Chasing Elle

That Look

"I didn't know Kai was your friend," commented Drake as he sat beside me sa living room.

After the initial shock of seeing that idiot here and him calling me "fruitcake" (much to my chagrin) in front of everyone, I decided overreacting wasn't worth my time so I ignored him and muttered a soft "hey". Pinagtinginan lang kami ng mga tao sa hapagkainan pero I just ignored them. I then had to endure the sight of him talking non-stop sa dining table. Nang din na ako makatiis, I stood up, pretended to be full, excused myself and went to the living room. Nakakasulasok kaharap ang lalaking iyon.

"We're not friends, kuya." I said darkly, absent-mindedly flipping the channels of the TV. "He's just my schoolmate."

Dinig na dinig ko pa ang lakas ng paghalakhak ni King mula sa dining table.

"He called you something kanina..." my brother started.

"It was nothing, kuya." I interrupted. My brother stared at me weirdly.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "You seem...annoyed."

I sighed then smiled weakly at him. "I'm fine, kuya." I told him. My brother doesn't need to know that King was the reason why I went home pissed kanina. "I just had too much seafood kaya medyo upset ang stomach ko."

"Do you need medicine?" Drake asked, his eyebrows creasing in worry. "I can get..."

I shook my head. "Okay lang ako," I said then glanced at Ate Jane who was busy refilling the contents of the fruit punch. "Go and help Ate Jane. I'll be okay."

"Sure?" Drake's eyebrows were still knotted in worry. "Gusto mo ihatid na kita pauwi?"

I grinned at him. "You're worrying over nothing, kuya." I said, lightly pushing him. "Sige na tulungan mo na si Ate kasi mukhang mabigat yung container ng fruit punch oh?"

I motioned to where Ate Jane then my brother nodded. "I better help her," he said. "Dito ka lang ah?!"

I nodded then sighed deeply. Kung minamalas nga naman. Apparently, King is Ate Jane's second degree cousin and was very close to her family; like a son they never had daw sabi ni Tita Sarah. What's even worse is that my brother admires the guy pa. Why do guys like them bond well? May secret club ang mga ganyang klaseng lalaki?

Uugghhh!!! Bakit ba kasi kailangan pa na pati outside the school makita ko pa 'tong malas sa buhay ko? Kapag nagkatuluyan sina ate Jane at kuya, halos konektado na ang buong buhay ko kay Atienza. One might say that I'm too judgemental of the guy pero ewan, since he started irritating me on our second year 'di na mawala ang inis k okay King.

And the way he called me fruitcake kanina? Naku, diyos ko! Buti na nga lang at hindi masyadong nadinig nina kuya 'yun kung hindi baka nasaksak ko na siya ng tinidor.

I stood up and walked towards the front porch facing the backyard. I like the feel of ate Jane's family home. Hindi over-the-top engrande ang bahay; it was a Spanish-era inspired house with a little modern touch to it; a perfect combination of Spanish elegance and modern comfort. Ang backyard naman nila, filled with orchids and flowers na si Tita Sarah mismo ang nag-aalaga.

I leaned on the porch and looked up; lettting the cold air touch my skin. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin at maliliwanag ang mga bituin ngayong gabi.

My phone vibrated. Knowing who it was, I hurriedly read the message:

Nate: Hey piglet, kumain ka na?

I smiled then typed a reply.

Me: Why are you calling me piglet? Di naman ako mataba.