Chapter 16: Annoyed
Did I just hear the word 'date' from him?
"You what?" Rich asked, confused.
"A date," Arch simply answered. "So, what do you think is better? Black or brown?"
"I thought you don't do dates?" I arched my brows.
He just said it earlier. I heard it clearly. Unless everything that happened a while ago was nothing but a dream!
"Mabilis magbago ang isip ko," balewalang sagot nito. "Come on. Black of brown? I need your advice!"
Lumapit si Rich sa kanyang Kuya at hinila ito palabas ng kusina.
Napasandal ako sa lamesa habang iniisip ang sinabi ni Arch. He's going on a date tomorrow, too? Is he going to date Camille? Just the thought of him dating someone is making me mad. Lagi na lang si Cams! She is always the reason for my frustration.
Uminom ako ng malamig na tubig para kahit papaano ay mawala ang init ng katawan ko. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-aayos sa mga natirang pinamili namin. Pagkatapos ko roon ay sumilip ako sa sala pero wala roon ang kambal.
Pumasok na lang ako sa kwarto ko. Ang unang bumungad sa akin ay si Chon The Rabbit na nasa ibabaw ng kama. Umupo ako sa kama at kinuha ito. Pinagmasdan ko ito. He was holding a carrot on his little hands. Hindi naman ito gaanong malaki pero sapat na para mayakap.
I hugged him.
Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko si Trev. I need to go on date with him tomorrow. Gustuhin ko mang umatras ay alam kong hindi na pwede. Saka may date rin bukas si Arch. That's a good opportunity to watch him. I just want to make sure that Cams won't give him trouble just like what she did last time.
Umangat ang tingin ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Isa lang naman ang nakakagawang pumasok sa kwarto ko nang hindi kumakatok.
"Black or brown?" Pinakita uli sa akin ni Arch ang mga polo shirts.
"Can't you decide for yourself?" pagsusungit ko.
"I just want something new this time," aniya. "I don't really care about opinions on what should I do to what I should not. But, black or brown?"
Binalingan ko ng pansin ang mga polo shirts. The black one has a dotted design while the brown one has a feather design. They look almost the same and they will look totally the same when Arch wears them. What's confusing him?
Sumulpot si Rich sa likod niya. "I told you the black is better!" he said, annoyed.
Hindi siya nilingon ni Arch na diretso pa rin sa akin ang tingin.
I think I really need to choose.
"They look the same, Arch. If you are worrying about what will make you better, any of those two," I said, calm.
He nodded. "Noted."
Saka na siya umalis.
Napailing na lang si Rich.
"Aren't you going to go on a date, too, tomorrow?" I teased him.
Natigilan siya. "I-I don't have a date."
"Better," I chuckled. "You are an angel, Rich. Don't hurry to find a date."
And I can't see him dating someone. He's just so pure in my eyes that if ever someone hurts him, I will raise both heaven and hell just to avenge him. This angel can't be hurt while I am here. Not while I am around and breathing.
We ate lunch together. Si Arch ay kwento nang kwento tungkol sa mga plano niya bukas. Naririndi na ako sa ingay niya. Hindi pa raw alam ni Cams na may date sila kaya balak niya itong gulatin. He even asked me if he should buy her a flower or if it is necessary.
"It feels good to receive flowers but I don't think it is necessary," I responded.
Kinuha ko ang sinalin na tubig ni Rich sa baso at uminom.
"Really?" he asked in disbelief. "But I doubt it. You are not Cams. Maybe for her, it is necessary to have a flower on a date."
Gusto kong ibagsak ang hawak kong kutsara. Did he just ask me for advice and turned it down afterward? Oh, god. He's getting on my nerves. And again, it's because of Cams. Hindi ba pwedeng hindi ako mairita kapag si Cams ang usapan?
"Can I come?" biglang tanong ni Rich kay Arch.
"No. You stay here," Arch shook his head.
"I want to come!" giit pa nito.
Tumamad ang tingin ni Arch. "We have talked about this."
"But you didn't agree on my condition!" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Rich na halatang naiinis na rin. Napakurap ako nang kalampagin niya ang lamesa. "You will not leave unless you agree on my condition."
I bit my bottom lip. Rich being mad is not scary at all. He is so fucking precious and adorable!
Kumain na lang ako habang nanunuod sa mga eksena. Arch looks so done but Rich is not backing out. This is a good fight. Rich is being stubborn and knowing Arch, he is soft when it comes to his brother.
