***
It didn't take long for us to find Callan, lalo na dahil kadikit niya si Alberta. The girl's outfit was offensive to the pool. It stood out, too. Habang napapaligiran ng mga babaeng naka-swimsuit, lalaking naka-board shorts o short shorts, at abs ni Callan na oh, so wet... unfriendly si Berta sa tubig with her long sleeves and jeggings. Even her hair, ayos na ayos. Nakapusod at nakatirintas.
Mabilis akong nakita ni Callan. I gave him my best smile, kahit na simangot ang isinagot sa 'kin. When he's done giving me a once-over, I winked at him.
Sumipol at nag-ingay ang mga lalaki nang makita kami. There's new excitement in the pool area just because we're there. I could feel Rel rolling her eyes and her pempem cursing. Rel doesn't like attention. Ewan ko lang kung same distaste kapag galing kay Kylo. Amber and Zia, on the other hand, were used to all kinds of cat calls and compliments.
"Hello, guys," I said over the sound. "I heard we're welcome to your party."
Lumapit sa amin si Kylo na nakakamiseta pa, board shorts, at flip-flops. "Welcome, girls." Bumaling siya kay Zia. "I thought you said you were not interested?"
"Well... Callan's here," ani ko at inginuso si Callan na ni hindi sumusulyap sa gawi namin. Mukhang mesmerized siya sa tirintas ni Berta, habang namumula naman 'yong isa.
Oh, just you wait. I'm going to tear you apart in no time.
Mahinang tumawa si Kylo bago mailing. "You're still on to him?"
"Of course. Everyone sa university knows that he rejected me. And I know there may be bets being placed kung sino sa amin ang magpapasuko sa isa't isa," ani ko. "Kawawa naman 'yong mga pupusta sa 'kin."
"Yeah. Meron nga," magaang sabi ni Kylo.
"See? You're all bastards," ani ko. "Lucky you, I'm cool with bets and all that. I'll help everyone who bet on me to win dirty money."
May pakiramdam na 'ko no'ng nakaraan na may grupo o mga grupo na nagpupustahan sa university dahil sa amin ni Callan. 'Cause when I'd lose interest in following him around, may magme-message sa 'kin o sa girls ng whereabouts niya o ng schedule niya. Then, I'd pester him again and he'd ignore me. Unless supportive ang mga nagme-message sa rejection ko, there'd be no reason for them to tail Callan or waste their time reporting him to me.
"What do you expect to happen here? Nandito ang swim team at basketball team. Hindi ka makakasingit mangulit kay Callan unless..."
Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ni Kylo. Sabay kuminang sa idea na malamang ay pareho naming naisip.
"Unless there are games with certain prizes," sabi ko.
"You okay for a kissing spree?" tanong niya.
Kumalabit nang ilang ulit si Amber sa 'kin.
"Why, Ambs?" baling ko sa kanya.
"Don't kiss Kylo," bulong niya. "Nandito si Rel."
"Relax. He's not asking me for a kissing spree with him..." paliwanag ko.
"Then... is he actually asking me?" kunot ang noong tanong niya. She licked her lips in preparation. "O si Rel? It's weird kung si Zia! Yikes."
Malakas kaming tumawa. Kahit si Rel, hindi nakapagpigil. Nagkatinginan sila ni Kylo and she blushed a little. Nag-wet na siguro ang gaga sa tinginan lang.
"Zia, paki-decode kay Ambs 'yong sinasabi ni Kylo," ani ko.
Zia hooked her arms with Amber. Hinila niya nang kaunti palayo at nagbulungan sila. Mukhang magtatagal sa diskusyon. Naiwan si Rel sa tabi ko.
"I'm okay for a kissing spree," I said. "But I'd choose my fighter. Help me on that one."
Inilahad ni Kylo ang kamay sa 'kin. "Deal."
"Deal."
Magkakalas na ang kamay namin nang magkatinginan uli sila ni Rel. Impending ang eye roll ko. They should just kiss to gauge their attraction. All this locking eyes and smiling like idiots wouldn't help them.
"Just kiss, you two," asik ko sa dalawa. "You're both single as of the moment. I mean"—Malaki ang mata sa 'kin ni Rel—"laging single si Rel, but you're actually single this time, Kylo. Try a virgin."
"Monique!" saway niya.
Bruha akong tumawa. "Kidding. Don't play with Rel or I'll cut your flagpole. It would be a piece of cake dahil kapatid ka ni Zia. We'll know all the ways to torture you."
"Kahit tulungan kita kay Callan?"
"You could never help me enough to crack the no of that bastard. At kahit tulungan mo 'ko, hindi enough para ibenta ko si Rel sa 'yo, okay?" Sumulyap ako kay Rel na pulang-pula na ang mukha. "But... not kidding sa sinabi kong virgin siya."
"Monique!"
