Ch. 4: Jēalousy

Kadecy's point of view

​The hurt that I was feeling when I just saw Hunter going to see Haylen outside the restaurant... para talagang sinaksak ng paulit-ulit 'yung dibdib ko. Through the glass window, I could clearly see them both. The smile on Hunter's face was so warm, so genuine. Awts. Happy couple talaga sila. Bagay na bagay, samantalang ako, taga-panood lang mula sa malayo.

​Naramdaman ko naman ang mahinang pagsipa sa paa ko mula sa ilalim ng mesa. Naalerto ako at mabilis na tinaasan ng kilay si Jack.

​"Oh? Anong problema mo?" irita kong tanong, sinusubukang itago 'yung nanginginig kong boses.

​"Anong tinitingnan mo diyan sa labas?" nakangising tanong niya.

​"Wala naman," sagot ko sabay iwas ng tingin at kuha sa baso ng tubig.

​"Oh? I smell jealousy here. Right, guys?" panggagait pa ni Jack sa iba.

​"Yeah, amoy na amoy hanggang dito!" pagsang-ayon naman agad nina Kane at Leonhardt habang nagtatawanan.

​Jack leaned in a bit, his eyes fixing on mine with a half-playful, half-serious expression. "Sa akin ka na lang kasi. I'll make you happy, and I promise you won't regret it if you choose me."

​Napailing na lang ako sa pang-aasar niya, forcing a small, nonchalant laugh to keep my dignity intact.

​"I'm sorry, I'm single, but I'm not really available," sagot ko sabay irap sa kanya.

​"Ouch! Basted agad bago pa man makapagsimula!" hirit ni Declan habang pumapalakpak pa si Kane sa katatawa.

​"Told you, bro. Lakas ng harang," asar naman ni Leonhardt kay Jack.

​Nakitawa na lang ako sa kanila para ma-distract ang sarili ko, pero sa totoo lang, gustong-gusto ko nang lumabas at sumigaw. Single nga ako, pero 'yung pusong 'to, nakatali pa rin sa taong kasalukuyang nakatayo sa labas kasama ang babaeng tunay niyang mahal.

Habang busy ang lahat sa daldalan, nagulantang na lang ako nang biglang tumayo si Jack at lumipat sa vacant seat ni Hunter sa mismong tabi ko.

​Then, I felt it. ​His hand suddenly rested on my thigh, hidden underneath the table. Cold panic immediately washed over me, and I felt the blood completely drain from my face.

​Mabilis kong inilibot ang tingin ko sa iba pang kaibigan ni Hunter. Sina Kane at Declan, patuloy pa rin sa pag-aasaran na parang may sarili silang mundo. The long, thick tablecloth draped all the way to the floor, completely hiding what Jack was doing beneath it.

​Declan caught Jack sitting beside me and teasingly shook his head, misinterpreting the whole scene.

​"Pasimple ka pa diyan, Jack," biro ni Declan habang tumatawa. "Bumalik ka na nga rito sa upuan mo. Kapag nalaman o naabutan ka ni Hunter diyan, lagot ka talaga."

​"Nah, I just wanna talk closer to Kadecy," casual na sagot ni Jack sabay sandal sa upuan, making it look so innocent to everyone else.

​Pero sa ilalim ng lamesa, naramdaman kong dahan-dahang umaakyat ang kamay niya pataas sa hita ko. Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. Mabilis kong tinabig ang kamay niya sa ilalim, pero parang wala lang 'yun sa kanya, he kept his relaxed posture, barely even flinching.

​I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart hammering wildly inside my chest. Napalingon ulit ako sa lamesa at nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Leonhardt.

​Leonhardt stopped laughing. Napakunot ang noo niya nung makita ang matinding discomfort at panginginig sa mukha ko.

​"Are you okay, Kadecy?" tanong ni Leonhardt na may halong matinding pag-aalala sa boses, turning the attention of the table slightly. "Are you feeling okay? May masakit ba sa'yo?"

​"Ah, e—"

​Bago pa man ako makapagsalita, naramdaman ko ang pagbaon ng mga daliri ni Jack sa hita ko sa ilalim ng tela. He leaned just a fraction of an inch closer, his lips barely moving so no one else would notice.

​"Try to tell them what I'm doing..." pabulong niyang banta sa gilid ko, his tone dark and cold. "...and Hunter will lose something precious to him. That precious sports car he loves so much? I'll make sure it goes up in flames tonight."

​His sports car?

​Natigilan ako. Napaisip ako agad kung alin doon kasi ang dami niyang sasakyan, pero alam kong 'yung customized vintage sports car na regalo ng lolo niya ang pinaka-ingat-ingatan ni Hunter. The one he spent years restoring.

​Jack’s threat echoed in my head, paralyzing me. He was weaponizing Hunter's prized possession against me, knowing I wouldn't risk letting Hunter get hurt or ruined because of me.

​"I-I'm fine, Leonhardt," pilit kong bawi, trying to force a weak smile even though my teeth were practically chattering. "Bigla lang sumakit 'yung tiyan ko."

​Leonhardt narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. Tiningnan niya si Jack, then back at me, his instincts catching the thick tension right at our corner of the table.

​"Sure ka?" tanong pa uli ni Leonhardt, slowly setting his glass down. "You look pale."

​"Oo nga, Kadecy, muka kang nakakita ng multo," dagdag pa ni Kane na natigilan na rin sa pag-inom.

​Jack just chuckled smoothly, slinging an arm over the back of my chair to make it look like we were just friendly. "Chill, guys. Nag-usap lang kami nang konti. Masyado niyo namang ginugulat 'yung tao."

​Doon na ako mas lalong nasuka sa matinding inis at takot. Gusto kong tumayo, gusto kong sampalin si Jack, pero natatakot ako sa kung anong pwedeng gawin ng gonggóng na 'to sa sasakyan at sa buhay ni Hunter kapag nagwala ako rito.

​I sat there frozen, praying to God that Hunter would walk through those doors now.

Bago pa man makapagsalita ulit si Leonhardt, mabilis na tinapik ni Kane ang balikat ni Jack.

​"Hoy, Jack! Bumalik ka na nga rito sa pwesto mo, nanggugulo ka pa diyan eh," utos ni Kane sabay tawa.

​Jack subtly squeezed my thigh one last time, a silent, sickening reminder of his threat, before finally pulling his hand back. He slid out of Hunter's chair and casually walked back to his original seat across the table, acting as if nothing had happened.

​"Galit agad? Lumipat lang ako nang konti," natatawang sagot ni Jack habang nakikipag-apir pa kay Declan.

​Nakahinga ako nang malalim, pero nanginginig pa rin ang buong katawan ko. The uncomfortable warmth where his hand had been made my skin crawl. Mabilis kong inayos ang lap ng damit ko sa ilalim ng mesa habang hawak-hawak ang nanginginig kong mga daliri.

​Leonhardt’s eyes never left me. Ramdam kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin, full of suspicion and concern, but before he could ask another question, the glass doors of the restaurant opened.

​Pumasok na si Hunter.

​His eyes immediately scanned the room, instantly locking onto our table. My breath caught in my throat as he walked back toward us, his tall frame emitting that usual calm authority, completely unaware of the heavy, toxic atmosphere that had just unfolded while he was outside.

​He didn't know about Jack's hands and the threat to his precious car.

​Napaayos ako ng upo at mabilis na kinuha ang baso ng juice para magkunwaring busy, trying my absolute best to hide the terror and pale look on my face.

​Hunter reached the table, pulling back his chair right next to me.