Karina Ace Wu
"Ace!"
I looked around to find Gab who just yelled my name. Putangina, bakit kasi dito nila napiling mag-bilyar? Napakaraming tao rito tuwing weekends. Ang hirap tuloy nilang hanapin. Isa pa, sa dami ng tao rito, umiinit na rin ang paligid.
Inis akong lumapit nang mahanap ko na sila. Roon pa talaga sila pumwesto sa lugar kung saan hindi maganda ang ventilation.
"Can we find a different place? Ang init dito," sambit ko saka umupo sa upuan na nasa likod lang ni Jared. "Why did you guys choose such a crowded place?" Reklamo ko pa.
Nagkibit-balikat naman si Gab. "Dito nag-aya si Red, e. Ewan ko rin kung bakit trip niyan dito," she replied.
"Bakit?! Dito naman tayo naglalaro no'ng junior high, ah? Hindi ba puwedeng na-miss ko lang?" Jared defended himself.
"Oo na, tumira ka na," inip na sabi ni Bry.
Tumira naman si Jared. He missed, though. Iilan na lang naman ang natitirang bola kaya malapit na rin siguro silang matapos. Aayain ko na lang silang lumipat ng lugar kapag tapos na sila.
I sighed when I felt my sweat dripping. Tumayo ako para lumabas sana pero may babaeng lumapit habang may dalang tissue. Noong una'y akala ko kay Gab siya lalapit pero sa akin pala siya tutungo.
"Tissue? Your sweat's dripping," she said. "Are you new here? May I know your name? What if we play some other time?" she asked, obviously trying to hit up on me.
"You're the new one here. Also, I don't need your tissue, may panyo ako," I said, showing the handkerchief I took from my pocket. "You may not know my name, I'm not interested."
"Woah, easy! Sorry, I thought you were new too, that's why I asked. I don't see you around here often, e. Are you from Alpha College as well?" tanong naman nito.
"I'm a senior high school student, miss," I coldly replied. Itinuon ko naman ang atensyon ko kina Bry habang nagpupunas ako ng pawis. "Lipat tayo pagkatapos niyo r'yan. I'll wait for you guys outside," I told them before exiting.
"Puta, pati likod mo pawis, e." Tumawa naman si Gab na nakasunod sa likod ko. "It's not even that hot?"
I didn't mind the surroundings so I didn't realize that Gab was following me. I was just so eager to get out of this melting hot place.
It feels a lot better when I got out.
"Oo na, pawisin na."
She took out her vape from her pocket. "Gusto mo?" Alok nito bago humipak. Umiling lang ako bilang sagot. "That girl back there was trying to hit up on you?"
"Yeah," I shortly answered. "Not like I'm interested, anyway."
"Bakod na bakod, ah?" natatawang sabi niya. "Kumusta na nga pala kayo ni Jade? Are you guys dating already?"
I shook my head. "Nah, bro. I'm still busy these days, baka hindi ko pa mapanindigan."
"That's right," sabi naman ni Gab na ikinalingon ko. "I suggest you don't date her yet. Hindi para mandohan ka, I'm just concerned about you. After all, you're the first person that she liked and also the first girl that she will be romantically involved with. She might just be confused yet. Baka hindi pa talaga siya sigurado sa orientation niya."
"You've been there before, Ace. You must be careful."
I recalled the last time that it happened to me. I dated a girl who's still on her confusion phase. We risked it despite uncertainty... But in the end, she ghosted me. I tried my best to contact her or see her back then. Only to find out that she's already going out with a guy because she has confirmed that she's hetero. Minsan ang hirap din maging pogi, e. Pati straight naa-attract ko tapos sa huli ako pa maghahabol.
