Chapter Seventeen
"Ethan Thomas Dela Cruz Castillo?" I raised brow at him at muling tinignan ang dalawa na ngayon ay naka tayo pa rin sa pwesto nila. The girl, Ryla, was laughing at what Logan said, hinampas pa nga niya ang balikat ni Logan at inakabayan naman siya nito.
Tumaas naman ang isa ko pang kilay. Seriously?
"Yep" Ethan aswered. Sinundan niya naman ang tingin ko. "I was with her last week, kakauwi niya lang galing Los Angeles before mag sem break"
"Vacation?"
"No, she lived there for a year or so. Alam ko ay nag aaral siya sa Constantine High ngayon kasama ang isa ko pang pinsan."
"That's Seth's school," I pursed my lips. Napaisip ako kung girlfriend nga ba ni Logan si Ryla, wala naman siyang nabanggit na kahit ano. He even wanted me to help him out to ask a girl to be his date para sa annual Ball ng Bridgeway, and it was not Ryla. But he has been texting lately.
"Seth Delevinge? The boy band member?" He asked.
"Yeah," Wala sa sarili kong sagot dahil inilabas ko agad ang phone ko. I took a glance at the two at ayos pa naman ang view ko sa kanila.
I examined Ryla. Her brown hair was swaying with the wind at naka simple jeans and cropped top lang siya and she paired it with combat boots. May katangkaran rin siya but I bet I'm taller. I bit my lip as I watch her facial expression change everytime Logan said something. She turns to him in awe, then her eyes twinkling na para bang si Logan ang pinala interisadong bagay sa mundo. She suddenly pouts and then Logan pinched her cheeks making her laugh.
Napailing ako and dialled Logan's number.
Naka tingin lang ako sa kanya.
I watched as he fished his phone out of his pocket and put it on his ear.
"Good afternoon beautiful, what's up?" He said through the line. Naka tingin lang si Ryla sa kanya at nakita kong nangunot ang nito.
"Still up for the HQ hang out? I'm finally free" I said, still watching him.
"Yeah sure. But I'm in kind of middle of something, pwede bang sumunod nalang ako?"
"Why? Nasaan ka ba?"
"Moa"
He's not lying. Why don't I feel relieved na hindi siya nagsisinungaling sa akin?
"Ano ang ginagawa mo dyan?"
Narinig ko siyang tumawa. "Nag gagala"
"Alone?"
Nakita kong sinulyapan niya si Ryla at ngumiti. "You could say that"
"What kind of answer is that Logan Axel?"
"Why do you sound frustrated Calliope Rain?" Tinawanan niya ako. "Did Master pushed all the buttons again?"
"Shut up"
He laughed. "Tutal nandito na rin lang naman ako, what do you want?"
"Pizza, as always. Ooh and I'm craving for garlic bread and then the sans rival mcflurry. Can you buy a tub of ben and jerry's too?"
"We have ice cream in the fridge sa HQ" He answered.
"I thought Jace already ate it all" I pursed my lips. Nasilayan ko na naman ang pag ngiti niya and his eyes where locked somewhere.
"I shouldn't really spoil you..."
"But you asked for it, Dimaano. That's what I want. Just be thankful na it's food"
"Fine, okay. Anything else? Baka gusto mo rin ng fries?"
"YES!" Buti nalang ay malayu-layo kami sa kanila kundi narinig na niya ang sigaw ko. "Isang large lang, wala akong balak maki share. And don't your dare eat out of it while driving home"
"You're such a kill joy" He snorts.
"But you love me anyway"
"Yeah I do" I smiled nang ngumiti rin siya. "Gotta go, wait for me okay?"
"Yep. Ingat pauwi basketball superstar. Love yah!"
Ibinaba ko na, pingmasdan ko parin sila. Ryla's arms were crossed habang may sinasabi si Logan sa kanya. Naka kunot ang noo nito and she looks annoyed, really annoyed. I have mastered that look over the years kaya kilalang kilala ko. Logan looks calm as always, he steps back a few meters away from her and then waves. He's leaving.
He's leaving the girl to come home. Because of me.
Ryla walked to the opposed direction at hawak na niya ang kanyang phone.
My head whipped to Ethan nang tumunog naman ang cellphone niya.
He answered the call and put it on loud speaker.
"Ethan Thomas," Mataray na sabi ni Ryla. I can hear her frustrated sigh.
