Chasing Sunsets

Chapter 23:

♪♪ Love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right...

"You're jealous, right?" Jon asked as soon as I got in his car.

"No." I answered firmly.

"You are jealous." He said while starting the engine. "Hindi ka naman allergic sa seafood e."

"At paano mo naman nasabi?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Allergic ako sa seafood. Hindi ako ganyan pag naaallergy." Sagot nya.

Hindi na ako sumagot sa sinabi nya. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong isasagot ko sa kanya e.

"Umamin ka na kasi."

"Wala nga kasi akong aaminin. I don't even like him. Magkaibigan lang kami."

"Denial queen." Komento nya. "Well, ako, kaya umalis ako dahil nagselos ako sa kanila. I admit it."

"So you like her?"

"Yeah. I like Jenine." He said straightforwardly. "In fact, ngayon I wanna drag you into making them jealous. But that would be a dumb move. And you wouldn't accept my offer, anyway."

"You called her a crazy. Tinatawag mong crazy ang babaeng gusto mo?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"E totoo naman. Maarte sya, bratty, and she can really be a bitch sometimes. But she's a beautiful bitch. She's the kindest bitch. She's my favorite bitch."

"Wow. That was the most romantic thing I've ever heard from you. And the best way you can use the b-word, I must say." I said.

"There's so much more to her than you can see, you know." Sabi nya. "Well, hindi mo sya magugustuhan ngayon dahil pinagseselosan mo sya but once you get to know her, you'll see why I like her so much."

I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Well, too bad Nikos seemed to like her back." I said. I never thought na hopeless romantic din pala tong playboy na to.

"No. I know him too well. He wouldn't do that to me. Alam nyang gusto ko si Jenine."

"You think? Nagpahalik sya kay Jenine, for goodness sake!"

"Come on, she kissed him first. He must be shocked."

"If he didn't like it, he would've pushed her away."

"He has valid reason for that." He blandly replied.

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Because that's who he is. He's always reasonable."

Matagal kaming natahimik hanggang sa magsalita sya ulit.

"Nikos likes you, you know. Sigurado ako dun." Sabi nya.

"No, he doesn't."

"Bakit mo ba iniinsist na hindi? E ano kung gusto ka nya? Natatakot ka ba? Natatakot ka dahil gusto mo rin sya?"

Hindi ako nakasagot.

"Kung nakikita mo lang kung paano ka nya ikwento samin, maniniwala ka."

"For sure puro embarrassing things lang kinikwento nun sa inyo."

"Ha! Kung alam mo lang. Lahat ng bagay ata tungkol sayo kinekwento nya samin. Parang kilalang-kilala ka na nya. Kulang na lang pati sanitary pad na gamit mo ikwento samin!"

"Jerk!" Hinampas ko nga sa braso! Tumawa lang sya.

Mayamaya, nakarating na kami sa bahay ko.

"Kidding aside, I think he really likes you." Sabi nya nang makatigil na kami sa harap ng bahay.

"Okay, okay. If that's what you think. I won't argue anymore."

"Deny all you want. But I know... that you know... that we're both going home losers for tonight." He said, sadly smirking.