"Joerrelle." Tawag ni Chase sa harapan ko.
Pau and I spent Christmas and New Year with his family. My own family kept calling me those days but I ignored all of their calls. Sabi ni Kuya Dave, they celebrated daw dito sa Pilipinas pero wala kaming dalawa. Literal na matigasan ang laban. I was just lucky that I have a supportive stepbrother.
Pero kahit ganoon wala akong nagawa kun'di i-meet ang lalaking 'to. That old man used his influence. Tinakot niya ang director na puputulin niya ang sponsorship sa national team kaya wala akong nagawa kun'di ang sumunod sa gusto niya noong unang beses. Ngayon naman, si Kuya Dave ang ginamit niya laban sa akin.
We are on a cafe right now but instead of talking to him, I was busy taking down notes while scattered books were on our table. Malapit na kasi ang finals at ayaw ko naman na maapektuhan ang pag-aaral ko kaya halos magpakamatay na ako sa pagpupuyat.
"Hey." Tawag niya muli sa pansin ko. Sandali akong nag-angat ng tingin bago bumalik sa ginagawa ko. Tama 'yan. Ikaw ang magsabi sa parents' mo na ayaw mo na para walang magawa ang daddy ko.
Noong una kaming nagkita ay ganito rin kami. Well, hindi naman ako nag-aaral pero sunod-sunod na tawag ang sinagot ko. Tapos kabi-kabilang tao pa ang nanghihingi ng autograph at pictures.
"Joer-"
"Hello." Sagot ko sa kabilang linya kaya walang nagawa si Chase kun'di ang manahimik. I was working a case study with my groupmate's kaya mas lalo pa akong naging busy sa buhay ko.
"Can you just work on it later?" Saad ni Chase at saka pasimpleng bumuntong-hininga. He was a full time BSBA student kaya hindi talaga siya makaka-relate sa ginagawa ko. I already turned him down the last time we met but he was persistent. Ginusto mo 'to. Deal with it. "If you are doing this because you thought I'll be turned off, you are doing it wrong. I am falling for you even more."
Hindi ako nag-react. Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko. I was too focused with what I am doing when Chase suddenly tapped my book. I didn't know that he was still here. Tumingin ako sa labas, saka ko lang na-realize na madilim na pala.
"We should grab our dinner." He uttered but before he could do something, Adi showed up out of nowhere and stood beside our table.
"Adi." I uttered looking at him. Naglipat-lipat ng tingin si Chase sa aming dalawa.
"Eat with me." He said without breaking his stares with me.
"Bro, if it wasn't obvious, I am with her right now. You can't just snatch her from me." Reklamo ni Chase at saka tumayo para pantayan si Adi. Chase is tall but Adi's body is well-toned more than him. Of course, Adi is an athlete and he's just a drunkard spoiled brat.
"Oh, I didn't know that there's someone here." Saad ni Adi at saka umaktong nagulat. Tumawa ako habang inaayos ang gamit ko. Adi is fast enough to help me out.
"Don't tell me he was the boyfriend that you are talking about?" He asked while glaring with Adi. Sinabi ko kasi sa kanya the last time na may boyfriend ako and entertaining him was already a form of cheating so we have to stop. But he didn't listen. Wala akong planong sagutin siya pero bigla na lang ipinatong ni Adi ang braso sa balikat ko.
"I am her boyfriend, so please stop bothering her. Cheating asshole." Adi said with a conviction to the last two words. Ngayon, ako naman ang nagulat. Bago pa ako makapagsalita, isang suntok ang tumama sa mukha ni Adi. Hindi pa nakuntento si Chase at itinulak siya kaagad. Nabitawan ko ang gamit ko at agad na napasigaw. Awtomatiko namang nagkagulo ang mga tao.
