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Chapter 28

Chapter 28

REALLY WANTED

"LONG TIME NO SEE." I uttered as soon as I approached her.

Muntik niya nang mabitawan ang tray na hinawakan niya nang lingunin ako. "Y-yeah." she said, calming herself. Pinatong niya muna ang tray sa lamesa at humarap sa akin ng maayos. "You've been busy and I understand that."

Minsan ko lang gawin ang bagay na ito pero nginitian ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya.

Every facial feature I have softened when I saw how beautiful she was in her black jogger pants and cropped sweater. "Mabuti at nakapunta ka." I said.

She shrugged, "Nakakahiyang tumanggi eh. Tsaka—"

Naputol ang kaniyang sasabihin nang tawagin siya ni Liana. "Frankie!" Pareho kaming lumingon. "Oh..." biglang napaatras si Liana. Nawala ang malapad na ngiti niya sa kaniyang mukha nang tignan niya kami ng salitan.

"Yes, Lili?" Frankie responded. Trying to save her from the little awkwardness.

"Nagugutom na raw sila Bliss. Dalhin na natin 'yung foods doon." ani Liana.

Then Frankie grabbed the tray of food from the table again. Liana clung into her arm and they went back to their seats.

That interaction that I had with her left me wanting for it to be longer. The next time that it'll happen, I'll make sure that it will last for hours. I really want it to happen.

Bumalik na rin ako sa mga kaibigan ko matapos kong kunin ang sariling pagkain at ang mga drinks.

"Oh, Marcus, bakit parang bad trip ka?" tanong ni Primo habang inaabot sa hawak kong tray ang drinks.

"Kasi narinig ko na naman 'yung boses mo." I replied, sarcastically.

"Panget kasi ng boses mo Primo eh." asar ni Seven sa kaniya. Heto na naman sila at magtatalo na naman.

Iniabot ko kay Adrian ang tray para siya na ang magbigay ng mga baso ng inumin sa mga kaibigan namin.

I kept on glancing at her back and forth. Bigla kasing naudlot ang pag-uusap namin. I don't hate Liana for her sudden interruption. I just... I really wanted to talk to her more.

...

PAGKATAPOS KONG UBUSIN ANG PAGKAIN KO, bumalik ako sa may sound system para palitan ang nakaplay at para maayos ko na rin ang bagong playlist para sa buong gabi na puro kantahan at sayawan.

As soon as I pressed the play button, everyone started dancing again.

I once saw a DJ at a club I went to a year ago. One time her special someone went to that bar that he works at, so he dedicated a song to her. I wanted to try that too.

Here we go again, another drink I'm caving in
Stupid words keep falling from my mouth
You know that I mean well
My hands were meant for somewhere else
Your eyes are doing naughty butterflies

"Marcus," I saw Adrian walking through while I was vibing peacefully through the song. He handed me a glass of wine.

Umiling ako. "I don't drink."

"You did." he chuckled. "Last year. You even got drunk."

"Oh please." I shut my eyes. "Don't talk if you have nothing nice to say, Harrison."

Ayaw ko nang maalala ang nangyari noon. I got so drunk and did so many things that even I couldn't believe that I did all of those.

"Sige na, isa lang naman e." pagpupumilit pa niya. If there is something that I dislike in Adrian, it's his being pushy to his friends.

"Fine." I blew out a sigh. "Just put it there."

"Inumin mo 'to ah." huling sabi niya bago umalis at bumalik sa kung nasaan ang iba pa naming kaibigan.

Oh, oh, one more drink and I should go
Oh, oh, but maybe she might like me though
Oh, oh, I just can't think of what to say
Should I go, should I stay?
Just can't let her slip away

Habang nakikinig ako sa kanta ay uminom ako ng kaunti. Ang tapang nito. Mababa pa naman ang alcohol tolerance ko. Pero nakatingin sa akin sila Adrian. They were watching me out if I would spit it out or not. I really felt something fishy going on.

I talk a lot of shit when I'm drinking, baby
I'm known to go a little too fast
Don't mind all my friends, I know they're all crazy
But they're the only friends that I have

I took a sip of wine again, not intending to swallow it all. I don't wanna get drunk. Not even getting tipsy.

Napalingon ako sa gawi ng girls. They were all having fun. The fact that they made Vera and Bliss drink when they know that those two can't stand much on alcohol. Crystal was the one behind that.

I know I don't know you
But I'd like to skip the small talk and romance, girl
That's all I have to say so, baby, can we dance?

Looking at Frankie got my head relaxed. I was stressed out with all the loudness in the room. I don't dislike loud music, I just get physically drained easily.

She was dancing with the other ladies, and she was really in bliss with them.

I wanted to dance with her. We are both dancers and we both dance well. But I wanna know how it would feel to dance with her.

...

AFTER A FEW HOURS OF DANCING AND SINGING OUR HEARTS OUT, everyone has finally decided to rest. The maids came into the room to clean and all of us went to our designated rooms. At siyempre, hiwalay ang kwarto ng mga lalaki sa babae.

Pagpasok na pagpasok pa lang namin sa kwarto, bagsak agad sa kama ang mga katawan ng mga kaibigan kong sila Primo, Andy, Jonas, at Seven. Mga maraming nainom kaya gano'n. Kasama si Leonardo sa mga nakainom ng marami kaya ayon at hiniga na namin sa kama.

Adrian, Cyrus, and of course the man of wine, Calvin are still up.

Naupo muna kami sa sahig at isinandal ang aming mga sarili sa higaan ko.

"Hindi na ko nagulat sa tolerance mo Calvin." sabi ni Cyrus saka humingang malalim. Napagod kami sa pag-alalay sa mga lasinggero naming mga kaibigan.

"You should." Calvin smirked.

"Buti na lang talaga ay hindi tayo uminom ng marami, Cyrus." ani Adrian saka inakbayan itong si Cyrus.

Habang nag-iinuman ang iba, si Cyrus at Adrian naman, uminom sila ng wine at beer pero kaunti lang. Pagkatapos n'on ay puro soda at juice na ang ininom nila. Binabantayan nila ang buong Aces at ang mga Scottsdale.

"Yup. Alam ko kasing malalasing talaga ang mga 'yon. Alam mo naman, ngayon na lang ulit nakainom." sabi ni Cyrus.

Maya-maya pa ay may kumatok sa pinto. Si Liana pala iyon. Lumapit siya sa amin habang si Adrian naman ay tumayo upang salubungin siya.

"Is Crystal asleep?" tanong ni Calvin kay Liana.

"She's waiting outside." Liana said while Adrian was hugging her from behind. "Matulog ka na, Darwin."

"Yes, you should too." tugon naman ni Adrian.

"I just came here to say good night to all of you." Liana smiled to all of us.

Binati rin namin siya pabalik ng magandang gabi. Lumabas na rin naman siya pagkatapos.

Nagtungo na sila sa kani-kaniyang higaan. Adrian fell asleep first, then Cyrus. Si Calvin naman ay lumabas kanina, kakasabi palang ni Liana na gising pa si Crystal. Hindi pa rin siya bumabalik hanggang ngayon. Sabi ni Adrian, baka raw pinuntahan si Crystal. I just learnt that Calvin can't sleep well when he's surrounded by many people, even if they're his friends or they're his brothers. Malamang doon na siya matutulog sa kwarto niya.

Since I wasn't still feeling sleepy, naisipan kong pumunta muna sa terrace malapit sa hallway para magpahangin.

And there I saw Frankie.

Again, I saw another perfect chance.