A Photograph in Coliseum ( completed)

Chapter Twenty - Three

"So, you and Hexan, huh?"  Tanong ng lalakeng pinakamatangkad sa kanila. Katabi ko siya sa paglalakad and he took the opportunity to whisper to me.

"Huh?" Tanong ko. He grinned at me. Kunot-noo lang ang sagot ko sa kanya. Nasaan ba kasi si Riza?  I swore we'd be together! Tapos hinayaan ko lang na hilahin siya nung lalakeng gwapo na iyon.

I'm such a bad friend.

"Don't worry about your friend. Vao is gonna take care of him." Biglang sabi niya.

"Huh?" Tumawa siya. Tsaka ko lang din narealize na puro huh pala ang sagot ko.

"Ibig kong sabihin, sinong Vao?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Our cousin. That one who said he'll take care of your friend." Sagot niya. "Don't worry, Vao's not gonna hurt your friend. Not an a certain birthday party atleast."

Napabuga lang ako ng hininga.  Huminto sa paglalakad ang dalawang lalake na nauna  sa amin kaya huminto din kami.

"Bro, we should sit here. Let's wait for Hexan to see our surprise." Nakangising sabi ng naka-curly.

"Okay." Tango ng katabi kong matangkad na kausap ko kanina. Bumaling siya sakin at naghila ng upuan. "After you."

Awkward akong umupo sa upuan. Pagkaupo ko ay tsaka na sila naupon na din. I keep on blowing air because of the awkwardness. Why do I have to be on a table with three boys? Tapos ako lang mag-isang babae!

"Hey!" Napapitlag ako sa biglaang paglaks ng boses ng lalakeng naka-peircing. Nasa tabi ko kasi siya sa left side. Yung lalakeng matangkad naman sa right side ko tapos yung curly hair ay sa tabi ng nasa right side ko.

"Bro, you scared her." Tawa nung curly hair.

"Oh, I'm sorry. " The guy with the peircing apologized to me cheekily. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.

"I'm Braint, by the way." He introduced himself to me. Tumango ako at ngumiti.

"Hello, Braint."

"I'm Vens." Sabi nung curly-haired.

"Hello, Vens."

"And I'm Krey." Sabi ng nasa tabi ko. I don't know why but I felt goosebumps when he said his name. "I'm Hexan's cousin." He added.

Tumango ako. "Magpipinsan ba kayong lahat?" Tanong ko.

Umiling si Braint. "No, we are just childhood friends. Si Krey at si Hex ang magpinsan." Sabi niya. My mouth formed an 'o' na mabilis ko ding tinikom. I looked so amazed that it probably looked so funny.

"So, kayo ba ni Hexan?" Tanong ni Braint. Namilog ang mata ko sa tanong niya.

"Kailan at paano kayo nagkakilala?" Tanong din ni Vens.

"Are you his sport buddy? Yung kalaro niya ng badminton?" Tanong ulit ni Braint.

"Woah, woah, woah!" Singit ni Krey na ipinagpapasalamat ko. "Ayaw pud ninyo dali-dalia uy!" He told them.

"We're just asking her. " Vens pouted. Ang cute.

"But you're scaring her." Krey pointed out. "You can ask her calmly, not agressively. Just calm down." He said. Namangha ako the way he said those. His voice was so kuya.

"Okay." Sabi ni Braint.

"Is it okay that they're asking you this questions, Jaley?" Krey asked me gently. Kinabahan ako sa sobrang gentle ng boses niya.

"Oo naman. It's okay." I assured him. He nodded then he smiled at me.

"So, kayo ba ni Hexan?"