[DIALOGUE]

< PUB. EVENING. >

Hindi pa sila nakakatapos ng isang bote, nataob na ni Rigo 'yong inorder nilang kutkutin.

Jachin gave him a look.

Pero lumipat ang tingin nito kay Javi na prenteng nakasandal lang sa upuan, habang may hawak na bote. Hindi ito umiimik at nakikinig lang sa pag-uusap nila.

Stephen and Rigo were the noisiest ones at si Jachin ang target nilang intrigahin.

Evie on the other hand. . . she was already seeing stars, and she hasn't even finished her drink.

Tahimik ito sa tabi niya at binibilang ang mga bula sa baso niya.

Jachin
Ano bang gagawin mo dito?

Javi
Titignan ko lang kontrata na ino-offer sa 'kin.

Jachin
Para?

Javi
Mag sign as artist under the agency.

Agad na nanlaki ang mata ni Jachin.

Jachin
Kakanta ka? Akala ko wala na 'yong banda mo?

Stephen
Oh, 'di ba? Hindi lang ako nagulat. Wala na rin kasi 'yong inspiratio—aray!

Napasigaw si Stephen nang itulak ito ni Javi.

Javi
Oo, solo lang. Nakatambak lang mga sinulat ko, eh. Might as well, you know?

Jachin
E paano 'yon? Lilipat ka dito? Okay lang kina Tita?

Tumango si Javi.

Javi
Kung magustuhan ko nasa kontratan, oo. Wala naman magagawa sina Mama kung gusto ko.

Jachin
E 'di ba nandito si. . .  ano?

Lumagok muna si Javi ng alak bago ito nagkibit-balikat.

Javi
Malaki naman Maynila. 'Di kami magkikita.

Stephen
Ay, kung ako sa 'yo 'di ako magsasalita ng tapos. Malay mo nandito siya ngayon.

Napalingon ito kaya naman napahagalpak ng tawa si Stephen.

Javi
Tangina mo talaga.

Stephen
Nag e-enjoy talaga ako asarin kayong dalawa.

Jachin
Last mo na 'yan. Nakakapikon ka na.

Stephen
Last mo na rin 'to kay Evie, bukas ipapakilala ko na 'yong nababagay sa kanya.

Jachin
'Wag sabi. Kulit mo.

Rigo
Takot na takot, oh! Evie, kung wala 'tong balak umamin, 'yong kilala ni Stephen meron. Doon ka na.

Evie was blinking repeatedly and Jachin could see how sleepy she was.

He leaned in closer to whisper to her.

Jachin
Antok ka na? (laughs) Low-tol ka pala.

Jachin's eyes widened when Evie also leaned closer, the tips of their nose almost touching, to rest her chin on his shoulder.

Evie
Mm-hmm. A bit. I'm—I'm eepy.

Jachin smiled and reached for cheek, his thumb softly pressing on her dimple.

Jachin
Evie?

Evie closed her eyes.

Evie
Hmm?

Jachin swallowed down his nervousness, his eyes trained on Evie's lips. He clenched his hand under the table to stop himself from thinking too much about her lips.

Jachin
Please. . . don't date anyone else.

Evie's eyes remained close. Jachin sighed. He was pretty sure she was so out of it to even hear it.

Jachin
Hintayin mo 'ko, please?

Evie hummed in response but didn't open her eyes.

Rigo
Parang wala kami rito, ah. Na-busy lang kami kumain, grabehan na pwesto n'yo.

Stephen
Parang may konting karapatan ka naman na pala. . .

Jachin ignored them and turned Evie's body sideways and guided her head to rest on his shoulders.

In return, Evie wrapped her arms and hands on his arms in a gentle manner.

Evie
(murmur) Thank you. . .

Jachin
'Wag nga kayong maingay.

Stephen
Yumayabang na porket mukhang ikaw ang pipiliin.

Jachin couldn't help his mouth from curving up in a smile.

Jachin
'Wag mo na balakin ituloy agenda mo.

Stephen
Bakit?

Jachin
Akin na 'to.

* * *

#ATSWHIwp