Three to Tango

Those Plans and That Encounter

CHAD'S P.O.V.

***

“Hey! That will not do! Joshaia Stephen!”

“Wag mo akong ma-English diyan kung ganiyan ang amoy mo! Bilisan mo nga magbanlaw!”

“Don’t you think that it's absurd for you to bathe me! Shoo!”

“Ang arte! Pagkatapos kitang paungulin—”

I was stopped on my tracks, exactly behind a tall acacia tree near the post harvest building, the moment Venice’s shrieks and giggles greeted me. Then, sunod kong nakita silang dalawa na parang batang naghahabulan. Hinahabol ni Josh ng hose si Venice na tawa naman nang tawa. They're teasing each other like what friends usually do but I couldn't help the jealousy I instantly felt as I watched them.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa balde ng tubig na dala ko sa aking kanang kamay kasabay ng selos; iyong uri ng selos na alam kong wala sa lugar pero nararamdaman ko pa rin.

“Steph! Ang kulit naman e!”

“Halika ka nga kasi rito! Sayang ‘yung tubig sa kakatakbo mo!”

“Bakit ka kasi nanghahabol?”

“E bakit ka tumatakbo? Papaliguan lang naman—”

Venice immediately ran towards Josh and covered his mouth to stop him from whatever he was going to say.

“Kapag may nakarinig sa ‘yo!” Venice looked around before she gave him a glare.

Then, seconds later, both of them burst into laughters. Like crazy kids, they laughed with no particular reason.

I heaved a deep sigh as I watched this goofy side of Josh. He was a funny guy but he always try to act mature when he's with me. He’s acting his age with Venice which was a rare sight to see.

It took me another minute before I finally moved my feet. Nang mapansin nila ang pagdating ko, nakangising lumapit kaagad sa akin si Venice at ipinalibot ang mga braso sa leeg ko. The jealousy I was feeling earlier subsided in an instant when she kissed my lips, catching me off guard.

“Hey,” I greeted her breathless after the kiss, making her grin wider.

“Mas gusto ko iyong idea na ikaw ang magpapaligo sa akin—”

“Tabi. Akong bahala sa syota ko,” biglang singit naman ni Josh, saka kinuha sa akin ang dala kong balde at hinawakan niya sa kabilang kamay ang kamay ko. “Paliguan mo mag-isa ang sarili mo,” Joshaia said with his teasing voice, before he winked at me.

“Kanina pa kayong dalawa!” Ven grunted and walked on my other side.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa habang nagbabangayan patungkol sa akin. There's this feeling again— like I was an intruder here although they're talking about me. I don't feel belong... even though I am standing in between them.

That bugging feeling remained in my head until the three of us finished cleaning ourselves. Josh was being touchy on me pero hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang atensyon na ibinibigay niya kay Venice.

Mukhang tumatalab na nga ang plano ko sa set-up na ‘to. Josh was starting to embrace his masculinity... And desire for a woman... A real woman.