Jharied's POV
I walked seriously into our usual hang-out spot and saw Arman and the others busy playing online games.
"Let's go to a bar; I want to drink," I urged them.
"What's going on?" Roy asked. I exhaled heavily as I responded.
"I confessed to Filia, but she doesn't believe that I am really in love with her.
She even told me I was going crazy! And that Jacob guy is seriously annoying; he actually showed up at our house." I explained. They stopped playing and stared at me, clearly interested in the gossip. Annoyed with Filia, I had simply left the house.
"Seriously, dude? You confessed?" Rey asked disbelievingly.
"Are you really in love with her?" Zander butted in.
"Is this for real? Maybe you are going crazy," chimed in Lara, who had just arrived from the kitchen. I glared at her. They're all the same, these women!
"You should have let her feel it first so she wouldn't be so shocked," Alex counseled.
"My jealousy just got the better of me. The first thing I saw when I woke up was that guy. Who wouldn't get mad at that?" I explained irritably, sighing again. I don't even bring girls home, yet she lets just anyone come over!
"Looks like we've been hit hard—having girl problems already," Rey said, laughing. They really had to tease me! Tsk.
"Do I look crazy? I'm serious about how I feel for her! The problem is, she doesn't believe me." I answered, slightly angry at Rey. Not even them were going to believe in what I was feeling?
"Then find a way to make her believe you are in love with her. You are so weak, and you are supposed to be a womanizer!" snapped Lara sarcastically. This girl is such a gossip.
"She's right. You might get beaten by her childhood friend. Be careful, or you might actually go completely insane," Alex teased. I felt like folding both him and Lara in half.
"Let's go to the beach tomorrow. Where's a good place?" I asked them. This was, I knew, imperative if I were to begin proving the worth of my feelings.
"Let's go to La Union! I miss swimming in the ocean," Kara suggested. When did she even get here? Where there's gossip, she's always present.
"Fine, we'll go there. You guys take care of buying everything we need." They all nodded. When something is free, they agree so fast; but if I suggest we split the cost, they all of a sudden get busy.
"You better think of a way to tame Filia. It's hard to tame a tiger. especially when you're a womanizer," Lara said, smirking. What was that supposed to mean? I just gave her a dark look. What did they think I was doing? I wouldn't be planning an outing if I wasn't thinking of something good to do.
I need to make sure that her and that guy's plan for tomorrow doesn't materialize. I won't let them be alone together. I'm bringing her to La Union—whether she likes it or not.
"What are we still doing here? Let's go grocery shopping," Lara urged. We stood up from our seats and walked out of the hangout. We got on our respective motorcycles; Lara and the others got into her car.
Upon arrival at the mall, we went directly to the hypermarket. The twins immediately grabbed two large carts.
"How many days are we staying?" Roy asked while following behind Lara and the others who were grabbing supplies.
"About two days; we still have classes." He nodded.
"That's cool. You should also stop being a womanizer or Filia will definitely never believe you," he said, laughing.
"And what are you planning to do about Samantha? That girl is seriously infatuated with you. She even managed to hurt Filia," he asked again.
"I think that's one of the reasons why she doesn't believe me. I haven't spoken to Filia yet about what happened. Regarding Samantha. I told her a long time ago that I didn't have feelings for her," I explained.
"That's probably why she has such intense hatred for Filia. She probably found out you two are married, which made her even angrier. It really is a pain when you're a womanizer-girls fighting over you is a headache," he said, shaking his head. I playfully slapped the back of his head.
"Bro, is that Filia?" Arman asked, pointing. We looked, and my eyes narrowed-it was Filia. She was getting baby diapers. My brow furrowed.
"It is Filia. Wait, who is that guy walking up to her?" Lara asked. My grip on the pushcart tightened in anger. I took long strides towards them and immediately pulled Filia away from Jacob. She was clearly surprised to see me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked coldly. What if someone saw them? What would my parents say?
"Didn't I tell you I didn't want you with him!" I said sharply and pointed at Jacob.
"Why, man? Is there a problem if we're together? We're not doing anything wrong. I have no intention of taking Filia from you because we're just friends," he replied seriously. I just glared at him.
"But the moment you trick her or hurt her, I won't hesitate to take her away from you. You don't mess with Filia. She's not like your other girls, Jharied," he added.
My hands closed into fists, and I did not waste any time in punching him. He dropped onto the floor, and Filia screamed in disbelief.
"Jacob!" she yelled. She was about to go to him, but I stopped her.
"What is wrong with you, Jharied?! What is your problem? Your mind is so filthy! Do you even know that you're interrupting us while we're shopping for supplies for the children at the orphanage?!"
she shouted at me. She pulled her arm out of my grip and went to Jacob to help him get up.
"Are you okay?" she asked concerned. Jacob nodded and then Filia turned to me, her eyes filled with hostility.
"We can buy what we need for them some other time. Your husband seems to be in a bad mood," he said seriously.
"Let's go. I'll treat that cut on the side of your lip," Filia invited him. My jaw tightened as I struggled to contain my rage.
"You're coming with me, Filia," I said coldly. Both of them looked at me.
"I'm fine, Filia. You just go with your husband," Jacob said, smiling. Filia nodded, and I pulled her toward me again.
I stopped for a second because there were people around. I gave them a menacing stare. Jacob walked away.
"Let go of me, Jharied," Filia said firmly. But instead of letting go, I pulled her towards Lara and the rest, who still shopped. She remained silent, her face serious. I tightened my hold around her hand, which made her look at me.
"I'm so sorry. my jealousy just got the better of me, and that's why I did that."
She jerked her hand loose from mine, her eyes blazing.
"Jealousy? You call that jealousy? You humiliated me in public! You punched my friend, Jharied! A friend who was helping me with something good, for children who need it! And you thought. baby diapers meant what exactly? That I was hiding a kid from you? Your mind is unbelievable!" Filia spat, her voice low and dangerous, drawing the attention of my friends nearby.
Alex and Roy immediately moved to stand awkwardly beside us, while Lara simply watched the whole scene in a mixture of shock and amusement.
"Why didn't you say you were here? Why not tell me what you were doing?" I shot back, my fear of losing her mingling with my still-simmering anger.
"Why would I? You stormed out of the house because you thought I was crazy! You didn't believe in me or my motives, and you certainly didn't trust me! You act like a true husband only when you want to control me!" She took a step backward, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.
"I was helping the orphanage. Jacob and I just happened to be in the same section. We grew up together, Jharied-he knows me. He knows I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize our. marriage." The last word was delivered with cold finality. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside. I saw disappointment etched in her face, and it twisted my gut. I hated that I was the cause of it.
"Look, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again," I said, trying to reach for her hand, but she pulled it away.
"It always happens, Jharied. You always lose your temper. You always jump to conclusions. And then you say sorry, thinking that fixes it." She looked past me at my friends.
"I'm going home. I'll take a taxi."
To be Continued.