How To Love Carsten? [How To Love Series 1]

CHAPTER 2

"You bruised me. And I am still to blame."

CARSTEN

Pumasok na ako sa bar nang aming pagkikitaan na magkakaibigan. Naunang dumating si Jess, as usual. He is the early bird of the group. Nang mamataan niya ako sa table na naka-reserba kami ay tinaas niya ang isang kamay saka tumayo. Lumapit na rin ako saka nakipag-handshake sa kaniya.

"Hindi mo ata kasama si Riven?"

"May lakad siya."

"Hindi ba nagtanong siya na iinom tayo?"

"Oo, nagtanong nga siya, pero may selebrasyon din sila ng mga kaibigan niya. As much as gusto nitong magkakasama tayong lahat ay sa ibang bar sila pupunta." Napatango na lang ako saka umupo. Umorder na ako nang iinumin namin at sumandal sa inuupuan ko.

"Ba't hindi mo kasabay si Cynthia? Baka magtampo 'yon sayo?"

I stare down. Not wanting him to see vulnerability in me. "She's running late and told me to go ahead of her."

I don't know what look he is giving me but I felt uncomfortable. I shift on my seat.

"Andiyan na inumin natin. Pati rin si Quincey at Juls." Nag-angat ako nang tingin upang hanapin ang dalawa. Juls walk first towards us, Quince stayed behind her. "Pre!"

"Pre!" Bati rin ni Quince kay Jess. "Oh, pre!"

"Gago. Para kang lasing agad. Hindi ka pa nakakainom, Quince." Biro ko sa kaniya at nakipag-handshake.

"Mukha namang lasing 'yan. Kita niyong ang laki ng eyebags niya." Turo ni Juls kay Quince. "Nakakaawang nilalang.-Hoy! Baka kamalan tayong nagdodroga dahil sa kaniya!"

"Tone your voice down, Juls," suway ni Quince sa kaniya. "These bags are my hardwork! Look at your cousin. His are bigger. And eyes swollen."

Swollen?

"Swollen?" Hindi ako nakaiwas agad ng tingin kay Juls. Nahuli na ako nito sa isang tingin.

"Why are your eyes swollen?"

"Tears of joy!" Agad kong sagot.

She crinkle her nose. "No. You cried. Ang haba naman ng tears of joy mo." Humarap siya kay Jess at dinuro. "Where's his girlfriend? Did they fight? Did she got jealous again because of you guys?"

Napakibit-balikat naman ang kaibigan ko. "No clue. Sabi naman ni Carsten na susunod daw. Pinauna niya pinsan mo rito, oh."

She eyed me. "I have a horrible gut feeling... You are hiding something from us, Carsten." I sigh. What's the point on hiding? Just by the way my cousin has a gut feeling, it's almost true. Almost never fail.

I took one whiskey and opened it. Tinungga ko na 'yon at umiling. "How about your boyfriend? How's he not here with you?"

She shrugs. "I can't contact him. He is out of range."

"Out of range? Bakit naman?" Pagtataka ni Quince. "Uupakan ko 'yan kapag sinaktan ka! Juls, napapadalas nang out of reach 'yang boyfriend mo sayo."