The Story of Us

13: Meeting the 'Gang'

Oh Cecilia~ You're breaking my heart~

Alarm off.

I looked at my phone and it's 9:00. It's a Friday. At malapit nang matapos ang semestral break aaaaaand papasok na ako!

Yay me!

Biglang may kumatok naman at saka pumasok.

Kuya Enzo.

"Uhm, good morning?" I greeted him.

"Bakit andyan ka pa din?" He said angrily.

Ang demanding ha.

"Kakagising ko lang po."

Lumapit siya sa 'kin at tinulak ako which had a great impact on my butt. Ouch. That hurts, butthurt. Shiz.

"Maligo ka na! 'Di ba invited ka sa lunch nila?" Kuya demanded.

"They're still on roadtrip."

"Kahit na. Better be ready."

"Fine. Go out na. I'm just finishing her gift." It's a scrapbook, actually. Hindi pa ako tapos magsulat kahit na pinagpuyatan ko iyon kagabi.

"Oh shit. That's what I forgot. Her gift!" And he walked outside the room.

"Eh kasi, proposal proposal pa, wala pa naman palang regalo." Pagpaparinig ko while making faces.

"Shut the eff up, Allison Therese!" Kuya shouted.

**

"Bes, asan ka na? Dito na kami sa Darax."

"I'm on the way na." Gail just called. Andun na daw sila sa resto somewhere near Lake Garden.

"Okay. Sino kasama mo?" Err... That's a weird question.

"Hatid ako ni Kuya Enzo." I said and then glanced at Kuya.

"Isama mo na, bes."

Tinakpan ko muna yung mic ng phone at sinabi kay Kuya E, "Sama ka daw."

Umiling si Kuya and said, "Sabihin mo, busy."

"Busy daw siya today eh." I answered.

"Aw, sayaaaang. Sige. Punta ka na dito. We're waiting for you na." She said and ended the phone call.

Medyo matagal din kami bago nakarating sa Darax.

Luckily, we found a spot in the parking lot.

"Bye, Kuya. Text you later na lang 'pag tapos na yung lunch."

"Sige. Ingat."

I started walking inside the entrance. I was finding Gail but instead I found Trey.

"Uy. Asan na sila?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Wala pa sila. Pinauna lang ako dito ni Gail," explains Trey.

"Tsk. Si Gail talaga."

"Fries or drinks?" He offered.

"Iced tea na lang." I said.

Umupo na ako dun sa reserved table namin. It has 10 chairs. Wow, madami din sigurong ininvite si G.

Dumating din naman agad si Trey dala ang isang glass of iced tea and a glass of Coke.

"Tagal nila." I murmured.

"I know."

"How's life?" Trey suddenly asked.

"I'm still alive but I'm barely breathing." I sang. But he just chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"You know what? You're just complicating things in your mind." He said.

"That's paranoia and overthinking does." I dully replied, sipping on my iced tea.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo na lang sabihin yung nararamdaman mo sa iba para tapos agad?" He added.

"And what are you trying to imply Mr. Hemera?" I asked, very confused.

Ano ba naman kasing nangyayari sa tao these days? Mga sinasabing kung anu-ano na may hidden meaning na hindi ko naman maintindihan.

Slow kung slow.

"Hi, guys. Kayo lang?" Luke again. Hay.

"Speaking of." Bulong naman ni Trey.

"Nope. We're waiting for Gail and her gang." I explained.

"Ah. Napadaan lang naman ako para magtake out ng order ng cousins ko." His face changed.

"Oh. Okay, bro. Ingat," said Trey and they did this thing with their fists I don't know if I should callfistbumping.

Pagkaalis naman ni Luke, Trey and I heard laughing and talking noises.

Must be some gang.

And, yes. They were some gang. Gail's gang. Her friends.

She introduced me to them: Paula, Vincent, Kirk, Craig, Adrienne, and Angel.

I know Vincent, Craig and Angel. Naging classmates ko sila before. Trey knows them all naman kasi he's also in the gang.

Sa left side of the table was me, Trey, Vincent, Craig, Kirk, and Paula.

Adrienne, Gail and Angel, was on the other side.

I remained silent yet I should act like I'm Gail's bestfriend. Ugh.

The food followed after we found our places.

They keep talking about things hanggang sa napag-usapan ang recent breakup nitong si Kirk.

"Bakit kayo nag-break?" Panimula ni Craig.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Kirk.

"Nagsawa na yun." Comment naman ni Vincent.

"Mukha ngang nagsawa yun. 'Di ba, Ate Allison?" Paula nudged me. Kelangan may 'Ate'?

"Mukha naman. Before kasi lagi kayong magkasama ni Jersey eh. Ayan tuloy," I said. Nakikita ko lang kasi sila pag paikot-ikot sa school dati.

Rumored lang ngayon na may ibang nagustuhan si Jersey na boy.

Na-fall out of love kay Kirk. Sayang.

3 years na sila eh. Nawala pa.

We can't blame Jersey, if she really fell in love with another, and we can't also blame Kirk for not fighting for their 3 year-relationship, 'di ba?

What's the point in fighting for that if she doesn't really love you anymore?

"Uy, tulala si Alli. Relate ba?" Craig says.

"Hahaha, 'lol. Hindi."

"Kamusta na kayo ni Seth?" Sunod niyang tanong.

I suddenly shook my head but then na-compose ko din ang sarili ko ang answered, "Oh, hindi mo ba alam?"

Umiling lang siya. Tapos napatingin sa 'kin si Kirk. Para bang, "Uy may karamay ako."

We're still eating the lunch nang biglang dumating yung fries. Paubos na nang nasa side nina Gail, tapos nung dumating na sa side namin...

"Oh, akin na lang 'to."

"Guys, penge." I said.

"Wag na bigyan si Allison." Sabi naman ni Craig.

"Wag niyo i-bully si Alli, lagot kayo sa 'kin." Says Trey.

Everyone fell silent.

After a moment of silence, we went back in eating. I keep looking at the gang. Pero they were avoiding my gaze as much as possible.

Is there something I should know?