Perfect Match (Completed)

Chapter 36 - Like

"Cheers!" We shouted in unison and downed the tequila shot.

I winced and sip my lemon.

"Isa pa!" Mika started pouring the shot again.
"Wait lang muna. Nagmamadali ba tayo?" Tumatawa kong tanong dahil kakainom lang namin at gusto na naman niyang magshot ulit.

"Okay lang 'yan! Tsaka pag nalasing ka nandyan naman si Eris para buhatin ka." Sabi niya.

Cole patted his cousin's shoulder. "Si Eris pa! Kayang kaya ka nito."

I looked at Ate Rox who is already preparing for next round. I sighed and accepted my shot. "Wag ka lang maunang malasing, Mika."

"Why not? We're here to have fun. Namiss ko kayo kasama guys." She grinned.

So we took another shot. In less than an hour malapit nang maubos ang bote ng Cuervo.

"Ayon drinker ka naman pala." Cole commented.

"Hindi ko na nga maramdaman 'yung pisngi ko." Natatawa ako habang tinutusok ang mukha ko at ilong ko. "Pati ilong ko."

"Patingin nga." Tinusok rin ni Cole ang pisngi ko at tawa kami ng tawa dahil namamanhid talaga sa dami ng nainom ko sunod sunod.

He pinched my nose next and that's when Eris swat his hand away. "Tigilan mo na nga 'yan."

"What did I do?" Painosenteng tanong ni Cole.

"Nagseselos ka ba? Wag kang magselos, bro. Magkakaibigan lang tayo dito." Cole looked at me and patted my head. "Diba, Mor?"

Since I'm tipsy I feel a bit light and I laughed.

"Ay may nagkakadevelopan dito ah! Fun lang guys bawal magkadevelopan." Kumento ni Mika. "Ate! Tignan mo sila. Mahiya naman kayo sa single."

In reply, Ate Rox took a shot and shook her head like saying, "Kids..."

I'm still laughing when Eris cupped my face and forced me to look to him. He pressed his thumb to my cheeks. "How about this?"

Umiling ako. Natatawa lang ako sa feel ng kamay niya sa mukha ko.

Bigla rin siyang natawa. "Mapula nanaman mukha mo."

Lumapit ako ng konti para tignan ang mukha niya. Sumimangot ako nang nakitang hindi siya tinatamaan ng alak. "Bakit ikaw hindi?"

He just gave me a lopsided grin and fetch a shot. Inabot niya sa akin ang isa at kanya ang isa.

Naglemon ako and without thinking I offered him my lemon. The one I just put in my mouth. His head tilted slightly at that and he smirked.

I was going to take back my hand when he grab my wrist and bring my hand to his mouth all without breaking eye contact.

I blinked and watched as he sip on the same lemon I just had. I haven't realize that we're out with our friends until they shouted and start teasing.

Malaki ang ngiti ni Cole at walang pakialam kahit na pinagpapalo siya ni Mika sa kakiligin.

"Pwede bang kiligin? Kinikilig ako sa inyo. Uy in all fairness naman, bagay talaga kayong dalawa." Ate Rox said.

Lalong namula ang mapula ko nang mukha. At bumilis ang heartbeat ko. Hawak hawak ko pa rin ang piraso ng lemon kaya agad kong binitawan at nagiwas ng tingin.

Mabilis pa rin ang heartbeat ko. Mukhang tatalon na rin palabas at magtatago sa kahiyaan.

What was I thinking?

Why does he look so hot doing that!

"Sabi ko na eh! Itong dalawang 'to may something talaga!" Tinuro kami ni Mika. "Akala niyo ba hindi namin napapansin na pag wala ang isa wala rin ang isa? Tapos sabay babalik? Ano 'yun, don't tell me coincidence lahat ng 'yun? Wag ako."

As if on cue nagkatinginan kami ni Eris. Pinagdikit ko ang labi ko habang nagpipigil ng tawa.

Totoo kasi ang sinabi ni Mika. Lagi kaming nasa rooftop ni Eris pag wala kaming magawa. Paminsan bibili kami ng something sa 7-eleven at doon agad ang diretso namin.

But we don't really talk all the time. We just enjoy the company of one another in silence.

"Oh shot kayo ulit!" Sabi ni Ate Rox habang pinupuno ang baso.

"Grabe sobrang puno." Reklamo ko.

"Masaya ako para sayo." Sabi naman ni Cole kay Eris. Namura tuloy siya.

I can't down it in one go so I still feel my throat burning until now.

"Seryoso ayaw ko na talaga." Tanggi ko nung inaabutan nanaman nila ako.

"Last na 'to." Sabi ni Cole.

Umiling ako. Pag iniinom ko pa 'yun masusuka na ako.

"I'll drink it." Eris offered.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Mapungay na rin mga mata niya pero nakuha pa niyang magoffer.

"Fine. Last na naman. Ako na." Sabi ko.

Hindi ako pinansin ni Eris at iniwas lang niya 'yung dalawang shot. He jerked his chin to the plates of lemon instead. "Just get one for me."

The rest drank a shot while he drank two. Naiimagine ko palang 'yung lasa at nahihilo na ako.

Maaga kaming natapos dahil hilo hilo na kami at wala na kaming alak dahil sunod sunod ang shot namin.

Hiwalay kami ng kotse dahil nagdala rin si Eris. This time kay Eris ako sumakay. I learned my lesson not so long ago when I got irritated and went with Cole.

Kahit na medyo tipsy ako mas naging alert ako dahil nakainom siya kaya medyo kabado ako sa pagmaneho niya.

"Wag ka ngang pacool. Ayusin mo pagdrive." Sabi ko dahil isang kamay lang ang gamit niya at ang bilis ng takbo niya.

Though I must admit he is a good driver because he can still drive after so many shots.
"You're scared? Don't worry, Mor. I won't let anything happen to you. I promised right?"

What he's saying is suppose to comfort me but the way he said it is just scary. Because he's laughing like he'd gone crazy.

Hindi ako sumagot. Tumingin nalang ako sa labas at nagulat ako nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. 

"Is this okay?"

I opened my mouth but wasn't able to say something.

"I'll let go if not."

Unti unting lumuluwag ang hawak niya kaya umiling ako agad. "It's okay."

"Okay." He said.

"Okay." I said.

We held hands until we get home.

And my heart was beating so fast the whole time.

I don't know if this is just the alcohol talking but out of nowhere I blurted out, "I like this."

I saw him smile. "How about me?"

I looked at our hands before answering. "I like you too."