"Come in"

I opened the door of my dad's office while holding my breath. Sobrang kinakabahan ako dahil kanina nung kausap ko siya ay sobrang galit niya na sa'kin dahil sumisigaw na siya sa phone. 

 

"Dad" I called. 

He lifted his head up and I my heart started beating faster when I saw his expressionless face. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano yung susunod na magiging reaksyon niya. 

"Sit down" he gestured me to sit on the chair in front of his office table.

 

"Dad I'm sorry I don't kno---" I was cut off when he speaks. 

"Where have you been all night?" 

I swallowed the lump in my throat coz I don't know how to answer his question. Should I tell him about Jennie or should I lie. Pero pano kung alam niya na yung tungkol sa amin at mahuli niyang nagsisinungaling ako. Bahala na. 

"I'm with Je... Jisoo dad. May mga school papers lang na tinatapos so I need to spend the night at her house" I lied and managed not to stutter. 

I wanted to tell my dad about Jennie but I'm afraid. Takot ako sa magiging reaksyon niya, takot ako na baka hindi niya magustuhan si Jen. Knowing my dad, Jen isn't the type of girl that he would want me to be with. 

"Is that so?" he questioned and stood up to get something on the divider. 

 

"Ye--yes dad"

"WHAT THE HECK IS THIS THEN?" he shouts and throw something on the table. 

 

My eyes widened when I saw the pictures scattered on the table from the envelop my dad thrown at me. Para kong binuhusan ng nagyeyelong tubig ng biglang nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. Where the hell did he get these pictures of me and Jennie, kissing and  hugging each other. Some of these pictures was taken last night at Jen's house at yung iba kuha pa sa mga ibang dates namin. So, all this time pinapasundan niya kami?

 

"Do you really think I'm that dumb at hindi ko malalaman ang relasyon mo with that girl? She's your girlfriend right?"

I opened my mouth only to close it again. Parang walang boses na gustong lumabas sa lalamunan ko dahil sa sobrang panunuyo nito. 

"WHAT!?" I closed my eyes coz I was startled by his shout. 

"Ye--yes d-dad" I stuttered. 


 

"Seriously? What's gotten into you at pumatol ka sa ganyang babae ha Lisa?" 


 

"What do you mean dad? You don't know her. She's a decent per---" I wasn't able to finish coz he cuts me off again. 

 

"It is you who do not know her Lisa" 

I furrowed my brows coz I couldn't grasp what he was trying to say. 

"I have her background checked and I---" this time, I was the one who cut her off. I stood up and spoke. 

 

"YOU WHAT?" 

Tama ba ang dinig ko? Pinabackground check niya si Jen? Why? She's not a criminal for him to do that. I watch my dad fixed his eyeglasses before he look straight into my face. 

"You heard me right. Pinabackground check ko siya" 

"BUT WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT? SHE'S CLEAN DAD! SHE'S A DECENT WOMAN" sumagot ako na medyo may pagtaas na nang boses. 
 

"Oh is she?" he said in a mocking way. 

I glared at my dad. 
 

"Clearly that this brainwashed you" 

"She's not a !" I defended. 
 

"She is! Her aunt is a Japayuki and she doesn't have her own family" 

"SO WHAT? THAT DOESN'T MAKE HER A ! Her aunt became a japayuki so she could support her family but that was long ago. And Jen not having a family is not her fault!" 

My dad scoffed. 

"And her being a mistress of a politician is what? Having too many boyfriends too?" 

I was speechless coz I was surprised. That's a bomb and I didn't knew that she was a mistress of a politician. I couldn't believe it. I don't want to believe it. 

 

"What? You didn't know right? Of course she wouldn't tell you about it. Bakit niya pa nga ba sasabihin kung nakajackpot na siya sa'yo. You're young, matalino, mayaman!" my dad mocked. 

 

I shook my head. I refused to believe. 

"I don't believe you. You're just making up stories para layuan ko siya. Stop it dad"

My dad took something from the envelope before he went beside me and hand me a picture of Jennie kissing a not so old Congressman on the lips. I gritted my teeth and crumpled the picture on my hand. 

"Now tell me. Am I making up stories?" 

I bit my lower lip and force my tears not to fall down. Why didn't she tell me about it. 

