Crush Culture

Chapter 7

I drain my glass until it's half-empty. I really like this mix. Para lang siyang juice. Citrusy in taste and cold in the mouth, but I feel the heat of the brandy from neck to my stomach. I feel my body loosen and all the stress from prom drifting away. This would be much better if I had time to change into casual clothes, gaya ng karamihan na umuwi muna bago pumunta rito.

Alam ko na sa wakas kung bakit hindi ko nakikita si Andy. Kasi puno ng finger foods ang table. He's probably cooking right now, just to feed us hungry pigs. I feel like an ass. Kasi pakiramdam ko party niya rin ito pero ito ako nagsasaya tapos siya yung nagmamando. Sa sobrang busy ko sa kabila hindi ko napansin.

May French fries, chips, lumpiang shanghai, onion rings, at mga dips. Andy's favorite snack are meatballs, and they're absurdly delicious. Lagi siya nag-e-experiment gamit ang iba't ibang sauce. He likes the concept of baking; that it's not only for pastries. 

Mukhang mainit-init pa pero paubos na. Agad akong sumubo ng isa. The meatball tastes sweet and sour, with a hint of cinnamon. I groan. He always sneaks cinnamon into everything. Kahit hindi rapat angkop, gagawa siya ng paraan para mag-work. And he's pretty damn good at it.

"Ang ganda ng party mo, Nicole," sabi ni Misha mula sa isang rattan chair. She's with Hannah, Xavier, Ralph, Ivy, and Patrick, playing Jenga. I think it's another drinking game.

Hannah pats the space beside her and I sit. We're on speaking terms now. People are really nicer when there's alcohol. 

"Uhh... Sorry nga pala sa nangyari sa inyo ni Franco. Ang gago lang."

Tumango lang ako, hindi pa rin sigurado sa isasagot. To be honest, mas naba-bother ako na nag-iisip ako ng rehearsed line o explanation kapag may naki-sympathize kaysa sa closure mismo na nangyari sa gazebo.

"Ugh. Cheaters," sabi ni Ivy at nirolyo ang mga mata.

"Dapat kasi ako na lang sinagot mo eh," sabi ni Xavier.

Napangisi ako. "Hindi mo ako niligawan."

"Hah? Hindi ba?" tanong niya at napailing. He puffs his cheeks and exhales. "Shame. Looking at you right now, nagsisisi ako."

It's really hard to tell if the boys in my class are flirting with me, or just teasing me. They usually leave me alone with my books and reviewers, respecting my bubble. I'm more likely earning their respect than earning their pogi points.

"Nakatira si Andy sa ibaba ninyo, 'di ba?"

Tinanguan ko si Hannah.

"Single ba siya?"

"Sa pagkakaalam ko. Hindi kasi namin napag-uusapan."

"Pero 'di ba, best friend ka niya? 'Di ba rapat alam mo?"

Napatikhim si Misha. "Ang swerte mo kay Andy, Nicole. He's one of the good ones. Bakit hindi naging kayo? As in buong high school, never ninyo sinubukan o naisip man lang?"

My automatic response would be it's because it would be weird. Instead, I just smile and look around, adoring all of his hard work. He should be here. I think Hannah and Misha are interested. Bagay siya kahit sino sa dalawa.

"Bakit ngayon ko lang siya napansin?" tanong ni Hannah sa grupo. "Like, I've always thought he's cute. Must be the suit."

"Crush ko na siya rati pa," bulong ni Misha at napayuko. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at nilingon ako. "Please. Huwag mo sabihin sa kanya."

Hannah scoffs. "I think he already knows, Mish. Ang obvious mo kaya."

Everyone agrees with Hannah and they start teasing Misha, but this is a WTF moment for me. Hindi ko alam. Wow. I'm really oblivious. Sa sobrang reserba ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko napapansin ang mga nagkakagusto kay Andy.