"Ryla Aliana," Ethan answered in a more calmer tone.
"Family dinner, be there cause Chloeyahnna will kill both of us kapag hindi na naman tayo sumipot"
"Why don't she just ditch katulad natin? Wala naman siyang mapapala doon"
"You know her, sunod sunuran lang siya sa Mom niya. Like she has a choice anyway," Ryla sighed again. "I'm already on my way. Bye"
Namatay na ang linya and I watched as Ryla turned to the direction of the parking lot.
"So we both have to go" Ngiti ni Ethan. "Hatid na kita"
Hindi na ako umangal. Kailangan ko ring maunahan umuwi si Logan and as if naman mag co-commute ako. Like duh.
Habang nasa daan nag text na ako sa black blade na pumuntang HQ. Wala naman silang ginagawa, except for Rix na may date 'raw'. For all I know baka nasa hotel na iyon. I pity the girl.
Nasa coastal road na kami nang biglang mag ring ang phone ko.
"I'm on my way home" Pambungad ko kanya.
"From where?"
"Moa"
Narinig ko ang pag tikhim niya. "At ano naman ang ginawa mo doon?"
"Don't get your panties in a twist, nag gala lang ako. Feeling okay?"
"Yep, headache's gone. Wala na ring lagnat. I'm up for food, wanna go out?"
"Just go to HQ, Logan's bringing pizza at para sa akin na ang iba"
I heard him laugh. "Okay, so see you later?"
"Bye V!"
Binabaan ko na siya at nakita kong naka tingin si Ethan sa akin. I gave him a 'What' look, umiling lang siya at ngumiti. Nag green na ulit ang stoplight, at binabagtas na namin ngayon ang kahabaan ng molino blvd.
"Just a heads up ganda, I'm gonna text you throughout the family dinner" natatawa niyang sabi nang itigil niya ang sasakyan sa harap ng village namin.
"I'll keep my phone close to me then" I smiled at him. I was about to open the door but naramdaman ko ang pag hawak niya sa wrist ko.
"I'd keep Logan away if I were you, just a friendly reminder Calliope. Ryla is bad news, trust me. I know her" And binitawan na niya ako.
I got out na medyo tulala. Hindi pa naman ganon nag s-sink in sa utak ko ang tungkol kay Logan at Ryla because Logan distracted me with food.
They look comfortable with each other and Logan did not really lie when I asked where he was. Ryla had this vibe, yung ayaw niya na maagawan siya ng atensyon. I studied that kanina habang magkauspa kami ni Logan. Maybe she has rich kid attitude? Kind of like me but yung aking minsan lang naman lumabas.
I don't know how to approach Logan about her, saka hindi naman ako mag j-jump to the conclusion. They might be comfortable with each other but that doesn't mean na sila. Other boys are like that with girls.
Tumungo na akong HQ. Pumasok ako ng gate at ginamit ko ang susi ko. Iba talaga ang vibe ng bahay namin na ito kaysa sa iba, mas maliit kasi siya kumpara sa ibang mga mansyon dito at halatang mga teenagers ang naka tira dahil ang kalat ng harap.
Sa likod ako dumaan, nakita kong nasa court ang dalawang bola ng basketball ibig sabihin ay may naglaro. Ayaw ni Logan na iniiwan lang ang bola kung saan kaya sigurado ko na si Josh ang nag laro.
I opened the french door, ang entrance patungo ng pool. Narinig ko ang tunog ng tv sa living room. I saw Josh sleeping on the couch, half naked and he was hugging himself.
Napailing ako at kumuha ng blanket sa cabinet where we keep all the spare pillows. Kinumutan ko siya at pinatay ang tv.
Umupo nalang ako sa kabilang sofa at nitext sila na narito na ako.
"You know, you usualy call me Vini or Vin" Napataas ang kilay nang pumasok si Vini sa bahay at iyon agad ang una niyang sinabi. "You rarely call me V, but you call me Tristan when you're mad, like really mad"
"So what's your point?" Ipinatong ko ang paa ko sa center table.
Sumiksik siya sa tabi ko. "I like it when you call me Tristan, you should call me that more often"
"Hinatayin mo na magalit ako then I'll call you that" I laughed at him because he's so random sometimes.
Ngumiti nlang siya at binaling na niya ang atensyon ang natutulog na si Josh. Bago ko pa kan siya mapigilan, lumapit na siya rito and pushed the poor boy off the sofa.
