CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FROILAN
I was surprised that Jesse will also be here. Alec invited me to hangout with the Jangs, he also told me that Anastasia is here so even though I am still a little mad at her, I chose to come because I still want to see her.
When I arrived, I saw her with Jesse. Alec never mentioned that that guy is also invited. Muli akong bumalik sa table namin at sinubukan kong makipag-usap sa magpipinsan kahit na hindi naman ako sanay sa mga ganitong setup.
Natalie and I have been seeing each other for several days now. I confirmed her friend request on Facebook and we started conversing there until I finally asked her to meet me. Tuwing magkasama naman kami ay nagkukuwentuhan lang kami ng mga bagay bagay.
Since Anastasia wanted me to be with her ex-boyfriend's sister on our company's anniversary, I told everyone that she's gonna be my date. Mukha namang ayos kay Jesse na makasama ko ang kapatid niya.
We were in the middle of a funny conversation when my phone rang. Natalie's calling.
"Excuse me, guys. I'll just take this call," ani ko.
Lumabas ako ng Loony Bar dahil sobrang ingay doon.
"Hey, Nat," I greeted.
"Hi, Froilan! I just want to tell you na nakauwi na 'ko. Sabi mo kasi tumawag ako once I arrived home," she told me.
"Yeah, I'm sorry I was not able to accompany you home, may kailangan kasi akong daanan talagang importante. But I'm glad you're safe."
"That's okay..." tugon niya. There was a short moment of silence before I thought of something to say.
"Are you free tomorrow?" tanong ko.
"Bakit? Aalis tayo?" she asked me in a very hyped manner.
"Yeah, baka lang naman gusto mong mamasyal," I stated.
I am trying to divert my attention to other girl. I am starting to lose hope and give Anastasia up. Pakiramdam ko ay pinaglalaruan na lang niya ang damdamin ko. She did things with me that we weren't supposed to do. Bakit? Bakit niya ako hinahalikan? Bakit niya ako niyayakap? Why is she making love with me? Everything is just so vague.
Natalie is a very fine woman. I can feel how interested she is in me. Maybe it's time for me to move forward. Bago pa ako tuluyang mabaliw sa pagmamahal ko para kay Anastasia.
"Gusto ko 'yan! Wala naman akong gagawin bukas. Tapos na rin naman ang thesis namin," aniya kaya't natawa ako.
"Okay, okay. Magkita na lang tayo, I'll send you a text message later. Take a rest now," I said.
"Okay, thank you, Froilan. Bye bye."
"Bye."
Binaba na niya ang tawag. As of now, pakiramdam ko ay wala pa naman akong espesyal na nararamdaman para kay Natalie but I'm always fine around her. I don't feel awkward or whatnot. She's fun to be with. Mahiyain siya pero kapag nadadala na sa mga kuwento niya, hindi niya napapansin na dumadaldal na siya.
Nagpalipas muna ako ng ilang minuto bago ako muling pumasok sa loob ng bar. Kay Anastasia agad na dumapo ang tingin ko. Tahimik lang siya. I don't even think she hears what Alec is saying because everyone is laughing aside from her.
Hindi ko na siya pinansin pa. Naupo na lamang ako at nakinig sa mga nakakatawang kuwento ni Alec. Medyo naiilang ako sa presence niya but I have to be discreet. Jesse's here.
"Oh, sino 'yong tumawag sa 'yo, Froi?" tanong sa 'kin ni Alec.
"It was Natalie. She just told me na safe na siyang nakauwi ng bahay," sagot ko.
"Aalis ba kayo bukas?" biglang tanong naman ni Jesse.
"Yeah, balak naming mamasyal. Is that okay with you?" I asked him.
"Yup, that's actually cool para naman tumahimik sa bahay kahit minsan," pabiro niyang sagot.
"Alright, thank you, Jesse."
Nginitian ko siya bago ako naglipat ng tingin kay Anastasia. She's staring at me but I can't read through her eyes. I snapped out of it and took the glass of whiskey and drank it.
Ito naman ang gusto niya, 'di ba? Simula ngayon, kakalimutan ko na ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya. Mukha namang totoong nagsisisi na si Jesse sa mga nagawa niya noon kay Annie kaya naman binigyan siya nito ng second chance.
The thing is it's just hard to be friends with Anastasia anymore. Kailangan ko na lang siguro matutunan na mag-uusap na lang kami ni Anastasia kung tungkol ito sa negosyo. Wala ng iba.
Habang tumatagal ay unti-unti ng mas lalong umiingay ay mga kasama ko. Jesse stood up on the table together with Alec and they started dancing flirtatiously. Hindi naman nagpaawat si Gray at agad ding nakisali sa malaswang sayawan. Napakaseloso talaga.
I gotta admit... I, myself, am feeling a little tipsy but unlike these dudes, I am completely aware of what's happening. All of them are dancing except... Anastasia and I. We are the only ones left sitting and watching them.
She's just silent the whole night not unless someone's talking to her. My phone suddenly beeped and I thought I received a message from Natalie but it's not from her.
From: Anastasia Iglesias
Are we okay?
I looked at her but she's just staring right at her phone. No. Here she comes again. And what? May mangyayari na naman sa amin kapag wala na ang iba? Pinaglalaruan niya talaga ako.
To: Anastasia Iglesias
We are okay. Just text me if it's about business, okay? Thank you.
Her phone lightened up and she immediately checked on my reply. After reading it, she closed her eyes and shut her phone down.
