Nights Like This

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Proud

"Excuse me. I have to take this call," paalam ko. I smiled at Stav and glared at Ethan who did nothing. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisi dahil hindi ko sa kanya nasend ang message. Hindi rin naman yata siya nakikinig sa usapan namin ni Stav. Or if he is, I don't think he's understanding any of it 'cause I saw that he was just staring at us.

Nakalayo na ako sa table nang mapansing nawala na ang tawag ni Rex Niccolo. But I bet he'll call again.

I texted Ethan while I was on my way out. Uuwi na ako at hindi na babalik sa loob. Though I want to stay longer, I noticed it's almost 11 PM. Papa gets daily reports on what time I go home. I'm sure he'll whip up an argument once he learns I got home late tonight.

Nasa parking area na ako nang muling tumawag si Rex Niccolo.

"I'm going home, okay? No need to nag me anymore," I immediately said.

"Good. Who's Stav?"

I sighed. "I wasn't supposed to send it to you. Just forget it."

"Para kanino?"

Napairap ako. "Kay Ethan. The two of us went to drink. May tanong ka pa?"

"Yeah. Who's Stav? You got away from him?"

Bumuntong hininga ulit ako. He really wants to know? I don't think that information is something he should concern himself with. Sasagutin ko na lang at baka hindi siya makatulog kaiisip kung sino ba si Stav.

"He's Ethan's friend. He approached me. And yeah, I obviously got away because I'm about to go home now."

"Hitting on you?" tanong niya pa.

"Pretty sure he was."

"Were you uncomfortable?"

"Yeah. That's why I left."

Saglit na natahimik si Rex Niccolo. I heard him murmur a few words but I didn't understand any of it. Masyadong mahina para maintindihan ko.

"Okay na? Do you have any more- Oh, shit..."

Anne saw me! Nakatayo siya malapit sa entrance at nakahalukipkip. Mag-isa siya at nang napalingon ako sa banda niya ay agad nagsalubong ang tingin namin. I bet she was already staring at me even before I saw her.

It's not a big deal... but I'm standing next to Rex Niccolo's car! Nakahawak na ako sa door handle at napansin ko ang pagtagal ng tingin ni Anne roon. Again, no big deal but I heard how hung up she is on Rex Niccolo! She was curious to know who was driving his car. Ako iyon at mukhang kokompromtahin niya pa ako!

"What happened?" tanong ni Rex Niccolo.

"Your ex-fling is currently giving me dagger looks," mariin kong sabi.

"What?" he sounds surprised.

I was still debating with myself whether I should just get in and act like nothing happened or back away and pretend to get lost but Anne was already in front of me. Okay, she walks fast!

"Bobbi Vallejo?" si Anne nang makalapit. Agad kong binaba ang tawag.

"Uh, that's me. Hi?" awkward kong sagot. I'm pretty sure my smile was also fake. I mean, how do I pretend that I didn't hear their conversation a while ago?

"You're driving this?" she asked, her left hand on the hood of Rex Niccolo's car.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I thought this belonged to someone else..."