"Ate Lala!" sigaw ni Tai.
Mabilis ko siyang nilingon at hinila paupo sa tabi ko.
"Sshh," I placed my finger on my lips.
She tilted her head and arched her eyebrow. Tinitigan niya muna ko bago ngumisi. "Are you stalking someone?" she asked.
I smiled at her then nodded saka ako tumingin sa likod niya to check kung nandoon pa si Ethon sa table niya.
"Who is he? Your boyfriend?" tanong ni Tai na nakatingin na rin sa direksyon ni Ethon.
I shook my head "No. He's not"
She scowled at me na parang nagtataka. I chuckled at her reaction and pinched her left cheek. "Hindi lahat ng ini-stalk ng babae boyfriend nila Tai. But we want them to be though"
Mas lalo siyang naguluhan kaya napailing na lang ako.
"You'll understand me kapag nainlove ka sa taong in love sa iba" I shook my head again and frowned, "But I don't want you to experience that." I added.
"I don't wanna be in love" she stated matter-of-factly.
Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. She's still young kaya hindi ko alam kung good or bad thing yung sinabi niya.
"I don't want to depend my feelings on someone else. Like, you'd cry because he doesn't text or call you or for whatever reason and you'll be happy because he makes you feel kilig for giving shitty flowers and unhealthy junkfoods" she rolled her eyes.
"You've watched to much movies ha," I grinned that caused her to roll her eyes again.
"Nah. I just got it in school and my annoying classmates always talks about their partners and the girls were crying because of shitty reasons."
"You observed?"
"Duh, Ate Lala" she gave me a are-you-kidding-me look "I don't care about them to waste time observing. I just don't have a choice but to hear their whines and saw their corny 'romantic stuffs'" sabi niya na inemphasis at nag-quote-unquote finger gesture pa sa ere.
Napailing na lang ako. Magkaiba talaga sila ni Troy. Sabi ni Tita Honey kaugali daw ni Tai si Tito Great, but I can't imagine Tito Great being snob and rude. Ang bait niya kaya sakin.
"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" tanong ko.
Mas lalong kumunot ang nakakunot na niyang noo na parang may biglang nakakainis na naalala.
"Tss"
"Tai?"
She rolled her eyes "I'm going to meet someone" she answered.
My forehead creased as I stared at her. "Who?" I asked curiously.
"Just no one. I was just forced to do this because of Tan. I really believe I was just born to save his ass. He's such a weakling!" she whined.
Napailing na lang ako at tumingin ulit kay Ethon. Paalis na siya pero ayoko namang basta iwan na lang si Tai dito. Tai perfectly arched her eyebrow as she looked passed behind me. I looked over my shoulder and I saw a guy entering the café at mukhang may hinahanap.
"Siya ba?" tanong ko ng ibalik ko ang tingin kay Tai.
"I don't know" she shrugged.
I tilted my head then looked at the guy again.
"Ate, I think it's him. You can go now, umalis na yung ini-stalk mo" said Tai.
"Sigurado ka?" I asked worriedly.
Hindi naman sa judgemental ako, but the guy looks like a gang member or something. Hindi ko naman pwedeng basta iwan na lang si Tai.
"I can handle it" she assured me then gave me a half smile.
I sighed. "Okay, pero call us, just in case.." she nodded immediately hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sinasabi ko.
Tumayo na ko at nagpaalam sa kanya and I got a chance to look closer dun sa lalaki. He has soft features pala, intimidating lang talaga ang aura niya. Pinanood ko pa yung paglapit niya kay Tai and I saw how her expression changed to poker face as she talked to the guy. Napailing na lang ako at hinanap si Ethon. I found him sa flower shop. I contemplated whether to enter the shop or stay here and just watched him. Then, I decided the latter. Not because I'm afraid he'll saw me, gusto ko lang siyang panoorin habang namimili ng bulaklak.
I clutched the strap of my shoulder bag nung nakita ko siyang kunin at amuyin yung puting rosas saka ngumiti na parang biglang may naalalang magandang bagay.. o tao. I smiled, saka ako tumalikod at nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Hindi naman kasi ako to the highest level sa pagiging stalker. I know my limitations.
**
"Saan kayo sa sembreak?" tanong ni Melissa pagkatapos namin maglunch.
"Sa bahay" I shrugged.
"Ikaw Troy?"
"Sa bahay din"
"Hindi kayo magbabakasyon ng family mo?" tanong ni Melissa.
