The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 41

Chapter 41
"Suitors"

From the long list of restaurants in Greenbelt, sa Mang Inasal ang uwi namin dahil iyon ang gusto ni Colt. Ang dami pang tao kaya mahaba ang pila at punuan ang mga tables. Pagkatapos namin makipagtyagaan, saka pa kami pumunta ng Greenbelt for some wine and charcuterie.

"I feel like a third-wheel here," natatawang sabi ni Colt.

"Oh no, Colt, we're not together," sabi ko habang nililingon si Aris sa tabi ko. I smirked. "So you're not a third-wheeler."

Ngumisi si Colt. "Oh..."

Kumunot ang noo ni Aris. Mukhang siya ang third wheel dahil ilang beses lang siyang kumibo sa gabing ito. Panay pa ang hila sa upuan ko palapit sa kanya. Kulang na lang kunin ako at iupo sa hita niya.

"My bad, mate." He shook his head, sa pabirong paraan. "My bad. Sorry to hear that."

Aris rolled his eyes in obvious annoyance.

"When did you two got so close?" aniya. Inilayo ang bote nang magsasalin ulit ako sa baso ko.

"Right after you left, Aris."

Hindi naman totoo iyon, but Colt surely wants to piss Aris. Ilang buwan din bago kami nag-uusap at lumalabas minsan, sometimes with his friends or Agastya. Naging malapit lang talaga noong umalis na si Uma.

Kumunot ang noo ni Aris. Akala mo niloko at naisahan. I just grinned at hindi na dinugtungan ang sinabi ni Colt. Kilala naman niya si Colt na palabiro at friendly. Sa sobrang friendly at clingy akala mo flirt.

Napailing na lang ako. A ghost of a smile was on my lips. I tasted a few kalamata olives and what was on the platter while they talk about other things.

"I like your secretary, Aris," ani Colt.

"Dyanra?"

"Yeah."

"You better ask my EA."

Natigilan ako sa pag nguya ng soppresata. I turned to Aris with curious eyes. Sila ni Thibet?

"She's married?"

"No. Tho, I don't think you two are compatible, you're both loud."

When we finally decided to end the night, hinatid na namin si Colt sa tinutuluyan niyang hotel.

Colt hugged me one last time before he walked towards the entrance. Nang makalayo konti kumaway siya at dumiretso na.

"Is the hug necessary?" ani Aris nang pagbuksan ako ng pinto sa front seat.

"He's just clingy. Wala namang malisya iyon." I slide in. Umupo ako ng maayos. I grabbed the seatbelt. Ikakabit ko na sana pero natigilan nang nasa tabi ko pa rin si Aris. Naka bukas pa rin ang pinto.

"I thought you hate clingy."

I bite my lip to suppress my smile. Ngumuso ako. Naalala niya pa 'yon. I know he was hurt, but his boyish pout is damn cute. Kaya kahit alam kong seryoso ito, hindi ko maseryoso talaga. Some other time I will address this. Make it clear to him so he doesn't have to think about this again.

"I am sorry I said that to you... You want to talk?" Tiningala ko siya. Humawak ako sa baywang niya. "Let's go to your condo? What do you think?" I raised my brow, pursing my lip to stop from grinning.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I'll take you home now."

"Sa hotel na lang kaya? Tutal ay andito naman na tayo."

I laughed nang inis na talaga siya. Yumuko siya. His head went inside the car. Kinuha niya ang seatbelt at siya na ang nagkabit. Sa lapit niya nasa pisngi niya na ang labi ko.