Meet Me In Mabini (City Series #2)

Chapter 24

For the rest of the ride, I tried my best to avoid Vale. It was too easy for him to make me smile. It was too easy because it was.. familiar. And it scared me.

Pagkabalik namin sa resort ay naligo na rin kaming lahat. Habang nagpapalit ako ng damit, nakita ko agad si Rafaela na nakatulala sa hangin.

"Uy" I called. Napatingin naman siya sa akin. "Paselosin mo kaya si Claude?"

"Uy!" Lia suddenly said. "Pwede!"

"Hoy, ang highschool naman ng plano niyo!" umangal naman si Selena.

I laughed and zipped up my white tank top.

"Thank you! Finally! Someone who's mature!" ani Raffy habang umiiling.

"Hindi lang dapat selos!" Ngisi ni Selena. "Dapat ipaniwalang may bago na 'tong si Raf! May girlfriend na yung tao. Edi yung gawin ni Raf, ipakita na hindi siya affected!"

I grabbed my comb and looked outside. "Pwede namang si Vale!"

Lumingon si Lia sa akin. She gave me a concerned look, but I ignored it and smiled. "Claude was jealous of Vale before. I remember there was this one time, after ng game nila sa UB, he told me he saw your leave with Vale. Naka-akbay pa daw si Vale sa'yo no'n.."

"Wow, alalang alala?" Selena threw a pillow at me. I laughed and threw it back at her.

I looked at Lia, desperate for some back-up.

They went on about the plan, pero ayaw ni Raffy kaya tumigil na rin kami. Habang naglalakad kami patungo sa seaside, sinabit naman bigla ni Lia ang kamay niya sa kamay ko. I smiled at her and looked at the others who were already excited for the food.

"Hoy, Natalia." Lia whispered. "Bugaw bugaw mo si Vale jan, mamaya ikaw pala nasasaktan."

I swallowed and smiled. "Grabe ka! Okay na ako!"

I knew she could already see through my lies kaya niliitan niya lang ako ng mga mata.

"Really? Kapag inasar ko yung dalawang 'yon, hindi ka mahuhurt?" she said in a suspicious voice like she already knew the answer.

I forced out a scoff. "Me? Of course not! Bagay nga sila eh! Mas gusto ko si Raffy para kay Vale kaysa naman kay Theo."

Hindi na ako sinagot ni Lia. Tumayo kami doon samay mesa ng boodle fight at tumabi na rin ako kay Raffy. Beside her was Vale who looked like he was texting.

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin sa baba.

Hindi ka affected, Natalia. Hindi ka apektado.

Nang magsimula kami kumain ay natawa kami sa kababuyan ni Raffy. Umabot pa kasi sa ilong niya yung sauce kaya naman pinunasan ni Vale ang ilong niya. I forced a smile and pushed her towards him. Sinamaan niya naman ako ng tingin, and Vale looked at me with a confused expression.

"Umayos ka na," ani Raffy.

Binelatan ko na lang siya at sinubo yung shrimp sa puno niyang bunganga.

"Natalia knows best." I smiled.

"Alice, ano na pala balita sa bago mong advertisement?" Rinig kong tanong ni Lance.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

Advertisement? Kaya ba sila magkakilala ni Claude? Marketing si Claude, diba? Oo, parehas kami ng kurso, eh!

"Anong advertisement? Waze ba-" tanong ko.

Siniko na agad ako ni Raffy bago ko pa madagdagan yung tanong kaya naman tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.