"Fine!" Arch gave up.
I sipped on my water.
"Hindi na ako iinom ng alak!" ani Arch. "Happy?"
"I can't handle you when drunk," pagrarason ni Rich. "You should know that, Kuya. No alcohol, no trouble. Uuwi kayo ni Amira nang maayos."
Napaubo ako. "Pati ako?" turo ko sa sarili ko.
Nilingon ako ni Rich. "No alcohol, Amira."
"What?!" I raised my brows.
"That's the condition," pag-epal ni Arch. "I agreed. You must. Or you can't go out tomorrow."
I scowled at him. "Huwag kang epal, pwede?"
"Come on, Amira," dinig kong sabi ni Rich. "It's for your sake."
Nginisian ako ni Arch bago uminom ng tubig.
Hinarap ko si Rich. I pouted my lips to make myself look cute. "Please, Rich. Hindi naman ako pasaway."
Come on, Rich. Show me your halo now.
Narinig ko ang paghalakhak ni Arch kaya napalingon ako uli sa kanya.
"Do I look stubborn to you?" pang-aasar nito. "You haven't seen how stubborn Rich can be. You, making pa-cute won't change his mind. Lalo na hindi ka cute. Try harder."
"You didn't fail to annoy me today," I smiled, bitterly.
"This is hell, Amira," diretso niyang sabi sa akin. "I will bring you hell until your date with Trev is finished!"
"Hell?" I have to laugh. I've tasted the pits of hell and this one is nothing. "You must not have tasted hell yet, dude."
"We will see." He gave me a mischievous smile.
Sinubukan ko pang kausapin si Rich tungkol sa pag-inom ng alak pero hindi talaga ito pumayag. Ang rason niya ay para naman daw sa kaligtasan namin 'yon. He should know that alcohol is my savior when life sucks.
Gusto kong magpalamig ng ulo kaya lumabas ako. Paakyat na sana ko sa itaas ng tree house nang mapansin ang pares ng tsinelas na nasa ibaba. Naunahan na ako ni Arch sa itaas. To save us both energy, I didn't continue my plan. We will just surely scold at each other if I get up there.
Umupo na lang ako sa bench. Presko rin naman dito. Wala pang Archeon.
"Why don't you climb up here?" I heard someone asked.
"Give me a break, Archeon Harden."
"Why did you agree on that childish play?" sunod na tanong niya.
Hindi ko naman siya nakikita at alam kong gano'n din siya pero nagagawa niya akong inisin.
"There was no reason not to," I answered, casually. "Dating is fun. I live for fun."
"But that guy is no fun!"
"Coming from a boring guy, I have to laugh." I rolled my eyes as if he could see me.
Tumahimik siya matapos no'n. Akala ko ay tapos na.
"But I must say I was shocked," he suddenly said. "Trev dates sexy girls only."
"And I am," I cut him out, casually.
"Yes, you are," he retorted. "Not of them."
"What the hell is your problem?!"
Umangat ang tingin ko pero hindi ko siya kita.
"You are not hell," he said.
I crossed my arms on my chest. Hindi na ako nagsalita.
Hindi ako madaling mapikon. Madalas ay ako ang panalo sa pang-aasar. Not that Arch is better at annoying people than I am. It's just... there's something wrong with me. Duh. I am the best at annoying people.
Nang hindi na siya nagsalita ay ipinikit ko na ang mga mata ko.
"Don't give him a kiss."
Nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata ko. It's not like I am planning to kiss that guy.
"Not even a hug."
I remained silent. A hug is not bad.
"Just don't."
"Don't tell me what to do," I responded, eyes still shut. "I will kiss and hug anyone I want."
"Try me, Amira." His voice sounded threatening.
I smirked. "Are you jealous?" I joked.
"I don't know."
Napamulat ako ng mga mata sa isinagot niya.
Wait, what?
"Basta! No kiss and hug!" aniya pa.
Hindi ko na lang gaanong pinag-isipan ang sagot na 'yon. Baka nga ako lang ang nag-isip ng iba. Maybe it's just his way to annoy me even more.
"And what about Cams?" tanong ko.
"What about her?"
I mentally rolled my eyes. "You know what I mean."
"We are just friends," bigla niyang sabi. "Wala na kami. She's leaving soon. This will be my goodbye date for her."
