The Last Rule

Chapter 33 - Reina Solana!

The stare, it wouldn't just stop. I can still feel it from here. 

We were now at the least crowded pool in the resort. This one was smaller and quieter, surrounded by tall trees. It almost felt secluded. Peaceful, if not for the fact that Dos was there.

Me and my friends are in edge of the pool mostly taking pictures and on the other side of the pool is Dos with Kalo, Wil, Wes, Jan-Jan, and Gelo while the rest are already having drinks on the cottage.

Girl kausapin mo na kaya," Jeirlyn suddenly said, half-whisper, half-sigh. Her eyes were not on me but on him. She was staring in his direction, and there was something soft in her voice. Pity, maybe.

"Sinasabi mo!" singhal ni Teby, louder than necessary. I felt her shake me gently, pulling my attention back to our group before I could even turn toward them. "Valid yung nararamdaman mo teh, mag-usap kayo pag ready ka na. Hayaan mo siyang maghintay"

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked down at the water. The sun reflected off the surface, calm and sparkling, totally opposite to what I was feeling inside.

"Pero parang ang lungkot ng mukha niya," dagdag pa ni Jeirlyn, still watching. "As in. Hindi na siya 'yung usual na Dos, alam mo 'yun?"

"Eh di magmukmok siya dun," ani Raela habang inaayos ang phone niya for another selfie. "Sa sobrang kulit ng taong 'yan dati, ngayon lang natin siya nakita na ganyan. Ibig sabihin may tama siya. But that doesn't mean you owe him anything, Sola."

They weren't wrong.

"Oo pero—" I started, but I stopped myself. I didn't even know what I was about to say.

Pero miss ko siya.

Pero I want to hear him out.

Pero I miss his jolly side, his stupid laugh.

Pero I want to hug him and yell at him all at once.

No. No.

"Papansin" Bulong ni Cleo while looking at the other side of the pool.

I made the mistake of looking.

Dos was standing now, holding a bottle of water, still with the same tired eyes. And this time, he looked like he was about to walk.

"Uh-oh," bulong ni Nixie, noticing. "Incoming..."

I panicked. "Let's go, I think I'm hungry" I said quickly.

"Ako din!" sabi ni Raela, playing along. My friends, bless them, followed my lead.

As we stood and walked away, I could feel Dos pause. I didn't look back but I knew he saw me walking away from him again.

Maybe he'd follow.

Maybe not.

Pagbalik namin sa cottage, halos sabay lang din silang dumating. Masaya ang lahat, karaoke was in full swing, the snacks and drinks were piling up, and kahit mainit, walang gustong tumigil. The mood was light, people were laughing, teasing, taking videos. I tried to blend in, to sit still, to breathe normally.

My friends would sometimes join in sa pagkanta, minsan naman naghihiyawan lang habang inaasar ang kumakanta. And I just sat at the edge of the table, holding a cold cup of soda, trying to calm the noise inside my chest.

"Dos! Dati puro kanta mo 'yung nakalista d'yan. Laos ka na boy!" sigaw ni Jacky, sabay tawa. He  wasn't being mean, just observant. And honestly, totoo naman. Si Dos, who always had a mic in hand, who'd sing like his life depended on it, was now just sitting there quietly, red cup in hand, fake laughing through the teasing.