Temper
The boys joined us on the dance floor, and we were now shouting and jumping while shouting the lyrics of the song we all knew.
Jade was pulled by the other girls, as I couldn't spot them on the crowded dance floor. Bukod sa nagkakatuwaan na rin kaming mga boys, nakaakbay sa isa't isa at nagsisitalon, I let her disappear on my sight as I indulged myself in the ongoing fun.
"Oh shit, Brent..." siko bigla ni Mavric sa akin.
Natatawa pa ako noong tiningnan ang nginuso niya. I curiously glanced at where he was talking about when I saw the group of familiar faces who just went in.
Oh boy... the fucking main event has just arrived.
Verena, in her fit, button-down black dress that hugged her hourglass body sexily, made my lips parted. She brushed her long, disheveled, wolf-cut hair and flipped it to the other side as she crouched a bit and listened to what her friend was saying to her.
Goddamn... Goddamn it...
"Her tats..." Rick whispered, talking about the tats on her upper chest.
It's a flower. I don't know the specific details, but damn it, this woman is such a snack!
"Wala na... distracted na..." rinig ko ang halakhak ng mga kaibigan kong lalake at tinapik pa ang aking balikat.
I licked my lower lip as I couldn't take my eyes off her. Mas lalo pang nanatili nang naglakad siya sa aming table.
"Huh? Sa circle natin papunta!"
"May kaibigan ba siya diyan? Hindi sila close nila Angela ah?"
"Baka nila Gabriella?"
Just when I thought this night would be one of the luckiest nights for me, as soon as she approached Trixie and patted the space beside her, my dreams slowly shattered like a window being hit by a sudden swing of a baseball bat.
"Gago? Close ni Trixie?!"
"Bro... hindi mo naman siguro sinaktan si Trixie, 'di ba?"
My shoulder loosened. I groaned and slapped my forehead. "Damn it!"
The boys laughed and started shaking my shoulder.
"Isayaw mo nalang 'yan! Wala kanang pag-asa! Sirang sira kana sa tingin niya!"
"Knowing mapili sa boys, pihikan, tapos ikaw ang pipiliin? With your long list of issues with girls, she's thinking she dodged a bullet for ignoring you!"
Naghigh-five sila at mas lalong tumawa. Pinasadahan ng haplos ang aking buhok, medyo natawa rin sa sarili kong kaolokohan lalo na't alam kong gago rin talaga ako.
But can you believe it? Trixie is fucking friends with Verena?! Paanong hindi ko man lang nasagap iyon? And Angela must be shitting with me not to tell me that Trixie is friends with Verena!
I glanced at our table again, as Verena was now sitting on the sofa. Namaywang ako habang nagtatawanan ang friends ko at patuloy akong inaasar. Natatawa ko silang inilingan at pinagtutulak ang mga kamay lalo na't nahihilo na ako.
"Move on, Brent. Wala kang pag-asa diyan," patuloy nila.
When I glanced at our table again, I saw Shiloh conversing with Verena since she sat next to him, who's on her right side, and Trixie, who's on the right, frowning and rolling her eyes.
"Kinakausap si Shiloh." Akbay ni Ronan sa akin, ang daliri ay hinahaplos ang labi.
I folded my arms to my chest and watched how Verena conversed with him. Shiloh leaned in a bit and whispered in her ear.
"Imagine it, you've never tried being so close to her, and yet, your friend took only seconds in his life to reach the woman of your dreams," si Mavric na itinuko naman ang kamay sa kabilang balikat ko.
"Tapos si Shiloh pala ang tipo kaya hindi natatablan sa'yo!" Hampas ni Rick sabay tawanan nila.
I suddenly remembered Shiloh's statement earlier. Sadie isn't her type, which is liberated and playful. So... maybe Sadie's opposite, which is Verena...
Tang ina? Aahasahin pa yata ako ah?
"Uso pa naman 'yung ahas na kaibigan. Be careful, dude." Natatawang tapik ni Ronan sa akin.
I would glance at the boys for a second to smirk at them, but my eyes would immediately go back to Shiloh and Verena, who kept on talking. Nakakabanas na talagang nakikita kong pinagtutuunan siya ng pansin ni Verena.
"I think she has hots for her. Tingnan mo nga ang titig ni Verena sa kanya," at ang gagong si Mavric, gusto pa yatang mag-overthink ako.
"And dude, that's Verena! The hottest! The most elusive woman in the City! Hindi nga napormahan nila Wilson eh halos alayan na 'yon ng yate, ikaw pa kaya na naka kotse lang?" si Ronan.
"Kung papatulan niya ako, I could even take her to heaven. Not just in the sea," I joked.
The boys laughed, and Macrov even massaged my shoulder, as if he were sending me to a boxing ring for a fight.
