I Would Hate To Be You

Chapter 24 [of weird proposals]

Chapter 24

"Oh, wow, it's getting colder," I said while holding my iced coffee. Bigla kasing umihip nang malakas ang hangin habang pabalik kami sa parking area.

"You should have brought a jacket," G told me.

"Kaya nga, eh. Akala ko kasi sapat na 'tong suot ko," I replied while stretching my right hand. Feeling ko kasi kaninang pinili ko 'tong long-sleeve white top, kaya na akong ilaban sa weather. But I guess I'm wrong.

"Don't worry, may extra jacket ako sa kotse. Pahiramin na lang kita mamaya."

"Really? Thanks!" I smiled at him.

"Basta 'wag ka lang masyadong mahumaling sa amoy ko. Mahirap na," he said while embracing himself and looking at me as if I was gonna do something funny. 

G's humor really never runs out. And I like it. I like being with people who make me laugh.

I jokingly sneered at him, "You say that with so much confidence."

"Of course. We both know I'm charming," he replied, finishing it with a wink.

I jestingly pouted my lips and rolled my eyes in front of him. Tinawanan niya lang ako.

Habang bitbit niya ang binili niyang burger at coke float, naglakad siya nang mabilis papunta sa kotse. Hinabol niya si Japh bago siya tuluyang makapasok sa loob. Nagmadali rin tuloy ako ng lakad.

"Hey, Japh!" G called.

Japh looked in our direction. Nasa likod ako ni G at hawak ko ang binili kong iced coffee. Hindi na ako bumili ng iba pa bukod dito dahil baka masyado akong mabusog at hindi ako makakain ng lunch.

"Tulog pa ba si Jonas?" G asked.

Japh shook his head. "Kagigising lang niya."

"Good, good. Can you drive from here?" G asked.

Japh looked at G intently, as if he's studying him. I couldn't see G's face because his back is against me. I wonder what their eye contact means. Eventually, Japh just shrugged and said, "Okay."

G handed him the car key.

Binigay ni Japh ang binili niyang fries para kay Jonas bago siya nagpunta sa driver's seat.

"G," mahinang tawag ko sa kaniya. Hinila ko ang damit niya. "Dito ka." Tinuro ko ang shotgun seat.

"Huh?" naguguluhang tanong niya.

I eyed him. "'Di ba? Japheth and his thing with the shotgun seat," I reminded while giving him the look. Hay nako, sobrang makakalimutin na ba ni G at hindi niya alam ang thing ng kaibigan niya? As for me, ever since he talked about his worth the shotgun spiel, I could not forget about it anymore.

G stared at me for a good few seconds before letting out a meaningful scoff again. "Ewan ko sa'yo, Atom," tumatawang sabi niya habang umiiling.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" I protested.

"Nothing." Umiling siya. "Dalian na natin at baka ma-miss na ako ni Cyrus. Alam niyo namang crush ako no'n," he joked. He opened the shotgun seat's door and jumped inside.

Laughing, I made my way inside, too.

"You want, Ate Atom?" Jonas immediately offered me the fries when I sat down. Isn't he just so generous? Ang cute.

I shook my head and told him, "No, but thank you." I gave him a grateful smile.

After closing the door on our side, Japheth buckled his seatbelt and started maneuvering the car.