Chapter 13

December 21, 20xx

Friday

Four days before Christmas and I really don't know why I'm stuck with my bestfriend and here in Batangas. Argh. Quit it, Gab. You knew why you're here. I really hate it. She freaking gave you the puppy eyed look with matching super pout lips! Why am I even born with this weakness? Unfaaaair.

I was about to leave and gone home last Wednesday. My conscience is killing me whenever Dom used that look. I can gain trauma because of boo's and how could you's whispering at the back of my head.

It's quite annoying but just can't help it. This is one of my disorders, ladies and gentlemen. You know my weakness.

"Bebs! Ano ka ba." Napatingin ako sa kanan ko and saw my bebs going towards my place with a glass on her right hand, "May dancefloor kaya. And hello, you're not here to just sit around."

"I don't want to be here in the first place."

Umupo siya sa couch na katapat ko. "Atleast, have a drink, will you?"

I shook my head. I won't. No please. Nagkatrauma na ako sa alcohol dahil sa isang blue head and thanks to my awesome bestfriend confessing what I am whenever I'm drunk.

"KJ brat. Pssh."

"Bumalik ka na dun sa Powerpuff girls. I'm really fine." Powerpuff girls? Marie, Cymone and Leah. Yep, we're hanging out with them tonight.

"Really?"

"Yes." Tumango ako. "Promise, I'll get myself a drink if I feel like drinking. Sige na. I don't want to spoil your fun."

"Fine." She lazily stood up and got closer to me. She softly kissed me on my cheeks and hung her arms to my shoulder, "Thank you very much bebs. Pero paalala ko lang, ha? Pwede magsayaw."

"Scram bebs. Don't waste this night's time on me. Shoo!"

"Ay nako bebs! Bahala ka ngaaa."

Sumunod na sa'kin si bebs at bumalik na siya kung saang nagsasayaw nina Cymone. Nandito kami ngayon sa isang bar sa Batangas. Bebs plead that I should go with them and yep, I said yes. Hindi nga dahil gusto ko... It's just that I missed bebs kahit bumalik na kami sa normal.

Well, she won't give me a 'Dom kiss and hug' if there's no alcohol. Unlike before, minsan nalang bumalik ganitong side ni bebs (The twinkling Dom. Meh.) I can't blame her since hindi pa rin natatapos ang after shock niya sa relationship nila ni Marcus.

She really likes Marcus. Hindi naman siya magiging ganyan kung hindi e.

"Hi." Napatingala ako nung may tumigil na lalaki sa tabi ng couch kung saan umupo si bebs. "Bakit ka magisa? Bah, you're missing the fun, baby."

I twitched when I heard that endearment. Goosebumps. It's very unpleasant to hear, seriously. I rolled my eyes and searched for my phone on my pocket. I'm not a techie person but in case of situation like this, I can use this.

"Oh. Snob." I arched my brow when he sat on the couch. Wow. Di ba niya alam na I won't give a damn? "Let's see kung gaano katagal yan."

And luckily, you're not hitting any of my nerves so that trick won't do anything. Not unless you're one of my friends. He's also lucky that I'm not that type na magsasalita or magsusungit sa kanya. Exception yung case ni Alex.

"You really won't talk to me, baby?"

Ignore. Ignore.

"Too bad. There's no one here that interests me."

I really don't care. Plus, don't call me baby.

"Can't you notice that you're lucky that I approached you?"

Nope. Can't feel a bit.

"You're boring."

I'm used of hearing that. No need to repeat and state the obvious.

Good thing, umalis na siya. Ibinababa ko na ang phone ko since wala naman talaga akong ginagawa dun. Inikot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid and stopped where bebs and the three girls are. They're talking now to group of guys and i-entertain nila yun. Bakit hindi? They're single...and they're not like me.

Wala na akong magawa kaya I decided to get up and go for a drink. Isa lang naman so it won't hurt. Mabilis akong pumunta sa counter para kumuha ng maiinom at bumalik na agad sa upuan namin.

