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Chapter 3:

"You must be Lucas' friend. Nice to meet you. The name is Silvestre. Just call me Tres for short." He introduced himself. He looks nice, decent...handsome. Pwedeng pwede kong tropahin. Pero tama si Lucas. Mukha syang babaero. "What's wrong? May sinabi ba si Lucas na di maganda about me? You can tell me. Oh, I almost forgot. What's your name?"

"Xerena. My name is Xerena. It's nice meeting you uhh...Tres." Banggit ko sa kanya habang nililibot ang aking paningin sa paligid. Maganda naman, but since it's a bar, it's noisy, and I don't like it at all. "You're the son of the owner naman di ba? Do you have a VIP room? It's so noisy kasi and I don't really like it."

"Ah, yes. I was about to take you both upstairs when you arrived. Let's go?" He offered as we started walking upstairs to where those VIP rooms are. Habang pataas kami, napansin ko na ganito pala kadami ang mga taong naguubos nang pera sa night clubs. Must be fun being rich. Pumasok kami sa isang kwarto, kaming tatlo lang ang nandoon. "Make yourself at home, Xerena. I already got a waiter get us some snacks and drinks. Juice, since you're both babies." Asar nito sa amin ni Lucas na itinawa na lang naming dalawa. "So...Lulu said you want to meet me? Why?"

"Stop calling me Lulu, Silv. It's so cringe." Reklamo at naiiritang sambit ni Lucas habang umupo sya.

"Come on. I'be been calling you that since we were kids, man." Pabirong pangaasar pa ni Silvestre sa kanya. Ang cute naman nang friendship nila, and childhood? Since noon pa magkakilala. They must have a really strong bond with each other. Bulong ko sa aking isipan habang nakikinig sa asaran nilang dalawa. "Anyways back to Xerena, why? You wanted to meet me? Only a few people do. Most of the guy's girlfriend's want to so I instantly assumed that you're Lucas' girlfriend at first."

"Gusto ko lang sana mameet circle of friends ni Lucas, that's why...Unfortunately, it's just you-"

"Just me? Isn't Cleo and Syg your friend as well?" He got other friends? Wait. Did he lie to me? Agad akong napaisip sa kung anong nangyayari, I was confused at the same time. Anong sinasabi ni Silvestre? And out of all people, Cleo? That spoiled girl sa school? She literally gets on my nerves. "Susumbong kita sa kanila Lucas." Pabirong banta nito sa kanya.

"They're my friends yeah but I don't really trust them the way I trust you. But maybe soon, ipapakilala ko rin si Xerena sa kanila." Sagot naman ni Lucas at pangiting lumingon sa direksyon ko. Dahilan nang pagkunot nang aking noo. I can't believe Lucas. But at the same time I understand him. "Unless they happen to come here. But isn't Syg studying on Europe? Baka busy yon masyado. Law student pa naman."

"He comes by once every two months, he stays for an entire week sa pinas, and just to see Ciana. He visits the bar too once on every visit to check up on me. Sayang di mo sya laging naaabutan." Kwento pa nya habang ininom agad ang bagong dating na beer sa lamesa namin. "You should go meet Syg and his lover, Ciana. Ah, that guy talks about celebrities all the time."

"Hahaha...Sige. If I have free time and he happens to be here, I'll try to see him na lang din." Reply ko kay Silvestre bago ako uminom nang fruit juice. It tastes nice and natural, high quality naman siguro lahat nang drinks nila dito. I mean Silvestre looks rich, his family must be rich as well. He's a son of the owner nang bar na to. I'm not after that though. "So...are you taken na ba?"

"No. Not ready for commitment so...Just flirt with a lot of girls for fun. Why'd you ask? Don't tell me youmre falling for me just by seeing me for the first time?"

"Hindi! I was just asking. Plus, I like girls." Depensa ko sa sinabi nya habang uminom muli sa baso ko. Nakita ko ang ngisi ni Silvestre pagkatapos ko sabihin yon.

"Cleo must like you. She likes baddies."

"As in Cleo in my school right? Yeah, uh, no thank you." I would rather die. I couldn't even stand her attitude let alone be her boyfriend? Never! Nagsnacks muna kami at hindi na ako tinigilan kakaasar ni Silvestre about Cleo nang mapansin kong may tinatawagan na sya na number. "Who's that?"