"Nasa bahay lang kami kapag sembreak. Sa pasko pa kami aalis" sagot ni Troy.
"Okay"
"Ikaw?" I suddenly asked.
"Mom wanted to go to Hongkong"
Tumango ako at tumingin naman kay Ethon "Ikaw Ethon?" I asked.
"Hindi mahilig gumala yan. Wag mo ng tanungin" sabi ni Nico. "Ako, hindi mo tatanungin?"
I chuckled "I won't but if you insist, okay. Ikaw Nico?"
Ngumisi siya na parang proud na proud pa "Of course, sa bahay!"
Napailing na lang ako. Minsan naiisip kong may na loose trend sa screw nito sa utak.
"Wow, I thought you'll say amazing place" Melissa said sarcastically.
Nico sneakered then leaned on the table. "Tomorrow's our last day, why don't we hangout again?"
"Saan naman?" curious na tanong ko.
"Sa bar syempre"
Troy groaned "No, thanks"
"Come on! We seriously need to celebrate na natapos natin ang isang sem" he convinced "Lala, please"
I looked at them and frowned.
"Bakit ako?"
"Kapag pumayag ka, Troy will automatically say yes, as to Ethon, suki na siya don kaya hindi to mawawala then Melissa.." bigla siyang tumingin kay Melissa.
"I'll pass" she answered "Our flight departure will be on the other day"
"So, out na si Melissa. It would be just the four of us" sabi ni Nico. "Payag ka na?" ngumisi siya sakin.
I looked at Troy and he just shrugged, meaning, akong bahala. I smiled then nodded in agreement. "Sige"
"Ayos! Edi sasama ka na Troy?"
"I'm her bodyguard. Of course"
I chuckled at napansin ko yung titig ni Ethon sakin kaya nginitian ko siya but he immediately looked away.
**
"Rose among the thorns" I chuckled when we settled on the VIP room.
"I prefer to be the stem Lala. Para nahahawakan nang hindi nasasaktan yung hahawak" Troy smiled sheepishly.
"Dapat sinabi mong dahon ka na lang para madaling mapitas"
We both laughed sa kakornihan namin. Dumating na yung order namin and of course, sagot ni Nico. Siya na ang galante.
"Have you ever tried drinking any alcoholic beverage?" tanong ni Nico sakin.
I shook my head "No"
"Ikaw Troy?"
"Yeah. Been wasted once and never tried to drink any again" he said.
Napangiti ako ng maalala ko yung time na yon. Tito Great insisted to let him taste liquor when we were sixteen and even make him drunk just to let him experience being wasted.
"Hangover's a bitch" Nico commented.
"Bakit umiinom ka pa din?" I asked.
Tumawa siya saka ininom yung alak bago sumagot. "Sanayan lang. If you want to loosen up, drink" he said then place the glass in front of me.
Hindi pa ko nakakatikim ng alak.
"Try. Hindi naman masamang tikman. If you didn't like the taste then leave it there" sabi ni Nico at inabutan din si Troy ng baso na may lamang alak.
I took a deep breath then decided to try. I'm curious anyway. I cringed at the bitter taste kaya agad kong binaba ang baso at mabilis akong kumain ng nachos.
"Paano niyo naiinom yan ng ganyan? Ang panget ng lasa" I said.
Nico laughed then shrugged his shoulder "Sanayan nga lang"
I shook my head in disbelief. Mas mapait pa pala sa ampalaya. "Iinom ka ba?" tanong ko kay Troy na hawak pa rin ang baso at wala pang bawas.
"Hindi naman siguro sila magagalit" sagot nito saka inisang lagok yung alak.
"Hello hangover ka ulit bukas" I grinned at him while watching him cringed.
He smiled then tugged my hair "Two glasses are enough. I'm still your body guard, walang body guard ang naglalasing habang binabatayan ang amo niya" he chuckled.
"Hindi mo ko amo, wala naman akong pangsweldo sayo" sagot ko.
He tugged my hair again pero mahina lang naman "Tita personally assigned me as your guardian, silly"
I frowned "Legal ba yun?"
"Legal ang ano?" Nico interfered.
Tinuro ko si Troy "Siya, as my guardian"
Nico tilted his head the frowned. "Hindi ko alam, baka tong si Ethon alam. Dude magsalita ka naman dyan"
Tumingin ako kay Ethom at nagtama ulit ang mga mata namin.
"Im not a freaking lawyer" sagot niya kaya napatawa ako.
