AVS 1: Catching Flights

XXXI

Chapter 31 : No/Yes

"You do know na bothersome yang suot mo, right?" I annoyingly asked Liya. Dahan-dahan itong sumipsip sa milk tea niya na parang nang-aasar.

"I know that, thank you very much," anito at inayos pa talaga ang napakalaking white beach hat. "Kapag ako, napikon sa 'yo, hihilahin ko talaga 'yang malaking ribbon sa hat mo." Parang nagsisisi na tuloy akong inaya ko pa silang dalawa lumabas.

"Well unfortunately, darling, you can't do that." I rolled my eyes at her. "Kasalanan ko bang mahal ako ng mga tao? Gosh, ikaw na nga 'tong sinamahan namin mag-shopping kasi broken, inaano mo pa ang hat ko. Alam mo naman ang sitwasyon ko ngayon."

I exhaled sharply at what she said. Well, she is a superstar now— a model and an actress. Although malayong-malayo sa degree na kinuha niya, masaya naman siya sa kinalalagyan niya ngayon. Siya kasi usually ang pambato namin sa school dati tuwing may events and pageants, nadiscover ng isang star agent kaya ayan, isa sa mga highest paid international model at most sought-after actress ng bansa. Nakapag-debut na rin siya big screen ng Hollywood kaya mahirap sa kaniyang makalabas ng bahay ng matiwasay.

"I get it, whatever. And for your information, I am not broken. Gusto ko lang huminha nh fresh air."

"Dahil may demonyong sumisira sa atmosphere ng airport?" Natatawang ani ni Doll. I clicked my hands and pointed at her. "Bingo!"

"Oh please," Liya rolled her eyes. "Kung sa tingin mo kailangan mong magshopping dahil lang sa sama ng atmosphere, we are literally living under the same roof. Sa amin muna siya tumuloy habang inaayos ang condo niya."

Doll cooed to her, "Kawawa ka naman. Living with a jerk who does nothing but break people's hearts."

"But alam niyo, I think he's changed. Come to think of it, he looks more mature now. Not that I saw how he repented from the past, but his movements are much more calculated. 'Yong tipong dumaan muna sa ilang proseso ay desisyon bago kumilos."

I snapped at her description. Ang gagong 'yon? Nagbago? Eh sa kilos niya sa akin sa mga nakaraang araw, halata namang mas lumala 'yon. "I don't think so. He looks like he's a jerk then, and he's gotten worse now. Trust me, I've dealt with it firsthand."

As soon as I finished speaking, nakita ko kung paano natigilan sina Doll at Liya habang tumitingin sa pinto ng milk tea house.

"What?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa kanila.

"Speak of the devil and he shall grant you his presence," Doll whispered beside me as her stares became sharper by the minute.

"Hey, girls. I hope I am not interrupting your girl time," a voice excruciatingly familiar sounded behind me. I sat there horror-stricken and frozen as my cousin replied to him.

"Yes you are interrupting us, Captain," Doll hissed as she secretly pinched my hand which pulled me back to reality.

Fuck, a lot of people could have approached us. It could be literally anyone who would come at us, pero sa bakit sa lahat, siya pa? At sa panahon pa talaga kung kailan sinadya kong lumabas para makapag-unwind dahil nabu-bwisit ako sa kaniya these past few days.

I was about to throw some sarcasm at him when suddenly, a woman's arms wrapped around his chest from behind. Muli kong tinikom ang bibig ko at napagdesisyunang manood sa mga susunod na mangyayari.

"Oh," sabay na ani nina Doll at Liya. Narinig ko pa ang sadyang pag-prolong nila sa dulo sabay tingin sa akin. Ni hindi man lang tinago ang pang-aalaska mula sa kanilang mga mukha. Nagkibit ako ng balikat at bahagyang sumipsip sa iniinom bago nagsalita. "To whom do we honour your presence, Captain Cole?" I said coolly.