"F you man, f you!" Josh groaned and rolled over the carpet.
"Ang bad mo" Saway ko sa kanya saka tinulungan tumayo si Josh.
"Why were you on the floor?" Salubong na tanong ni Jace sa kambal niya.
"You have a valid reason to push him off the stairs now, Joshie" I tapped his shoulder and pointed to Vini.
"Hey that's cruel" He pouted.
Binatukan ko nalang siya at pumasok ng kitchen para gumawa ng juice. After half an hour ay dumating na rin si Logan, dala niya ang lahat ng hiningi ko.
I gave a kiss on the cheek at kinuha ko na kung ano ang akin. No sharing this time losers.
"Hey! Why does he get a kiss on the cheeks and I don't?" Reklamo ni Jace and took a bite from his pizza.
"Wala ka namang dinala para sa akin na nagustuhan ko" Inirapan ko siya at sinundan ng tingin si Logan na pumasok sa kitchen.
Mukha namang preoccupied ang boys sa paglalaro kaya I sneaked in. Inabutan ako ni Logan ng orange juice, mukhang hindi siya nagtaka sa pag sunod ko.
I sat on the kitchen island and took a sip of the orange juice. I cleared my throat and stared at his back. Gumagawa kasi siya ng sandwich, mukhang hindi enoigh sa kanya ang pagkain kanina. Boys and their appetite.
"So...what's your relationship status right now?" I want this to be casual, hindi ko naman sisindakin yung babae.
"Do the other guys get the privilege to be asked that kind of question or it's only me?" He laughs and glances at me.
"Only you, so feel special" I smiled.
Tumigil siya sa kanyang ginagawa at hinarap ako.
"Why so curious about my love life?"
"I'm not..." He raised a brow at me kaya napa buntong hininga ako. "Fine I am"
Hindi siya nagsalita, hinintay niya lang kung ano ang idudugtong ko.
I shook my head. "I kinda saw you with a girl kanina..."
Inangat ko ang ulo ko and I saw him bit his lip. "I should've known the reason of that call"
Tinalikuran niya ako and continued to make his sandwich. Now I feel ashamed, am I boardering into something off limits?
"I met her two years ago sa camp nung summer, basketball ako at sya naman cheerleading," He said while cutting some cheese. Hindi ako nagsalita, I'm actually surpised dahil nag k-kwento sya.
"Since then nagkakausap lang kami then it turned into something more. It's embarrasing to my part kung i-open ko sa inyo, lalo na sayo, ang status namin ni Ryla. So I kept it a secret and umalis rin naman siya so wala nang point kung itutuloy pa namin..."
"Ang ano Logan?" Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baso. Naka talikod siya sa akin at bigla naman siyang humarap. He took a deep breath before answering.
"We're FuBus, baby," He gave me a shy smile. "But hindi na ngayon, she just wanted to catch up kaya pumayag ako na makipag kita sa kanya kanina"
"FuBus as in...." I don't wanna say it.
"Yes," He confirmed. "I'd rather have that kind of relationship with one girl than jump to one girl to another. It's safe and exclusive, di katulad ni Rix at Jace" He chuckled. "And I'm a boy, I have my needs"
Now I regret opening this up to him. Logan was too honest. He literally admitted that he was exclusively fucking the girl for I don't know how long! Well he does have a point sa pagiging safe. Napangiwi ako.
"So she's not your girlfriend?"
"She is not my girlfriend" He confirmed at medyo natawa pa.
Si Logan ang isa sa pinaka seryoso sa Black Blade at nakakagulat para sa akin na aminin niya ang ganitong bagay but who am I to judge? Siya na ang nagsabi, he's a boy and he has needs and I am his best friend. Dapat hindi awkard.
Buti nga sa kanya private, di katulad nung dalawang tukmol na lantaran ang sex life.
"Happy now?" He laughs at me and offer me a hand. Tinanggap ko naman ito and I jumped off of the kitchen island.
"Very" I rolled my eyes at him. He offered me the sandwich he made but I refused. The topic just ruined my appetite.
"I answered your questions," Bulong niya. "Let's keep this a secret okay?" He kissed my forehead and brushed pass me. Hindi ko na naman siya kailangan sagutin because he knows I will.
Uminom muna ako ng tubig bago sumunod sa kanya.
