Never in my entire life did I expect the sight before me: my boyfriend, who"s supposed to be going to the airport with me right now, was clad in only his boxers. Rach.e.l.le, the girl who swore will take everything away from me, was wrapped in a blanket. Her beautiful face was tear-stained, while Tyler"s was buried in his hands. He was sitting on the couch while she stood hugging herself."Tyler.." I called his name. As if in slow motion, my boyfriend looked at me. He looked shocked and scared at the same time.
"Babe!" He ran to where I was standing then kneeled in front of me. "Let me explain, I didn"t mean to.. I.. I have always been loyal to you.. I don"t know how this happened.. When I woke up, she was sleeping next to me. She probably drugged my drink, I--"
"Tyler Lorenzo, how dare you! You were the one who approached me last night! You said I"ll be your dirty little secret and no one has to know! I believed in you because I have always been attracted to you, I didn"t know you would betray me like this!" Rach.e.l.le shouted, her hands balled into fists.
"Shut up, woman! I never said such a thing! I already have Hinata, why would I want you!?"
"Don"t talk as if I dirtied you, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You hit on me first! I have kept my distance from you all these years despite my feelings for you so why would I act now!?"
Upon hearing her words, the kneeling man in front of me stood and slapped Rach.e.l.le. Grabbing her shoulders, he yelled, "What did you say, b.i.t.c.h!? I hit on you!? You have the audacity to claim that I"ve got the hots for you when we all know you were the one who"s been running after me ever since you and that Castillo woman "b.u.mped" into me in the cafeteria!"
"Stop, you"re hurting me!"
"What did you put in my drink, huh, b.i.t.c.h!? Answer me!" He shook her until her hair covered her face messily. "I couldn"t even count with my two hands the number of times I rejected you so why are you framing me!"
"I don"t know what you"re talking about!" She was sobbing now. "Hinata, your boyfriend is hurting me!"
I was rooted in place, I wanted to kick Tyler and yank Rach.e.l.le"s hair until she goes bald but I couldn"t. I stood where I was the entire time, I couldn"t move because every word they uttered felt like a stab to my heart, freezing me in place as if I took the ice bucket challenge.
So Rach.e.l.le has been trying to seduce Tyler all this time? Why did I not know this? Was this her way of getting back at me for actually being better than her? These questions circled in my head again and again. Out of nowhere, a sarcastic laughter could be heard.. It was Tyler.
"Hahaha! You"re actually asking for my girlfriend"s help!? f.u.c.k you and your schemes, Rach.e.l.le!" He pushed her so violently that she fell on the floor. His eyes were glaring vehemently at her, his face was so contorted in anger it scared me a little.
Rach.e.l.le kept crying on the floor, her every sniff and sob grated at my ears. I suddenly felt someone envelope me in a hug, "Nat, I"m sorry. I really didn"t mean to do this. I was framed, I"m just a victim of her scheming."
When Tyler"s skin touched mine, I stiffened. I could still smell his usual scent but it was mixed with alcohol and a woman"s perfume, it made me want to gag. I shakily removed myself from his embrace, "Why didn"t you tell me that Rach.e.l.le has been pestering you all these years? You know very well how much she hates me, why didn"t you tell me?"
"Because she"s insignificant," he explained. "Why would I waste my time talking about her with you when we can talk about only the pleasant things?"
"We promised not to hide anything to each other, no matter how small we"d still inform the other about it."
"Babe, I"m sorry. I really am. I just didn"t want you to worry about her. Plus, I could handle her on my own."
"Is this what you call handling her?" I shook my head.
He opened his mouth and closed it again. I took one step backwards, I was suddenly overcome by an urge to run away. "I need to go."
I pushed Charles, who was still standing by the door, out of the way and ran out of the apartment complex as fast as I could. Seeing a taxi at the main entrance, I hailed it and asked the driver to bring me to the airport. I left my luggage in my car but I still had my crossover bag containing my wallet and our itinerary ticket.
When I landed in Busuanga, my phone incessantly beeped. I had several messages from my mum and of course, from Tyler. I decided to give my mum a call, it was easier than typing.
"He--"
"Mum, if Tyler is there pretend that I"m not the one you"re talking to," I subconsciously whispered.
"Erm, Wilma? You called?" My mum improvised.
"Make an excuse, make him leave, mum. Please.."
"Ah? Y-you need an emergency baby sitter for Kristablle? Sure, I"ll go right over." I heard some noise in the background, then came my mother"s somewhat m.u.f.fled voice. She probably covered her phone"s microphone as though it was a telephone"s receiver. "It"s Wilma, she"s asking if I could watch over her toddler for a while."
"But what about Nat?" Tyler"s voice could be heard faintly.
"I"m sure she"s alright, that child of mine isn"t wreckless. You should go now, I promise to let you know once she"s back."
"If you say so, aunt Gloria."
A few minutes later, my mum went back on the line. "Hina, what exactly happened?" she went straight to the point.
"Tell me what Tyler told you first," I said.
"He just said that you were at his place but left suddenly. Hina, tell me the truth, what is going on? Why did you suddenly leave?" Mum used her concerned mommy voice, making me burst into tears.