Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

26

"Puro ka talaga kalokohan." I snorted at him.

He kissed the top of my hair, "Just kidding."

"Yeuane, do they sell burgers here?" walang hiya nyang tanong sa pinsan nya.

"Gago ka. This is a pizzeria." Yeuane said with an italian accent.

Kumunot ang noo ni Stage, "Find a store that sells burgers, then." he demanded.

Napaayos ako ng upo. I slapped Stage's thigh. Tiningala ko si Yeuane na mukhang nalilito kung maiinis ba sya o susundin ang sinabi ni Stage.

"Hindi na, Yeu. It's okay."

Stage sat properly, "It's not okay. You want to eat burgers, right? Then let's find a shop that sells those."

Tinignan ko lamang sya pero 'di sya nagpatinag sa titig ko.

The tension only stopped when someone spoke, "Uh, you guys wants a burger? Oorder kami, pwede naman kayo makisabay, if you want." Paisley looked a bit hesitant when she said that.

Magsasalita na sana ako pero pinangunahan ako ni Stage, "Yes, please. Yung best seller sana, if possible?"

Humalukipkip na lamang ako at sumandal sa upuan. Well, he'll buy me a burger. Sino ba naman ako para mag-inarte?

They talked a bit more longer. Hindi rin gaano ito napansin ng isa pang katabi ko, which is si Maze dahil pre-occupied sya sa pakikipag-usap kay Hanz. Iginala ko ang tingin sa lamesa.

There, I realized that Pacen is not here. Why?

Kinalabit ko si Maze, "Why is Pacen not here?"

Kahit naman kasi tahimik ang pinsan kong 'yon ay kahit kailan naman 'di yon um-absent sa pagkikita naming mga pinsan. So it's a new thing for me to see Pacen being absent today.

Napaisip din si Maze, "I think he mentioned that he'll do something today? Pero hindi naman ata importante.. I don't know." then she proceeds to talking to Hanz and the other guest.

Hindi ko na gaano pang inisip ang pagkawala ni Pacen sa gathering. Dahil narin sa dumating na ang inorder na burger ni Stage.

I was busy eating the best seller burger of the shop where they bought this when Cazian complained.

"Gutom na gutom na ako! Nasaan naba ang inorder nyong pagkain dito, Tyler? Kailangan ko pa bang bayaran ng doble ang pagkain dito para mapabilis ang pagluluto?" he frustratedly said.

But, things became all awkward when two waiters arrived, having all of our ordered food. Nahihiyang nagsalita ang isa sa mga waiters, "A-ah, Sir, ito na po mga o-order n'yo..."

Kumalma naman si Cazian, "I just hope that next time, the service will be better. Kanina pa kasi na'min inorder ang mga ito.. Umorder na nga rin ng pagkain ang iba kong kasama sa ibang tindahan dahil sobrang tagal ng waiting time."

Tumango naman ang waiter at mukhang naintindihan ang ipinararating ni Cazian.

The gathering feels exactly the same– except that we have to draw lines in opening up a topic about people we personally know 'cause we have other people joining us here. Everyone was literally just talking about school or known people around their school.

I'm sure that if Paisley and the gang aren't here they'll be spilling some news about our socialite friends.

I shrugged off the thought as I knew that I'm going overboard.

I rested my head on Stage's shoulder. After 30 minutes, we'll be going home. Namumula narin kasi ang isang 'to gawa ng alak. May kaonting inuman na kasing nangyayari and I don't want him to get drunk or tipsy. Kaya ko namang mag-drive pero alam ko kasing nag-papass out ang isang 'to pag nahihilo na.

"Love, let's go home." bulong ko at inayos ang magulo nyang buhok. Namumungay naman ang mga mata nyang tinignan ako at tumango.

He politely declined the next shot that was offered to him. "Uwi na raw kami sabi ng girlfriend ko."

No one protested kaya pumauna na kami. Matapos ang ilang pagpapaalam ay umalis na kami sa lugar at pumunta sa condo ko para makapagpahinga. He sleeps sometimes at my condo. So do I to him. Pero mas frequent ang pagpunta nya sa condo ko dahil gusto nya raw ang amoy ng mga unan.

Kung hindi ba naman baliw na baliw sa'kin.

The university started and I can say that I became slightly busy, compared sa highschool years ko. Maybe some may find my schedule not really engaged to studies but for me, it is. Iba-iba naman tayo ng pace at level of feeling the need to achieve something within a certain time.

Stage's in 2nd year so he's much busier than me. Lalo na't nag transfer sya ng course into chemical engineering e iba naman ang ti-nake nyang course sa first year nya. He's smart so I guess he coped up really quick. But, there are just too many things to do for him. Maraming pending na gawain gawa nga ng galing sya sa ibang course.

He's still able to make time for me, though.

And I'm very grateful for that. That we're able to catch up to each other despite being in college. Sabi kasi nila, it's hard to communicate in college. Siguro, depende nalang yon sa mga magka-relasyon.

Third term came and I noticed Stage is starting to loosen up. Wala na syang gaanong school works at 'di narin namin nababanggit ang tungkol sa pag-aaral nya. It's not a big deal, naman.. I trust him. I know he's doing his best here in college.

"Let's go to New York." biglaang sabi ni Stage habang nagluluto ako.

"Huh? Why? Third term palang.." I said as I put the omelet on the plate.

"Of course. After third term. Between the registration days.. Two to three days will be okay." he said again, pertaining to the New York trip.

I looked at him, "It's okay with me if two to three days. Pero more than one day halos ang flight to New York."

"We won't take normal flights. I already talked to Zyche about that."

Hindi na ako nagulat nang sabihin nya yon. Parcons owns many private jets, even an airplane and a few chopper. Family business na nila 'yon. And syempre, if we'll use a private jet, mababawasan ang travelling hours namin.

"Alright." pagpayag ko.

This is a damn luxurious plan but I can't say no. We have exactly six days to travel at babalik din naman agad within that six days.

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