Willing to You

CHAPTER NINE

[UMIKA]

The music inside was distractingly loud as Laster's gray pick-up truck halted in the parking lot of the building. Marami nang mga familiar na mukha ng aming mga kabatch ang naglalabas-pasok sa building kung saan ginaganap ang After Party ng Graduation Ball n gaming batch. Two to three neighboring schools like ArScience, Liberty Community College and my school were invited.

Nang makalabas sa sasakyan ni Laster, naglakad na kami papasok. May mga ilang familiar faces ang bumabati, ilang mga dating kaibigan o kaklase kaya naman madalas ay napahihinto.

As we entered the main hall, the lights were dim; tables are neatly arranged around, bukas na ang dancefloor para sa lumalalim na gabi. Kani-kaniya ang mga grupo at kahit gaano man kalakas ang musika na umiikot sa paligid ay hindi ito naging hadlang upang mag-usap ang mga imbitadong estudyante.

Loud laughter and chatters mixed with the music. May iilang nakatayo sa gilid-gilid. May mga couples, grupo ng mga magkakaibigan at meron din namang mangilan-ngilan na mag-isa. Dahil hindi na ito saklaw ng institusyon, may mga iilan-iilan din na nagsisimula nang mag-inuman.

I roamed my eyes around the place if I should be looking for someone right now. That 'someone' who doesn't want me, not even a little bit.

Someone tugged my limp hand on the side and I looked, "Tara na doon sa table namin. Doon ka na muna habang wala pa yung mga kaibigan mo." Laster said.

I nodded dahil kahit naman magpumilit akong maggala mag-isa ay hindi papaya 'tong mamang to.

Laster can be really protective at certain extent. Mula nang mangyari ang insidente noong nakaraan sa school nila ay mas lalo itong naging tila agila sa sobrang pagbabantay. When we went home that day, he didn't ask questions but instead he let me cried my eyes out so much that I thought my eyes were going to popped out its socket.

He never asked me, but I know that he knew the reason behind my tears. I appreciate his silence by not forcing me to talk.

We walked in their table. May dalawang lalaki rito at isang babae nakaupo─Hiro, Haru and Hannah. Mga kabanda ni Laster na identical triplets. They smiled when they saw us. We took our seat. Laster on my right side while Hannah on my left, Hiro on Hannah's other side and Haru next to him; infront of me.

We took our time na magkamustahan sa isa't-isa. They weren't as close as how Laster was to me but somehow I can say that I can trust them. They weren't neither uptight nor intimidating company, actually we vibe together just fine.

"Nakita na namin kanina yung crush mo." Buyo ni Haru ­─ the playful among the three.

"Oo pala at as usual nakabusangot na naman. Hindi ko alam bakit mo yun nagustuhan kako mukha namang pinaglihi yun sa sama ng loob." Segunda naman ni Hannah, playfulness was laced in her tone kaya naman gayon na lamang ang tawanan sa kaniyang sinabi.

I just shrugged at her remark not really wanting to answer.

I looked at Hiro, sa pag-aakalang makikiisa pa ito sa pang-aasar gaya ng kanyang mga kakambal ngunit gaya nang nakasanayan nagkibit-balikat lamang ito at mas ninais ang manahimik.

Laster tapped my shoulder in my side and stood up, "Dinner na muna tayo." He said thoughtfully. I nodded at him

Hannah and Haru holler in giggles like kids while Hiro has a small smile painted on his lip while also watching us.

"Ops, keleg nemen." Hannah said teasingly.

My eyes drifted from Laster to her briefly and laughed shyly. Laster looks at them shortly too before he gently took my hand and quietly led the way.