In Between Calms and Storms

Chapter 24

Kiss

Wala kaming nagawa ni Ryx at bumalik na lang sa table namin. Everyone was already there and was having some fun.

We settled outside since most of the people were outside. Minsan ay nawawala sina Dim at Koen para gumala at makipag-inuman at kwentuhan sa mga kakilala, lalong-lalo na nga si Reis, pero bumabalik din kapag pagod na o ano.

There were also a lot of games and side events, which Reis assigned people to host, so it wasn't just a party but a full-blown event.

I just sat beside Renzo, who was just sitting down and didn't even bother socializing, but his eyes were glued to our friends. Nakahawak din ako sa phone ko lalo na't nagtatanong din ako kung nasaan sina Kio.

Fortunately, they also met some of their friends here.

Mukha talaga 'tong nanay ng grupo 'tong isa. I wonder how they got along well, since they have so many differences—pero ako talaga, magtatanong niyan?

I side-eyed the man wearing a cowboy costume on my left. Kanina pa naniningkit ang mga mata nito kay Reis. Sinadya ko talagang hindi umupo sa tabi niya.

Napailing nalang ako sa sarili. I bit my lower lip and chuckled lightly.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa dalawa at nagtaka nang nawala si Koen sa tabi nila.

"Where's Koen, dude?" Takang tanong ni Reis nang mapansin iyon nang makabalik sila sa amin. Sumunod si Dim sa kanya na umupo sa tabi ni Zo at may pinag-usapan.

Just in time, Koen appeared. Dumiretso siya sa gitna namin ni Reis at pabagsak na umupo.

"Tang-ina!" Bulalas ni Reis nang makita si Koen na hawak ang gilid ng labi niya. "Ano'ng nangyari sayo?"

I looked at him, too, and my eyes widened when I saw his bruised lips. Napangiwi ako dahil parang ang lala ng kung sino man ang sumuntok noon... o sinuntok ba?

"Kinagat ng lamok, dude," natatawang saad ni Koen habang hawak pa rin ang labi niya.

Dmitri just snorted as if he found that ridiculous. "Ng alin? Lamok, amputa... Baka ng bampira, pre?"

"Oh, fuck off, Salazar." Koen chuckled deeply while getting some tissues from the table.

"Gago, seryoso nga, napaaway ka ba?" Seryosong tanong ni Reis.

Koen just shook his head and waved his hand submissively. "It's nothing serious, don't worry."

Mukhang wala rin naman siyang balak magkuwento kaya hindi na namin pinilit.

Nabaling din ang atensyon namin nang biglang umilaw sa harap. I forgot to mention that there was also a band. Looks like ngayon na sila tutugtog.

Umawang ang labi ko nang makita si Theo roon sa drums, may hawak na drum sticks.

I didn't know he was a drummer, or part of a band.

Napukaw lang ang atensyon ko ulit sa lakasng tikhim ni Dmitri. Nakangisi na naman na parang may nakakaaliw siyang nakita ngayong gabi.

"Oh," I heard Ryx utter, ngayon lang siya nagsalita ulit at parang nagulat talaga. "I didn't know Theo's still using the drums."

Napatingin ako sa kanya. It seems like he also knows Theo and Everett. Even Dim knows the two. Mukhang kilala talaga nila ang isa't-isa dahil parehas lang naman sila ng school noong SHS. I don't think they're close since I don't see them talking.

"Oo nga," Dmitri replied to him. "Looks like he's still into it up until now. No doubt naman, ang galing niya d'yan, e."

"Yeah, right. Galing." Reis also joined the conversation.