coffee, tea, or ME?

Chapter 28 - People From My Side of World

* ALL RIGHTS RESERVED *

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ANDI

Badtrip na badtrip ako nung marating ko na yung table nina Mara. Madali ko naman silang nakita dahil kakaunti pa lang ang tao.

It might be a payday Friday pero tama nga si Jake. Maaga pa.

"O bakit nakasimangot ka na agad?" Tanong sa akin ni Lara.

Tinuro ni Mara yung damit ko, "ako man ang magsuot ng ganyan, mababadtrip ako."

Napatingin ako sa suot kong Versus Versace Safety Pin Dress at nagtanong pa din ng "what the hell is wrong with my dress?" Kahit pa alam kong mas pang simba ito kesa sa pang bar.

"Te, mas sexy yung suot mo kanina."

Oo naman. Kaya nga napagsamantalahan ako ng paulit ulit at kaya din hindi ko na sya suot ngayon.

But I couldn't tell them that could I?

"Nanlalagkit ako." Which was actually true. I just couldn't tell them why.

"Enough of that," said Tara na mukhng bored ng pag usapan ang damit ko. I looked at her, and was not surprised to see that she changed into a silver body hugging, very short dress, which is kinda sexy but it makes her look like a slut.

"Hey guys, I want you to meet Angelo."

I almost groaned out loud. This couldn't be happening to me. Hindi ko pangarap na magmeet yung dalawang mundo na ginagalawan ko.

Pinakilala kami isa isa ni Tara kay Angelo. As in Aidan Angelo Garcia. Childhood friend. As in naka diaper pa lang kami ay we are already forced to play together. I was silently praying na hinid nya ako ibuko. And also hoping na hindi nya kasama yung iba pa naming tropa.

"And this is Andi," pakilala ni Tara sa akin.

Tagal akong tinignan ni Aidan bago pa man nya inacknowledge and presence ko. Weird pa rin ng Angelo para sa kanya. He is no where near being an angel.

"Andi huh?" Tanong nya sa akin. Pinaningkitan ko sya ng mata. Yeah, I am Frances to them talaga. Papataying ko talaga ito pag ibinuko nya ako.

Come to think of it, hindi lang naman ako ang may double life? Downside ata ito ng pagiging heir at heiress.

And what is he doing with Tara anyway. San naman kaya sya napulot nito. He doesn't look like the type na pumapatol sa mga mukhang slut. Isa pa, his dad would certainly kill him if he brought someone like Tara home. Tito Andrew is just so uptight.

I hope he didn't tell Tara that he is the heir to the Garcia Empire. Otherwise, hindi na siya lulubayan nito.

"Andrea," inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kanya as if it's the first time ko syang nakita.

Technically, mukhang pareho naman kaming nagtatago.

"Nice meeting you." Sabi nya sa akin, and then turned to the girls. "By the way, I'm here with my friends, do you want to me to invite them over?"

Syempre kung ako ang tatanungin, ayoko. Pero para kina Mara, para silang tumama sa lotto. Imagine kung ilang ganito ka gwapo ang pupunta sa mesa namin?!

Ako hindi na excite, this is slowly turning out to be a nightmare. Aidan's friends meaning our friends. The A-Team plus Hayden.

Maya maya ay dumating na sila sa booth namin. See, even my middle-income earner friends can actually pay for a VIP booth.

Isa isang pinakilala ni Aidan ang mga kasama nya. The twins, Atticus and Andrei, Hayden, which he introduced as Kaleb, and then...

"And the oldest among us, si Alex."

Oh-My-G! He couldn't be here.

"Oldest your ass. That honor is reserved for Jovik and Hunter." He quipped and gave them his smile. Yung laglag panty smile. I swear even sa sobrang lakas ng music sa bar, I could hear them sigh. Yeah, Alex still has that kind of effect on women. Even when he's already 29 and half the time, he's so grumpy.

Pero today, full force and charm nya, akala ko tuloy madidistract na sya.

I was half hoping he wouldn't see me, but that really didn't come true when he asked, "and you must be?"

"Andi."

He didn't say a word. He just smiled at the name and sat beside me.

"Second names now huh Trix?" Pabulong na tanong ko sa kanya.

"We learned from your playbook." Kibit balikat nyang sagot sa akin.

Yeah. I was the first one to break the circle and try to at least live a normal life. They always tease me about it. Now, I think they actually enjoy being incognito.

Not that it would be easy dahil lahat sila ang yummy. Magazine cover page yummy.

Tinignan ko yung crowd ko ngayon. People from that secret life and people from this life. It was an odd mix. But a mix nonetheless. And from the looks of it, they are enjoying each other's company.

Aidan was seriously flirting with Tara, the twins with Mara, and Hayden is with Lara, while Alex/Trix is with me. Too close for comfort, I might add.

Even being with Aidan and seeing him with Tara was weird enough. We were supposed to be having fun tonight. Meeting new boys. Trying to mingle.

Instead, I am here with my childhood friends. One of them, I was even supposed to marry after I graduated from college. Buti na lang my mom was so opposed to the idea.

Never mind that it worked out for her and dad. Sabi nya sa akin, she wants me to have a life of my own. And if, I wanted to marry him, kagaya ng gusto ni dad, then I can always go back.

Kaya ayun. I ended up in law school and trying so damned hard to be independent.

"Princess," napatingin ako kay Alex. It was an old endearment. Minsan nakaka miss din.

"You are so pre-occupied. I was asking you something."

"Huh? Naiisip ko lang how weird it is na magkakasama tayo dito."

"Bakit hindi ka na lang kasi umuwi? You know we missed your company. Laki kang wala sa mga events. Even the girls, lagi na lang silang nagrereklamo that you don't get to spend more time with them."

"You know why." Kibit balikat kong sagot sa kanya.

"I know Princess," sagot nya sa akin. Kasabay nun ang pag akbay nya sa akin. Hinapit akong papalapit sa kanya at hinalikan sa nuo.

For a moment, nakalimutan ko lahat. That kind of serenity that only Trix can give.

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26 July 2016

#WalangForever #PaasaKaJake #WagKangManiniwalaAndi #CoffeeTeaOrMe

Lito ba?  Eto para medyo di maligaw:

1.  Aidan Angelo

2.  Marcus Andrei

3.  Lucas Atticus

4.  Hayden Kaleb

5.  Sebastian Alexander / Trix