BIG SHOT #1: RICKY

Big Shot #1: Ricky ❣ Chapter Twenty ❣

Forward

“Are you happy?”

Tinigil ko yung paglalagay ng moisturizer sa mukha ko at kunot noo na binalingan to.

Wyatt is casually leaning against my headboard habang seryoso na nakatitig sa mga mata ko.

“Anong tanong yan?”

“Ricky.” May gagad na sagot nito. He narrowed his eyes. “Are you?”

Pabuntunghininga na tinapos ko muna yung night ritual ko bago ako tumabi ng upo dito. “Honestly, I don’t know.” I replied using my resigned tone while shrugging my shoulders.

“You want to inflict him pain. You certainly got what you wanted tonight.”

I rolled my eyes at his suggestive tone.

“I didn’t plan that to happen. Ni hindi ko nga alam na may usapan pala sila ni Seth.” I edged closer to him and leaned against his arm. “And I’m a little bit tipsy. You know, I’m kind of touchy pag may alak na sa sistema ko.” I added absentmindedly.

Ngumisi to. “And no one in their right mind could complain with that .“

Natatawa na pinalo ko yung balikat nito bago ako sumandal ulit dito.

“But seriously, what are you going to do now?”

Yeah Rain. What are you going to do now?

I sighed.

Why is my life so damn complicated?

Nang tumingala ako kay Wyatt. Nakita ko na naghihintay to ng sagot mula sakin.

Nahiga ako sa kama at pa sideway na tumingin dito. “Ano sa tingin mo ang dapat kong gawin?”

Ngumisi to at alam kong may naglalaro na namang kalokohan sa utak nito.

“Ditch him and marry me?”

Binato ko ng unan yung mukha nito. “Stop it. I’m serious!”

Natatawa na humiga din to sa tabi ko. “Oh come on. Imagine yung magiging mukha ng mga anak natin? Ang gandang lahi ko yata.”

I burst into a fit of giggles habang kinukurot ko yung bewang nito. “Sumbong kita sa gf mo eh.”

Nakakaloko lang tong tumingin sakin habang hindi pa rin nabubura yung kapilyuhan sa mga labi nito. “I thought, you are my girlfriend.”

Natatawa na napaingos nalang ako. “Seryoso nga Wyatt.”

Tumigil to sa pagtawa at pasimple na kinurot yung pisngi ko.

“You’re the only one who can answer that.” Sabi nito, makalipas ang ilang minuto na katahimikan. “Ano nga ba talagang balak mo?”

I groaned and buried my face against my pillow. “And that’s the problem. Because I really don’t know.”

“Ok. Let’s see.” Tumingin to sa mga mata ko. “Are you still holding a grudge against him?”

Natigilan ako. This is not what I expected him to ask.

Suddenly, Seth’s rant came in my mind.

“A little.” Sagot ko dito habang iniiwas ko yung mga mata ko.

“Is there any chance you can totally forgive him?”

I sighed. “Yes.” I turned to him. “And I think, I’m already halfway there.”

Wyatt held my gaze.

Medyo naiilang na ako ng ilang minuto na yung nakalipas, nanatili lang tong nakatitig sa mukha ko.

I was about to open my mouth nang magsalita ulit to. “Do you want to be with him in the long run?”

I rubbed my neck stressfully.

How could these have happened?

Before I came here. I thought I was already over him.

You’re still attracted to him. Remember the court scene? Tuya ng utak ko.

Ok. Let me rephrase that. I’m not attracted to him as strongly as before.

I recalled my life for the past three years…. My life without him and that’s when I finally answered.

“Yes.”

Nang makita ko na lumiwanag yung mukha ni Wyatt sa kapilyuhan. I raised my hand to silence him. “But I’m tipsy so ask me again tomorrow when I’m sober.” Nagmamadali kong dagdag, bago pa nito ipagpatuloy yung panunukso nito.

==============

Getting to my feet. I went downstairs when the doorbell kept ringing.

