!" Ali looked at us. While her tears are still flowing. 

"A friendship doesn't have to be so long or new. It's all about connection. And we are connected to each other." I said. I don't know but that's how I feel about these two ever since we got to know each other.