“Eat this. It’s your favourite food.” I looked at the guy sa harap ko. Green eyes, black hair. He was talking in chinese but I understood it.
Meron siyang binigay na tupperwear sa harapan ko at binuksan niya ito.
“Say ahhh.” He said and I did so. I smiled it tastes nice. Did he make this?
Last day ng school namin today bago mag Christmas vacation. Since half day lang kami, niyaya kami ni Leighton na pumunta sa bahay nila. Hindi sana ako sasama dahil ngayon na sana ako uuwi ng Plymouth para bisitahin ang mama ko.
Dale is driving the car now. He’s wearing a black Hollister t-shirt under a leather jacket. Hindi ba siya nilalamig? It’s freaking winter. Nasa passenger seat ako sa harap at si Cole, nasa likod kasama ang FOTW niya. Nagulat ako dahil sumama si Cole ang akala ko magkaaway parin sila. Naghahalikan sila ngayon sa likod ng babae niya. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have sex there. Me and Dale are trying to ignore them by talking.
“Are you not coming to our birthday?” Malungkot na tanong ni Dale.
“It’s my birthday too Dale. Gusto kong i-celebrate ito with my parents.”
“I won’t be seeing you for two weeks Ly. Can I go visit you?”
“No Dale!” I answered louder than I intended to. Napatigil din sa paghahalikan ang dalawa sa likod.
“Why not? It’s only half an hour drive. It will be boring to just stay in Exeter for the whole break.”
“Just no.” I replied quietly. Hindi ko pweding i-reveal sa kanya kung anong klaseng pamilya meron ako. He has such a perfect family while mine is so broken. I think I can’t tell him now. Sooner maybe pero hindi pa ngayon. Nagpapasalamat naman ako dahil hindi niya na ako kinulit. Napakalayo naman ng bahay nina Leighton, kanina pa kami dito sa sasakyan.
Then the car stopped. I looked outside and my jaw dropped. Like really drop. I don’t know kung ito talaga ang bahay nila pero this is insane! This is huge!
“It’s really big right? Leighton’s dad used to be a football player.” Sabi ni Dale at lumabas ng kotse. Nakalabas narin si Cole at and babae niya kaya lumabas narin ako.
“Lyraa!” Sigaw ni Leighton when he saw us. Nakahawak ang kamay niya sa baywang ng dalawang babae sa kaliwa at kanan niya. Inalis niya ito at linapitan ako at niyakap.
“I missed you!” He said.
“You saw me earlier.” I said.
“I still missed you! Every second without you is enough for me to miss you.”
Tumawa ako. “Go back to your girls.” And he followed. Hindi pa siya kontento sa isa. Dalawa talaga.
Pagpasok namin sa bahay nila, nahiya naman ang labas ng bahay nila dahil the interior beats the outside. This is so grand. Nasa loob sina Pace, Aidan, Charlie and Jem. May mga kasama silang babae aside from Charlie kaya nilapitan ko siya. Nakabusangot ang itsura niya and he looks so troubled.
“Charles, what’s wrong?” Tanong ko.
“A girl finally kicked your ass?” Dale joked.
Hindi sumagot si Charlie. Usually he would shout at Dale a ‘shut up’ or ‘go away’ pero this time, he just ignored Dale at uminom siya ng Jack Daniels.
“Fuck Charles, talk!” Dale said while laughing.
Hindi parin sumagot si Charles at mas lalong tumawa si Dale. Baliw talaga ang lalakeng ito. Tumingin na sa amin ang mga boys. They all looked at Charles habang hawak hawak ang mga babae nila. They all have a serious face at tumingin sila sa isa’t isa. Tumahimik ang paligid and the loud music from the stereo is the only source of sound.
“Girls leave.” Seryosong sabi ni Leighton at lahat ng babae napatingin sa kanya, pati ako.
“Leighton! The fun just started.” Sabi ng babaeng katabi ni Pace.
