Bakit 'Di Na Lang Totohanin? (ALDUB-inspired)

Sixteen

DISCLAIMER: — see first chapter —

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XVI.

Alden's POV

SUPER BASAG TRIP NAMAN. Akala ko okay na takbo ng evening na 'to, pero merong sabit pa rin pala. Ever since we got off the stage after we sang our duet and ran in to that Ike guy eh ni hindi na bumalik sa table namin si Maine. Dumaan lang para magsabi na she'll be joining Ike sa bar muna kasi they need to do some catching up; ni hindi man lang niya pinakilala ng maayos yung kasama niya. Pero kung umasta sila akala mo kung sinong kay tagal nang magkakilala.

"Uy, bakit biglang tahimik ka jan ata?" Jules nudged me.

"Wala," sagot ko then decided to drown my irritation via the bottle of beer Pao handed to me after I finished my last one.

"Asuus, wala daw eh parang binagsakan ka ng langit at lupa jan."

"Hindi naman," I denied. "I'm just enjoying my drink," I shook the near-empty bottle in my hand and gave her a fake smile.

"Eh mukhang meron kayong mainit na pinag-uusapan niyang beer mo na yan at ini-ignore mo na kami," sambit naman ni Ryan. He took over sitting where Maine was sitting earlier.

"Wala, meron lang iniisip," sagot ko.

"Iniisip or pinagseselosan?" sambit naman ni Sam.

"Sinong nagseselos?" tanong naman ni Allan when he returned back to tour table from his washroom break.

"At sinong pinagseselosan?" it was Joe who asked the next question. He stepped out for a bit for a smoke break since none of us at the table really smokes.

"Wala," ang sagot ko bago pa ako maunahan.

"Si Maine and her friend." Aba't meron pa ring sumagot. This time it was Pao who answered on my behalf.

"Hindi no," I denied.

"Deny ka pa jan eh obvious naman," Jules chuckled.

"Hay naku pare, ligawan mo na kasi si Maine para hindi ka na niya ipagpalit sa kung kahit kanino pa," Ryan suggested.

"Ano? Ano naman yang mga pinagsasasabi ninyo?"

"Bro, no need to deny dahil lahat kami dito alam na sikreto mo," Sam said confidently.

"Anong sikreto?" I questioned by my eyes zeroed in on Pao. He was the only person at this table who knew about my teenage crush on his cousin, but that was eons ago.

"Alden, halata naman naming lahat na meron kang pag-tingin kay Maine," Allan answered. "And sa totoo lang, bagay kayong dalawa and your rapport with each other is great, so why not pursue her?"

I didn't answer him right away. Instead I turned my attention to Pao who was the only person – other than myself – who was quiet except after answering the others' question on my behalf moments ago.

Pao met my gaze full-on and had the audacity to raise his brow at me, challenging me to answer Allan's question. Minsan hindi ko rin maintindihan itong kaibigan kong ito eh. Just a few weeks ago he was against my possibly pursuing his cousin for something other than a platonic relationship, pero ngayon I get this vibe na he wasn't even opposed to the idea. Ano ba talaga, Pao? Are you pro my actively pursuing your cousin in a more-than-platonic relationship or are you against it? Ang labo mo, uuuyyy!