Nagsalin siya ng alak sa baso niya at mabilis na inubos ang laman. I watched him drink. Para siyang nasa commercial ng alak. The way he sipped makes me want to taste that bitter liquid again. He's a very convincing product endorser. I chuckled then took the glass again and drink it in one gulp. Yes, ganun ka-convincing si Ethon. Pero pinagsisihan ko naman agad ang ginawa ko dahil gumuhit sa lalamunan ko yung pait ng alak.
"Here" nilapit sakin ni Troy ang isang plato ng nachos na agad kong kinuha at kinain.
"Ang pangit talaga ng lasa" sabi ko saka sumandal sa upuan ko.
"Bakit mo pa ininom?" tanong ni Troy.
I smiled then looked at Ethon na sinisimsim na naman ang baso niya.
"Nainggit ako kay Ethon" I chuckled "Para kasing ang sarap ng iniinom niya habang pinapanood ko siya" sabi ng hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Ethon.
He stared at me, pero hindi masyadong makita ang mukha niya dahil sa dim ang lights. Narinig kong tumawa si Nico.
"Lasing ka na ba Lala?" tanong niya. "Ang honest mo na" sabi niya na hindi na hinintay ang sagot ko sa tanong niya.
"Im always honest" I grinned.
Ethon averted his gaze at nagpatuloy lang sa pag-inom. Wala ng nagsalita after. Pinanood lang namin ang mga nagsasayawan sa dance floor habang umiinom sila at kumakain naman ako. One glass was enough. Nilapag ko ang plato na wala ng laman sa table saka tumayo. Nagtatakang napatingin ang tatlo sakin.
"Where are you going?" tanong ni Troy habang nakakunot ang noo.
I gave them my sweetest smile. "Let's dance!" I exclaimed excitedly.
Isa-isa ko silang hinila patayo at willing namang nagpahila si Troy at Nico.
"Please?" I said to Ethon habang hawak ko siya sa braso at hinihila para tumayo.
"Sige na Ethon. We're here to celebrate, so might as well enjoy the night" sabi ni Nico habang ngising ngisi.
Ethon sighed in defeat then shook his head. Akala ko tatanggi na naman siya but then he stood up kaya mas lumaki ang ngiti ko at hinila ko na siya sa dance floor. Sumunod samin si Nico at Troy.
"Lala, hinay hinay sa pagsasayaw. Ayokong umuwi ulit tayo ng maaga" sabi ni Nico habang naka form kami ng pabilog sa dance floor.
Hindi na ko nagsalita, I started moving and dance into the rhythm. Pumikit pa ako para feel na feel ko. Epekto siguro ng alak to, kahit isang shot lang naman ang nainom ko.
"Lala" someone called me.
Hindi ko pinansin kung sinuman yung tumawag sakin. Patuloy pa rin ako sa pagsayaw habang nakapikit until I felt a hand wrapped around my waist kaya napatigil ako at napatingin ako sa likod ko.
My body relaxed when I saw Troy. He was grinning at me habang sumasayaw pero hindi inaalis ang kamay sa bewang ko.
"Lasing ka na" I commented.
Maybe I am too because my body shivered as he pulled me closer to him. He tilted his head then smirked. Leaning forward, he whispered, "Are you aware that he's never leaving his eyes on you as you lost yourself in the loud music?" he asked.
My forehead creased "Who?"
"Ethon"
Napangiti ulit ako ng marinig ko ang pangalan niya. So, he's been watching me all through out? I finally got his attention!
"Sayawan mo muna ko bago ako bumalik sa table natin" sabi ni Troy.
I didn't asked why. My brain was too occupied by Ethon. Pinatong ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa balikat ni Troy at sinayawan siya. At nawala sa isip ko saglit si Ethon nang magsimula kaming magsayaw ni Troy. We were both laughing while dancing dahil matigas ang katawan ni Troy. Pero nagpaalam na siyang babalik na sa table nung makaramdam ng pagod.
"Si Troy lang ba ang sasayawan mo? Paano naman kami?" tanong ni Nico.
I playfully pushed him "May kasayaw ka na" I chuckled.
"Si Ethon wala. Dance with him" sabi nito with a knowing grin.
I smiled then looked at Ethon. Ngayon ko lang siya tiningnan after sabahin sakin ni Troy na pinapanood niya ko. Lumapit ako sa kanya at mas lumaki ang ngiti ko nang hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sakin.
"Wanna dance with me?" I asked as I stood in front of him.
He didn't say anything but he pulled me closer to him and started dancing.