Apologize
Nangingiti akong lumingon ulit sa banda ni Rade at Verena. They were now walking toward us. Nakatayo kasi kami sa gilid ng table kung nasaan ang mga drinks at pagkain nakahelera na mukhang sadya nila.
Ron elbowed me while grinning because of our inside joke about Chloe's brother. Tyler cleared his throat and sipped on his red bull while I licked my lower lip, trying not to laugh.
"Kakain kana?" I heard Verena ask who was eyeing the food.
"Later," si Rade sa mababang tinig.
I sipped on my drink again on the red cup while Rade side-eyed me as I shamelessly checked him out. Whews. Fucking hot, Tejano.
"Kain lang kayo. Masarap 'yan," nangingiting pagmamalaki ni Ron kahit wala naman kaming inambag sa pagluluto.
Verena eyed the food curiously as she took a cupcake and bit a little while nodding, as if she were convincing herself that it tasted good.
"Ang mga girls ang nagbake niyan," sabi ko at baka kami ang pagbintangang boys pag pangit ang lasa.
Verena's expression calmed down. She glanced at Rade and pointed at it.
"Get some for your sister."
Rade took a plate and got some cupcakes for Chloe.
"Si Mavric na raw ang maghahatid, bro..." at si Tyler pa talaga ang bumoses.
Sinamaan agad siya ng tingin ni Rade habang natatawa kong siniko ni Tyler.
"Fuck you, dude. Shut up," sabi ko nang tigilan niya 'yang kaka-Chloe niya.
I could feel his presence as I tried to be unfazed about it. Nakasandal ako sa gilid ng lamesa at tinatakpan ang ibang pagkain. He moved a bit and leaned closer as he was trying to reach for something.
"Excuse me," Rade said in a low voice, and he glanced at me.
Lumingon din ako sa kanya pero hinila agad ako ni Tyler.
"Dude, tabi!" Tyler said in a concerned tone.
Rade looked at Tyler and glared a bit. Inakbayan ako ni Tyler at mas lalong inilayo kay Rade, and his eyes worsened more.
"Siguro kung ilalagay ko kayo sa stick magpapatayan agad kayo na parang mga gagamba," bulong ni Tyler, akala niya talaga siguro para sa akin ang masamang titig na 'yon.
I swirled my tongue in my mouth as I couldn't help but smile. Dinaanan ko ng haplos ang aking buhok at napansin ang paglingon ni Rade, nagnanakaw tingin sa dimple ko habang kumukuha ng pagkain.
Verena said something to Rade until they went to the other corner. Humalakhak si Tyler habang naiiling kong kinagat ang labi, hindi rin mapigilan ang tawa.
"Ako sa'yo, imbitahan mo once a week na makipag-inuman sa atin ang kuya niya. Tapos ipapasipsip ka namin sa kanya na good boy ka at walang babae. Na kami lang ang kasama mo lagi. Ako. Tingnan mo makukuha mo ang loob niyan," si Tyler na akala niya naman solusyon na 'yang sinasabi niya.
"Oo nga, Mav. Wala ka bang babae ngayon? Si Alessa Mendoza daw ang huli mo sabi nitong ao Tyler. Dude, modelo 'yon ng Penshoppe'di ba?" si Ron.
"Walang babae o tinatago? Tingnan mo si Brent, kahit ngayon wala tayong ideya sa nililigawan niya raw. Kung hindi lang mailap sa girls hindi ako maniniwala na meron," si Tyler na nailing.
"Brent's quite tamed lately. Napapansin ko nga. Kahit sumayaw ayaw na eh. Pansin mo sa birthday ni Angela? Natulog pa nang maaga!" halakhak ni Ron.
I didn't pay too much attention to their topic as I followed Rade's movement. He handed the plate to Chloe, who smiled and then glanced at the table. Napunta ang tingin ni Chloe sa akin at nagkataong doon ako nakatingin, kaya nagtama ang titig namin.
