FORTY-THIRD
Everyone was having a good time until XZ wasn’t anymore. When Liv left because it was already late, Mel was the only one left that she was very comfortable with but then Mel got so drunk that she passed out.
XZ really had fun at her birthday party but now she’s just tired. She doesn’t have a long social battery life that most of her cousins have especially Hayden and Kai. She talked to some new people earlier but she spent most of her time with Liv and Mel and now that neither is with her, she figures it’s time to go home. She looked around and saw her Kuya Eze still busy socializing and he was with Via Bonifacio so XZ just sat down somewhere quite far from the crowd. XZ knows there’s something going on between Eze and Via but Eze just seems unaware of it. Eze is clueless sometimes.
Habang nakikipag-usap sa mga kasama niya ay nakita ni Eze si Damien na nakatingin kay XZ mula sa malayo. Napansin ni Eze na mukhang pagod na rin si XZ kaya naman minabuti na niyang gumalaw upang mabigyan ng pagkakataon si Damien na makausap ang kapatid niya.
Damien was at Nereo’s service and funeral. Eze saw him gazing at XZ the whole time but he let her be. He knew she needed time and that she needed to grieve. Damien was always just a few meters away from XZ at the university but he never approached her. He knew she still needed time to herself and Eze saw how Damien always turned the other way because he was giving XZ all the time she needs. But now, he thinks it’s time for him to help Damien and give him the time he always wanted to be with XZ.
“Excuse me, Via, I have to do something. I’ll be right back,” paalam ni Eze sa dalagang katabi at naglakad na palayo sa mga kausap niya kanina kaya wala naman nang nagawa si Via at bumalik na lang sa pakikipag-usap sa mga kasama nito.
“Pete, can you fill up my tank?” abot ni Eze ng susi ng kotse niya kay Pete na abalang kumakain ng porchetta.
“Didn’t you just fill it up yesterday?” tanong ni Pete pagkalunok ng kinakain at ibinaba ang platong hawak sa katabing lamesa. Pinunasan niya ang kamay niya gamit ang table napkin saka kinuha ang susing inaabot ni Eze.
“Yes but... I just want it full-tank again,” palusot ni Eze kaya napakibit-balikat na lang si Pete.
“Okay,” simpleng sagot ni Pete at nagpaalam na ngunit bago siya tuluyang makaalis ay bumalik siya at kinuha ang plato ng porchetta niya sa mesa at sinama na ito palabas.
Lumapit si Eze kay Hayden at pinasama ito sandali sa kaniya.
“What’s the matter?” tanong ni Hayden nang medyo makalayo na sila ni Eze sa iba.
“Can you get their car keys?” tanong ni Eze kaya nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Hayden.
“Whose car keys?”
“Everyone except Dame’s.”
“Are we going to carnap their cars? How many do you need? You know I could just give you 3 of mine, right? And I could throw in 2 of Seamus’s too if you’d like,” wika ni Hayden kaya bahagyang natawa si Eze.
“No, we’re just going to keep their keys.”
“Like a valet?” kunot-noong tanong ni Hayden.
“Yes,” sagot ni Eze kaya sandali siyang tinitigan ni Hayden upang masiguro kung seryoso ba siya. Nang ilang segundo siyang hindi kumibo’t nanatili lang ring nakatingin kay Hayden ay nakumbinsi itong seryoso nga siya.
“Alright. Weird request, mate, but alright, I’ll do it,” pagsuko ng Briton at nagsimula na ngang kunin ang mga susi ng sasakyan ng mga pinsan niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Ficção Adolescente[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
