I enjoy writing this one, welp!
“Jowa mo na ba?” “No!” her answer came as quickly as denial. “I mean, we’re not…we’re just friends.” Pinagtaasan lang siya ng kilay ng dalawa. “I swear!” “Then why is he here? To celebrate an intimate family tradition?” “Papa invited him over, I have nothing to do with that.” “Wala ba siya’ng pamilya to celebrate the holidays with?” usisa ni Rich.
The Voltes Four had her cornerned at dinner. She expected that much, still she couldn’t believe how actually annoying the feeling is. Kumakain nga ang apat sa harap nila pero ang mga mata ng mga ito ay nakatutok kay Europe, na, surprisingly ay hindi alintana ang paninitig ng mga pinsan sa kanya. He’s surprisingly good at playing dumb. Good for him. Mukha’ng sinadya nila’ng i-corner sila ngayo’ng gabi, sa pinaka-malayo’ng table ba naman sila pumwesto, ‘yung tipong wala masyado’ng makakarinig. Isa pa, busy mag-usap-usap ang mga tao sa dining area, she doubts anyone would be poking their noses on their business given na may kanya-kanya silang mga chismis. After all, it’s not everyday that the whole family tree of Apolonio Acosta gets together for a dinner like this. “Hindi mo ba kami ipapakilala man lang, Ate?” pasaring na tanong ni Last, naka-taas ang kilay, may naglalaro’ng ngisi sa mga labi. How she badly want to pull her hair; alam n
It was almost twelve midnight and most of Asia’s family are still up, though some of them have gone up to bed early, the rest of them have decided to do a few shots. Karamihan mga pinsang lalaki ng dalaga, at mga kapatid niya, including himself. Europe couldn’t really say no to the Acosta’s now, could he? Fun fact (not really): the Acosta’s could seriously hold their liquors. They’ve been drinking for the whole two hours and a half now, and yet, none of them show any sign of being drunk. They still could talk without slurring, they can still walk straight, and he’s pretty sure that they would still remember everything that is happening around them. While he’s playing safe with the alcohol, Asia’s family was drinking with reckless abandon. Drink ‘til they drop. He carefully declined another drink. Hindi naman na rin siya pinilit ng mga ito, which he was glad about. He’s done with alcohol for the night. It’s not in his nature to drink u
“Wala ka na ba’ng mas ibabagal pa rito, Raf?” maktol ni Awa habang nasa tabi ng pinsan, magkasalubong ang kilay, konti nalang at malapit na niya’ng agawan ang pinsan ng manibela sa bagal nito magpatakbo. “Seriously, Raf, this is a very special event.” “Tangina, Asia Winnessa, hindi mo ba nakikita’ng traffic, huh?” “Hey, you two, take it easy.” Saway na ni Europe mula sa likod ng sasakyan. “Hindi naman uusad ang traffic kahit mag-away kayo’ng dalawa.” “Sorry,” panabay na sabi nila’ng mag-pinsan. Asia being a little bit embarassed at how she just acted. Kung bakit naman kasi sobra’ng traffic sa Pilipinas, diba? ‘Yung kahit ano’ng gawin na improvement sa kalsada, kahit ilang ulit na mag-iba ‘yung route ng mga sasakyan, ganun pa rin… ma-traffic pa rin. They were currently on their way to Rafa’s book launch. Kararating lang nila galing probinsya and they immediately drove straight to where the book launch is happening.
“San ta’yo?” was Kian’s question after the event. May iilan pa’ng libro’ng tinatapos na pirmahan ni Rafa, kaya hinihintay nila ito sa may tabi. “Nag-aya si Rafa, e. Libre niya raw.” “Tapos deretso overnight?” umaasa’ng tanong ni Greg. “Oo yata.” “Saan tayo mag-o-overnight?” asked Niel and everyone’s eyes flew over where Awa and Europe were standing. Mukha’ng napansin ito ng binata kaya agad ito’ng lumingon sa kanila at pinagkunutan ng noo. “What?” “Overnight daw,” “Geh,” was his only reply. Binalik ng binata ang tingin niya kay Asia. “Coffee?” Asia turned to face Europe, a wicked, teasing smile on her lips. “Ikaw, ha, are you low-key trying to ask me out on a coffee date?” Europe shrugged and looked at her straight in the eyes, “Maybe.” For a brief moment, they held each other’s gazes, as if they were in their own little bubble, like everything around them turned into a blur. “Absolutely,” Asia beamed, “pero pwede ba’ng iba puntahan natin? I know a place.” Tumango lang n
Chapter Sixty Eight “You, guys, are always heavy on food,” Asia commented as she swallowed a spoonful of baked potato casserole she ordered. “And alcohol.” She added before chewing her food, to which her eyes bulged and darted down her food. “Holy Hera!” she softly exclaimed. “This is delicious!” That earned a laugh from her friends, probably starting to get weirded out with her. Sue her, it was her first time eating a baked potato casserole and it automatically hit her top fave food. She fished her phone from her bag and took a snap before she continued to savour heaven in a form of potato. Nasa isang food park sila malapit sa, as usual, bahay ni Europe. Hindi ba niya alam ba’t trip ng mga ‘to lagi tumambay sa bahay ng binata. At, oo, mag-o-overnight na naman sila mamaya. According to Kian, libre raw ng manliligaw ni Rafa ang lunch nila ngayon. They actually got to meet them earlier, kaso may biglaang lakad ito kaya umalis
“Wait,” Last urgently said, she could swear she’s making this sniffing sound. And knowing Last, kinakabahan na siya dahil sa talas ng memorya at amoy nito. Sigurado si Awa na may ideya na ito kung sino at kanino’ng amoy iyon. “I know this smell…” “What?” naguguluha’ng tanong ni White. “This smell is familiar,” “Baka si Raf lang,” dinig niya’ng sagot ni Ember sa background. “Nandito siya, e.” “No,” mabilis na sagot ni Last, “I know how Kuya Raf smells…” “The fuck?” natatawang sabi ni Raf, “And how exactly do I smell, Last Alaine?” “Amoy malandi at playboy.” mabilis na sagot ng nakababatang pinsan, na tinawanan nilang lahat. “Totoo kaya!’ “That was rather harsh, Huli.” “Truth hurts, Kuya, suck it up.” “Para’ng hindi tayo mag-pinsan, ah, need I remind, you that we’re all basically carved from the same wood.” “True, but you were carved first, so there might be slight differences here and there.” Last retorted back quickly. “Anyway, as I was saying, Ate Awa… sinong nagnakaw sa
Nakakunot ang noo ni Awa nang magtanong siya. “Why? Aren’t they friends with her?” Iling ang naisagot ng binata sa kanya. “Not really.” “Can I ask why?” “For reasons that are: one) we’re more like an arranged couple.. or something like that, two) they didn’t entirely like her personality.. and to quote Niel, “she’s a bitch.” “And three) because she took us for granted.” “Wait…” she paused, her hand hanging halfway out of the ecobag, “what do you mean arranged couple?” “You know how in corporate families, arranged marraige is a common thing.. to further expand the company and the connections, right? So both our parents wanted the same but since we were still in high school then,they settled for us to become a couple.. for the time being. “I was friends with Rence, Enzo and Greg, then. So they know all about that deal. Aya was, then, my first and only girlfriend. I admit, I didn’t like her at first but eventually I came around. “Himala nga at natagalan namin ang isa’t isa at