PORTION 38

Sam's POV

I'm here now at the mall to spy. Pinag-date ko nga si Faye at Jaybi tapos ito namang si Petot ay niyaya ako at puntahan daw namin sila.

And now, we're following them. Actually, Petot is the one who's following them and I'm just following her.

"Look, they are so happy! Ito ba yung gusto mo?" Petot asked, angrily while pointing at those two, Jaybi and Faye playing at the fun house.

Inutos ko, pero 'di ko ginusto.

I didn't say anything and just kept looking at them, just watching their every move.

"You have the looks, that beauty and brain. Pala-kaibigan, medyo may pagka-gangsters pero mabait at mayaman—"

"`Di ako mayaman," I cut her off.

"Mayaman ka, ayaw lang i-claim ng Lola mo. Mayaman kayo."

"Sila, 'di ako."

"Oh sige, pag-awayan natin 'to. . . . but tell me, sa'n ka nagkulang? sa'n din ako nagkulang ng payo sa 'yo? Anong naisipan mo para gawin 'to?" And she kept asking me.

I looked at her and took a deep breath, "I can't do anything about it anymore, Petot. Nandiyan na eh, nangyayari na."

"We both know that you have only two weeks left before you go abroad, pero hindi kita maintindihan, bakit ito? Kurt gave you a ring and you went with him, instead of Jaybi. And now, you set them up on a date. Answer me, what's with you?"

"If this is the only way for him to stop caring about me, I'll do it," I explain.

"And do you think he'll stop caring and loving you after doing this? I don't think so." As she shook her head, "So, what's next? Papapuntahan mo si Kurt dito at pipiliin mo na makikipaghalikan sa harapan ni Jaybi, huh?" She jokingly said, but put her hands on her waist and tilt a bit of her head.

Papuntahin si Kurt dito, at makipaghalikan? Isn't that a great idea?

I smirked, patted her one shoulder, "Thank you. Magandang idea 'yan!"

She was speechless for a second, but she faced her palm after.

"Anong thank you ka riyan? At magandang idea ka pang nalalaman? Huy, Samantha, sinasabi ko sa 'yo, ah!" she said.

"But isn't that a good idea?"

She just gave me an are-you-serious look, as if she was really annoyed by what I've done.

"Ghad, Samantha! Sumasakit ulo ko ng wala sa oras!" And rolled her eyes.

And then we followed them again. I mean Petot followed them and I, I just followed Petot.

After being a spy for a few hours, we think that they are going home so we decided to go too. We're now here at the parking lot. I asked Kurt to fetch us since I'm planning something, so we are both outside the car talking some nonsense, while Petot is not around.

Ang tagal kasi bumili nung babaeng 'yun! `Di ba? May bibilhin pala, chumika pa muna.

I looked around where I thought that I would see Petot, but I didn't see her and I saw Jaybi and Faye, instead.

Suddenly I remembered the reason why Kurt is here so I think It's time, isn't it?

I looked at Kurt, "Kiss me, Kurt."

"Huh?"

"Just kiss— ako na nga!" And I kissed him.

I know that he was shocked but I don't care, basta magawa ko lang ng ayos 'to!

I can see Jaybi running towards us.

"Kurt?" As soon as he got here, he pushed Kurt and me away from each other. He looked at me, "Sam, I'll give you time to explain."

I shook my head, "Wala akong dapat i-explain. It's up to you, whether you'll believe it or not. I don't care."

I grabbed Kurt's hand and ran away. I ran away, as far as I can. I want to stay away from him. When we were a little farther away, Kurt stopped from running which caused me to stop as well. We reached some corners here in the parking lot.

"You're with me, but your heart is with him. I'm the one who's here, but you care about him. Sam, tell me that you love him and I'll give you up." He's looking at me with those serious eyes.

I started to sniff, and my eyes are getting wet as if it's going to be tears and will fall later on.

"Matagal mo na akong gusto, 'di ba? You have been chasing me for a very long time but now that I'm with you, why are you giving up?"

"I did chase you, Sam, but I never saw your smile when you're with me, unlike when you are with him. Kung siya talaga yung nagbibigay ng ngiti sa mga labi mo, yung nagpapasaya sa 'yo, sabihin mo lang at papalayain kita."

I breakdown, and burst into tears.

"Kurt, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," I apologized.

"Fine, I'm giving up. I'm tired of chasing you, I'm tired of forcing you to love me even though I know you don't want to."

I burst into tears even more, "I'm sorry, I can't love you."

"Don't worry, I'm not your fiance anymore. That ring, it's up to you whether you will keep it or throw it away." He sat down and hugged me, "`Wag ka ng umiyak, nasasaktan ako."

"I'm sorry, I just can't."

"Sige, ako na lang ang mag-a-adjust." And stood up, put a jacket on me before he turned around, "Sa ganitong paraan, hindi kita makikita na umiiyak."

I put both my palms on my face, because there are a lot of tears coming out from my eyes and I'm trying to wipe them all up.

"Kurt . . ." Iyak ko.

"If you are no longer happy with him, just come back to me. I may be the kind of person who always does not talk, smile, or even laugh but believe me, if there's a way just to make you happy, I'll do it."

Akala ko ang tapang ko na, hindi pa rin pala.

Flashback...

"Let's talk, and I want it to be just the two of us. No more, no less," I said.

He drove his people away. It's just the two of us here.

"So?" he asked, and tilted his head.

"Pumapayag na ako. I'll be your fiance. . . . but in one condition, you will never bother him. You will not do anything on him."

"And that's it?"

"You will not hurt him."

"Ang dali naman!" And he laughed. "Okay, then."

End of Flashback...

I was just crying here the whole time. And just realized that Kurt was still here and probably waiting for me when I saw his legs in front of me. Nakatalikod pa rin siya.

When I'm a bit done crying I asked him.

"Bakit nandito ka pa rin? You should go home."

"Then, I think I don't need to go."

"Kurt," I said. And at the same time, saying his name because I'm serious, yet he is playing around.

"`Di ko pwede iwan ang dapat na magiging asawa ko. Tito will get mad," he explained.

The Tito he is referring to, is my Dad.

After all, inaalala niya pa rin yung sasabihin ni Dad about this f•cking arrange marriage. Siya lang naman ang dahilan ng lahat ng 'to, pero 'di ba magagalit sa kanya si Dad if he figured out that the we cancelled this?

"Speaking of, 'di ba magagalit sa 'yo ang Daddy ko kapag nalaman niya 'to?"

"I'll handle everything."

I shook my head, "Kaya mo?"

Though I didn't know who exactly my dad is, I know what he has done with all these years. And to make the long story short, he is not a good man.

"Ako lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit may arrangements eh, kaya ako rin ang tatapos," he said, caused me to frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You're done crying?" he asked, changing the topic, "Hatid na kita."

And now, he turned around once again. The whole time we were talking, we weren't looking at each other. Now, our eyes met. He landed his right hand, as if asking me for my hand so that I could stand up. Without saying, I accepted it and stood up with his help.

"Let's go. . . . home," he said.