I suddenly felt my phone inside my pocket. I picked out my phone and saw message from an unexpected sender. From Gatorade. We're not really in good terms after 'the talk' kaya it's really unexpected.

From: L.A

Bar? Surprising.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. How would he know that?

To: L.A

Bawal ba?

Inubos ko yung inumin and let it sting my throat. Mas lumakas ang tugtog dito sa bar. Mas maraming nagsasayaw na ngayon sa dance floor, enough to cover bebs and other out of my sight.

From: L.A

Hindi naman sa ganun. Hey, easy on alcohol. Don't give me chance to see your other side.

I can't help but smile. I don't know how the hell he knows that unless he's here too. I immediately roamed my eyes around but it's packed so nahihirapan lang ako. Inayos ko na ang upo ko and found another message from him,

From: L.A

Just kidding, Gab. :)

I want to hit my head with my phone when I saw that Gab-name. So he's using my second name now? How bipolar. NA NAMAN. What can you expect from a blue head like him? He'll be bipolar since he's one.

Hindi na ako nagreply kay Gatorade dahil di ko na rin naman alam ang sasabihin sa kanya. Di ba dapat awkward kami sa isa't isa? I really want to know about this 'ex-syndrome'. Sabi kasi nila when you ended up a relationship, you'll feel that awkwardness afterwards. Pero naaalala kong iba nga pala ang kaso namin dahil 'contract relationship' lang ang samin.

What do I know? I never had a serious relationship.

"Gabby?"

Napatingala ako nung may narinig akong familiar na boses, "Ri-ack!"

Too late. He caught me, "GABBYY!!"

Hindi na talaga ako makatakas sa yakap ni Rinrin. I tapped his back to let him know that I'm finding it difficult to breathe. Nakita ko sa likod niya si Alex. Sinubukan kong sumilip pa sa likod ni Alex pero...

"He's not here." Simpleng itinaas ni Alex ang kamay niya para bumati saka umupo sa couch sa tapat ko. Tumabi naman sakin si Rinrin.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't act innocent Gab. I know you're looking for him."

I rolled my eyes. Oo na. I'm looking for Russ since I saw you guys here. Tumayo ulit si Rinrin at nagoffer na ikukuha niya kami ng maiinom.

"Why are you here anyway, Ms. Delos Reyes?"

"Am I not allowed to go here, Mr. Marilao?"

Natawa nalang si Alex. Inayos niya ang upo niya, "Magpapamisa talaga ako. It's very not Gab seeing you here."

"I'm up for change."

"Meeeh. Change mo mukha mo!" Pareho kaming natawa. Di na talaga 'to mawawala sa usapan namin. "Good thing kasama ka na ni Dom."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Alex. Kasama na ako ni Dom? Lagi bang andito si bebs? Pero hindi ko pinahalata kay Alex na nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Buti nalang din nag-offer si Rinrin na ikukuha kami ng maiinom. And I'm not really expecting Rinrin having alcohols in his hands. Ang inosente kasi niyang tingnan. Got to remind myself that looks can be deceiving.

"Gabby, nakita ko sina Dommy dun ah. Bakit di ka nagsasayaw?"

"Jusko. Himala pag napasayaw mo yan, Rinrin!"

"Ehhh? I want to see you dance, Gabby!"

"I don't really want to dance, Rinrin." I weakly smiled at him and accepted the glass.

"Because it's impossible." Alex chanted.

"Laki pa rin talaga ng galit mo sa'kin 'no?"

Umiling at tumawa lang si Alex. Tumigil siya dahil nabanggit ko na naman yung grudge nya sakin way back grade school. Wala pa rin kasi siyang balak aminin sakin kung bakit galit siya sakin noon.

Bumalik na sina Dom, Marie, Cymone at Leah at mukhang di na naman sila nagulat to see Rinrin and Alex. Well, except for Marie of course. I felt that I'm out of place here because they really get along well tonight. Or is it me? Was I too late to recognize that I have a big circle of friends now?

