16 & 16

7: Clubhouse

"'Di ka pa rin talaga nagbabago."

No way. Sa lahat ng tao na pwede kong mabangga, bakit siya pa?

'Di ako makasagot. Parang nawala lahat ng amats ko, gising na gising na ko ngayon sa realidad. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, trying to register the fact that she's right here, standing in front of me, looking annoyed as hell.

"Tsk, 'di ka pa rin tumitingin sa paligid mo pag tumatalon ka," She says loud enough for me to hear, "Lasing ka na ba?"

I need someone to shake me by the shoulders to wake me up. Kahit na parang nawala na tama ko, 'di ko pa rin ma-absorb na nandito siya ngayon sa harap ko. For sure, mukha akong tanga ngayon na naka-nganga lang sa kanya.

"Huy," She says, "Kinakausap kita. Lasing ka na ba?"

Again, I can't answer her. Sobrang nasa state of shock 'yung katawan ko ngayon.

"Uy, y/n, ba't 'di ka na tumatalon–"

"Carballo?!" Bella says, cutting off her own sentence, "Huy! Ikaw nga 'yan! You're here!"

Dahil medyo lasing na si Bella, I watch as she walks towards Cassie and hugs her. Si Cassie naman, kahit na mukhang inis pa rin sakin, thankfully hugs Bella back.

"Y/n!" She says, smiling wide at me, "Si Cassie o!"

"Yeah, Bella, nakita ko na siya," I say, avoiding eye contact with Cassie, "Nabangga ko siya accidentally."

"Ginagawa mo dito?!" Bella shouts at Cassie over the loud music, "Sino kasama mo?!"

"Blockmates ko," Cassie says, pointing to the couch right next to ours, "Kakadating ko lang halos eh. Kanina pa kayo dito?"

Nag-uusap na silang dalawa, and I exclude myself from the conversation.

"Oo kanina pa kami dito, 'di ba halata?" Bella laughs, raising her shot glass, "Lasing na kaming lahat! Sila Vange at Shai tulog na sa couch namin!"

"Halata nga," Cassie says, smiling slightly, "May tumatalon na at nangbabangga eh."

"Nagsorry na ko, diba?" I answer, at 'di ko napigilan pagtaas ng kilay ko, "'Di ka makaget-over?"

"Eh kasi 'di ka aware sa surroundings mo," Cassie says right away, "Pasalamat ka kakilala mo 'yung nabangga mo. Kung stranger 'yun na lasing, aawayin ka nun panigurado."

"Okay, awat na, awat na," Bella says, "Chill, guys! Mahaba pa ang gabi, let's enjoy! Good vibes lang tayo dito!"

I cross my arms over my chest and turn my head to the side, looking away from Cassie.

"Ang tatapang niyo ah, diba may training camp kayo sa umaga?" Cassie says, laughing, "Nakapag-bar pa talaga kayo."

"Nandito ka rin naman ah!" Bella answers, "Edi pare-pareho lang tayo bukas na hilo hilo."

"'Di ako makakasama dun," Cassie answers, making me turn my head back towards her, "Uuwi ako ng Silay eh."

Wala si Cassie sa training camp? Okay, maybe spending three days with UST won't be so bad after all.

"Talaga? Sayang naman," Bella answers, "Gusto ka pa naman makalaro ni y/n."

"Siraulo!" Sagot ko habang tinitignan si Bella nang masama, "Upo na nga muna ko, break time muna ko."

Before any of them can answer, I make my way back to our couch kung saan naka-upo na rin sila Lams at Aly.

"O, ba't ka galit?" Lams asks as I sit down next to her, "Nyare?"

From afar, I watch as Bella and Cassie continue talking. Nakakainis. Pati ba naman sa gabi na sobrang saya ko, bigla siyang sumusulpot. Ano ba ginawa ko sayo, universe?