"She's a that is after his money and now you are her target..." 

"Stop" I cut him off.

"She's a mistress---" he continued.

"Stop" but he didn't stop. 

"Stop seeing that slu---" 

"I SAID STOP! STOP CALLING HER NAMES!" I yelled and throw the crumpled picture somewhere before leaving his office. 


 

I heard dad calling me but I didn't stop nor look back. I am so damn angry right now coz I couldn't believe everything he showed me. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nilihim sakin ni Jennie ang tungkol dun. I went straight to the elevator to the basement parking lot. I ride my car but before I could even started it ay di ko na napigilang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. I punched the stirring wheel and shout. Sobrang nagagalit ako dahil sa mga nalaman ko. I don't know what to feel exactly. Magagalit ba ko? Mandidiri? Hindi ko alam. 
 

After crying inside my car, I called Seulgi and Jisoo. Inaya ko silang mag inom sa bar at agad naman silang pumayag. 
















 

"Wag ka munang mag isip ng kung ano ano Lis" Jisoo said while tapping my shoulder. 
 

"Oo nga Lis. Mag usap muna kayo. I know Jennie has her reasons kung bakit di niya sinabi sayo" it was Seulgi. 


 

"And what could be her reason then? Pano pala kung hanggang ngayon may koneksyon pa rin siya sa pulitikong yun? What if they are still talking behind my back? Iniisip ko pa lang nandidiri na ko" I shook my head and drink my vodka straight. 

"Lis wag ka munang magconclude nang di mo pa siya nakakausap. Malay mo matagal na yung tapos at talagang loyal na siya sayo" Jisoo defended Jennie while Seulgi nodded her head. 

 

"I don't know what to think anymore" 

"Mag usap kayo" Jisoo told me again. 



















 

Jennie
 

"Oh Jisoo napatawag ka?" 

 

"Jen pwede ka bang pumunta dito sa Antidote? Si Lisa kasi lasing na lasing na pero ayaw pa ring paawat" 

 

Napabangon ako sa pagkakahiga ng marinig ko ang sinabi ni Jisoo. 

 

"What? Bakit naglasing yan? Kaya pala kanina ko pa tinatawagan at hindi sumasagot" nag aalalang tanong ko. 

 

"May nangyari ata sa office eh. Pumunta ka na lang dito Jen. Baka ikaw lang makakaawat dito" 

 

"O sige sige. Magpapalit lang ako saglit"


 

Dali dali akong nagbihis. Nagpants lang ako at hoodie na iniwan ni Lisa dito sa bahay last time. Bumaba ako at nang palabas na ako ay halos mapatalon ako sa gulat ng biglang magsalita si Tita Belle.
 

"Aalis ka? Gabi na ah" tanong niya habang hinahalo ang kung anumang tinimpla niya sa tasa. 

 

"Yes tita. Tumawag sakin yung friend ni Lisa pinapasundo siya. Lasing na lasing daw eh. Ayaw paawat" paliwanag ko.

 

"Ah ganun ba? Bat daw naglasing? Gusto mo samahan na kita?" 
 

"No na tita. Jan lang naman sa Makati Ave eh, kaya ko na to" nakangiting tugon ko. 
 

Tumango na lang siya at sinabing, "O siya mag ingat ka na lang sa pagdadrive ha. May duplicate ka naman ng susi ng bahay. Tawagan mo na lang ako kung kailangan mo ng tulong" 

 

"Yes tita" I smile and walk towards her. I kissed her cheeks before leaving the house.







 

Dahil gabi na, wala nang traffic kaya mabilis akong nalarating sa Antidote bar. Pagpasok ko pa lang sa loob ay malakas na tugtog, nagsasayawang mga tao that reeks of smoke and alcohol ang bumungad sakin. I looked around but I don't see any sign of them three so I decided to call Jisoo.

 

"Jisoo andito na ko, san kayo?" 
 

"Jen look up. We're here" 

 

I looked up and saw Jisoo waving her hands at me. I dropped the call ar dali daling tumakbo pataas sa VIP area. Hindi ko na pinansin yung mga taong nakakabangga ko. Until someone held my wrist that made me stop.  

"Hi miss! Finally may hot ding naligaw dito. Are you looking for fun, babe?" a drunk tall moreno guy asked me. He has this maniac look on his face. 