"If.. after this.. Please let your guard down.. Hindi o man napapansin yun pero madaming taong gustong lumapit sayo."

Bigla kong naalala yung sinabi sakin ni Gatorade nung naglaro kami ng baseball. Did I just let my guard down? And I'm not aware of it?

May nagbago.

Nagkayayaan sina Dom na sumayaw ulit dahil di pa naman talaga sila nauubusan ng energy and the night is still young. I just told them that I'll stay here since nagiwan naman sila ng maiinom para sakin. Talk about one drink only for tonight.

"Oh bakit di ka sumama sa kanila?"

"Ikaw 'tong nagsasabing imposible tapos itatanong mo sa'kin 'yan." Tumabi na si Alex sa side ko. "Do you know that I'm oveprotective and really selfish?"

"Nope. Why?"

"Wala lang." It bothers me why he's staring at far. Tumingin ako kung saan din siya nakatingin and I think I now know why he asked me that and why he sat beside me.

Andito rin kasi si Princess at Justine.

*****

[Dominique Veena's POV]

Smoke. Alcohols. Music. People.

Enough to describe a bar. Enough to describe where I actually go to unwind and forget. Ugh. If I'm in my usual self, I'd be really disgusted. This is sooo not me. But what can I do? As if I can change like a snap.

Who says that I'll deny the fact that I'm not over with Marcus? Can someone blame me if I really liked him? Yes. I like him and I can't do anything about it since it's like I'm putting a prank to my very ownself.

Jesus. I like someone cause of a stupid contract.

Life is cruel, right?

Forget it. I was really to blame anyway. Kung hindi dahil sa pagiging easy-go-lucky ko, sa pagiging risk-lover, careless... this won't happen. Katulad ng sinabi ni bebs, isang foolish na katulad ko lang ang maniniwala sa prank ng BFC. Hell yeah, fool.

But it's not the BFC as a whole ang prank. The prank is, you must not like your hired boyfriend. Yun talaga ang foolish. And I was just fool enough to enter that foolishness.

Ghad. So many fool words. -_____-

"Di ba ikaw yung girlfried ni Mr. Smiley?"

Napatigil kami nung may lumapit samin na dalawang babae. They look familiar but I can't be sure. Medyo lumapit ang Powerpuff girls samin. Ohkay. I don't like this aura.

"Mr. Smiley?" Marie cut in. "Who's Mr. Smiley?"

"What's his name again?" She flipped her hair, which annoyed me. The other girl tapped a finger on her chin. "Oh. Marcus Lau?"

"Si Jaejoong kalokalike? Waaa. Bakit mo kilala mo si Jaejoong ko?" Di na mapigilang makasingit ni Leah. Bigla kong naalala yung mall scenario last time..

"Who are you?" The girl with the shorter hair asked Leah. Take note the mataray note. Meanie alert! One of reasons you'll regret returning to highschool. These kind of girls!

"Marie, Leah." Nagkatinginan kami ni Cymone. She weakly shook her head and pulled Marie and Leah. They stayed at my back.

"Aww. Looks like someone lose a guy."

"What's your business with me, anyway?"

"Wala lang. We just want to ask if he really dumped you." She got closer, just enough to make me looked up on her. Ghad, thanks to her heels kaya napatingala ako! Grr.

"We really like Marcus and we're really glad you're over. You're not bagay naman in the first place." The other girl chuckled.

"Wonder what he saw in you."

"And very glad that he saw something to realized it's nothing."

I arched my brow after hearing that. I made a fist with my right hand to control my irritation. Gusto kong sabihin na isa lang kontrata lang ang samin dalawa ni Marcus at dahil natapos na ang contract kaa tapos na ang samin. But who am I kidding? I'll look more stupid and hell will they believe with that excuse?

