Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 25: My Heart Is The Worst Kind Of Weapon

Of all the things Barry said, his last speech was the one which really made a mark.

And I knew exactly why.

Seryoso ba itong taong ito? I thought to myself. Ganito kabilis magbago ang isip nito?

I was a little disoriented. Sino ba namang hindi?

Ano 'yun? 'Yun na 'yun?

I opened my mouth to say something but I had the feeling that regardless of what I would say, it would come out awkward...

Awkward? Awkward ka pa. Gaga, wala kang gusto sa taong 'to, ano itong awkward at disoriented na hanash mo? Magpasalamat ka na lang na tapos na 'yung kahibangan n'ya at pwede ka nang mamuhay nang matiwasay. Pero, gan'un lang talaga kadali...?

"You're frowning," Barry commented. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Yes..."

"Were you surprised?"

"A bit. Pero, hindi pa ba ako sanay sa kakayahan mong manggulat? 'Yun kaya ang forte mo..."

"Yes, it's fast becoming my forte," he said. "Even I surprise myself sometimes."

"Ahh..."

"May gusto ka bang sabihin? Baka hindi mo pa nailabas lahat ng sama ng loob mo sa akin. Now is the time."

I felt heat swallow my face at his comment.

"Parang ang dami ko namang sama ng loob sa'yo..." I murmured.

"Hindi ba?"

He smiled.

"But, it's okay, it's my fault because I forced upon you my brute, nearly desperate, show of affection."

Huh?

"Gan'un kasi ako, I am the kind of person who likes getting his way and who's extremely impatient. Ayokong nag-aaksaya ng oras."

"Ahh...okay..." I said for lack of anything better to say.

It was weird how I suddenly felt shy towards Barry. I realized that when you remove the flirting, being around Barry was a tad uncomfortable. It was crazy to discover how his flirtatiousness seemed to be the only reason why I felt at ease around him and once that was no longer in the picture, I couldn't help but see him as someone who's in a totally different league – the rich boss from a rich family whose generosity I took shameless advantage of.

Umaamin ka na kasing nakinabang ka rin naman sa kahibangan ni Barry. Naaliw ka rin naman kahit papaano sa mga kadramahan nila ni Leah at kahit nasabunutan ka ng babaeng 'yun ay natutuwa ka kasi sa'yo pa rin ang huling halakhak. Well, sort of...

"Do you want me to help you with that?" Barry's question disrupted my inner monologue and it took nearly a full minute for me to realize that he was looking at the bag I had slung over my shoulder.

"Ah, ito? Okay lang kaya ko na..."

"Sigurado ka? That looks heavy. Ako na ang magpapasok n'yan sa kuwarto mo—or sa kotse ko kung gusto mo nang umalis."

Ano na, Claire?

I swallowed a groan. Aalis ka ba? Mag-uuwian ka bang talaga ng Cavite tulad ng matapang mong pahayag kanina?

Ang totoo, iniisip ko pa lang na 'yung ibibiyahe ko araw-araw ay napapagod na ako. Pakiramdam ko ay malalanta ang kaluluwa ko sa sobrang traffic at mauubos lahat ng ipon ko sa pamasahe. Idadagdag ko pa sa konsumisyon ko 'yung pagdating ko sa bahay nina Tita ay wala kaming matinong tulugan ni Mommy at magkakasya lang kaming dalawa sa salas nila.