"Pambato kita kasi alam kong wala nang mas gagago pa sa'yo!" biro ni Mavric kaya halos sikuhin ko.
"Wala na. Mukhang nagkakamabutihan na ang dalawa! Lumalalim na ang usapan! Baka mamaya pag mawala sila, naunahan ka pa ni Shiloh."
Halos itulak ko si Rick. Gagong 'to. Baka palayasin ko agad si Shiloh sa condo unit kung doon niya pa dadalhin si Verena—hold the fuck up! The condoms!
Imagine it, Brent. Ikaw pa ang bumili ng condom! Ikaw nagbigay! Tapos gagamitin niya lang sa babaeng gusto mo? Nagdilim ang tingin ko. The sudden jealousy was so much that I wouldn't let him screw my girl.
I saw Shiloh caressing his nape as his lips stretched for a smile, while Verena's face was so close to her as they conversed that my body automatically moved. Hindi ko tatanggapin ang pang-aahas na ito.
"Brent! Huwag mong ipahiya ang sarili mo! Bumalik ka dito!" sigaw ni Rick.
"Brent, Trixie is there! Huwag mong pormahan sa harap ng kaibigan niya, gago ka!" si Mavric.
Of course... Right! I know that! I wouldn't have reached this far without getting killed by women if I was that careless and clumsy! Isa pa, si Shiloh kunwari ang sadya ko! At ang gagong ito, kailangan magkaliwanagan na talaga kami! Hindi ako papayag na aahasin ako sa mismong pinatuloy ko!
I coolly walked back to our table as I put my hands on my pocket.
"Brent!" makahulugang tawag ng mga kaibigan ko nang palapit na sa table.
Of course, the boys know how much I like Verena, and even the girls found out about it. Pero sa dami ring nagkakagustong lalake, parang isa lang ako sa nagkakandarapa sa atensyon niya at kunwaring hindi nakapila pero ang totoo gusto ko nang sikuhin kung sino man 'yang nasa unahan na pumipila sa kanya.
And out of all the girls I liked, I wanted her as my girlfriend. S'yempre magseseryoso rin naman ako. I'd drop all my girls if she would just pay attention. Isang kalabit lang niyan sa akin, talagang tatalikuran ko lahat ng mga babae.
"Shiloh." Tapik ko sa kanyang balikat para kunin ang kanyang atensyon.
Their heads glanced at me. Verena's head lifted and she looked at me with her usual, uninterested expression.
"Brent," tawag ni Angela, nginunguso si Trixie.
I spotted the boys on the dancefloor laughing and pointing at me. Ngumisi ako saglit ngunit tumikhim din at si Shiloh ang tiningnan.
"Let's smoke outside." I invited.
Trixie glared at me. Damn.... If she wasn't here at our table, I'd fucking be joining Verena now on the sofa. But since she's friends with that girl, I don't want to be a sandwich. Patong patong na nga ang pangit kong image sa babaeng 'to, isasagad ko pa ba?
But damn... Verena and her fucking face. My eyes even caught a glimpse of her rack. The tattoo was so tempting that I would always dream of kissing it. Those wet dreams of mine that I'd wake up with a full-blast boner.
"Naninigarilyo ka?" I heard the almost slurry voice of Verena, watching Shiloh curiously.
Wait! Why is she fucking interested. Putang...ina. Tipo niya?! Si Shiloh?! Itong babaeng ito, halos irapan pa ako minsan, tapos kay Shiloh, kuryoso? No... no... This girl is fucking kidding me.
Shiloh shook his head. "Hindi naman..."
Verena's face calmed down. Ah... so she's into boys who doesn't smoke. Pwes, pahihithitin ko ng isang paketeng sigarilyo itong si Shiloh nang ma-turn off siya!
"Samahan mo din ako sa kotse. Naiwan ang susi ng condo doon. Hanapin natin," I interjected so I could persuade him more.
Shiloh looked at me once. Sinenyasan ko siya ng patago. Verena glanced at me, so I acted glancing at the back while caressing my nape.
"Ah... labas lang kami," paalam ni Shiloh.
"Okay. Hintayin kita," Verena said.
It was like raining arrows, and I was standing in the middle of the war, unarmed, and getting shot continuously. Did Verena just... the woman I like so much, just express herself boldly?
Parang kailangang mag-impake nitong si Shiloh at bumalik sa pinanggalingan niya ah?
Tumalikod ako at talagang ayaw silang tingnan nang matagal. Luckily, Shiloh followed me.
May mga tumawag at nagbigay ng shot sa akin. I took some of them, drank them in one gulp, and tapped the others before I finally went out of the Club.
May mga bumati pa na nginitian ko saglit habang kinakapa ang pakete ng sigarilyo sa aking bulsa.
