Aaron
"Call her up now," I ordered Landon.
"Wait a minute! I'm dialing her up. Why are you so impatient?!" bulalas ni Landon, magkasalubong ang kilay habang nagta-type sa phone niya.
"Mag-Tagalog nga kayo, mga siraulo! Dudugo na ilong ko sa inyo, eh," singit ni Kieran habang pinupunasan ang sapatos niya.
"Shut up!" Landon and I exclaimed in unison. Kieran just rolled his eyes at us, continuing what he was doing.
Tonight is Acquaintance Party night. Nasa bahay kami ng mom ni Landon, getting ready for the evening.
Si Kieran ang may idea na pumunta kami rito. Normally, we'd check in at a hotel the day before the event to avoid making a scene at the dormitory hall. I mean, Aaron Escueta can't just be left wandering around in such places, full-on charisma on display. It just doesn't work like that. Pagkakaguluhan siya.
Kieran insisted we stay at Landon's place instead, since we're only wearing Halloween costumes anyway.
At first, tumutol ako, saying I'd still look good as an undead, centuries-old, blood-sucking vampire, but... I eventually gave in, especially since Landon agreed too.
"Meron na?" tanong ko nang makitang nilagay ni Landon ang phone sa tenga niya.
"Nagri-ring," bulong niya saka ulit tumingin sa malayo, hinihintay na may masagot ang tawag.
A minute later, a familiar voice echoed through the phone. "Hello?"
Landon cleared his throat before speaking, "Hey, Abby! Uh, this is Landon."
"Hoy! Ikaw pala 'yan," Abby replied from the other side. "Pa'no mo nakuha number ko?"
"Uh..." Landon glanced at me, silently asking for help on what to say.
"From your classmate," bulong ko, pacing restlessly back and forth in Landon's room.
"F-from your classmate," pag-uulit ni Landon sa sinabi ko.
"Ah..." Abby replied, drawing out the word.
A brief, awkward silence followed. I motioned to Landon to get to the point already. "Ask her now," I hissed quietly.
"Uh, Abby?" pagsisimula ni Landon.
"Yes?" sagot niya.
"Are you getting ready for tonight?" asked Landon.
There was a short pause on the other end, making me stop pacing and listen more intently.
"Yun nga, eh," sagot ni Abby. "Mukhang mali-late kami mamaya sa party. Huwag mo na kaming sunduin, ah? Mauna ka na."
My brows furrowed in frustration. "Why?" I blurted out.
"Why?" paggaya naman sa akin ni Landon nang mas kalmado ang tono.
"Ang hirap kasing pilitin nitong isa, eh," pagpapaliwanag ni Abby. "Noong una, sabi niya kung saan ako, doon din siya. Ngayon nag-iinarte."
"Why is he so damn stubborn?!" I muttered, frustrated.
"Why is he so damn stubborn?" Landon absentmindedly repeated my words to the phone.
"Huh?" tanong ni Abby, nalilito.
Landon shot me a panicked look before stammering, "I-I mean, why doesn't he want to go? Sa Acquaintance Party, I mean."
"Ewan ko nga rin dito," bumuntong-hininga si Abby. "Uh, basta, Landon, kita na lang tayo doon sa venue, ha? Huwag mo na kaming sunduin dito sa bahay, kami na bahala."
