Just In Time

III. golden tattoo

A/N: I hope kinikilig kayo, kasi yun lang tong au na to. No thoughts, just kilig! hahaha!
comments are appreciated, talk tayo sa X @nonsensefairy_ ❤️‍🔥 you can request some scenes and maybe pwede ko iinclude 🫶🏼

-
"Baduy," said Archie. He was never into corny things like this. He'd rather just drink than talk or interact with people. But Roxy shot him a look with her eyebrows furrowed. "Alright," he said, raising his left hand.

Kenjie took the expensive champagne bottle and poured everyone's glass. Roxanne was about to say no, when Archie whispered to her, "I'll drink it, don't worry."

She whispered back, "Thanks, para di na rin sila mag tanong." Archie just smiled in return and squeezed her shoulder.

Kenjie initiated a toast for everyone to mark the end of their senior high journey. "Cheers!" everyone said enthusiastically, Archie was just looking at Roxy. She pretended to drink and smiled at Archie. A look of mischief in their eyes. Something they only knew.

"Right, start na tayo!" said Poch, he positioned the champagne bottle in the middle of the table.

"So, kung sino yung natapatan ng bote sya yung may truth or dare. 1 truth or 1 dare, anyone can ask," Kenjie said, enthusiastically. He spun the bottle and it pointed at him. Everyone laughed, knowing that he was excited to grill and make them do something crazy.

"Whatever, dare!" He exclaimed and waited for everyone to think of something that they wanted him to do.

Tim dared him to go up to the DJ booth and request to sing a karaoke version of "Shake it off". Kenjie got so red in the face but he would never back down from a crazy game that he initiated. Everyone cheered, even Archie was excited to see him pull that off. Kenjie ran downstairs and in just few moments, he was singing.

Meanwhile, Roxy and Archie were laughing while still on the couch together. The rest of the group was at the railing watching Kenjie.

"Are you tired, Roxanne? Do you need anything?" asked Archie, holding both of her hands. He knew that she needed to go home soon. He wanted to savor every minute of it with her.

"Konti lang, pero keri pa naman," Roxy told him, and she turned her back on him and leaned her body on his chest. Archie was surprised but pleased that she felt comfortable to do that. He wrapped his arms around her and held both of her hands.

"Archie, what if..." started Roxy, Kenjie was belting out his karaoke song so no one could hear them.
"What if what?" asked Archie. He started to massage her right palm.

Roxanne heaved a deep sigh and continued, "What if, hindi ko mean yung ibang sinabi ko sayo kanina? What if nadala lang ako ng emosyon ko kasi aalis ka?"

Archie, now suddenly very sober, said, "Then, I will stay." Roxy turned her body slightly to him so they could see each other's faces, she flashed him a smile but it had a melancholy expression. She knew that it would be unfair because what she was feeling for him was not as strong as she had for Tim. She was not in love with him, yet. She didn't want them to be together just for the sake of it.

He cupped her face, but then suddenly everyone was going back to the table, so he pulled away. Roxy leaned back again and they found their hands holding each other. Kenjie had stopped singing. Everyone was ecstatic except for Roxanne and Archie, who were thinking about their conversation.

"Don't think about it, yet. I told you, gusto ko lang maging masaya tong night na to for you. For us," Archie whispered. Roxy squeezed his hand in return.

The game went on, Sanya was given a dare to post on IG story that she's getting married, Poch was dared to do a bottoms up. When Tim's turn came, Kenjie asked him who made the first move. It got awkward for a while 'til Roxy said, "Uy, walang KJ ha."

Then it was Roxy's turn. She sat straight, while still holding hands with Archie. She picked truth, you could see the glimmer in Kenjie's eyes.

"Magkasama ba kayo ni Archie nung nagpunta tayo sa club?" Kenjie asked. Everyone was looking at her, Sky was ready to change the question to a different topic. Archie, on the other hand, had an unreadable expression on his face. He never thought of what he wanted Roxy to say when asked about it.

Roxy just laughed it off and said, "Yes, and kasalanan mo yun. Iniwan nyo ko ni Sanya."

"So anong gina—," Kenjie tried to add, thinking that he could get more details.

"Hoy, Kenjie! One question lang ha!" Roxy said, Kenjie was disappointed but didn't push it. On the other side of the table, Tim was looking at her. She looked at Archie who just said, "Go, Roxanne."

After a while and repeat of others' turns, the bottle pointed at Sky. Archie just looked at her, he never really got the chance to know her half-sister.

Suddenly, Poch stood up and said, "I dare you to call Archie, "Kuya", for the rest of the night."

Sky was shocked but then she said, "Sus, yun lang pala." Archie felt that everyone was looking and waiting for them.

"Ku—," Sky coughed and continued, "Kuya Archie, ikaw nalang di pa nag ttruth or dare." The group was cheering now. It was a sight that they never had imagined before. Roxy was laughing so loud, very entertained by the thought of her best friend and baby daddy being siblings.

Archie was feeling awkward but there was an unexplainable feeling inside him. Almost like... warmth.

"Dare," rolling his eyes but couldn't hide his smile.