Chapter 3

"C-Cupid," I stuttered as I called him.

Mabilis akong humiwalay sa kanya ng mapagtanto ang posisyon namin. I can't get close to him anymore because it's getting akward, and.. and I can't stare in his eyes because I'm afraid I will drowned and cannot be saved.

Bago pa siya makapagsalita ay narinig ko ang boses ni Lei.

"Pscyhe!" She called me.

Halos mapa face palm ako dahil sa pagtawag niya sa first name ko. I really hate when people call me using my first name.

She was running towards me, hindi pinansin ang nakatayong si Cupid sa tabi ko.

"Psyche! Did you know? My crush is here! Oh my god, I think, I'm gonna die." She said, over reacting.

Natawa naman ako at napalingon kay Cupid na may maliit na ngiti. He's more handsome when he smile.

"Psyche! Are you listening to me?" Tanong niya sabay wagayway ng kamay sa harap ko.

"Yes, Aphrodite, I am," I answered, emphasising her second name. 

"Okay stop calling me that. Call me Lei," she rolled her eyes at me. Tingnan mo 'tong babae na 'to, attitude.

Sa likod niya ay nakita ko si Ryan na papunta sa diresksyon ko. I rolled my eyes because of him. 

"Venice, babe, let's talk please. I still love you. Hindi na matutuloy ang kasal," sabi niya paglapit niya sa amin.

I almost laugh, ang kapal ng lalaking ito. Kung ako 'yung babae niya siguro nabaon ko na 'to ng buhay. Babaero masyado. Kahit nasasaktan pa ako ng kaunti ay hindi ko naman masikmura na makipagbalikan sa kanya. If he's seeking for closure, it's fine pero huwag muna ngayon dahil bitter pa 'ko.

"Uhm, I think, mauuna na ako. Bye Venice!" Biglang singit ni Aphrodite at kumaripas ng takbo.

Tatlo kaming matira, Cupid, Ryan and me. I looked at Cupid and I saw him creasing his forehead. 

He looked cute.

Pumikit ako ng mariin dahil sa naisip ko. Nakalimutan ko na galing ako sa break up. Ganon ka na kaharot ngayon, Psyche?

I really don't wanna talk to Ryan so I snaked my hands into Cupid's arm at sinandal ang ulo sa balikat niya. Naramdaman kong nagulat siya sa ginawa ko pero nagrelax naman kaagad.

Shit! Bahala na mamaya.

"Actually, I have a date with my boyfriend today and he's so possessive. Sorry can't talk to you," I said kahit hiyang-hiya na ako.

I can feel my cheeks flushing, sobrang nakakahiya ito but I need reason para hindi ko siya makausap.

"Right, love?"

Love, amputa.

I looked at him and smiled fakely. Ang mata ko ay nangungusap na sabayan niya ako.

Please, just this one.

I think he get it naman kaya sumabay siya. He smirked to Ryan, making him more gorgeous in my eyes.

"Yes, we're busy. I don't want my girl talking to other boys, specially her ex." Malalim na boses niyang sabi.

I didn't even notice that I was hugging his arms to tight, napansin ko lang nung nag flinch siya. 

Nakakahiya ka Psyche! Kung ano-anong pinag-gagawa mo. I mentally face palmed because of my actions.

Hindi naman makapaniwala si Ryan sa narinig niya. That's right asshole, leave me alone.

He scoffs sarcastically. "Really, Venice? Tatlong linggo pa lang may bago ka na agad? Ganon ba ako kabilis palitan?"

Nag-init ang ulo ko dahil sa narinig. Wow, how dare him talked about getting a new lover when he was the one who cheated in the first place?

"Really? Can you hear yourself? Ikaw nga pinalitan mo na ako bago pa kita hiwalayan, ganon ba ako kabilis palitan?" I mocked his line before looking at Cupid who was clenching his jaw while looking at my ex boyfriend.

Before he even speak again, I raised my hand to stop him. "No, I don't need your explanation. We're going..." I waved my hand before continuing. "Adios, fucker."

Hinila ko si Cupid palayo doon. Saka ko lang siya binitawan nung hindi na namin makita 'yung mukha niya.

Then realization hit me. Bigla akong nahiya kay Cupid, parang gusto kong magpakain sa lupa para maglaho nalang ako bigla.

Akward silence filled us until I cut if off. "I-I... uhm, I want to say sorry for using you, and thank you for saying my ass back there." I was stuterring while talking. Nakatingin lang ako sa lupa.

I slowly shift my gaze from the ground to him. I saw him looking at me.

"He wanted you back?" He asked.

"Ata? Ewan ko 'don. But one thing's for sure. I don't want him back. I don't get back to my ex." 

His face was still cold but I can see emotions in hos eyes that I can't name.

"Uhm, is your name really Cupid? Like in greek mythology?" I tried to open a topic, ayaw kong maglakad kami parehas na walang pinag-uusapan. Wala na nga kaming pupuntahan e.

