Team Alpha

Chapter 20

I don't know why I'm feeling sad to know about this. Because the Matthew we knew before was like an overgrown puppy, so gentle, so self-kept at kung titingnan mo, you can only see a good man in him. But now, his actions are not what we or should I say, what I knew him to be.

He checks out girls like they're a piece of art waiting to be touched. He and Walter used to do that in the past but ever since Walter got serious with Keya, Matthew was left alone, and he continued being the secretive Casanova nobody knew of.

The smile on Matthew's lips faded as he looked at me.

"What do you expect me to do? My best friend got himself a girlfriend. The first girl that I ever loved is already someone else's property. I have to keep myself busy from all this shit." I flinched a bit when I heard Matthew curse. I mean, it's not like he doesn't curse but he rarely does it kaya kung nagmumura siya ay nabibigla nalang ako. Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko at tiningnan siya.

Sinapo niya nalang ang noo niya at huminga ng patawad sa akin.

"You have us, Matt. The team." He just scoffed at what I said at tiningnan ako.

"Xin, there are things that I do by myself, without the team. And don't worry, I got everything under control." Nakangiti niyang sabi at kinindatan ako at tsaka ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Now go talk to Jun while I drown myself with pleasure just so that I could forget that fact that you're not longer going to be mine." Natigilan kaagad ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Even he himself seemed to be surprised that those words slipped out of his lips. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya at nakita kong ngumiti lang siya at pinisil ang pisngi ko.

He ruffled my hair once more and left without a word.

✥✥

I'm going nuts. Really nuts. I just ripped my latest sketch and threw it on the floor where someone picked it up and looked at it. Tiningnan ko kaagad si Walter na binubuklat ang sketch ko at tiningnan ako. "Why throw away a perfect masterpiece?" Tanong niya at pinakita sa akin ang sketch ko. Umiling lang ako.

"That's a piece of trash." I mumbled.

"May mga tao talagang talented na pero hindi parin nakukuntento." Tiningnan ko lang si Dino na tinitingnan 'yung sketch ko at tsaka dinala dun sa kwarto niya. Ewan ko kung anong gagawin niya dun. Huminga nalang ako ng malalim at nilunod ang sarili ko sa mga drawings ko. Walter never left the study room and just leaned on the door frame.

I flicked my tongue and looked at him.

"Bro, what was your first impression of me?" Walter smiled at what I called him. I haven't called him that in a long time though. Umupo siya sa upuang kaharap ko at tiningnan ako. "First impression?" Tanong niya at tumango ako bilang sagot. He pursed his lips and looked at me from head to toe as if he's scanning me like a bar code.

"Hot. Gorgeous. Unique. Challenging. How's that?" Tumaas lang ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

"Are you serious?" Natatawa kong tanong dahil parang pinagloloko lang ako ng demonyong 'to. He looked at me in a way as if he's asking me if I'm doubting his answers. I just scoffed and closed my sketchpad. "That was your impression of me. The others had different thoughts, right?" Tanong ko sa kanya pero kumunot agad ang noo ko nung lumingo-lingo siya at ngumiti sa akin.

"I'm going to die if I say this, but.." Saglit siyang huminto sa pagsasalita at tumingin sa balikat. Itinaas niya lang ang kamay niya at sumara na ang pinto ng study room dito sa dorm at tsaka niya binalik ang tingin sa akin. "..since you're a permanent member of the team. I guess you should know." Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya.