Rule #1: Rule of Fate

[31]

"Babe, are you really sure about this?"

I don't know kung ilang beses ko na naitanong 'yan kay Kale. I just wanted to be sure.

He looked at me and held both my shoulders.

"Babe, I told you. I'm sure. Ikaw na rin nagsabi diba? You want me to meet your friends, so I want to meet them too."

I nodded. Okay. I'm sure now. For some reason, I feel a little bit uneasy. Siguro, dahil nandun si Gray? I would remember all the times that Kale begged me to choose him, but I repeatedly chose Gray. Siguro nga, mahal na mahal ko siya noon kaya kahit magpakatanga pa ako at masaktan para sa kanya'y balewala lang sa akin.

"Okay. I'm just a little bit nervous." I honestly told him.

He raised his brow at me, and gave me a look. I quickly understood what that expression meant.

"Not because he's there...ha." agap kong sabi.

He just chuckled and pulled me closer to him. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit, wag nalang kaya kami umalis?

"Can we just stay here?" I asked him.

He looked down on me, while my arms are wrapped around his waist.

"We're gonna meet your friends," he told me.

I pouted. He just laughed again before kissing me. Everytime we do this, while standing, hirap na hirap ako. Ang tangkad niya kase! Tapos ako, halos 5'3 lang. Malapit na kaya siya sa 6 flat.

"Hmm. Nasira ata ang lipstick ko," sabi ko sa kanya.

He stared at my face, grazing his thumb on my lip. Mukhang may kumalat na ngang mga parte ng lipstick ko sa mukha ko, dahil nakikita kong may iilan din na nasa mukha niya.

"Sorry, I just can't get enough of you," he whispered.

I chuckled, fighting the urge to kiss him again. Kung maghahalikan na naman kami dito'y baka di na nga kami tuluyan makaalis.

"Well, let's fix that first," sabi ko.

After re-applying my lipstick and wiping some of it off of Kale's face ay tumungo na kami sa venue. Hindi naman lahat nung block namin ay nandun, pero 'yung madalas lang din namin makasama sa inuman.

"You drink a lot, during first year, huh?" Kale asked me, as he held my hand.

Tumango ako. Remembering how every month, may inom kami. Good times.

"Yep, it's also a way to alleviate stress in school, at saka masaya rin kase kasama 'yung mga 'yon, I'm sure, matutuwa ka rin sa kanila!" I told him.

Pagkapasok namin sa venue, ay halos nandoon na ang lahat. Nagtatawanan na sila at nagkwekwentuhan. Pinasara din kase nila ang restaurant para daw may inuman din pagkatapos. Mga 'to, talaga, inom pa rin.

"Liliana!" Derek shouted.

Napatingin naman sila sa akin kaya napangiti ako. Halos magsasampung taon na rin pala nung huli ko silang nakita.

Lumapit agad sa akin sina Lester, Derek at Mason. Kitang-kita ko naman kung gaano sila nagbago mula nung huli ko silang nakita.

"Liliana, tagal mong hindi nagpakita ah?" sabi ni Lester.

I smiled. Halos lahat na rin nung nasa table ay nakatingin sa amin.

"Oy! Kale diba, pre?" tanong ni Derek kay Kale. "Nagkita tayo noon! Sa mall, nung kasama mo si Lia!"

Tumango si Kale at ngumiti sa kanila. Nagkatinginan muna kami bago siya naglahad ng kamay sa kanila. Tuwang-tuwa naman sila na nakipagkamay kay Kale.