Keeping Tabs and Losing Us (Highschool Love Affairs #2)

3

My conversation with Anneliese was long forgotten an hour before Chloe’s debut party. I was losing hopes na makaka-attend ako. First, the venue was 45 minutes away from my apartment; Second, sobrang lakas ng ulan; And third, I don’t have a ride. Ayoko naman i-bother sila Anneliese because I know they live far away from me and hassle pa if dadaanan sila dito.

I was actually writing na my apologies for Chloe when Denzel’s chat head popped out. I was too eager to open it, okay? And it honestly turned out great because he was offering me a ride. Tina-type ko pa lang ‘yung response ko when he sent another chat.

tawag ako para mas madali, he said.

Three seconds later, nag-riring na ‘yung phone. Good Lord, I am not prepared to hear his voice through phone again.

“Yara.” I hate and love that nickname at the same time. “Nandyan na ako in ten minutes,” he said.

“Okay,” I answered, medyo distracted sa voice niya because it was just so manly. “Hindi ka ba ma-hahassle, though?”

Pare-pareho lang naman kasi silang nakatira malayo sa’kin. The only reason I’d let him pick me up because why would I not want to be his passenger princess? Alam kong masasapok ako ni Anneliese if she was with me right now.

“Ayos lang. May dinaanan din ako sa school.”

“Okay.” It has always been a default reply for me.

“Sige, hintayin mo na lang ako.”

“Okay—”can I think of an even more lame response? “—ingat ka.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lord, please ibigay mo na siya sa akin.

I didn’t have to wait that long, though. Dumating kaagad si Denzel na may dala-dalang paying. He was wearing a suit with gold linings and tie. It suits him so well. But what I like more about it was that it complements the gold, metallic dress that I’m wearing. Two weeks ago pang alam sa group chat naming na ito ang isusuot ko. Did he do it on purpose?

Ang delulu mo, Cia.

“Dapat pala laging may debut so you’d clean up nicely, ‘no?” I teased.

"Sus," he smirked. "Sabihin mo na lang na na-gwagwapuhan ka sakin, Yara. Nagagandahan din naman ako sa'yo."

Thank God I'm wearing makeup because I could perfectly feel the blood running to my face. How could he even say those words upstraight without putting any malice into it?! Hindi man lang yata siya kinabahan.

Ikaw lang naman kasi ang may gusto sa kanya, Cia.

"Boys," I feigned disgust. "Tara na. I don't like being late."

Nauna na ako sa kanya maglakad, then immediately came back when I realized it's still raining. Kailangan ko siya — no, I need his umbrella.

"Dali na. Walk na. You're holding the umbrella oh," I urged him. Nakatayo pa rin kasi siya sa pwesto niya!

He chuckled. Pati tawa, may effect sakin?!

"Hindi ka ba magkasakit niyan, Yara?" Why does he love saying his nickname for me. "Wala kang jacket na dala."

"I won't need it," I told him. "Tara na."

He sighed. "Yes, ma'am."

Once I was seated comfortably sa passenger seat niya, nag-drive na siya. Medyo malayo 'yung venue so I decided to be on my phone muna. Ayoko mag-start ng convo kasi kung ano-anong pinagsasabi niya. One of these days, he's gonna give me a heart attack.