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"NASA GATE NA daw yung beer!"
Tinutusok ko sa barbecue stick 'yung marinated barbecue ni pinack ni Eryn sa tupperware nang tumigil si Rad sa pagpapaypay ng iniihaw n'ya. My eyes confusingly looked at him. Ini-assign kami ni Eliane na kami na ang in charge sa pag-iihaw tapos sila na sa pagse-set-up. Dion attempted, but it's been fifteen minutes pero hindi siya makapagpa-apoy, so Rad offered to do it instead. Confused pa ako kasi he doesn't look like someone who knows how to set-up a grill.
"Wait lang. . . I'll help Dion get the beers."
Dalawang case 'yung pina-deliver nila na beer na hindi ko alam how they'll manage to consume. I won't drink kasi ni hindi man lang nag-blur sa isip ko 'yung nangyari nung pinasundo pa ako nila Issie kay Rad. Oh my god. Lumabas si Rad kasama si Dion. I don't know kung nagkataon lang or sinadya nila kasi pagkaalis na pagkaalis ni Rad sa tabi ko, Eryn and Eliane flocked on me. Si Bonnie ay nasa kwarto, naghahanap ng masasaksakan ng hair dryer.
"Girl," Eryn stared at me. "Paupuin mo muna 'yun at kanina pa galaw ng galaw."
"True."
Pagkarating na pagkarating pa lang kasi namin ni Rad dito sa ni-rent namin na place, nag-presinta na agad si Rad na siya na ang pi-pick up nung iba pang in-order namin. Nagbigay ng directions si Eryn kasi hindi mai-input ang location sa maps. Then when he returned, siya 'yung nag-attach ng fairy lights sa hook kasi siya lang 'yung may abot. He also lifted up the ice box, other microwavable tubs and food containers sa compartment ng sasakyan ni Eryn. Tapos kami 'yung nag-iihaw, then he stepped outside to help Dion pick those beer cases up.
Itali ko kaya siya sa upuan to stop him from moving non-stop?
Settling my hand on top of the food tub to feel if it's still warm, I discarded the thought of putting it inside the oven to warm it up. Mainit pa naman 'yung spaghetti and if it's not, i-re-reheat ko sa oven kasi mayroong oven dito sa kitchen. Kumuha ako ng isang paper plate at paper plate holder. I don't know how much Rad eats but basing it sa take outs at fast food dinner namin before, he unquestionably eats a lot. Pagkakuha ko ng spaghetti, I sealed it back after so it'd still be warm for later.
"'Yung tongs?" sabi ko, asking no one in particular because I'm not sure kung sinong nagdala nun and iba pang utensils. Ikukuha ko din kasi si Rad ng fried chicken.
"Natatakluban ng mga spoon and fork."si Eliane ang sumagot. "Ang dali niya kausap."
Nakita ko naman 'yung tongs na apparently natatakluban nga. And basing it from my hunch, there's still no traces of Rad and Dion heading back, so I ended up covering the food I prepared for him with the cling wrap na nakita ko lang.
"Sino?" Eryn asked, hinting curiosity to what Eliane said.
"Si Rad.'' Eliane supplied, shrugging her shoulders. "Sabi ko lang na mag-co-commute kasi si Fie mag-isa." Sinaway ni Eliane si Driss because he attempted to snatch a barbecue that's already cooked, and Eliane is quick to stop him from doing so.
Picking up where I left, nag-tusok ulit ako ng marinated barbecue sa barbecue stick. I'm also keeping an eye sa iniihaw ni Rad. Why are they still not here? Or maybe sa labas pa nila kinuha 'yon. I didn't want to dwell into what they're conversing about. Kasi baka accidentally mag-slip out sa bibig ko na, maybe it's Rad's way of acting as a fake boyfriend.
"Sure naman akong di 'yun first time na inihatid niya si Fienne. 'Di ba?" sabi ni Eryn, as she inserted the paper plates into the paper plates holder. Pinupunasan niya din 'yung spoon and fork.
There's a meaningful grin materializing on Eliane's face but it vanished dahil pinahiran siya ni Driss ng whipped cream sa cheeks, "PUTA."
Si Bonnie na nag-se-set up ng karaoke ay napatalon sa lakas ng sigaw ni El. I didn't noticed that she stepped downstairs na. Nakapag-blower na kaya siya? Eryn's stifling a laugh dahil parang nagkaroon ng balbas na made out of whipping cream si Driss dahil ginantihan siya ni Eliane. I'm stopping myself from bursting into laughter dahil baka ako naman 'yung pahiran ng whip cream. Driss looks like he's contemplating his next victim.
