Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

024

EUNICE

"Um-attend kayo sa party bukas, ah? Dapat kumpleto tayo ro'n," paalala ni Zyron as he sipped on a bottle of beer.

They've been here for almost an hour now, and we've been catching up with each other since they arrived. Wala naman akong reklamo dahil ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkasama-sama simula noong magka-ayos kami ni Jaiden. It felt nice talking to our friends.

"Ayoko nga," pambabara ni Teo kay Zyron.

"Kasali ka ba?" irap sa kaniya ni Clyde.

"What party?" Jaiden asked. Naka-upo lang siya sa sofa habang ang braso niya ay nakapatong sa parte ng sandalan kung nasaan ako, naka-akbay.

"Issue release ng mag. Exclusive, eh," kuwento ni Zyron, shrugging.

"Featuring you?" I figured, to which Zyron replied with a nod. I smiled. "Congrats!"

"Shouldn't you be fixing the other issue first?" singit ni Night, emphasizing 'other'. "I heard it's still going around."

"Let's not go there." Zyron answered sternly, forcing a dull smile to Night who was just beside him.

Dahil medyo naging awkward ang lahat ay tumayo ako at nagpaalam na kukuha pa ng snacks. Kumuha na rin ako ng ilan pang bote ng inumin at pinatong ang mga 'yon sa coffee table dahil paubos na ang nandoon.

Uupo na dapat ako sa puwesto ko kanina, but Jaiden suddenly pulled my hand as he was sitting down. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko nang i-upo niya ako sa kanang hita niya, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, catching his gaze.

"Being selfish," he answered nonchalantly, resting his temple on my left shoulder.

Hinampas ko nang mahina ang kaliwa niyang pisngi. "Put me down."

"Ayoko," sagot ni Jaiden, shaking his head. "Stay there."

Bumuntong-hininga ako sa kakulitan niya. "Jaiden—"

I gasped lightly when he collected both of my legs and made me sit on both of his hips, my whole body facing his left. I couldn't speak as he placed his other hand on top of my legs, gently brushing the side of my thigh with fingers. His simple action already sent me shivers.

"Pota, ang harot! Hindi man lang kayo nahiya sa'min!" Teo suddenly shouted, clutching his chest dramatically.

"Sa itsura mong 'yan, ikaw dapat ang nahihiya, pards ko." singit ni Zyron at tinapik pa ang likod ni Teo.

"Mismo." sang-ayon ni Clyde at tinuro pa si Zyron.

Imbis na sumagot ay kinuha ni Teo at bottled water na kaunti na lang ang laman at parehas na hinampas ang ulo nina Zyron at Clyde.

"Ang pangit ng trip niyo, 'uy." ngiwi ni Teo.

I laughed at their bickering. Natigil lang ang pagtawa ko nang makarinig ako ng katok sa pinto. I excused myself to answer the door habang patuloy silang nag-asaran doon. Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay agad na bumungad sa'kin si Giovanni.