“No. When I said leave, leave.” Tinignan ni Leighton ang babaeng nagsalita, seryoso parin ang mukha niya. All the girls groaned stood up and started leaving the house. Tatayo na sana ako pero hinawakan ni Dale ang braso ko.
“You stay.” He said at tumingin ako kay Leighton. Kung may poblema si Charles and if they want to talk about it, I wouldn’t mind to leave pero tumango lang si Leighton sa akin as if he’s telling me to stay. So I did.
Pinatay ni Jem ang music sa stereo at lahat sila lumapit sa amin at umupo sa mga sofa. Pati si Cole lumapit rin sa amin.
“Charles talk.” Sabi ni Pace. Naiinip siya sa katahimikan namin.
Tumingala si Charlie at tinignan kami. Unti unting pumula ang pisngi niya. “I think I like someone.” He finally said breaking the tension.
Nagtinginan silang lahat at tumawa pati si Cole ay nagsmirk.
“Bro. What the fuck? That’s what’s bugging you?” Tumatawang tanong ni Aidan.
“Oh shut up!” Tinapunan ni Charlie si Aidan ng plastic cup at umilag naman siya. Mabuti nalang at walang laman ‘yong cup. Reklamador pa naman si Aidan when it comes to his clothes. Ayaw niya itong nadudumihan. OCD much.
“Go on Charles. Why are you having problems with a girl? Girls are our expertise!” Jem said.
“I asked her to be my flavour of the week and she fucking straightly said no.” Charlie said and he was messing up his hair in frustration. Just who is the girl who made this guy so frustrated. Napatawa ako at lahat sila tumingin sa akin so I quickly stopped laughing.
“Sorry.” I said. “Just who is this girl though Charles?” I asked.
“I don’t know her name. She just walked in front of me and I thought she was hot so I dumped my flavour of the week for her. For her! And she argh! Fuck her!”
“Mate, your whipped!” Leighton said.
“Do you need our help?” Aidan asked.
“Fuck no! God no!” Tumayo si Charlie at naglakad palayo. Tumawa lang ang mga boys. What kind of friends are they?
Biglang may nagdoorbell. “Pizza’s here!” Sigaw ni Leighton at tumakbo siya to the door.
“Since there are no girls, let’s watch football!” Sigaw ni Dale at tinignan ko siya ng masama. Ako? Hindi ba ako babae? “Sorry. Do you hate football?” Tanong niya. He looks so cute as if he said something he should be guilty for.
I smiled. I actually like football.
Nanood lang kami ng football game at nag bet pa sila. Bumalik rin naman si Charles sa sala at umupo siya sa tabi ko.
“You okay now?” Tanong ko and he just smiled. That girl must be bugging his mind a lot.
I just enjoyed the whole night with them watching movies and eating pizza.
“I’ll drive you home.” Dale said. Hindi siya uminom at pati na rin si Cole. Tumayo ako at nagpaalam sa mga boys. I also greeted them ‘have a good Christmas’.
“I’m curious of the girl Charles likes.” Sabi ko kay Dale habang nagd-drive siya. Nakaupo parin si Cole sa likod. He just sat there quietly. “I hope Charles will get a proper girlfriend. Actually, I want all of you to get a real girlfriend.”
“You do?” Sabi ni Dale.
“Yes. That way meron akong kaibigan.”
“Are we not enough?”
“Well, I want female friends too. Female friends are different.”
Inihinto niya ang sasakyan. Nandito na kami sa dorm ko. “What if you get a boyfriend? Will you stop hanging out with us?” Tiningnan ko siya.
“No.” I answered.I hope no. I hope nothing will change.
He smiled. “Just don’t get a dickhead boyfriend. We’ll beat him up for you.”
Tumawa ako. “Have a good Christmas you two.” Tinignan ko rin si Cole sa labas. “I’ll give both of your birthday presents next year.” Cole just stayed quiet hanggang sa lumabas ako.
Bago ako makapasok sa dorm ko ay tinawag ako ni Dale.
“Call me during the holiday!” Sigaw niya and I just nodded and waved them goodbye. I will surely miss them. Two weeks without the maingay Dale? How can I handle?