"Of course, ihahatid niya si Fie. Boyfriend, e." sabi ni Eryn,she crumpled the plastic of the paper cups and tore the plastic of the spoon and fork. "Di ba?"
Hindi ko alam kung magiging thankful ba ako na wala akong iniinom because of the term 'boyfriend' dahil baka naibuga ko na 'yun and I'd accidentally reveal the real set-up. I'm not ano . . . hindi ako sanay! It's a contractual relationship so I didn't think of Rad as my boyfriend. Which reminds me na I still have to ask Rad what he wants in return. Obviously, I still can't comprehend why he'd agree to my terms.
"Uh, hehe yes."
Hindi naman puwede na puro burger lang ibibigay ko sa kaniya for putting up in this set-up.
As an attempt to steer clear of the topic, I asked if there's any fast food nearby so I can make an order. Magpapa-deliver ako ng burger ni Rad so 'pag uwi niya mamaya, hindi na siya mags-stop over kasi may burger naman. He didn't mention anything about overnighting here so I don't know. If he stayed, pwedeng breakfast niya na lang if he's in the mood for it.
"Uhm, I don't know. Si Rhys? baka may madaanan siya." Bonnie responded. So tinext ko si Rhys and he replied na bibili siya kapag may madadaanan. I hope he'd be able to take out.
After makapag-set up nung videoke, dumating na din sila Rad at Dion. Tig-isa sila ng buhat na case ng beer, and again, I can't still fathom with how they're going to drink all that. I probably look at the beers in horror. Kasi kahit anong pilit nila sa akin, hindi talaga ako iinom.
Rad leaned further to me, crouching a bit dahil ugh, nalulula ako sa height niya. For some reason, I felt tensed. "What?" I mouthed, forbidding myself to look at him, kasi 'pag ginawa ko 'yon I'd probably stutter.
"Wala." he chuckled, "Nakatingin kasi sila sa'tin."
Again, ang harot niya.
It doesn't take long dahil narinig namin na may bumusina sa labas, probably Rhys.
Driss and Dion jokingly punched Rhys' shoulders at nag-inarte naman 'yung isa na naasasaktan, but it's only a light punch. He acknowledged us, then suddenly napatingin si Rhys kay Rad wo's situated on my back. Magtataka pa ako kung hindi niya mapansin si Rad because he's towering over me. His eyes landed on me, parang natatanong kung sino 'yung nasa likod ko.
"Rad si Rhys. Rhys si Rad . . my boyfriend." I don't know but my eyes caught how Rad's neck slowly turned red. Hindi naman mainit?
Rhys handed out his hand, "Rhysand." In return, Rad laid out his hand too for a handshake, "Ex ni Fienne."
Oh. . . my . . . god.
OH MY GOD!!! Nanlaki ang mata ko at kitang-kita ko kung paano nagpigil ng tawa sina Eryn at Eliane pero walang hiyang natawa si Driss na napapa-palo pa ng lamesa.
"Not serious 'yun." sabi ko, heck ni hindi ko nga alam bakit ako nag-e-explain?! There's a serious look on Rad's face, suddenly his features hardened. Gosh, ang well trained ng fake boyfriend ko dahil kahit 'yung pagse-seryoso niya, kuhang-kuha. Dapat pala dalawang burger ang pina-take out ko dahil ang convincing niya.
"Pag-susuyuin mo pa si Fie, e." Dion said chuckling. I snorted. "Kain muna tayo at lalamig na 'yung mga pagkain."
Tinanggal ko ang cling wrap sa kinuha kong pagkain ni Rad. Snatching Rad's arm, I pulled him with me para tabi kami. Pati 'yung ears nya namumula na. Itatapat ko na dapat 'yung stand fan sa amin but his eyebrows stitched in confusio so hindi ko na lang ginawa.
Paupo na dapat kami dun sa left side na padulo ng long table nang sundan ako ni Rhys. There's a forming crease on Rad's forehead. Rhys was about to pull the chair beside me at mapag-gi-gitnaan nila akong dalawa, but Rad coughed aggressively and shifted seats with me kaya magkatabi na sila ni Rhys.
Natatawang umiling si Rhys. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. I can't figure out what he's attempting to do. Inabot sa akin ni Rhys 'yung paper bag ng burger. Rad's eyes followed the paper bag na itinabi ko on the other side.