I tried to ignore it. But whoever on the other side is a very persistent bastard.

I rubbed my eyes and yanked the door open.

It took me a moment to realize who’s really standing in front of me.

I might be still sleeping.

Or my lack of sleep is finally getting through my head and making me crazy.

I think I’m seeing things, I wanted to see.

Because this man in front of me looks like Ricky. “Morning?” Sabi ng aparisyon ni Ricky.

I didn’t answer him.

I just stood on my spot, staring at him with a stunned expression.

After a few minutes of silence. “What are you doing here?” I exclaimed, finally finding my voice.

He grinned boyishly habang tinataas yung plastic cup na hawak nito. “Cappuccino with an extra shot of cream?”

My chest squeezed as I stared at his beaming face.

Staying away will be a safe bet.

But I wanted to. No. I deserved more than a safe bet.

How am I going to put the past behind us kung tatakbo nalang ako nang tatakbo?

And honestly, my mind was already made up last night.

Maybe this is a sign.

Maybe this time, I could finally win.

And there is only one way to find out.

“Rain?”

“Oh.” I gave him a warm smile. Kinuha ko yung cup na hawak nito. “Thank you.”

I opened my door wider and let him in. “Please, feel at home.” Habang tinuturo ko yung sala.

Pumunta akong kitchen. “You want something to eat?” Tanong ko dito nang mapansin ko na sumunod din to sakin.

“I’m already finished. It was already half past eleven, Rain.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. “Lunch then.”

“And that’s the real reason why I’m here.”

I turned to him.

He ran his fingers through his hair and if I didn’t know him any better, iisipin ko na nine-nerbyos to. “Actually, I want to take you out for a picnic. The weather is kind of nice today. Hindi mainit kahit tanghaling tapat and I know a very good place.”

Kelan pa naging hindi mainit ang tanghaling tapat sa Pinas? Pero hindi ko na yon sinabi pa dito. Dahil baka katulad ko, sari-saring emosyon din yung naglalaro dito.

Binaba ko sa counter yung binigay nito. I heaved a deep sigh and looked straight into his eyes.

Our eyes locked.

At bigla nalang pumasok sa isipan ko yung narinig kong conversation nila mama at tita, last year.

My tita’s boyfriend cheated on her. She was pregnant that time at yung ex boyfriend nito, after two months of being MIA, bumalik and asked my tita to marry him.

That time, ako ang designated driver nila nang nagbalak si Tita na i-meet yung ex boyfriend nito.

Tandang tanda ko pa yung sinabi ni mami kay tita nang nagdalawang isip si tita na pumasok ng resto. kung san nito kakatagpuin yung ex nito.

My mom told her,  “Humakbang kalang. Kung mabigat ang hakbang mo, wag mo ipagpatuloy. Susuportahan ko kahit ano man ang desisyon mo.”

I sighed.

Binalik ko ulit yung tingin ko kay Ricky.

What we had together, hindi naman lahat yon eh sakit ng loob.

Sya man yung rason kung bakit ako nasaktan ng sobra, sya rin naman yung dahilan kung bakit ako naging maligaya.

As sappy as that might sound, yon ang katotohanan.

So I took a step forward at surprisingly, ang gaang lang nang hakbang ko patungo dito. I stopped exactly in front of him. “Ok then.” Without breaking our eye contact, I whispered, “We can do that.”

I know he understood.

Something passed between us and I know he felt it too.

Finally, we are stepping forward.

I gulped nervously. “I think we need to…..”

All of the sudden, the door swung open and Wyatt stepped into the kitchen. “Baby doll, did you see my phone?”

Damnation!

I completely forgot about him!

When I looked between Wyatt and Ricky. Halos mapugto na yung hininga ko sa tensyon.

Ricky’s gaze snapped back at me.

I tried not to flinch at the intensity of his gaze.

“Opps, I didn’t know that you have a company.” Wyatt broke the silence. His eyes are shining in humour.

I rolled my eyes and looked at the ceiling.

So much for finally stepping forward!

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