Do they care for explanation anyway? Andito lang naman talaga para manira ng araw.

"Break up is a simple recognition that you're nothing."

What the hell.

"Ho--"

"Talaga?" Napatigil ako sa paglapit nung maramdaman kong bumigat ang balikat ko, "But that doesn't mean someone won't see her as everything."

Napatingin ako sa balikat ko. And for the second time...

"Right Dommy?"

*

[Alexa Gabrielle's POV]

"Punta lang ako sa counter." Magha-hi sana sa'min sina Princess nang biglang tumayo si Alex. Hindi naman siya halata ano?

Umupo sila sa tapat ko. May kung anong sinabi si Princess kay Justine tumahimik ako. Hindi ko mapigilang mapatingin kay Justine. Maraming tumatakbong tanong sa utak ko. Not just because of their cliche love story, with Alex, pero dahil na din na isa siya sa naging girlfriend ni Gatorade. I'm not really interested of what happened during the relationship.

I'm more concerned of the 'Why' part.

I want to know the story behind it since they were friends.

"Get me anything."

"Except for alcohol, of course." Pag-aalala ni Princess sa kapatid nang utusan niya 'to. "Excuse lang Gab ha? Ikaw you want anything?"

Umiling ako. Tumayo na si Princess, leaving me and Justine behind. Ohkaaay. I never dreamed nor imagined being with her in this place. Mabilis siyang tumingin sakin tapos sa dance floor. Mas naramdaman ko ang pagkailang.

"Small world, right?" And here comes her stare. "Me, Alex, Russ and Lance."

Napababa ang baso ko sa sinabi niya. She shifted, totally facing me. Dun ko napansin ang pagkaputla niya. Naalala ko na sinugod siya sa hospital noon. "Who would have thought you'll be part of this story?"

I remained silent. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam ang sasabihin ko. Hindi ko rin mabasa kung anong iniisip niya. And the way she asked me, parang wala akong karapatang magtanong.

"I was his second client." *Bathump* Di ko kayang tanggaling ang tingin sa kanya. I suddenly felt nervous. "And because of that, ang friendship nina Alex at Lance...nawala."

"Cliche love story, yung taong mahal mo di ka kayang mahalin."

"Some jerk stole her from me. I told that jerk na wag siyang papayag. Wag siyang papayag sa deal nila ni Justine. But hey, he did. Naging sila."

"And you know what's funny? That jerk was my friend. My fcking bestfriend."

Naalala ko lahat ng sinabi ni Alex noon. That jerk was Gatorade.

He was Alex' bestfriend.

"You want me to start with once upon a time?" nginitian niya ako. Alam kong kita niya ang curiosity sa mukha ko.

"No." Nagulat ako nung biglang may tumakip ng magkabilang tenga ko. "She has nothing to do with that, Justine."

Tumingala ako at nakita siya. Like the always, he'll speak as if he really doesn't care. He'll do things carelessly and don't give a damn about the consequences. Seryoso siyang nakatingin kay Justine habang si Justine blangkong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Wag mo na siyang idamay."

"Don't look at me like I'm Nikki." She stood up and grinned, "I won't lay a finger on her, Russ."

Umalis na si Justine. Dahan dahang tinanggal ni Russ ang kamay niya sa mga tenga ko. Si Russ. On most awaited confessions, he appeared out of nowhere. How can he manage to do that all the time?

"Please don't talk to her again."

"Can't. Classmate ko siya."

"Then ignore her."

"Over protective Russ."

Pinadaanan niya ako ng tingin saka umalis sa likod ko at pumunta sa tabi ko. Napatigil siya nung napatingin siya sa mga basong nagkalat sa table namin.

Ngayon lang ulit kami nagsama ni Russ. He's busy with practice and I can't really face him. Nahirapan ako dahil sa guilt na nararamdaman at nagawa ko sa kanya.

"Wait here."