"Rhys tigilan mo na. Hindi magseselos 'yang si Rad kasi 'di naman 'yan isip bata katulad mo." sabi ni Eliane, putting her plate on top of the table and settled in front of us.
"True." Eryn seconded. Tumabi si Bonnie sa kaniya na isang slice ng black forest ang nasa paper plate.
"You know Chindo?" Bonnie asked Rad.
"Pinsan ko." Rad answered. I don't know who they are talking about so I continued eating the spaghetti on my plate.
"Ah . . . friend namin!" tinanguan lang siya ni Rad and asked how, dahil hindi talaga nagsasalita ang pinsan niyang 'yun.
Nang umupo si Driss sa tabi ni Eliane, may bitbit na siyang beer. Si Dion ay may kagat na pakwan habang may pinipindot sa videoke, still figuring out how that operates.
Si Rhys ang nag-distribute ng paper cups at unang una niyang nilagyan si Rad. Tapos binigyan niya na ang iba naming kasama. Nung ako na, tinanggihan ko yon dahil may cup na ako filled with soft drinks at wala akong balak uminom.
"Bawal," pang-aasar ni Rhys. "Minsan lang e."
"Ayaw ko ng hangover," mas ayaw ko 'yung nangyayari sa akin pag lasing. Para akong nag-ta-transform into someone na hindi ko alam.
Rhys was about to say something but Rad cutted him off.
"I'll drink her shots."
"Naks—aw!" hinampas ni Eliane si Driss sa braso kaya napatigil siya.
"Nice." Rhys smirked, the type like there's something under his sleeves. Umikot 'yung beer and each turn it makes, dalawa ang iniinom ni Rad. Gusto kong batuhin ng sandals ko 'tong si Rhys dahil obvious naman na dinadamihan niya 'yung lagay kay Rad kahit na dalawa na nga 'yung iniinom ni Rad.
He's making Rad drunk on purpose.
"Gaano katagal na kayo?" tanong ni Rhys.
"Yep. Hindi ko rin alam." sabi ni Eliane, stealing a bite from the pizza on Driss' paper plate.
Based sa script namin, "Three months." Rad supplied in a low voice before downing his seventh shot, insinuating that alcohol is slowly getting into his system. His eyes is nonchalant, lips pursed in thin line. Aabutin niya pa lang 'yung pang-eight na shot pero inilayo ko 'yun sa kaniya.
"You're getting drunk." I murmured. Sabi ng kambal niya Rad doesn't drink so his tolerance is low. And he's not the type to drink even in rare settings. I know he's drunk because he stubbornly replied no.
"Paano kayao nagkakilala?"
"Because of my twin." included din 'yun sa script namin dahil mas convincing na because of Yarie that's why we met.
"Sinong umamin?" Rhys pushed.
Nagpapapnic 'yung system ko dahil hindi namin 'yun napag-usapan.
Rad looked at me for a moment. I don't know what that look meant. And I don't know why I suddenly felt nervous. He extended his hand to reach for the glass of beer na dinadaya lang ni Rhys 'yung lagay sa kaniya. Pirini-prepare ko na 'yung sarili kong sumagot but . . .
"Ako." Rad said.
Oh.
Oh.
OH!!!!
Napatili sila Eryn at Eliane. Bonnie's covering her mouth with her hands and her chinky eyes widening. Rad's drunken stares is slowly pulling me in. Ini-on pa ni Dion ang strobe lights kaya feeling ko mas lalo akong nahihilo.
"Seryosong relationship?" isa na lang at lilipad na yung sapatos ko sa pagmumukha ni Rhys. "Kiss nga."
"Putangina," pigil na tawa ni Driss.
And I don't know what the fuck is going on or where else I'll look because Rad's face felt like it's leaning closer. His drowsy eyes are lulling me in and it feels contradicting that my heart is thumping so hard yet his stares make me feel sleepy.
Oh my god!!! I blinked.
"Oh my god." singhap ni Bonnie.
Rad heaved a deep sigh, he emptied two shots. And it feels like he's restraining himself, as if resisting something. Hindi na ako humihinga or kumukurap. Nung tinanong niya na 'no kissing' hindi ko naman siya binigyan ng concrete answer. So I slowly fluttered my eyes close.
Slowly . . .
His head rested on my shoulder.
"Nahihilo na ako." he murmured lowly, closing his eyes.
Oh my god.