I found Jace fiddling with his camera sa sulok ng living room, si Logan naman ay kinakain na ang sandwich niya, eyes locked to the tv and he is constantly avoiding the two boys, Vini and Josh, who are now rolling around the carpet, wrestling.
"Feel my left over germs fucker!" Vini yelled and rubbed his armpits on Josh's face.
Poor Joshie.
Napangiwi ako sa kababuyan niya. Hindi na naka ayos ang place ng sofa ngayon dahil sa kanilang dalawa and they kept rolling around like monkeys.
"Aloha faggots!" The door flew open revealing Rix with his just-fucked-hair, and his shirt in hand.
Inangat naman ni Logan ang plato ng may natitirang sandwich at agad naman itong kinuha ni Rix.
"Hi baby" He greeted witha muffled voice because his mouth was full, kissed my temple and then brushed pass me to the kitchen.
I shook my head. I think I made an awesome decision to not permanemtly live in this house and just make it a tambayan. I think the house will be a dump by now because these boys are such pigs.
But I'm glad our parents gave us permission to by this house. Sila rin ang tumulong para bilhin ito, but we really owe it all to Vini's parents.
I jumped on the misplaced sofa and started texting Ethan while the three boys were watching an NBA game and the two are running around the house now.
"Don't hurt yourself!" I yelled nang marinig ko silang nagpapaunahan sa hagdan. They ran and probably damaged upstairs after that.
Ethan complained about how boring the dinner is. Him and his cousins just wanted to break the glass walls and get out of there. He even sent me a pic of his bored face kaya natawa ako and apparently my laugh caught Rix's attention.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked.
"Nothing," I immediately texted a reply. He said he still had to endure and hour more of the torture because the family dinner turned out to be a business dinner with some investors of their family's company.
Ethan is a rich kid. Halata naman sa kilos at itsura niya, but the fun thing is ay tuwing kausap mo siya he's so down to earth na para bang hindi siya iba sayo tuwing magkausap kayo. According to Bridgeway High girls, Ethan's style screamed bad boy. Though wala naman silang chance na kausapin siya kaya if ever na mangyari iyon siguro mag iiba ang dub ng tao sa kanya.
He's a golden boy that looks like a bad boy.
While Vini is a bad boy and Logan is a golden boy, by persona and reputation. See the difference?
Muntik na akong malaglag nang masagi ni Josh ang sofa na kinauupuan ko. Malakas ang pagkakabangga niya dito at naka indian seat pa ako sa gitna kaya wala akong nakapitan.
"Hey guys, careful" Mariing suway ni Logan sa dalawa.
"I'm sorry." Sabi agad ni Josh at nag peace sign pa sa akin. Umupo siya sa lapag at tagaktak ang pawis sa kanyang noo.
"I'm tired na" Vini sighed and then slumped on my lap. Katulad ni Josh, pawis na pawis rin siya.
"It's your fault" I said to him and he just grinned at me, adjusting his body on my lap. Ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya at basa rin ang likod niya.
"Kagagaling mo lang sa sakit, gusto mo atang magka sakit ulit" I frowned at him. Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi ko instead he closed his eyes.
I suddenly had an idea nang makita ko si Josh na naka higa sa carpet.
"Hey guys, why don't we spice things up a bit?"
Jace raised his head attentively. "Spice things up? I'd love that!"
"Jace, you and your perverted mind can leave. The door is open" Vini said and points at the door with his eyes still closed.
Binato naman ni Rix si Jace ng unan which made Logan laugh.
"I meant to try something. Why don't we have a camp out well in, in here in the living room." Tinuro ko yung carpet at yung mga sofa. "We can move those and pwede tayong mag latag ng higaan"
"Kind of like a sleep over?" Josh asked.
"I prefer Soiree, sleep overs are so third grade" I replied.
"Can we watch movies too?" Rix suggested at tumango ako.
Half and hour later naka ayos na ang lahat. Yung mga unan, kumot, at comforter namin ay naka latag na. I'm already wearing my sleepwear and the guys were either wearing sweatpants or boxers. Pinag gitnaan ako ni Vini at Rix, naka patay na ang ilaw and The Purge ng pinapanuod namin.
I comfortably hugged my pillow habang tahimik na nanunuod. Our eyes were locked to the movie while Rix was on his phone.
I think he's reading comments of his recent status on Facebook.
"Bakit ang daming insecure sa akin?" He suddenly mumbled to himself and then changed his position, turning his back to me.
I laughed out loud.
What he said just made my night.