"Yeah, you love me being protective of you, poks," sabi ko at dumikit sa kanya. "Kylo can only play with you if you want it, too. You have to consult me by then, para hindi ka niya maloko, okay?"
Rel looked like she wanted to walk out. Pero mahinang tumawa si Kylo at na-mesmerize ang gaga. Wow. Is this true love?
"Let's set up the game, Monique. Come with me," sabi ni Kylo at nagpatiuna sa pavilion. "Let's get you started on the drinks, too."
Hinila ko si Rel, na hinila si Amber, na hinila si Zia. Nagbubulungan pa rin ang dalawang nasa huli. Sumulyap naman ako kay Callan at nakitang nakatingin siya sa akin.
Nginitian ko siya. Wala siyang malay sa ideas na mayroon kami ni Kylo.
***
"Game time, freeloaders!" malaki ang ngising sabi ni Kylo sa microphone.
Humina nang kaunti ang music kasabay ng attention ng lahat sa pavilion, kung nasaan kami. 'Yong mga nagme-make out lang sa pool ang walang pakialam. There's also a group na panay tumbling sa 7 ft. water ng largest pool.
"We need three guys on the swim team for a challenge. Fastest to complete 5 laps in the pool will get a kissing spree with Monique," sabi pa ni Kylo.
Pumalakpak at sumipol ang lahat. Ngumiti naman ako at kumaway. Only Callan looked annoyed. Kahit si Berta na nasa tabi niya, may not-so-secret smirk as if she's saying that she knows I'm cheap.
Nagtaas ng kamay si Amber. "I want to a kissing spree, too, guys! Can I kiss the runner-up?"
Lalong naghiyawan sa excitement ang mga boys. They're too loud, it hurts my ears. There must be flagpoles poking by now. They must be imagining that they could get more than a kiss.
"O-kay!" sang-ayon ni Kylo. "This is getting better. Amber's game, too!"
"How about Zi and the other girl?!" pasigaw na tanong mula sa pool area.
"Zi and Rel's not available, boys. Sorry."
Sumulyap ako kay Rel na nakaawang ang labi habang nakatingin kay Kylo. I don't like it. Baka masyado niyang binibigyan ng kahulugan ang mga sinasabi at ikinikilos nito. Kylo's cool, but he switches girls too often. Hindi rin marunong magseryoso, gaya ni Zia. Rel shouldn't invest too much of her feelings. She deserves better.
Si Zia naman, nakasimangot. Sinundan ko ang tinitingnan niya, only to realize na nakikipagsukatan siya ng tingin sa isang lalaki na nasa dulo na ng area. It's a wonder how they could lock eyes with that distance. The guy's hot, alright. But there's something that screams no fun about him. Tatalunin ang pagkaantipatiko ni Callan.
Dumikit ako nang kaunti kay Rel. "Kapag pinayagan ka ni Kylo na maging prize, kailangan niyang payagan si Zia. So don't think too much about it."
"I'm not," sabi niya.
But oh, the long nose. She's lying. Umaasa siyang may something.
"Who's up to the challenge?" tanong ni Kylo sa crowd.
"Ako!" "Wait for me, baby! I'll kiss you until you're crazy." "You're mine!"
Ngumiti ako kahit mas masarap mag-eye roll. These guys may not know it yet, but I'm always the better kisser. But I won't say anything dahil ayaw ng mga lalaki na natatapakan ang ego nila, kahit na kaapak-apak. I don't like bruising their ego and crushing their fantasies prematurely.
"We'll have the first three who'd get here," ani Kylo.
Nag-unahan sa pavilion ang ilang lalaki na may hawak pang colored cups ng alak. They noisily shouted their names for Kylo to consider. Parang mga naglalaway. This is why they're not my LFG.
Nakatitig ako kay Callan na madilim ang mukha. As if, mai-intimidate ako. Hindi nga ako na-intimidate ng no niya, 'yong displease pa kaya? He could judge and dislike me all he wants but it won't change the fact that I'm hot, that someone as hot as me wants him, and that people back me up in getting him.
Nang may makuha nang tatlong contender, I grabbed the microphone from Kylo.
"I know you're all excited, but before we start, I'd like to choose someone who'd save me from a kissing spree. Alright?" Nag-boo ang audience but I don't care. Ngumiti ako kay Callan. "Callan baby, how about you save my lips from strangers?"
Nag-cheer ang crowd. 'Yong iba, minumura si Callan. 'Yong iba pa, hinihingi ako sa kanya.
"Careful not to get second place 'cause I don't want you kissing Amber, okay? What do you say, baby?"
May mga nanunukso sa amin pero nag-die down ang ingay habang pare-pareho kaming naghihintay sa sagot niya. I was ready to be rejected again. Puwede niyang sabihin na ayaw niya at wala siyang pakialam sa kapakanan ng lips ko. Walang magtataka.
So it was a shock when he said, "Yes, baby. Let's save your lips." #350h / 04242020