Rugged Men Series 6: Jackson Cruz (TAGALOG)

Chapter 2

“I CAN,” sagot ni Heather kay Mika. “I can do that. I can be nice. In fact, I am nicest in this state.”

“Oh, wow. Hindi halata, girl,” pasaring ni Shania sabay tawa kaya binigyan niya ito nang masamang tingin para mapatikom ito bigla at mapatikhim. “Sabi ko nga mabait ka, eh. Sobrang bait.”

Pag-ikot lamang ng mga mata ang itinugon niya sa pang-aasar ni Shania.

“Heather, babe, listen. You don't need to press the button in one go,” ani Mika at nag-aalala na tumingin sa kanila. “They are our friends now. What you said to Jackson was like an insult. Yeah, you complimented him pero para mo na rin sinabi na gusto mo lang siya as a lawyer at hindi bilang kaibigan.”

“Ha! Insult? Insult my ass! The last time you said to us they were jerks, Mika. I can still remember how your eyes glowered that day and believe me, it was more than an insult than what I have said,” sagot ni Heather at umingos at napatingin kay Alexandria. “You too, Alex.”

Umayos ng pagka-upo si Shania at naghintay sa kanyang sasabihin. Nang hindi siya nakapagsalita ay napailing-iling ito.

“Wala akong masabi tungkol sa ‘yo, Shan. After Alex married Alejandro, you've been friends with all of the boys,” ani Heather at tiningnan ito nang masama. “Sa ating tatlo ay ikaw itong naging kaibigan nila agad.”

“That's because I'm friendly and you're not,” pang-aasar ni Shania at itinaas pa ang bote ng alak. “Para kang nangangain ng tao. Si Zacharias at Cooper nga tinanong ako kung pipi ka ba daw, eh.”

“Ano naman ang sinagot mo?” tanong ni Mika.

“Sabi ko oo, si Cooper naman uto-uto kaya nag-aral ng hand signal para makausap ka,” pagbibigay-alam ni Shania at natawa nang malakas sabay hawak sa tiyan. “Ginawa nga, gago. Noong kasal ni Mika naalala ko. Tawang-tawa nga ako, eh. Si Heather naman naguluhan at halos sampalin na si Cooper sa mga pinagagawa ng mokong. Laugh trip! Si Cooper lang iyong guwapo pero napakauto-uto, eh.”

“Shan...” pasitang wika ni Alexandria at tiningnan si Shania nang masama.

“What? That was supposed to be a prank, Alex,” depensa ni Shania at nagkibit-balikat. “Hindi ko naman alam na seseryosohin ni Cooper.”

“‘Yan! Kaya hindi ka magusto-gustuhan ni Isaac kasi puro ka kalokohan,” ani Mika para mapaingos na lamang si Shania.

“You don't have to tell me that again and again,” matampuhing anas ni Shania. “I was bluffing when I said it's over. I'm not going to give up with Isaac.”

Pinaikot na lamang ni Heather ang mga mata at sumipat sa bar counter na nasa hindi gaanong kalayuan. When she saw Jackson staring at her, she dare herself to not withdraw her eyes for a second to act nice as per her friend's advice and she did. However, she regretted doing her own dare after getting a newfound fondness from Jackson’s gaze. It was the kind of gaze that she didn't expect to feel delighted. It made her feel like she is one incredible woman. It gave her assurance. She felt admired.

And his eyes, they were so soft.

Like a lullaby.

She never thought that she needed that gaze now that she received it from Jackson. For a moment, she wanted the time to just stop... because she was savoring it more than she intends to. But she knew better. She couldn't do those for Jackson was already taken. Yes, she was good at lying. Ni hindi niya na maalala kung ilang beses na siyang magsinungaling sa mga kaibigan para lamang ikubli ang nararamdaman niya para kay Jackson. But everything her friends said was true. Ever since she knew Jacob two years ago, she has been denying her feelings for him it just grew bigger. At hindi siya tanga para hindi malaman ang dahil niyon, she likes him.

She has learn to like him.

