Played (Montellano series #1)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

We had bonfire at night after playing with the waves. I'm not the athletic and sporty type so I didn't much enjoy surfing. Matapos mahulog sa surfboard ng ilang beses, bumalik na ako sa buhangin at umupo na lang doon.

I enjoyed watching them play, though. I took pictures too. Baste and Jansen kept competing with each other. Kaizen, Jett, and Darren with Rake were swimming while looking around and talking. Ganoon din sina Ate Mikee at Kim. Nica was surfing the whole time.

Nagstay na lang ako sa sapin na nilatag nila sa buhangin at kumain. I also sometimes look around. Minsan nagpapahinga sina ate at mga pinsan ko sa tabi ko.

When they got tired, we had our dinner and started the bonfire. We brought drinks too kaya nalasing na naman sina Baste at Jansen.

"Gosh, he's crying again!" reklamo ni Nica matapos makita ang kapatid na minasahe ang mga mata. "He's always like that when he's drunk!"

Tinignan ko si Baste na namumula ang buong mukha lalo na ang mga mata. Pumikit siya ng mariin. With the light from the bonfire, I can see his pain on his face. I didn't think Baste would be like this. Hindi ko inasahan na mangyayari sa kanya ang ganito.

"Nica, hindi mo pa kasi naranasan kaya hindi mo alam." Ate Mikee said.

"I thought you're mad?" si Kaizen habang vinivideohan si Baste, pinipigilan ang tawa.

Baste slapped Kai's phone. Nahulog iyon sa buhangin. Minura niya si Kai at uminom. He wiped his tears.

"You're crying over a girl! Akala namin galit ka sa kanya? Now you're saying you miss her!"

"It's just months since she left. Let him be! He was hurt!" depensa ni Ate Mikee.

"You should have begged for her to stay. Ngayon nagsisisi ka?" si Kim.

"Damn it!" si Baste, tumayo at naglakad palayo.

Sinundan siya nina Jett at Darren. I sighed. Baste is always like that when he gets super drunk. Kapag nahimasmasan naman kinabukasan, parang walang nangyari at balik sa dati.

Nilingon ako ni Rake na may pagtataka sa mukha. He's sitting beside me. Kanina ko lang napansin na katabi ko na pala siya, akala ko si Darren. Naglalaro kasi sila kanina. Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Anong pinag-uusapan nila?"

Nagkibit balikat ako. I don't know the whole story. Wala rin naman akong karapatang magkuwento.

"Ask Baste."

"Seems like his ex left him."

Nagkibit balikat ulit ako. "I didn't know you're nosy?"

He chuckled. "Just curious. Hindi ko inakala na nasasaktan pala ang mga Montellano."

Napataas ang kilay ko. "What do you think of us? You think we're heartless?"

"No," tumawa siya at binaba ang bote ng beer sa buhangin para maharap akong mabuti. "What I meant is that I thought you were the ones who play, not getting played of."

I shook my head. "I don't play."

Natahimik siya ng ilang sandali. He stared at his bottle for a while. Bumaling ako sa bonfire sa gitna namin.

"Maybe you think we are players. I guess my cousins are but of course, we get hurt too... by the people we love."

My cousins are noisy. Mga may tama na ata sila kaya siguro hindi rin ako pinapagalitan ni Kim ngayon. I'm still sober because I didn't drink. I want to try the ladies' drink but Darren didn't allow me.