Iniwan ako ni Russ at pumunta siya papalapit sa counter. Binati niya si Alex na kanina pang nandun. Pasimpleng tumingin sa'kin si Alex at mukhang nakampante siya na hindi ko na kasama si Justine.

Nagtaka ako kung bakit may hawak na si Russ na dalawang bote ng beer sa kamay niya. Pagkabalik niya, inabot niya sakin yung bote at umupo sa tabi ko. Beer...again. I'm not really living a healthy life, to be honest. Wag niyo akong gagayahin.

"Never have I ever..." kinuha ko yung bote sa kamay niya, "...had a bromance."

"What the hell?" It was unsual to her Russ' chuckles. "And you expect me to drink? I'm not even a bro."

"Then don't drink." Now he's grinning.

"Ikaw, you're not drinking?" I teased him.

"Bah. If I had bromance with someone, I'll drink. Don't you know the rules."

I made face and rolled my eyes. So we are playing Never have I ever? What's with him and we're playing? And the fact that he just got here. I wonder why he's late.

[Never Have I Ever is a party game that typically involves drinking, wherein the first player says a simple statement starting with "Never have I ever" and anyone who has done what the player says must drink.]

"Never have I ever dance in CKU." I grinned.

"Good start." he said as he took his first sip of his beer. "Never have I ever had a part time work."

"Artstuff is not a part time work." I defend myself. "I'm so not drinking."

"Will I ever get you took a sip?" He chuckled. I shook my head, "We'll see Gab."

"Never have I ever been called Hapon."

"That really unfair, Gab."

"Inom nalang, Hapon." My grin grew wider. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi umiling at uminom sa bote niya. Well, he started it. I'm just playing with him.

"Never have I ever love snow." Uminom na naman siya sa bote niya. He caught me there. "Took a sip."

"That was on purpose. You really want me to drink!"

"Taste of your own medicine, Gabrielle." Napapikit ako nung nalasahan ko yun beer sa dila ko. It was for sure bitter. I really hate beers. Nagtaka ako nung tinuro ni Russ ang bote ko, "Uubusin ko yan."

"Bring it on." I pretend to put my game face on. "Never have I ever--"

"Excuse me!" Nagulat kaming dalawa ni Russ nung biglang tumakbo papalapit samin si Marie at kinuha yung bag niya sa tabi ko.

"Marie?"

"Marie! Marie!" napatingin ako sa likod niya at nakita si Cymone at Leah na hinahabol siya.

"Anong—" Too late. Tumakbo na ulit si Marie. Palabas ng bar. Gusto ko din sanang pigilan sina Cymone at Leah pero kinuha lang nila agad ang bags nila at sumunod na rin kay Marie sa labas.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Russ at pareho kaming walang maintindihan. It's very uncommon for me to see those girls like that. Mukhang galit si Marie. And wait, where's bebs?

Tumayo na ako at hinanap si Dom sa dance floor. Alam kong sumunod sakin si Russ. Sinubukan naming makipagsiksikan sa mga taong sumasayaw. And there I saw bebs, with her head down, with Rinrin.

"Bebs!" Lumapit agad ako sa kanya pero she didn't even move. "Bebs. Si Marie. Anong nangyare?"

Nakita kong lumapit si Russ kay Rinrin. Mas naguluhan ako nung biglang iniwas ni Rinrin ang tingin niya samin ni Russ. He just simply put his hands inside his pocket and that's it.

"She's mad."

"Baki—"

"Marie likes him." Tinuro niya si Rinrin. Nagaalinlangan na tiningnan ako ni bebs. "And... I kissed him." I froze. I saw Rinrin stooping his head down after hearing bebs. Russ just cooly ignored everything. "I'm really sorry, Rinrin."

Naglakad na si Dom pabalik ng table namin. Si Rinrin umalis na din. Naiwan kami ni Russ sa gitna ng dance floor, "Never have I ever felt like this before."

And as if on cue, we both took a sip on our drinks.

Thanks Russ for ruining the moment.