#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 45

"Can you both stop flirting for a moment? Please, ang sakit niyo sa mata. I didn't go here to witness this. I never wanted to witness things as corny as you two."

Kirk and I looked at Vinnyx who's sitting across us, eating his lunch. I just finished my lunch, so I was just talking to Kirk. I laughed upon seeing Vinnyx disgusted face while holding his spoon with a rice on it. Halos hindi na niya manguya ang kinakain niya, nakatingin lang siya sa amin.

"Pait mo, dude." Kirk answered, teasingly. "Sino ba kasi ang may sabi na umupo ka rito?"

"Ampalaya 'yung ulam, bro." Vinnyx answered. "Atsaka, akala ko ba bestfriends tayo? Ikaw na nga sinasamahan! Pangit ng ugali mo, Kirk." parang bata na sabi pa nito.

"You didn't even eat ampalaya because you don't like vegetables. You're eating pork, dimwit." sagot naman ni Kirk bago sumubo ng pagkain.

"It's too bitter, idiot." Vinnyx answered like a child, except child don't say idiot.

"It's not, bro. You're just a picky eater." sagot naman ni Kirk sa kanya. "There's only one person who can make you eat vegetables. What a shame, she's not here. Saan na ba siya? Hindi mo pa rin ba alam?" nakangising tanong pa nito, halatang nang-aasar.

My brows furrowed, I was confused. Hindi ko na alam kung sino ba ang pinag-uusapan nila. One thing for sure, he succeeded on annoying Vinnyx. Hindi na siya pinansin nito at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain. Kirk chuckled deeply, mukhang wala siyang planong tigilan ang kaibigan.

"Kasalanan mo rin kasi. Ang gago mo, e." sabi pa ni Kirk sa kanya. "Shian might know something about her. After all, they are—"

"Shut your mouth." Vinnyx cut him off, annoyed.

Kirk just laughed loudly before turning to me. "Do you want some water?"

I looked at my empty bottle before nodding at him. Tumayo naman siya para kumuha ng bottled water para sa amin. Humarap naman ako kay Vinnyx na napatingin din naman sa akin. A smirk slowly crept onto my face when I realized what they are talking about just awhile ago.

Vinnyx looked at me like he wanted to ask me questions. I glanced at Kirk, pabalik na siya sa table namin. Nakangisi siya habang nakatingin kay Vinnyx. Hanggang makaupo si Kirk, masama lang ang tingin ng isa sa kanya. I didn't say anything even though I know something. I promised to keep my mouth shut.

"Are you going back to Manila immediately?" Kirk asked, he's done eating now.

"I'm not sure." I answered.

We continue to talk while waiting for the break to end. We have an hour and half to rest. Napatingin kami kay Vinnyx nang marinig namin siya mag-react. Kirk laughed upon seeing his face. He looks so done. Halos kakatapos lang din niyang kumain.

"Really? Right in front of my pork adobo?" he asked, brows furrowed.