I was stunned for a moment. Just like that, my good mood came back. It feels like, finally, Cams being our topic didn't annoy me. And uh, she's leaving soon. It means... no more Cams.
"Have fun, then," I said.
"You, too. But no kiss and hug."
I chuckled. "Fine, dude."
Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko matapos ang pag-uusap na 'yon. Sa sobrang tuwa ko ay napaakyat ako sa itaas. Naabutan ko si Arch na nakahiga sa pahabang upuan, ginawang unang ang mga braso at nakapikit. Tumatama pa sa kanyang mukha ang sikat ng araw.
Is he sleeping?
"Umakyat ka ba rito para titigan ako?" Nagmulat siya ng mga mata.
Mabilis naman na napaiwas ako ng tingin at napatikhim.
Umupo ito kaya nagkaroon ng pwesto sa upuan para sa akin. Napansin ko ang pagngiwi ng kanyang mukha habang hinihimas ang kanyang balikat. Mukhang nangawit ito dahil sa paghiga. Ang laking tao ba naman tapos ang liit lang ng upuan.
Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinawakan kanyang balikat. Napaigtad ito sa gulat. Inumpisahan kong masahihin ang kanyang masakit na braso. I failed to achieve some good talent but I am good at massaging.
"Y-you're good," he groaned.
"Should I get paid for it?" biro ko.
Tumawa ito. "You shouldn't give Trev a massage, too."
Napailing na lang ako.
"What do you think of Cams?" I suddenly asked.
Lumipas ang ilang segundo bago siya nakasagot. "She's sweet. Understanding. She loved me."
Yeah, I know.
"Do you want her to leave?" tanong ko pa.
"Of course, not."
Panandalian akong natigilan sa sagot niya. "What if she was just waiting for you to stop her. Would you?"
"It's her decision, not mine." He cleared his throat. "What about Trev?"
"Yeah. What do you think of him?" I asked. Mas idiniin ko ang pagmasahe sa kanyang balikat. "Do you find him sweet? Understanding?" pang-aasar ko pa.
"What?!" Hinawi niya ang kamay ko at humarap sa akin. "That question is for you. I answered your queries about Cams, answer mine."
I let out a heavy sigh. "He has a good sense of humor."
"And?" He raised brows.
"Hunk," I giggled.
Sumama ang timpla ng kanyang mukha. "Can't you give me a deeper answer than that?" iritado niyang tanong.
Oh, no. I am starting to annoy him again.
Tumikhim ako at nagseryoso. "He seems good. Well, I don't know. Let's see tomorrow."
"After that?" He furrowed his brows.
Naguluhan ako sa kanyang tanong. "What do you mean?"
"I think you should date Rich, too."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "You think?"
Hindi ko inaasahang sa kanya pa manggagaling 'yon. I mean... he's been very strict to Rich. He always puts him above everything. Tapos bigla niya lang ipauubaya sa katulad ko? I mean... I don't even trust myself sometimes.
He gulped and nodded. "Yeah. You should try."
Arch flashed a feeble smile on his lips.
Well, I am not that bad for Rich. I can try to be good just to fit for him. But, I don't think we are compatible. And I don't see myself dating him. He's like a younger brother of mine.
"Maybe some other time," I responded instead. "Two consecutive dates with different people is not good."
"Just tell me when so I can prepare things," bumaba nang bahagya ang boses niya.
I nodded.
I wanted to ask him something but I haven't had the guts to.
Sumandal siya sa upuan at pumikit. He crossed his arms on his chest. Ang mabigat niyang paghinga ay humupa.
"Be with Rich," I heard him said. "I still don't trust you but I can't trust anyone besides you."
Nagmulat ako ng mga mata.
"What will happen to our sacred oaths here?" I asked, pertaining to the promise we made inside this small house above the tree.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Rich needs you."
"Does it mean I can date you, too?"
He chuckled. "You can't."
"Why?"
Binuksan niya ang mga mata.
"I don't like you. I can't date someone I don't like." He smiled.
It felt like a lightning struck my heart and quivered it in pain.
With trembling lips, I said, "I think we should date, too"
Nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
Ngumiti ako at tumayo na. Hinanda ko na rin ang sarili kong bumaba pero bago ako tuluyang makababa ay muli kong binalingan ng tingin si Arch. His lips were slightly parted and I could see how shocked he was.
"Maybe after my date with Rich? Or before him? Just tell me when so I can prepare things."