Have I Told You (PUBLISHED BY POP FICTION)

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

I remember when we were in high school, Eisley and I both wore red on Valentines' day. It was Friday and we could wear anything we wanted basta appropriate.

I was the class president, yet I didn't know my batch mates made their own rules. Red meant taken, yellow meant complicated, blue meant single, and black meant heartbroken. 

Everyone was shocked. Akala kasi nila, kami na ni Eisley.

Weirdly, I'm experiencing de javu as of the moment. We're both wearing red. I rarely see him wear other colors, but black. Ngayong nag-iba siya ng kulay ng damit, parehas pa talaga kami.

It's not a big deal, but Bev and Sile are teasing us as if we talked about it.

"Uy, they're dating na!" Sile pokes me on my side.

"Don't push it, Sile. Ang awkward," I whisper.

It's Bev's birthday, pero apat lang kaming nagce-celebrate. Pinadalan siya ng sister niya para i-treat friends niya. Sabi nila kanina, kakain lang kami sa restaurant. Kailan pa naging restaurant ang club?

Nagulat nga ako dahil sumama pa rin si Eisley. Last time na sinama ko siya sa party, he left me with my college friends. Hindi ko 'yun makalimutan. Inis na inis talaga ko sa kanya 'nun.

Wala ngayon si Evan dahil nasa Cebu na siya, pero nandito si Sile. She enjoys her stay here in Manila. Nag-a-apply nga siya kay Mommy Sexy. Seseryosohin na raw niya pagiging chef niya.

"Are you okay?" I ask Eisley. He hates loud music. He hates party. He hates the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. He hates people. Siya na nga ata ang King of Introverts. Walang kokontra. 

Halata ngang annoyed na siya dahil nakatulala na lang siya. Hindi siya nagsasalita kahit kinakausap siya nila Bev at Sile. Nakukulitan na rin ata siya sa kanila.

He forces to smile. "I'm having fun."

"Yeah, right," I say, full of sarcasm. He's still a bad liar. Funny lang dahil hindi na siya natutong magsinungaling. "Why are you trying so hard, Eisley boy?" Oh my God. Did I just call him Eisley boy? "I mean, Eisley." I clear my throat.

He just smiles. Sht. He can't do this to me!

I drink a shot of patron.

"You haven't eaten yet." He scowls.

I grin. "I can manage."

"She can manage pala, eh. 'Wag mong pigilan," sabi ni Bev.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung nakaka-ilang buntong hininga na si Eisley.

During my fourth shot, I'm already dizzy.

"Tyrese." He breathes heavily. He sounds like a hopeless man. "Stop it. Naglalasing ka ba? May problema ka ba?"

"Why are you nagging me? Are you my ahia?" I narrow my eyes. Tinaas ko yung shot glass. I proudly drink it in front of him. "See? I. Can. Manage."

He takes a deep breath again.

"Where are my precious friends?" I ask, not looking at him. They're both dancing on the dance floor. Bakit hindi nila ako inaya? I want to have fun, too. I stand up and join them.

I see a handsome guy near Bev, so I wrap my arm around her and tap the guy on his shoulder. "Hey, are you single? My friend's single. She's really pretty, right? She's single. And that one!" Tinuro ko si Sile. "They're both sing-"

Bev covers my mouth. "Oh no, I'm sorry. She's super drunk."

Nilayo nila ako sa lalaki. "Ano ba, manay. Kung gusto mong mapahiya, wag ka mandamay," sabi ni Bev.