The Ruthless Game

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Drunk

Dylan came with a date. A date. For a few minutes there that's the only thing that kept playing in my head. I was snapped out of my reverie when Jill touched my shoulder. Her eyes are silently asking if I'm okay.

Am I okay?

Yes, I am. Bakit naman hindi ka magiging okay, Sandy? Crush mo lang naman si Dylan. Idol. Tama. Iyon lang iyon. Iniidolo ko lang siya.

With that thought, I smiled at Raigne who's still looking at me worriedly. "Ano ka ba? Okay lang ako, Raigne!" I said with a laugh. "Oo, idol ko siya. Pero iyon lang yon. Saka hindi naman kami ganon ka-close."

Tama naman ang sinabi ko, diba? We're not really close. Because if we were, then he'd still call me every night. He'd still text me when he's got time. Pero hindi. I therefore conclude that he was just being nice to me dahil isa ako sa mga fans niya.

I shut my eyes tightly. No, I'm not bitter. I'm not.

"Oh. I thought you were guys close. Raigne muttered.

Pagak akong tumawa. "Of course not! Dylan San Diego yon no."

Jill frowned a bit.

"Is that so. Buti nalang talaga. Tara na!"

For a few seconds there, I was tempted to back out and fabricate some excuses, but I immediately changed my mind when I noticed Jill staring at me like she was trying to read my thoughts.

"Tara na?" I said a bit awkwardly.

She held my arm. "We can still back out."

Nawalan ako ng kibo at napatitig sa kanya. I wanted to grab the chance of escaping from here, but before I could do so, it was already too late. Nakatingin na silang lahat sa amin. Including him...

Masaya kong binati si Inaki at medyo nakipagkamustahan pa sa kanya. I wanted to prolong our conversation just so I could buy more time before I face Dylan, but since Inaki is a man of few words, I was left with no choice but to face the person I wanted to avoid.

Smile ka lang, Sandy. Wag mong ipakita na dismayado ka dahil di na siya tumatawag o nagtetext man lang.

"Hi Dylan!" I greeted cheerfully. "Kamusta?"

He stared at me intently. Di ko tuloy maiwasan na mailang. Lalo na at nagtagal bago siya sumagot. "Good." Tipid niyang sagot.

Aren't you going to ask me how I am? Well, eto. Nami-miss ko yung kwentuhan natin about basketball. Nami-miss ko na yung bonding natin. In short, miss na kita. At naiinis ako dahil halatang di ka man lang apektado na di na tayo nagkakausap.

"Who is she, Dylan?"

Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakapulupot sa kanyang tabi na parang sawa. Nakaka-insecure ang ganda at ang mga legs niyang parang walang katapusan sa haba. Nailang ako ng pasadahan niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. Tinaasan pa niya ako ng kilay.

Problema niya?

"I'm a fan of his." I answered before Dylan could do so.

Napatingin si Dylan sa akin. His jaw clenched. Then his lips parted but closed them again. Tiim ang bagang inabot niya ang baso niyang may alak at inisang lagok lang.

"Sandy, margarita?" Jill asked.

"Juice lang. Maaga pa ang pasok ko bukas."

No matter how hard I try to focus on my conversation with my friends, I can't. Paano ko magagawa kung katapat ko lang si Dylan at ang babaing parang sawa kung makapulupot sa kanya? Nakakairita na siya! Kanina pa niya nilalandi ang crush ko.