Pagkakaila, Pag-aatubili || BonesAlexx: HHFB

(iii)

(How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.)

The night of drinking continues between the friend group, inuman with... well, no celebrations. Nothing too special. Hindi naman kailangan ng specific na holiday or someone's birthday; maybe it is just their preference, to hang out and spend time with the people they hold dear.

"Oy! Tagay!" Chubs hands Shyder a glass of beer, filled halfway. "I haven't seen you drink yet, Shyd—"

"When will you shut the fuck up? Nakainom na ako!" Lumingon agad si Shyder sa katabi. "Pef, pasalo!" The girl doesn't even bat an eye. Hinablot niya yung baso and ininom ito, without even looking at Shyder one time. 

Bones internally laughs. Yeah, people they hold dear to their hearts.

He loves his friends, he really does. But his eyes betrays him as it trails from the glass in his hand, the ice in his drink bobbing comically in the bronze liquid, to the girl some feet away, swaying and halfway drunk. He looks away, as he hears Alexx spit out the worst pick up line he has ever heard. Ang corny amputcha.

Sana all.

He takes a swig and instead of feeling the familiar taste of beer on his tastebuds and the soothing feeling of liquid going down his throat, Bones tastes everything bitter and feels as if he swallowed glass.

(I love thee to the depth and breadth and height.)

"Hoy, tinitingin-tingin mo?" Alexx's face suddenly appears in his peripheral vision. Nabulunan si Bones sa sarili niyang laway. Alexx laughs, and he swears, for a moment, his lips turn upwards into a smile.

"Wala lang, masama tumingin?"

Napangiti si Alexx."Nagandahan ka sa'kin, ano?"

Bones rolls his eyes. Oo naman, kailan ba hindi? But what rolls off his tongue says the opposite. "Pwe, si Xyan lang physically attractive sa inyong dalawa." 

Napaltukan siya.

(For the ends of being and ideal grace.)

Bones whines, adjusting his beanie when he turns to a snivveling Alexx. Panic suddenly bubbles in his gut. It grew tenfold when he turns to his side and sees Xyan staring through his skin. Tangina, hindi ako makalalabas nang buhay dito—

"Wait, gagi joke lang—" Oh, how unfortunately for him, Frida can hear. Ibinuka niya ang kanyang bibig, at gusto ni Bones na lamunin siya ng lupa.

"So, maganda si Alexx sa paningin mo?"

Everyone fell silent. Nakanganga sila Pef and Shyder. Chubs stopped functioning. Cris blinks, letting out a very confused, "hah?" while gaping himself. Napahagikgik si Frida sa nasabi niya, ignoring Xyan's chiding words. Bones takes a glance at Alexx. Her eyes were wide open.

"Bones," Alexx's voice rang out in the open and the mentioned male stiffens, waiting for his verdict. "Wala ako pera."

He relaxes and faintly hears Frida curse under her breath. He sends Alexx a concerned look habang lumulunok siya ng isang baso ng alak. Buti nalang lasing 'to.

"AAAAAANYWAY," Chubs suddenly slides in, raising another bottle, to which hinablot ni Pef. Heavy drinker yarn? "Another round?"

Everyone cheered. Bones is only glad everyone seem to move on from it.