"How come? You haven't even met her yet!" I asked out of pure confusion. Damn. Nauna kong nakilala si Jade kaysa kay Bry pero bakit gusto niya na kaagad si Jade?
He shrugged his shoulder. "Well, I met her just three weeks ago. My mom is her optometrist. I just happened to pay a visit to my mom tapos sakto she was there as well. She visits my mom often and madalas ko siyang maabutan, so I got along with her too."
"Oh... So close pala sila ni Tita," Gab said while slowly nodding.
"Yeah. And actually, she's not as bad as how Ace describes her on our group chat. Hindi naman siya masungit sa 'kin. She's nice," he said, probably while thinking about Jade. Kinikilig ampota.
"Hindi na rin naman siya masungit sa 'kin. We're friends," sabi ko naman.
"Best friends." Diin naman ni Jared. We aren't best friends, sadyang naging close kami lately. "Minsan nga driver ka rin niya, e." Biro pa nito.
"Driver?" Bry's brows furrowed.
"Not exactly. Sinasabay ko lang siya kapag papasok sa school," I answered.
"Palagi?" he asked and I nodded. "Eh? Akala ko ba hindi mo palaging dinadala 'yong motor mo dahil hassle mag-park?"
"Nakakatamad na mag-commute, e." Palusot ko.
"Hey, Bry. What did you like about Clair pala? I'm just curious kasi you just met her recently and you already like her," Gab asked and quickly glanced at Bry through the rearview mirror.
"I mean, why not? She's pretty and intelligent. I can't really describe her much but she's my type, for sure. She even exceeded my standards," Bry answered.
"Ulol, standards. Kapal naman ng mukha mo para magkaroon ng standards," pabirong sabi ni Jared. Umamba naman si Bry na susuntukin siya kaya natawa siya.
"Hindi ka ba bothered na pareho kayo ng type ni Ace?" natatawang tanong ni Gab. Well, not to brag, but almost all of Bry's previous crushes liked me so he didn't have a chance to make a move to them back then.
He proudly shook his head. "She's straight. As in like straight straight. There's no way she's gonna end up like my previous crushes." Natawa pa siya.
Of course, she's straight. I know that, it's obvious. That's why I gave up on her before I could even like her, because I can't like straight girls. That'll hurt. Marami pa namang babae sa paligid, I'll find one that's exactly my type. And not straight, for God's sake.
Hindi na ako nakinig sa mga sumunod nilang pinag-usapan. Napag-desisyunan ko na lang na ipagpatuloy ang pag-idlip hanggang sa makarating kami sa bilyaran.
We played a few rounds but I kept losing. I used to be good at this game but I really suck this time. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba matagal na simula noong huli akong naglaro o dahil natatanga lang talaga ako ngayon.
"Come on, Ace! You potted the cue ball three times already!" Reklamo ni Jared. Siya kasi ang kakampi ko at kanina pa kami natatalo.
"Bry, turn na natin!" Tinawag naman ni Gab ang kakampi niyang si Bry.
Bry stood up from a high chair where he was sitting on and went to the table. "Kapag naka-5 winning streaks kami, magc-confess na ako kay Clair."
Gusto kong matawa roon. Idadamay niya pa ang laro sa pagc-confess niya, e kayang kaya niya namang mag-confess kahit matalo sila. They're on their third winning streak and it's not far from his goal. Hindi malabong manalo siya at mag-confess kay Jade.
Pinanuod ko na lang siya habang naglalaro at inuubos ang mga bola. They won the fourth round at expected ko naman na iyon. Ganado ba naman maglaro, e.
At the fifth round, Gab failed to hit a ball so it's our turn already. Binantaan pa nga ako ni Red na ayusin ko raw dahil gagasgasan niya ang motor ko kung hindi.
