It Started Without Love

Chapter 2

“Anak, nasa baba na si Liam. Magmadali ka na diyan at nang di na kayo magabihan pa sa mga lakad niyo.” I heard mom calling me, hindi siya makapasok agad sa kwarto dahil inilock ko ito.

Instead of answering her, I lazily drag myself out of the bed and do my morning routine, not minding that someone’s waiting for me downstairs. Ayaw ko sanang umalis ngayon, I just feel that this is not a good time for us to be seen in public. Kagabi lang ay nabasa ko ang mga comments ng mga tao sa post niya sa IG. Inaway ko siya dahil dito but he just won’t take it down.

He posted a picture of mine, nakatalikod ako sa kanya, with the beach as the background. I’m wearing a white two-piece stringed bikini and my hair in a messy bun. His caption is just a heart emoji. I told him to take it down dahil may mga nag-aaway na sa comment section. Its Mariz Abellana, a popular TV personnel and Hope Escudero, a model. I’ve meet these two during some social gathering dahil mga anak din ito ng mga business tycoon. I’ve been to modelling too but just a part time. May amiga lang si mommy na  minsan nakikiusap na magmodel ako para sa mga collection niya for her clothing lines. Other than that, wala na pero nakilala ko pa rin sila.

Nabalitaan ko rin na nagsabunotan pa daw ang dalawa ng magkita sila sa club kagabi. Tatiana Juarbal got involved too. Among the rest of the girls, Tatiana is the most popular kasi siya ang madalas maissue sa kanya. She is a model too.

I just wear a simple skinny jeans that hugs my shape perfectly and a plain white shirt tucked in. Nagsuot lang ako ng belt at white shoes naman. I just don’t like extravagant clothes, kaya’t di talaga ako makapaniwala na walang reklamo si Liam sa akin. His girls likes flashy dresses and high heels. I do wear those sometimes, but not like them who does it, parang kahit sa pagtulog, ganoon.

“Eat your breakfast first before we leave.” From scrolling through my phone, nag-angat ako ng tingin ng magsalita siya. She’s dressed casually too. Maong jeans, white shirt, white shoes. Ano ba ‘to? Couple attire.

Hindi na lang ako nagsalita. Nagpunta ako sa kitchen without saying a word to him. Hindi ko na rin siya inaya pero nagsisi agad ako.

“Where’s Liam, ayain mo siya. Kanina pa siya at hindi pa yan nagbebreakfast, for sure.” Sinita agad ako ni mommy ng makitang paupo na ako.

I rolled my eyes and then go back to the living room to get Liam. Nakaupo lang siya doon at nanood ng isang basketball game.

“Liam.” I called from the kitchen door. Hindi siya natinag, ni paglingon ay hindi ginawa. He’s so engrossed with the match. Instead of calling him again, I walked passed through him to get the remote on the center table and turned off the TV. I smiled wickedly when he turn his gazed at me, nagtataka sa ginawa ko.

“You can just call me nicely, you know.” I am almost laughing at his annoyance.

“I did but you didn’t listen.” Hindi na siya nakasagot pang muli dahil nakarating na kami sa hapag. Si mommy ay nasa kitcgen at may binibake yata.

After silently eating, umalis na agad kami. Ang unang mga linakad namin ay naging madali lang naman dahil mga paperworks lang ito like CENOMAR and such. Naitawag na ito noong nakaraan, kukunin na lang talaga namin. Pagkatapos nito ay nagpunta na agad kami sa flower shop na gusto naming kunan ng mga bulaklak. We’re like two strangers who are forced to go out together kasi magkasama kami pero di kami nag-uusap. Our last stop is sa mall. May kakatagpuin kaming organizer and pipili na rin kami ng wedding ring namin.

Before heading to the jewelry store that we’ve chosen, we decided to eat our lunch first. Nakaupo lang kami at naghihintay sa order namin ng biglang may tumawag sa kanya.

“Liam?” Tatiana Juarbal on her white off-shoulder fitted dress approached us. Parang nabigla si Liam ng makita ito kaya’t napatayo agad siya.

“Tat!” he kissed her cheeks. Parang alagang-alaga siya dito base sa paraan ng paghawak niya sa mga siko nito.

“Who is she?” Napabaling ang tingin sa akin ni Tatiana. I looked at her too and I was about to smile at her when she suddenly poured the glass of iced tea to me. Hindi nakatingin sa amin si Liam dahil may bumati dito sa kabilang table. Napatayo ako sa pagkabigla.

“What the hell.” I cursed but not too loud, I don’t want to get other people’s attention. “Why did you do that?!” I hissed at her. Nakatingin na si Liam sa amin ngayon.

“Liam, oh my. I really didn’t mean to do that. Kasi naman, I was about to put it on your table kasi ang ginaw na eh. Sorry. Anyway, you can just buy shirt naman at the department store, your shirt looks cheap naman eh.” Kung ang tono lang talaga ng pananalita niya ang pagbabasehan, talagang makakapaniwala ka. But I saw it, so I won’t.

“Stop acting like you didn’t mean it.” I spat angrily pero mahina lang. Nagpaawa ulit siya kay Liam and Liam, as rude as he is to me, kinampihan pa ito.

“Reese, enough. Hindi nga sinasadya diba. Just clean yourself first before we eat.” I was in awe for a moment, and then he turned to Tatiana to guide her to join our table. Abala naman ang mga waiter sa paglinis ng nagkalat na iced tea. I even heard some gossips from the nearby table. May mga nakakakilala sa akin.

Without even giving a word, I marched towards the powder room of the resto and instead of cleaning myself up, I called Ash to pick me up.

When she called again, telling me that she’s already in the mall’s parking lot, I marched out of the resto. I wear my aviators on para di ako makilala agad ng mga tao, and I also wear my cap na nasa bag ko lang kanina.