Chapter Four

Yesterday, I asked him about the flowers. I don't want to assume sa mga salita niya but I couldn't help it. He gave me flowers because he's scared to be replaced by someone else. I don't understand him. He's giving a go signal but always stops it with another word. He doesn't want to be replaced bilang best friend ko. See, I want to kick him on his throne. 

Finally, we just arrived in our destination. Pagpasok pa lang namin sa gate tanaw ko ang ilaw na nagmumula sa pool area. Ni parked his car on the garage. I went out of the car. I didn't wait him to open the door for me. I can't help to look around. Ang laki ng bahay nila Gil. May fountain rin sa gitna. Kitang-kita rin ang swing sa garden at ang iba't ibang bulaklak. May mini lights doon na nagbibigay ng liwanag. 

"Beautiful?"

I nodded. 

"I make you one." Tumingin ako kay Ni nang sabihin niya iyon. Igagawa niya raw ako ng bahay. "But it's not free."

I rolled my eyes. "How much?"

"5-8 million I guess."

I hit his arm but it's not that strong. My fist hurt slight because of his muscle. "No thanks. Maghihirap ako sayo. Parang wala tayong pinagsamahan."

He chuckled. Hindi na ako nag komento sa pagtawa niya at siya naman ay hindi na nagsalita. Hindi pa man kami nakakaabot sa pool area rinig na rinig na namin ang musika na nagmumula roon. Mabuti na lang sinabihan kami kung anong klaseng birthday party ba at heto nga pool party ang naisip ni Gil. Suggestion din ng ibang kaibigan nila. Tanaw ko ang ibang bisita ni Gil. Naka bikini na ang ibang babae at ang ibang lalaki ay naka topless.

"Do you intend to remove your clothes later?" he asked.

"Yes, why not? I want to swim." Actually, I just want to see his reaction about that. Nahihiya rin naman akong mag bikini at ang daming tao pero nasubukan ko naman magsuot ng ganoon. I have insecurities but now, I won't let that to eat my little confidence. I know myself, my body is in good shape and it fits in two piece. 

He massaged his nose bridge. We stopped on walking. Malapit na rin kami. "Really, ha. You don't have extra clothes."

I smirked at him. "Meron ako. Nasa backseat ng car mo."

"There's a lot of men there, Mn. Ayokong mabastos ka."

He is so protective when it comes to me. I pouted. "You're here. You can protect me when that happens. And I know, you will remove your clothes too later."

He sighed. "Because I'm a man."

"So is it because I'm a woman, I don't  have the right to remove these clothes? I have two pieces under these clothes." I was wearing short shorts and a transparent shirt for cover-up, under this is my black two piece. While he was wearing a black plain T-shirt paired with khaki shorts. 

"Mn, that's not my point."

"Why, is it because I'm not sexy? My body is no—"

"Darn! You are sexy and beautiful. Don't doubt about that." I feel my cheeks turn to red because of what he said. I looked down to hide my face to him. Nah, even if he complimented me I wasn't going to change my mind. I looked at him. I step forward towards him. I stopped when our distance is just an inch. I saw his adam's apple move. "Once you remove your shirt, I will remove my clothes too. Deal?"

"Best friends turn to lovers?"

Ni glared at him. 

"Bud, chill. I'm just kidding. Hi, Louise!"

"Hi! Happy birthday, Gil." That's his friend, Gil Guerrero. He's now 29 years old. Single and ready to mingle, that's what he told me when Ni introduced him to me. He was wearing red polo shirt paired with khaki shorts. Gil is handsome at matikas ang katawan. Actually, all of them are handsome creature and have a good built of body. But me, kay best friend lang haharot. 

"Thank you."

"Stop eye-raping him," bulong sa akin 

ni Ni. 

"Kanin na lang ang kulang," I whisper back to him. 

"Tss."

"Both of you, stop whispering to each other. Share it with me," Gil said while having a smile on his lips. 

"By the way, here's my gift for you."

"Woah! Thank you, Louise. Nag-abala ka pa. Hindi tulad ng isa, hindi man lang nag-abala. Mabuti na lang sinama ka ni Nick. You're an angel."

"Tss." Ni tossed the small box to Gil. I wondered what that was. "Wow! I thought you didn't have a gift for me. Thanks, bud. Let's go."

People were scattered in the pool area. Some of them are eating and drinking alcohol. Gil introduced us to his parents and to some of his cousins. I already met his circle of friends. We went to the table where their friends were. Nakipag high five kay Ni sila Lexius at Terrence. Tumayo naman si Kier para makipag bro hug parang hindi nagkikita-kita sa site. Lexius, Terrence, Kier and Gil are all Engineers'. Actually, all of them work in one company. 

Nakipag bro fist naman sa kanya sina Liam, Lance and Drake. Ang original friend talaga ng tatlo ay si Gil at dahil kaibigan ito ni Gil naging kaibigan na rin ang mga ito nila Lexius, Terrence, Kier and Ni. Nakipag beso naman sa 'kin ang girlfriend nila Lance at Drake. Habang ang asawa ni Kier ay niyakap ako. Ang tatlong yan ang taken sa kanilang grupo. Nginitian at binati naman ako ng mga kaibigan ni Ni ngunit ang isa ay kinuha ang aking kamay. Liam kissed the back of my hand because of that they teasing us and my best friend just shaking his head while smiling. 

