Sailing Close to the Wind

SCW 30

"What were you saying about me earlier? Why don't you say it to my face now?"

I looked at Yacey after asking that. I was sitting in front of her, holding a glass of tequila. I made sure my voice sounded unbothered. I'm not a saint. I do feel irritated, but I wanted to appear composed as much as possible.

"What? Wala akong sinabi," she retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Yacey, baby," Gahala called gently, making my heart clench.

Yacey baby ampota.

"Sabi niya kaya daw hindi ka nagpapakita kasi bitter ka pa rin," Peach shrugged. "She probably didn't know you were coming, so she felt free to talk like that."

"Hey!" Yacey hissed, parang sinasaway.

"What? It's totoo naman," Kala rolled her eyes.

"Don't act as if we're friends here." I looked at Louisa when she butted in and scoffed at Yacey. "Just because you're Gahala's new girlfriend doesn't mean his friends are your friends too. Wake up and know your place. Kung nakikita mo, no one wants you here."

Napa'woah' ang iba sa sinabi niya.

"What the hell? That's harsh," Gahala said irritably, though he was looking at me. "Do you need to embarrass her like that?"

It clenched my heart. I gulped and looked away, placing my glass down as my hand trembled. Sobrang sakit na mas pinili niyang panigan iyong babae. Sabagay sino ba naman ako? I'm just his ex habang siya na ang girlfriend niya ngayon.

"Make your dog—I mean, girlfriend—shut up kasi," Kala chuckled a little. "It's her fault she got embarrassed."

"You don't need to hate her like that," Gahala said, looking disappointed in us.

"Bakit kasi dinala mo 'yan dito amp. Hindi naman 'yan kasali sa reunion. Hindi naman natin 'yan kaklase 'yan," rolyo ni Dolly. "Pasabit sabit lang 'yan dito. Pasama-sama sa inumin. Umambag ba 'yan? Baka umiinom lang 'yan pero hindi pa nakaambag."

I wanted to butt in pero hindi ko pa nabubuka ang bibig ko, may sumasagot na kaagad sa kanila.

"Can't you just be nice to her? She wanted to be friends with you, which is why she insisted on coming with me," Gahala pointed out. "If you're angry at me, then just be angry at me. Huwag niyo naman siyang idamay!"

Vien snorted, "Friends? Ulol. No thanks uy! Ayoko sa mga pavictim at lalong lalo na sa mga ahas. Buti nga hindi ko 'yan nasuntok nang makita ko e."

"Alam mo ding hindi maganda yung relasyon namin tapos dinala mo dito? Anong gusto mo? Salubungin namin siya ng pagmamahal saka sakalin ng yakap gano'n?" Dugtong ni Dolly kay Vien. "Kung gusto mo na respetuhin namin siya, sana ikaw din ay respetuhin mo muna ang nararamdaman ng kaibigan namin kapag nakita siya at ang pagmumukha mo."

Gahala looked at them irritably and slammed his glass onto the table, creating a loud noise. "If you're going to disrespect her like that, then excuse me. We should leave."

His girlfriend stopped him from standing and glanced at us. "What? Bitter kayo kasi ako na girlfriend niya ngayon at hindi na si Amara?" Yacey snorted.

"Gaga, sayo na si Gahala. Saksak mo pa yan sa kumakati mong puday," Vien hissed.

Some girls puffed with laughter and faked a cough to stifle themselves, but they couldn't stop smiling.

"Vien," I scolded, but she just rolled her eyes. "It's fine. Let's just celebrate," I added, glancing awkwardly at Florian and mouthing 'sorry' for ruining their celebration. He simply nodded, mukhang naiintindihan.