He hummed. "Cupid Clyde, it's my name. I don't like people calling me Cupid that's why my cousins call me Clyde," he explained.

Nagtaka naman ako bigla. "Huh? Then why did you told me na Cupid name mo, d-do you want me to call you Clyde instead?"

He shook his head before looking at me. "No, it's fine. I liked the way you say my name." 

Nag-init ang pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Seriously Psyche? Kinikilig ka niyan?

"But seriously, thank you for saving me. Akala ko hindi mo ako sasabayan." Tumingin ako sa kanya upang ipahiwatig na seryoso ako sa pagpapasalamat.

"Yeah, no problem." He said coldly, ganyan ba talaga siya? Ang seryoso niya magsalita.

"You know what? I'll treat you dinner, how about that? As uh... thank you gift, maybe?" I asked in a small voice.

He smiled a little. "It's up to you, Psyche."

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I really don't like it when people call me Psyche, pero bakit sa kanya parang ang sarap pakinggan?

No heart, huwag kang marupok. Alam mo kung gaano kasakit ang masaktan.

Naglakad lang kami hanggang sa makarating kami sa tapat ng isang restaurant. I looked at him, tumango naman siya kaya napangiti ako.

--

"So you're name's Psyche, like in Greek Mythology?" He mimicked my question. He was looking at me seriously na parang tutunawin ako.

I was a little bit shy, sino bang hindi mahihiya kung may nakatitig sa'yong gwapong lalaki?

I wiped my mouth with a tissue. "Y-Yes, I'm Psyche Venice Azarcon. I don't like people calling me Psyche, it's akward e." I laughed nervously.

Nakita kong natigilan siya. Narealize din ba niyang akward talaga dahil ai Psyche at Cupid ay mag-asawa in greek myth?

"By the way, how old are you?" I asked, diverting the topic.

He cleared his throat, "25, how 'bout you?"

Hmm, 2 year gap, pwede na.

"Nearing 23, kuya," I teased him.

He chuckled. "No, don't call me kuya. Cupid is fine."

Tumango-tango ako. "Hmm, okay." I glanced at my watch and notice that it's already 6 PM. Grabe ang tagal pala naming nag-usap, halos dalawang oras din.

"Uhm, I think I need to go home na. I still have a lot of things to do."

"Hahatid kita," he said before calling the waiter and asked for the bill. Hindi na ako nakaangal pa nung siya ang nagbayad. I should be to pay since ako ang may utang 'di ba?

"Dapat ako na pinagbayad mo, I owe you one, right?" I asked paglabas namin ng resto.

"Nope, I can't let a lady pay for the bill," he said that made me smile. He excused himself for a while, palahatid niya daw sa pinsan niya 'yung kotse.

I looked up in the sky, dumidilim na. Mukhang uulan ng malakas mamaya.

Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko at pinakiramdaman ang sarili. I felt comfortable with him, ni hindi ako nakaramdam ng kaba kasama siya. Is it because he helped me in times of need?

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bag na dala ko at sakto namang biglang may humugot dito at tumakbo ng mabilis.

I was shocked at the moment kaya hindi ko agad nahabol ang lalaki. Cupid was busy on his phone that's why hindi niya rin napansin.

Kung kailan uuwi na kami, tsaka pa ako nadukutan!

Wow, just wow! What a great day you have, Psyche.

Then it hit me, my key card was there! Paano ako makakapasok ng condo kung wala akong susi?

I know I can just asked the management for another key pero kasi, pangalawang beses ko na nawalan ng susi, nahihiya ako.

I looked at Cupid and I saw him creasing his forehead, maybe because of what look I have in my face.

"What happened? My car is here already."

I showed him my phone na siyang natira sa akin. I stared at bim. "N-Na snatch 'yung bag ko. It's okay if I have my key card with me, p-pero andun kasi sa bag e." Halos maiiyak ko nang sabi. I don't know where to go now!

Just before he can answer me, biglang bumuhos ang ulan. Nagulat kami parehas kaya napatabi kami sa gilid.

Hinubad niya ang suot niyang coat at pininatong sa ulo namin parehas para hindi kami mabasa. Sabay kaming tumakbo papunta sa kotse niyang buti naman ay nasa may silong.

"Shit! Now I'm wet, I don't have my key card with me and I don't know what to do," I said while pouting. He was fixing himself dahil nabasa siya ng kaunti.

Nag-iisip ako kung saan ako pwedeng tumuloy para sa gabi. I don't have my wallet with me kaya hindi ako makakapag hotel.

I looked at him while he's combing his hair with his hand.

P-Pano kung sa kanya muna ako makituloy? Just for the night?

"You okay?"

Umiling ako bago kinurot ang sarili ko. I'm nervous and shy at the same time, 'pano kung 'di siya pumayag?

"C-Can I stay with you for a night?"