Sa napapansin ko sa kanilang lahat ang masasabi mong seryoso ay si Terrence because of his appearance. I heard that he is courting the sister of Kier. Gil, Liam, and Ni are single. I don't know where should I put Lexius on the two category, taken or single because he is a playboy. 

We went to the buffet table. Different foods are there. Of course, the spaghetti was also there and it was requested by Lexius. Ni put the lumpiang shanghai on my plate. Actually, lumpia shanghai is one of his favorite foods. I'm not going to be shocked if he is the one who requested it from Gil. 

"I know that face, Mn. You are thinking that I am the one who requested lumpiang shanghai to Gil."

"Wow! Really?" I exclaimed. He glared at me because he knew that I was just acting to be shocked. I pouted. "I'm not good at acting."

He pinched my nose. "Better luck next time." Now, I am the one who glared at him. He chuckled. "For clarification, both Terrence and I —no scratch that, all of us requested that."

"Whatever."

After we finish taking food, we back on the table. Hindi rin maiwasan ang magkwentuhan habang kumakain. Kanina pa nila inaasar si Liam tungkol sa muntik ng makipag-away ito dahil sa tatlong lumpiang shanghai na natira sa mangkok. Kukunin na sana kasi iyon ng lalaki at kung hindi pa niya binakuran nakuha na iyon sa kanya. Pansin ko rin na halos lumpiang shanghai ang nakikita ko sa mga plato ng magka-kaibigan. They'll throw a fight if it is about lumpiang shanghai. Hell! They were obsessed in lumpiang shanghai. Well, it's delicious but I'm not like them who will throw a fight because of it. 

"Stop teasing me. Manganese is here," Liam said. I noticed the shame on his voice. I met him on their site. Isinama ako ni Ni sa site nila. Siguro dalawa o tatlong beses na akong nakapunta. Liam asked me if he can also call me Mn but I declined it. You know, my best friend is so possessive of that nickname of mine. I told him that he can call me by my second name, which is Louise but he doesn't want to. In the end, he called me Manganese and it's fine with me and Ni. 

"Don't feel ashamed because of that. If you're willing to throw a fight just because of lumpiang shanghai, there is another meaning of that."

They all silence. 

"What is it?" Liam asked curiously. I smiled at him. I noticed that his ears became red. "You are willing to fight your love for your woman. You are going to fight for her no matter what happens because you love her. You're possessive and protective when it comes to her."

"Ayown!"

"Kingina! Kinilig si Liam."

"Nag blush on ka ba, Liam?"

"Nginitian lang ni crush, namula na. Baka lagnatin ka na niyan kapag tumawa si Louise."

Mas lalo siyang namula at kahit ang leeg niya. Inaasar pa rin siya ng mga kaibigan at may kasama pang tapik sa balikat ang iba. Si Ni naman ay tumatawa lang sa tabi ko. Ang mga girls naman ay inaawat naman ang mga lalaki sa pang-aasar kay Liam. 

"Stop smiling at him like that. He will fall in love with you," bulong sa akin ni Ni. "Then, why you can't fall in love with me?" I mumbled. He didn't hear it because of the loud music and especially the laughter came from his friends. Hindi rin nagtagal ang kinakain namin ay napalitan ng iba't ibang inumin.

"Hey, stop teasing him." Because of what I've said they teasing more Liam. Humingi ng tulong si Liam kay Vivien na patigilin na ang asawa. Kaya pinatigil na rin ni Vivien si Kier at sumunod naman ito. Ganoon rin ang ginawa nila Lyrae at Trinity sa mga kasintahan nila. Tumigil na rin ang iba. 

"Ito ang tanong. Nick, is it ok to you if Liam court her?"

I know I am the 'her' who talking about of Drake. I glanced at Ni. His back was resting on the back of the backrest of the chair. He finished already his food. His thumb and his forefinger in his left hand was played on his bottom lip. Nakatingin siya sa baso na hawak ng kanyang kanan kamay. Ito ay may laman na alak. Inangat niya ang tingin at tinignan si Liam na nag-aabang din ng sagot. Inilipat niya ang tingin sakin at pumupungay iyon. My heart beat is now uncontrollable. 

"No."

I drink the water on my side because of what he said. 

"Ohh!"

"Ayaw ng best friend. Wala kang pag-asa Liam," saad ni Lexius at tumawa. 

"Iyak na," segunda na pang-aasar ni Lance. 

"Iinom mo na lang yan."

"But..."

"Hey, guys. There's a but," saad ni Vivien at tumahimik naman lahat ang nasa mesa namin. I glanced at him again and our eyes met. "It's up to her if she wants to give Liam a chance to court her." 

I averted my gaze away at him. Pinamimigay niya ba ko? Ibig sabihin ok lang sa kanya na manligaw sakin si Liam pero nung isang araw binigyan lang ako ng bulaklak ni Lee ayaw niya. Tapos nung hinalikan ko sa pisngi si Lee ay nagalit naman siya. I don't understand him. 

"May pag-asa na Liam."

"Tanungin mo na."

"Damn! Tumahimik kasi kayo. Hindi ako makapag-salita." Tumawa ang iba dahil sa sinabi niya. Tumahimik naman ang lahat ng ibuka niya ang kanyang bibig. "Manganese, what if I ask you now if I can court you. Is there a chance you'll give me a permission to court you?"

All their eyes were on me and waiting for my answer. "Hmm..what if I say yes, are you willing to take responsibility for that?"

"I do."

I bit my lower lip to prevent my lips from curving upward.