One Night, Unexpectedly

8

A/N: Flashback Chapter.

•••

November 3, 2020

Some friends and former teammates of Maddie are here for a small get together, which is somehow a reunion party also. Booze and noise enveloped the whole place as if they haven't seen each other in years.

However in one corner, a girl is noticeably having her eyes stuck at somebody from afar. The one she's taken notice of the moment she saw them coming in hours ago. She doesn't know who this person is, but it caught her eye.

"Jia, sino 'yang tinitignan mo dyan?"

Her attention broke after hearing Maddie. Jia only shook her head and smiled. Little did Jia know, Maddie has been watching her stare at the person holding a bottle of Alfonso for a while now.

"She's cute 'no?" Maddie smirked when Jia widened her eyes and bit her lower lip, "Girl, parang 'di naman tayo magkaibigan niyan."

"S-She's attractive, Mads." Jia stuttered after drinking on her shot glass. They both stare at the lady drinking and laughing with other guests. Jia's face flushed and a warm smile formed, "I don't think it's bad to..."

"Have a crush on a girl?" Mich chimes in as she sat beside Jia. Natawa rin siya sa reaksyon nito, "Kanina ka pa namin napapansin ni Mads."

Jia felt shy but kept glancing at the girl, "Hindi naman masama, diba?"

"You're free to crush and like whoever. Okay lang 'yan." Maddie assured before drinking while tapping her arm, "Tama lang din para hindi puro trabaho ang aatupagin mo. Infairness ha, ang hirap mo parin ayain."

"Ayoko lang pabayaan ang trabaho natin. Ano ka ba, parang hindi pa kayo nasanay sa akin." Jia reasoned causing Mads and Mich to shake their head in frustration.

"Hay, Jia, when ka kaya magpapahinga dyan?" Mich asked and rolled her eyes.

Jia only snickered in response before looking back at the girl again. She decides to ask the two, "Anong pangalan niya?"

"Bea De Leon."

Sa kabilang banda, ang ibang mga bisita ay masayang nagtatawanan habang umiinom. Pabalik na si Bea sa kanilang table dala ang empty bottle ng Alfonso, tumayo kasi siya kanina para makipagtagay sa ibang nandoon. Pagkaupo niya'y inabutan siya ni Alyssa ng isang baso ng alak na mabilis niyang ininom.

"Love, malalasing na 'yan." Pagsusuway ni Denden kay Alyssa, medyo marami na din ang nainom nila.

"It's okay, Ate Den. Let's drink!" Malakas na sabi ni Bea kaya nagsitawanan silang lahat. Tinapik siya ni Ara at sumenyas na may ibubulong, "What is it ba?"

Tumingin sa ibang direksyon si Ara tapos kay Bea uli saka bumulong, "Dude, tignan mo 'yon."

Patagong lumingon si Bea at napako ang kanyang tingin sa isang babae na masayang umiinom at nakikipag-usap kina Mich. Agad niyang inalis ang kanyang tingin saka umiling ng ilang beses. Biglang natawa si Alyssa dahil maging siya ay naintindihan ang mga tinginan na 'yon.

Tumawa ang lahat dahil sa pangugurot ni Mika kay Ara, "Alam mo, kung hindi kita mahal baka napalayas na kita. Dinedemonyo mo nanaman si Beatriz!"