DADDY?! REALLY?!

Chapter 7

Margaux

Tim met up with us sa parking lot ng hotel. Turns out, may kasama pala syang friends from Engineering Department and we will be meeting them inside the club since naka-table na sila. I immediately dreaded it since I don't like associating myself with strangers right off the bat but alas, wala nang atrasan.

Tim cleaned up well. I can see why Sarah got a crush on him — broad shoulders, slight tan with a bit of a freckles dotting his nose, tall. He's dressed in a maroon dress shirt and washed up jeans. He looks sporty with a semi-beach vibe, Sarah's type.

Pagkapasok ng club, he led us in a corner table kung saan may nakaupong apat na tao, a bottle of Jack Daniels and two Black Labels already laid down. I'm assuming na yung nag-iisang babae sa table ay date ng isa sa mga guy based from them making out while the other two guys are opposite them, talking. I feel antsy just imagining spending the night with them.

"Hey guys!", pagkuha ng atensyon ni Tim pagkarating sa table. They stared at us, nodded while waiting for an introduction. "This is Sarah, you probably remember her dun sa PE class natin?", I saw Tim wrapping an arm around Sarah's shoulders. I wanted to smirk at her but I feel uncomfortable knowing that the others are staring at us. "And this is Margaux, her best friend." Tinanguan ako ni Tim mula sa kabilang side ni Sarah bilang pagturo sa akin. "Sarah, Margaux, these are my friends Canon, Oliver and Santi. And that's Emmy, Oli's flavor of the month." Tinaasan lang sya ng middle finger nung Emmy at inikutan ng mata ni Oliver. "Kidding, she's Oli's girlfriend."

We shook hands and settled down to sit. Isang booth yung table namin that is L-shaped. Nasa corner si Tim at katabi nya si Sarah, of course. I'm beside her at katabi ko yung isang friend ni Tim who, I'm assuming, is Canon. Santi, Oliver and his girlfriend, Emmy, are at the shorter end of the booth.

They prepared shots at nagform ng kanikaniyang conversation yung mga kasama ko. Obviously, Sarah's flirting with Tim agad so I'm left there alone. May sariling mundo yung magjowa sa kabilang side ng table habang nagcecellphone si Santi sa gilid nila at paminsan minsan ay lumilingon sa paligid. Probably to people watch or to simply spot a partner.

I am hating the night already.

"Hey. I'm Canon. Margaux, right?"

Bumaling ang atensyon ko sa lalaking katabi ko ng marinig ang boses nya. Medyo naka-lean sya sa table at nagsasalin ng alak sa dalawang shot glass. He then sat upright, holding one glass while offering the other to me. Ayoko sana uminom pero nahihiya ako tumanggi kaya inabot ko yung alok nya.

"Thanks. And yeah, I'm Margaux. Nice to meet you." I smiled lightly at him and took a small sip of the alcohol. Black Label. Its a common drink but I can never get used to it. I tried to mask my distaste ngunit napansin ni Canon.

"Oh shit. I'm so sorry. I should've asked you what drink you want." I saw him flinched so I tried to play it down na lang. Pareho na kaming naaawkwardan.

"It's really okay. Thank you for the drink. Hindi lang ako sanay sa lasa. They're... strong and bitter," pag-placate ko kay Canon habang nilalapag yung shot glass na halos di pa nababawasan.