[DIALOGUE]

< PUB. EVENING. >

The place wasn't so bad. Sa labas pinili ng mga pinsan ni Jachin na umupo.

Jachin glanced at her.

Jachin
Okay ka lang?

Evie
Oh. Yes, sorry! Natulala lang ako.

Ngumiti ito bago marahang inabot ang kamay niya.

It was now like an unspoken thing between them. Whenever Jachin felt she was overwhelmed or anxious, he'd offer his hand for her to hold.

Like now. She was a little nervous to meet his cousins.

Jachin
'Di mo kailangan mag-alala sa opinion nila. They already like you.

Evie looked up at him, nibbling her lower lip.

Sumunod ang mga mata ni Jachin sa labi nito.

Evie
I'm just a bit worried.

She pinched her index finger and thumb to show him how much.

Jachin
'Di mo sila kailangan i-impress. Pati ako.

Evie
I just want to make a good impression.

Jachin
Para?

Evie
So that they will like me. . . (whispers) for you.

Evie didn't think Jachin caught the last part because he didn't react and it was too noisy.

Jachin bent down a little closer to her to meet her eyes and Evie struggled to keep looking at him.

He made sure she was the only one who's going to hear what he was about to say next.

Jachin
But I like you. Counted na ba 'yon?

Evie felt her breath catch at what he said. Napatitig siya sa mga mata nitong nangungusap.

His eyes gleamed with adoration.

Evie
Ohh, uh. . .

Before she could answer, may tumawag na dito kaya napunta ang atensyon nito sa ibang tao.

Stephen
Huy, ito ba si Evie?!

Kinabig siya palayo ni Jachin sa pinsan nito, but Evie walked back towards his cousin.

Evie
Yes, I am! It's nice to meet you.

Stephen playfully bowed to her with his hand on his chest.

Stephen
Stephen Deogracias, madam. Pinsan ni Jachin. Also, ako 'yong nakausap mo sa phone niya.

Jachin
Nakakabwisit ka pa rin dahil do'n. 'Di na ako pwedeng makatulog pa nasa paligid kita. Tsk.

Stephen
Bakit? May tinatago ka ba do'n? May po—

Hinila ito ni Jachin palayo kay Evie at binatukan.

Stephen
Evie, oh! Nanakit na!

While the two bickered, Javi approached her and introduced himself.

Javi
Javi. Pinsan din ni Jachin, pero 'yong mas matino.

Evie burst out giggling.

Evie
It's nice to meet you!

Sandaling tumingin ito sa mga pinsan na naghahabulan pa bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya.

Javi
Girlfriend ka na ni Jachin?

Evie almost choked on her juice that she ordered.

She wiped her mouth.

Evie
Oh, no! No, hindi! It's nothing like that.

Mataman siyang tinignan nito. She wanted to call Rigo for help because his eyes were too intense for her, but he was busy looking at the two bickering.

Javi
Really? From what I can tell, you make a good pair, so why the delay?

Napatigil si Evie sa tanong nito. She couldn't grasp the right words to answer him.

Evie
We're just. . . taking it slow.

Javi
If he hasn't told you how he feels, tanga siya.

Evie waved her hands.

Evie
It's okay. I'm not expecting him to tell me immediately. I—I want him to know I'm not going anywhere.

Once again, Javi gave her a look. And then he nodded.

Javi
I can see why. . .

Evie tilted her head, not following.

Evie
See what?

Her question was interrupted by Stephen who pushed Jachin so he could sit next to her. Nag unahan pa ang dalawa para tumabi sa kanya.

Jachin
Stephen!

Jachin's forehead creased at them and he was flushed when he was forced to sit beside of Javi instead.

Stephen
Evie, tabi tayo, ah.

Evie
O-Okay.

Stephen
Alam mo, may ipapakilala ako sa 'yo.

Jachin
Stephen. Tigilan mo si Evie.

Hindi ito pinansin ni Stephen at patuloy na lumapit sa kanya.

Stephen
Gwapo, malakas dating, minsan cute. Tapos single. Ipapakilala kita sa kanya, baka interesado ka.

Evie squinted at him, pretending that she was actually curious who it was.

Evie
Oh, who?

Jachin's eyes moved to her and she could see from her peripheral view that he was more annoyed now.

Stephen
Oh, curious siya. Paano ba 'yan?

Jachin rolled his eyes.

Evie
Of course, is he here—

Jachin
Evie.

Evie giggled when Jachin frustratedly said her name.

Evie
What? I'm just curious.

Jachin
Please, no. 'Wag mo pakinggan si Stephen.

Stephen
Ayaw mo lang, eh. Wala kang sinabi do'n. Palag palag na kapag nagkaharap kayo.

When Evie glanced at Jachin, nakatitig na ito sa kanya.

Umiling ito na parang nagmamakaawa sa kanya and Evie couldn't help but smile at him and enjoy how he was around his cousins. Halatang kasundo nito ang mga pinsan.

Stephen
Naks. Ginagamitan na si Evie ng matang nagmamakaawa. Delikado ka na, papi.

Evie
It's working. . .

Jachin put his best hurt puppy face, shaking his head at her, in hopes that Evie relents because if there's one thing he didn't want to happen, it was losing her.

* * *

a/n: next chapter will also be in dialogue format pls be patient w me :(

#ATSWHIwp