NICO
"Happy birthday, Shawn! Sorry talaga, hindi ako makakapunta. Alam mo na, pamilyadong tao na." It was Kuya Dave, talking to us through a video call.
"Ano ka ba, kuys. Basta pag nagka-free time ka, bisita ka rito! O kaya naman, gusto mo kami na lang ang bumisita sa inyo?" Shawn replied.
"Parang mas gusto ko 'yung second choice, ah!" Kuya Dave laughed, shaking his head.
“We’ll try our best if we have time.” pagsingit ko sa usapan nila.
Bigla namang tumayo si Shawn at inabot sa akin ang phone niya.
"Nics, Can you hold this for a sec? I need to pee." he handed me the phone, bago mabilis na tumakbo papasok sa kwarto niya. Natatawa na lang ako habang sinundan ko siya ng tingin.
“So, Shawn is right.. You’re glowing.” Kuya Dave said, na nagpabalik sakin ng tingin sa screen ng phone.
"H-ha?" I blinked, a bit taken aback.
Tumawa lang siya. “Shawn told me you’re in love. I have to say, I agree with him.”
"W-w-what?" Halos mapangiwi ako sa sarili kong pagkautal.
“Stuttering, huh? I know you too well, Nico. After eight years of friendship, basang-basa na kita. Alam kong may something, kaya 'wag mo nang itanggi." Tumatawang umiling si Kuya Dave.
I rolled my eyes as a defense mechanism.
“So, who’s the lucky girl? hmm?” tanong niya habang naniningkit ang mga mata.
Hindi ko alam pero parang may sariling buhay 'yung mga mata ko as my gaze involuntarily drifted toward the dining area, where Gwen was arranging food with Maloi.
“Eyes on me, Nico. I’m still talking to you!” Kuya Dave snapped, kasabay ng pang asar niyang tawa.
“I don’t have one, okay? Kapag meron na, ipapakilala ko naman agad." I insisted, the words tumbling out more defensively than I intended.
"Uyab, si Shawn?" A familiar voice suddenly pulled my attention away kaya napalingon ako bigla sa likod ko at mabilis na binalik ang atensyon sa screen.
Kuya Dave leaned closer to the camera.
"Is that her? You have a taste, huh?" bulong niya na may kasamang nakakalokong ngiti.
I glared at him, my heart racing for reasons I couldn’t fully comprehend. “Shut up!”
"Hiiii!" Kuya Dave shouted, making Maloi peek curiously at the screen.
“Hello po!” she waved, a friendly smile brightening her face.
"So, you're the—" Hindi ko na hinintay pang tapusin ni Kuya Dave 'yung pang-aasar niya. Mabilis kong in-end 'yung call, sakto namang paglabas ni Shawn mula sa kwarto niya.
I stood up and handed Shawn back his phone. “He said he has something to do.” I mumbled, knowing full well he’d ask about the sudden end of the call.
Shawn gave me a curious glance but didn’t push it further.
As I turned my gaze towards Maloi, I caught her staring at me, her brows furrowed in that way that always made me feel like she was reading my mind.
Napakunot ako ng noo at lumapit sa kanya. "What?"
“You lied, you ended the call.” she said simply, her tone soft yet accusing.
Before I could answer, biglang sumigaw si Gwen mula sa dining area. "Gutom na ako!"
Grateful for the interruption, I exhaled and turned to follow. Maloi just gave me a side-eye, still unimpressed.
YOU ARE READING
GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet
FanfictionHAVEN'S ZQUAD SERIES #1 on-going When a happy-go-lucky stranger meets Ms. Anger on a bar balcony. What starts as a casual conversation quickly turns into an unexpected connection. As they talk, she's determined to break down her walls and get to kn...
