Nicklaus : Patingin.
Umikot ang mata ko.
Blair : Stop it.
Nicklaus : Then, no sex. Just hang out.
Natigilan ako doon. We never "just" hung out before. Kapag nagkikita kami, iyon lamang ang ginagawa namin. It's our hangout thing. Just me and him, under the sheets. So it's a bit surprising.
Blair : We'll hang out with them.
He took a while to reply. Binalewala ko lamang iyon at nagbihis na.
Panibagong gimik na naman ang naisipan nila. Quinn had been bugging me for three days. Hindi kami sumipot ni Klaus noong huling inuman. We had our own body shots, that's why.
I told them I was studying, and Klaus didn't bother to tell his reasons. Hindi na din naman kasi nila tinatanong dahil may sariling buhay si Klaus.
Nauna akong dumating kay Klaus. My friends were already in Ampersand when I arrived. I wore a simple longsleeved off shoulder top and miniskirt with boots. Nagsisimula pa lamang sila noong nakarating ako doon.
Siniko ako ni Quinn. "Blooming mo, ha?"
I smiled. "Stress na nga ako."
"Pagpahingain mo naman kasi ang libro, Blair. Oo na, cum laude ka na. Sayo na!"
They laughed. Umiling iling lamang ako habang pinapanood ko ang tequila na sinasalin ni Jackie para sa akin.
I was drinking my first shot when Klaus arrived. He sat beside me and greeted our friends. Napaubo ako ng kaunti sa pag-upo niya sa tabi ko. I looked at my friends to check if they reacted about it, but they didn't. Ako lang yata ang nag-iisip ng kung ano ano.
"Baka naman hindi lang review ang ginagawa ni Blair," Jackie said, kinindatan niya ako. I couldn't smile. I was nervous she'd know something about us.
Quinn laughed. "Oo nga. Kaya pala fresh. Fresh sa dilig!"
My mouth parted a bit. Nagkatinginan kami ni Klaus. Humalukipkip siya. He poked his inner cheek with his tongue.
"Ah, si Jared ba, B?" Dheia asked.
Quinn clapped and covered her mouth. She looked at me. "Sorry! Nadulas ako."
I bit my lips and just smiled. I could feel Klaus' stare. Nilingon ko siya at pinantaasan ng kilay. Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin.
"Weh? Jared? Ng UB?" Jackie looked surprised. "Kaya siguro nandito siya. Nakita ko siya sa entrance kanina."
Shoot.
I nervously laughed. "Yeah, no, stop it, guys."
Sumandal si Klaus. Juan extended a drink to Klaus while grinning. He just shook his head and turned to me again. I was scared to look at him.
Why would I be? So what, Klaus?
Humupa ang usapan nila. Hindi ko na mabilang kung pang-ilang shot na ang nainom ko. The night started to get wild. People started dancing and shouting in the middle. Mas lalo ding lumalakas ang music na hindi ko na nasundan ang pinag-uusapan nila.
Klaus' hands are behind me. I felt his hand caress my waist. Nilingon ko siya at inalis ang kamay niya sa baywang ko.
He leaned closer. "Jared, huh?"
I pretended to hear nothing. Kinuha ko ang isa pang shot at ininom iyon. Klaus' eyes were stone cold. I feel a bit of his anger. I couldn't read anything else.
"Don't drink too much..." malamig na sabi niya.
Hindi ko siya pinakinggan doon. I laughed when Allen had too much and decided to go to the dancefloor and dance. Humahalaklak kami habang tinatanaw siyang nakikipagsayaw sa mga babae doon.
Kabanata 14
Start from the beginning
