Heart Tamer (That Girl #1)

10. Damian

"Type ni Borja si Saoirse," nangingising sabi ni Dane nang maupo siya sa katabing reclining chair na kinauupuan ko.

My gaze automatically turned to his direction with my brows furrowing on why is he telling me that bullshit. Gusto ba niya kaming mag-wingman sa dalawa?

"And I should know that because?" I asked boringly, nahagip pa ng tingin ko si Borj na nasa 'di kalayuan at may kausap na babae.

"Because type mo rin si Saoirse," ngisi niya.

"I can't remember saying anything like that—"

"You don't have to say anything, halata ka naman."

I ignored Dane.

Halata ako? In whatever sense of that word am I? Kinakausap ko lang ang pinsan na 'yon ni Zico, and both Dane and Ivo are trying to fucking shove me the idea that I like Saoirse. Sure, I like her in a sense that she's amusing me and she's also pleasing to the eyes being a real beauty that she is. Iyon lang, there is no malice like what they're trying to imply.

"Hindi mo talaga gusto si Saoirse?" Ngumingisi pa rin ang gago sa tabi ko.

"No," I deadpan.

"Makipag-make out ka nga kay Deborah, kanina ka pa nilalandi 'non," pangdedemonyo pa ni Dane.

I look at him with disgust. "I think you're mistaking me as someone who will play tonsil-hockey with just anyone, that would be you."

Malakas ang naging pagtawa ni Dane pagkatapos ng sinabi ko, napapalakpak pa siya. I'm not sure if he's already drunk or just being his stupid self.

Hindi ko na ulit inintindi si Dane at ipinagpatuloy na lang ang pag-inom sa bote ng beer na hawak ko. This party is getting boring I might just take a sleep now after this bottle.

Tomorrow is Sunday, the last day of our very short undas break and we'll be back at school again, pati na rin sa trabaho. Dad and his second family are still in Miami now for a vacation, Emilia—dad's wife invited me to go with them which I politely decline because I only have less than one week for this short break from school. Kailangan ko ring umuwi agad kung sasama ako sa kanila.

"Sabi mo hindi naman talaga kayo ni Martina, right?" Dane spoke again, making me remember that I still have this asshole sitting on the reclining chair next to me.

"Yeah, why? You like her?" I asked back.

"Depende, okay lang ba sa kaniya short-term? No strings attached?" pagngisi pa niya.

"I don't know, why don't you try ask her yourself when she comes back." I shrugged before drinking on my bottle of beer again.

Dane sneered. "That woman is obviously in love with you, if I know umaasa rin 'yon na totohanin mo ang pagsakay mo sa usapan ng lolo mo at parents niya na kayo ang magpapakasal dalawa. Hindi ba 'yon din ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ka na kinukulit ng lolo mo na makipag-date sa mga anak at apo ng mga business partners niya?"

"That's true," I admit. "But I never admit that I'm dating Martina, they all just assumed that we have a thing."

Martina is the oldest daughter of my dad's friend—tito Renato. Madalas kaming magkita at magkasama ni Martina at ng kapatid niyang si Ramona sa mga parties na parehas imbitado ang mga pamilya namin, I also spent some summer in their ranch where I learned how to ride horses and do farm works. Walang kahit na anong namamagitan sa'min ni Martina bukod sa pagiging magkaibigan, but our families believe that we are already an item and we should get married someday.

"What if gusto ng lolo mo na pakasalan mo si Martina?" Dane asked again.

"Then I might marry her if she agreed too, of course. I don't want to force myself to anyone's life, not even when it's abuelo who wants it."