Ilang minuto pa ay bumalik na ang mga kasama namin sa table namin. Alec sat between my legs and dramatically rested his head on my chest. Amoy na amoy ko ang alak mula sa kaniya but I couldn't help smiling at his face, he just looks so funny.
"Ikaw... Froilan... Ang guwapo mo talaga, 'no? Kung hindi ka lang... Kapatid ni bakla... Baka matagal ng may nangyari sa 'tin!" aniya sabay pindot sa ilong ko. I just smiled at him.
"Ang laswa mo talaga, Alec! Nagte-take advantage ka kay Froilan at talagang diyan ka pa naupo, ha!" Daphne said.
"Tara nga, tara nga rito, Alec," Gray called, tapping his lap.
"Oh, doon ka raw sa seloso mong boyfriend," wika ni Tracey.
"Naku, naku, tigilan mo 'ko, Gray! Alam ko 'yang mga paganiyan-ganiyan mo! Pa-fall ka talagang lalaki ka! Dito na lang ako kay Papa Froilan, look at him, ang cute ng dimple!" Alec said, caressing my face. Tipid lang akong ngumiti. "Kaya lang... Bakit medyo may pagka-blonde ka?" tanong niya at sinuklay-suklay ang buhok ko gamit ang mga daliri niya.
"Melanin problem, I guess?" I answered, chuckling.
"May hawig ka pala kay Ryan Gosling, 'no?" Lauren said.
"You're right, Lauren. Kanina ko pa iniisip kung sinong hollywood celeb ang kamukha niya," Yumi told her cousin.
Nagkaroon sila ng kaniya-kaniyang usapan. Jesse began talking to Anastasia while laughing really hard. I don't know if Annie is getting along with his stories but she's smiling somehow. Nanatili naman sa dibdib ko si Alec. Lasing na lasing na siya.
"Tingnan mo... Tulog na si topak," natatawa niyang sabi. "Diyan ka nga muna, Papa Froilan. Kawawa naman si Gray, mamaya mangangawit ang leeg nitong kumag na 'to. Hay naku, Lucas Gray Jang," Alec stated, laughing.
He set Gray's legs apart and sat in the middle. Gray hugged him firmly together with his legs like a sloth. Naiiling akong napangiti. Puro kalokohan talaga ang magkaibigan na 'to. Lumingon naman ako kay Anastasia at Jesse.
"Hindi pa ba tayo uuwi, Jesse? Tingnan mo, lasing na lasing ka na," ani Anastasia habang pinupunasan ang mukha ng ex-boyfriend niya. Jesse cupped her face.
"Ano ka ba? Hindi pa ako lasing, 'no! Kaya pa kita ipagmaneho," Jesse replied.
"I don't trust you," seryosong sagot ni Annie. Jesse's face instantly softened.
"I... I'm sorry, baby. Okay, let's go home," he uttered and stood straight up.
He then approached the others and bid goodbye to them. Lastly, he looked at me and extended his hand for a handshake.
"Una na kami, Froilan. It was nice to finally hang out with you. Sana lang makasama ko na ulit ang kambal mo, tell her that I miss her so much," he stated.
Anastasia is just looking at me.
"I'll tell her," sagot ko.
Bago sila lumabas ng pinto ng bar, Anastasia gave me one final look and walked after Jesse. Don't fall for it, Froilan. I may not be as cool and amazing as men of my age but I won't let myself be played and treated unfairly like Anastasia did.
But I have to admit, it still hurts to see her being with Jesse. Mahal ko pa rin si Anastasia but I believe time is all I need to get through it. And someone who will appreciate me for what I am, who will treat me the way every people should be treated.
"Uhh... Hi, I'm Natalie Inocencio. It's nice to see you again, Froilan," Natalie told me.
I invited her to meet me in a random restaurant to get to know each other. After conversing with her on Messenger for two days, I decided to see her in the flesh again.
"It's nice to see you, too, Natalie. Again..." I stated. She then blushed and instantly looked away.
For a couple of minutes, we were so quiet and it was starting to get awkward. Finally, she spoke again.
"Hindi ka ba busy ngayon? Baka naman naiistorbo kita?" tanong niya.
"Nope. Work's done for today. Gusto lang talaga kitang makilala," sagot ko.
"Ha? Bakit naman?" nahihiya niyang tanong.
"Wala naman. Why are you so quiet? Sa Messenger naman ay madaldal ka," I asked her, smiling.
"Ano kasi... Nahihiya akong kausap ka. Sabi ko naman sa 'yo, crush kita, 'di ba?"
"I wasn't able to ask you why."
"Uhh... Ano ba 'yan! Nakakahiya!" aniya sabay nagtakip ng mukha.
Hindi ko napagilang ngumiti. I never thought that there are women who can be vocal like this. Natalie is quite a funny woman. She's completely a contrast of what she appeared to be outside.
"Pero... Sige, sasabihin ko na. Medyo stalker mo kasi ako noong college student ka pa. Medyo lang, ha! Tapos lagi kitang nakikita sa library. Hindi naman ako tambay sa library until I saw you there. You're just... Different... In a good way, though," namumula niyang paliwanag.
"Yeah, so you like lame guys," ani ko.
"You're not lame, Froilan. You are just so socially awkward to the point that you don't see those people who admire you. Sa klase nga namin noon, dahil sa 'kin ay sobrang daming nagka-crush sa 'yo. Famous ka kaya sa klase namin," she muttered.
I stared at her. I've never been so flattered before. With that, I smiled at her.
"Do you wanna order?" I asked her.