The Trouble with the Rule

Chapter 54: Hunter the Joker

Piper's Point of View

Nate asked me to go with him sa café ni Tita Cass. He's craving for a cake daw kasi or anything basta sweet. Since lately naman we don't hang out that much, pumayag na rin ako. I miss hanging out with my bestfriend din naman kasi.

We're eating when Hunter sat beside me. Break time daw niya kaya he's allowed to sit with us.

"Medyo tahimik 'yung bestfriend mo," he whispered when he noticed na tinutusok tusok lang ni Nate 'yung cake. I feel bad for the cake, though. Super kawawa.

I shrugged in response. I was hoping to hang out with my bestfriend kaya lang it seems like his mind is elsewhere. And that's very unusual. It's like he's with me physically, but mentally and emotionally? Nah. Siguro pinag-iisipan niya 'yung conversation namin kagabi.

He's in denial pa kasi. All his life sanay siya to fool around and he don't take things seriously. Even sa girls. He had girlfriends pero none of it was serious kasi siguro he hasn't found someone na seseryosohin niya.

"Okay lang ba siya?"

I smiled at Hunter for being curious. He's curious so maybe he's starting to care kahit katiting lang. Unlike dati na wala talaga siyang pakialam. At least ngayon he's changing... for the better.

"Give him his moment na lang."

He looked at Nate for a brief moment at saka ulit tumingin sa akin. We talked about random things as usual. The more na nakakausap ko siya, the more na mas nakikilala at nagugustuhan ko siya.

It's obvious naman na kahit sa iba that I like Hunter that's why there's no need for me to deny it. I don't know why and I don't know when I started to feel something for him. I like him. And as far as I know, he likes me, too. That's all that matters.

"May joke ako.." His smile grew wide as he said it.

"Ano?"

"Narinig ko lang 'to kanina sa ibang staff. Don't judge."

I restrained myself from laughing kasi ang defensive niya masyado. Wala pa man din siyang binibitawan na joke may nalalaman na siyang don't judge, don't judge.

"Bakit hindi pwedeng magswimming ng sabay sabay ang mga kalbo?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Kasi magmumukha silang mga nilulutong squidballs."

What? Hindi ko nagets. Bakit squidballs? Oooh! Kasi the pool represents the pan, while the water represents the cooking oil. At 'yung mga kalbo, sila 'yung squidball.

When everything finally sinks in, I laugh out loud. Super funny kasi super corny. Sobra sobrang corny and I didn't even get it at first. Hunter wasn't born to be a joker.

"Langhiya, napakacorny ng joke na 'yun. Ang tagal kong iniisip kung bakit squidball," Nate said as he shook his head. "Ito namang si Pipes wala naman nakakatawa, bakit tawa ka nang tawa?"