 

"Sorry, I'm not interested" I rolled my eyes and pulled my wrist but he didn't let go.

 

"What the ! Let me go!" I shout when he started holding my waist and pulling me closer to him. 


 

"No. I know you came here for fun and I volunteered myself tp have fun with you" he smirked like a maniac. 

 

" you! I'm not here for that so let me go! I don't like you, you maniac!" I pushed his chest harder but coz he's too strong. 


 

"Oh feisty! I like that. Saglit lang tayo. Mabilis lang to then pwede ka nang umalis" he insisted, still pulling mw towards somewhere. 

 

I tried to escape but he's really strong. 
 

"DIDN'T SHE SAY SHE DOESN'T LIKE YOU? LET GO OF MY GIRLFRIEND NOW!" a familiar voice came from the back shouted. 
 

Hindi ko alam but I managed to look back then I saw the woman I love standing before us. I smiled at her but she didn't notice coz her eyes were busy sending daggers to this maniac here. 

"Lisa" Jisoo called behind her. They are panting hard. I bet hinabol nila si Lisa. 

 

I felt the man's grip loosened so I managed to escape from his hold and went beside Lisa. I saw the shocked expression on the man's face and look a little scared.

 

"Lisa... sorry I didn't know she's your girlfriend" the man said while swallowing his saliva. 

 

Lisa walk towards the man and I was so shocked nang bigla niyang kuwelyuhan yung lalaki.

 

"Lisa!" I called but she didn't budge. 
 

"Next time kikilalanin mo kung sinong binabastos mo ha"
 

The man nodded abruptly and Lisa pushed him hard against the wall. Sa sobrang takot nagmamadaling umalis na lang yung lalaki.

"That's Marty. His parents work for the Manoban's" bulong ni Jisoo. Now it made sense kung bakit gulat na gulat siya at takot na takot ng makita niya si Lisa. 


 

Hindi ko na nagawang sagutin si Jisoo nang bigla nang humarap sakin si Lisa. A small amount of light hit her face at nagyon ko lang napansin na talagang lasing na talaga siya. Namumungay na ang mga mata niya at namumula na ang mga pisngi niya. Lumapit ako sa kanya ng bigla siyang nagsalita. 


 

"What are you doing here at this hour?" she asked in her drunken state. Halos hindi niya na mabigkas nang maayos ang bawat salita. 

 

"Andito ako baby to pick you up" I was about to grab her waist nang bigla na lang siya nawalan ng malay. Mabuti na lang at nasalo ko siya. She rested her head on my shoulder habang yakap yakap ko yung katawan niya. I can also feel her hot breath and deep breathing indication na tulog na siya. Gosh! Ano bang problema neto at naglasing ng ganito? Now I wonder what happened in the office. 

 

I struggled carrying her to the car. Mabuti na lang at tinulungan ako nila Jisoo at Seul. Nang maisakay na namin si Lisa sa kotse ko ay agad na kaming nag paalam sa isa't isa. Jisoo told md na siya nang bahala sa kotse ni Lisa. 

 

I heave a sigh while looking at her drunken state. She also looked at me and smile. 
 

"Baby" she called. 
 

"Yes I'm here, babe" I answered. Nakatitig lang siya sakin at nakangiti. 

 

"Bat ka ba nag inom baby? May problema ba?" 

 

She pouted her lips and shook her head.
 

"Mahal mo ba talaga ko, baby?" she asked.
 

I furrowed my brows with the question but still answered.
 

"Of course! Bakit mo ba tinatanong yan? May nangyari ba?" I asked worriedly. 
 

"Nah" she answered then nodded. Ilang sandali pa at nakatulog na ulit siya. 
 

I put on her seatbelt and stared at her. Napakaganda niya pa rin kahit wasted siya. I caressed her blushing cheeks and fixed her disheveled hair. I was startled when she suddenly caught my hand and kissed my palm. 
 

"I love you Jen" she said while her eyes closed. 
 

I smiled. 


 

"I love you too, Lisa. Kung anumang problema mo, andito lang ako for you. I will never leave you" I kissed her lips before I drive home. 

 

Pasensya na sa mga typo. Hindi na ko nagproofread eh.