Alas-diyes nang gabi ay napagpasyahan na niyang magpapaalam sa kaibigan. Noong una ay pinigilan siya ng mga ito pero kilala siya ng mga kaibigan. When she’s ready to go, no one can stop her. The three ended up aggreing with a sad smile on their faces. And since she got used to it, their reaction doesn't bother her anymore. Among the four of them, it was her who set her priority straight in a very serious matter. Like her life depends on it.

It was the cause of her trauma two decades ago that she kissed goodbye in her memory. She learned discipline and she learn to shut her mouth unless she needed to talk. And when she say talk, she meant broadcasting news stories on television as her job.

Dahan-dahan siya na naglakad patungo sa parking lot at nakita si Jackson na may kausap na babae. Base sa tindig nito ay napakaiyag nitong babae at ito ang kasintahan nito. She knew her, the prosecutor who never lose in court, Ivana. It was only a matter of minutes when the woman suddenly walked out, leaving Jackson sitting on the hood of her car.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo bago niya nakita ang pag-alis ng babae na nakasakay sa isang mamahaling sasakyan. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad at tumayo sa harap ni Jackson. She heard him sigh and apologize without looking at her. Doon pa nito napagtanto na siya ang nakatayo kaya biglang nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

“I’m sorry,” pagpaumanhin muli ni Jackson bago lumayo sa kanyang sasakyan.

“Believe me, I just got here,” pagsisinungaling ni Heather at tiningnan ito. She wanted to lift up his mood but she ends up biting her lip to contain herself.

“Going home already?” Jackson asked when he regain his composure.

Ngayon niya pa lang nakita na namumula ang pisngi nito kaya niya ito nilapitan. “She slapped you, didn't she?”

Hindi nakasagot agad si Jackson kundi bumuntong-hininga. Mahinang natawa ito bago sinalat ang pisngi. “Believe me, I used to it.”

Ginaya nito ang kanyang tono kaya mas napalapit siya rito. When she’s about to touch his cheek, she took a step backward when realized something. Ano ba ang kanyang naisip para lapitan ito ng ganoon na lamang? She was holding back for two years and seeing him with a red cheek suddenly made her impulsive. Ano ba ang karapatan niya para hawakan ito at pagbitawan ng mga malumanay na salita? She was just an acquaintance with Jackson. She didn't even knew if he treat her as his friend since they only talk once about Alexandria.

Pinawi niya ang kagustuhan na hawakan ang pisngi ni Jackson bago niya napagpasyahan na ituloy ang pag-alis.

“It’s not her fault, it’s mine. I wasn't supposed to come tonight because I said I wouldn't,” bulalas ni Jackson para mapatigil siya sa pagbukas sa sasakyan.

Humigpit ang kanyang pagkahawak sa door handle ng sasakyan bago siya napasipat dito. Jackson was looking at her with those wiftful eyes again. She always knew he has those beautiful pair of eyes but what she wasn't aware why does he looked at her like that when he was talking about his girlfriend. Hindi nito alam na kahit na nasasaktan siya sa ginagawa nito. Nasasaktan siya sa tuwing bukang bibig nito ang kasintahan.

And she hates it when she feels that. She hate that she likes him and Jackson was unaware of her feelings. If she’s numb, Jackson is way number. She hates that Jackson probably doesn't feel the same. And it’s more frustrating than she thought. It made her so mad, that she ended up ignoring him whenever he was around because that’s what she was supposed to do... she doesn’t have a choice.

She wasn't given a choice.

“It wasn't her fault,” pag-uulit ni Jackson para mas lalo lamang na kumapal ang kanyang pagka-inggit.

“I never said it's hers,” diretsahang tugon ni Heather para mapatingin sa kanya si Jackson.

“Don’t you want to know why I defy her?” tanong ni Jackson sa tono na makabuluhan ngunit mapanglaw.

“I don't and it doesn't mater.” Nagpatuloy na siya sa pagbukas sa sasakyan at ganoon na lamang ang kanyang pagkagulat ng pigilan siya nito sa pamamaraan ng paghuli sa kanyang sentido.

“Because of you, Heather...” ani Jackson para mapatingin siya rito gamit ang kanyang mga nagtatanong na mga mata. “I came here because of you.”