"That's Verena," I said while lighting my cigarette as I stopped at the corner of the Club.
Namulsa siya at sumandal sa pader.
"Maganda ba? Akin 'yon," I immediately said, so he would keep his hand to himself. "Bro code."
"Sa'yo naman ata lahat ng mga babae rito," aniya.
I laughed a little. "She's different from the other girls I like."
Tumango siya at medyo tiningnan ang kanyang sapatos. Sumandal ako sa pader at tumingala ng kaonti, tiningnan ang langit habang naririnig dito ang ingay na galing sa loob.
"Mamili ka ng iba. Huwag 'yon," I demanded.
"Bakit? Hindi ka naman tipo no'n."
Marahas ang pagkakalingon. Tang inang... sumasagot pa!
"We're friends. Imagine it, you will be seen hanging out with the girl I like, and everyone knows I like him. You should at least have the decency to..."
"Pinapatulan mo 'yung kaibigan niya ah? At hindi tayo magkaibigan."
My eyes widened. The boy insulted me without blinking. So the angelic feature was just his facade to act like a good boy? Knowing he got expelled for punching someone...
Gago. Parang karibal ko pa yata ang isang 'to. At sa pagkakaangas niya, parang nanghahamon pa ata!
I stood near him and stopped in front of him. I huffed my cigarette as I looked at him seriously, my other hand was in the pocket of my pants.
"So, you like her?" tanong ko sa seryosong tinig.
He coughed a little when the smoke reached his nose. I took it out of my lips, faced the other side to blow it, and looked at him again, pinching his nose a bit.
"Give me back the condom." Ipinakita ko ang palad ko.
"Bakit?"
"Akin na." I demanded impatiently.
"Bakit nga?" He looked pissed.
Pinitik ko ang sigarilyo sa gilid at inabot ang bulsa niya para kapkapan siya.
"Binigay mo 'yon tapos kukunin mo?" angal niya at galit ang tingin sa akin.
"My own box isn't enough. So give it back," I hissed and stepped forward, but he punched my chest.
My eyes widened. Not because it hurts, but because he looked so flush and had the guts to punch my chest.
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa dibdib kong exposed lalo na't bukas pa rin lahat ng butones. And then I looked at him, who just shook his head and walked out.
I scoffed and barked a laugh as I caressed my hair backwards.
"Tang ina? Anong suntok 'yon?" I scoffed and barked a laugh as I caressed my hair backwards.
That angelic strawberry really has Satan's temper! At ako pa ang sinuntok! Kung susuntukin ko siya pabalik, baka hindi siya makahinga. Tingnan natin kung hindi matatanggal 'yang mga ngipin niya.
It took me a minute to stop laughing and decide to go back. I looked at the sofa. Verena and Shiloh are nowhere to be found. That boy, really...
"Nasa'n si Shiloh?" tanong ko sa mga girls.
"Kasama si Verena. Parang... umalis sila," isa sa mga girls.
Ang kapal ng mukha talaga! Sinabihan kong akin iyon! Ngunit sa tuwing naiisip ang suntok niya, talagang natatawa ako. My frustration was then distracted by Jade. I told her we could hit my place. She agreed, so we left the Club.
"Brent," she purred when I hovered over her, my hands caressing her body.
I took the condom out, bit the side, and knelt down a bit to wear it. Jade was biting her lip while watching me. I smirked at her and leaned forward as I teasingly kissed her again.
"Akala ko ba ayaw mong nagrerepeat ng babae?" she asked as I pushed her other leg.
"You're special." I smirked against her lips and attempted to push it when the loud music boomed.
"Jesus sa krus... ika'y namatay..."
Natigilan kaming dalawa nang mapagtanto kung anong kanta iyon. It's a fucking religious song! Jade's eyes widened. Mariin akong pumikit habang humagalpak si Jade.
"Sshh... Open wide, Jade," I said while laughing too.
"Brent! Ang awkward! Patahimikin mo!" she laughed and pushed my chest.
Tang ina... So that boy went home? Lalo na't nanggagaling sa kabilang kwarto. When I realized earlier that he was missing together with Verena, I immediately pulled myself up and put my pants back at least.
Damn him! Did he fucking play a song to cover their noises while doing it?! And that kind of music, huh?
Paglabas ko, kinatok ko agad ang pinto. My brows knitted as I knocked continuously. Noong bumukas iyon, si Shiloh na sumilip, itinagilid ko ang ulo ngunit isinara niya ng kaonti.
"Your music is too loud. And—"
He slammed the door. He. Slammed. The. Fucking. Door. In front of my face! Huminga ako ng malalim, gustong hampasin ang pinto, nang pinigilan ko ang aking sarili at mariing pumikit. This strawberry boy is really testing my temper.