Last Shot at Love

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MAKI LOPEZ

"So, Babe, what exactly are you doing here? Parang kakatext mo pa lang sa akin asking for a sort of date tapos andito ka na?" I put an emphasis on the word babe. She blushed and scratch her nape.

"Well, I assumed that if in case you can't go out with me, I'll just bring you food. Girl scout ako, laging handa!" Natatawang saad nito.

"I told you, I'll make time for you. But like I said earlier, it is a slow day for us today. Katatapos lang ng big projects namin." She blushed and giggled. Para itong teenager na kinilig sa crush niya.

I heard my office door opened at iniluwa niyon si Greg at Alex. They are holding hands at parehong may malaking ngiti sa kanilang mga labi.

"Ready to go, you two?" Nakangiting tanong ni Greg sa amin.

"Yeah, I brought my car so saan tayo magkikita-kita?" Casual na tanong ni Julian.

"Doon na lang sa favorite Japanese restaurant ko. Do you mind?" Sagot naman ni Alex. I suddenly craved sushi and Kani salad ng marinig ko ang salitang Japanese.

"I don't like Japanese food, Alex. Sa iba na lang." Julian said blankly.

"But gusto ko doon, Mj. Please? Pretty please?" Sagot naman ni Alex with matching puppy dog eyes. I laughed softly at the interaction between the two.

"Ayaw ko. I'm up for something Italian." Pagmamatigas nito.

"But I'm kinda craving for sushi right now." I mumbled but loud enough para marinig nila.

"Fine. See you there." Alex and Greg snorted at kalauna'y tumawa ng malakas.

"Mj is so whipped it!" Tumatawa pa rin ng malakas si Greg, Julian gave him a dagger look that made me giggle.

MJ ROSS

I. AM. NOT. WHIPPED.

But who am I kidding? Here I am driving my car en route to a little Japanese restaurant because Maki craved for shushi. I've learned from long time ago that in order to have a peaceful and happy relationship, you should always, as in always, follow the commander's order.

Aminado naman ako na palagi ko siyang pinagbibigyan sa mga gusto niya because why not? I want my girl to be happy. I think there is a thin border line between loving her so much that I always give in everything she says from being whipped. Yeah, that is it.

"Babe, you know we can have Japanese next time right? Kung gusto mo talaga ng Italian. Tatawagan ko si Alex para dumiretso na lang sa Lorenzo's, malapit lang naman yun doon." Maki said habang binabagtas namin ang Makati Ave. papunta sa favorite Jap Restaurant nila ni Alex.

"No, okay lang. Maiinis lang sa akin si Alex if we change our minds. Tsaka sabi mo, you're craving for Shushi so you're wish is my command." I took a short glance at her and gave her my biggest grin.

Ito yung dahilan kaya palagi akong willing pagbigyan si Maki. She is selfless. Palagi niyang kino-consider ang gusto ng ibang tao. Kahit noong naghiwalay kami ay kapakanan ko pa rin ang iniisip nito. A comfortable silence reigned through our ride. I took the chance to held her hand ng mapatigil kami sa red light. I shot her another short glance and she gave me a very warm smile and a squeeze in my hand. Nakarating na kami sa Japanese restaurant and I notice na wala pa ang kotse ni Greg pero there's  two oddly familiar cars na nakaparada sa harap nito.

"Julian, I-i t-think that's Kean's and Sarah's car." I heard Maki whispered. Bakas ang kaba at takot sa boses nito. I gave her a comforting smile as I turn her body to face me and took her other hand.

"Well, might as well face them right? Malalaman din naman nila eventually and I don't want you to think na itinatago kita or takot ako sa sasabihin nila. But, only if you want too, as well. Though, I will completely understand kung ayaw mo pang ipa-alam sa kanila. We can go back sa sasakyan at maghanap ng ibang makakainan and just text Alex about the situation." I calmly told her. I felt her hand squeezed mine tighter and she looked at me in the eye with a firm look.

"No, if you want to do it, then let's go." 

I looked at her and studied her face. I always know Maki as a confident person. Wala itong inaatrasan. Kahit noong college kami ay palagi itong determinadong gawin ang gusto niya. No one seemed to stop her from doing what she want. 

"Mj! I'm soooo sorry! Nawala sa isip ko na dito kumakain ang barkada tuwing Wednesday. You know what, I can divert their attention, di pa naman nila kayo nakikita. Yoou can go now and we can eat together some other time." Paliwanag ni Alex ng makita niya kaming nakatayo sa parking area ng restaurant.

"No, its okay. We can go now at magpakita sa kanila. Ayaw ko rin naman ng may tinatago sa kanila, Alex. Maki's fine with it so we'll do it." I said calmly and gave Alex a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure? You know how Kean be. Alam mong siya ang pinakaprotective sayo. Tsaka andyan si Bea and Sarah, you know how sassy they can be." Nag-aalala pa rin tanong ni Alex.

"Hey, don't worry. We can handle it. Lalo pa ngayon at nagkalinawan na kami, right, Katrina?" I asked Maki and smiled at her.

"Yeah, I think I can handle some sassiness, Alex. Naging kaibigan ko rin naman sila at kilala ko sila kahit papaano. I know they just want the best for Julian pero we won't runaway from this." Sagot naman ni Katrina. It was her turn to give the worried girl some reassuring smile.

"Well, you mean, a lot of sassiness. Sorry. Kinakabahan lang ako sa mangyayari. But if you two are sure sa gagawin niyo then, I'll be here to support you guys, just like what I always do." 

This is it. Its now or never. Pumasok na kami sa loob ng restaurant. I grabbed Maki's hand and squeezed it. Napangiti naman ako dahil marahan niyang ibinalik ito. I looked at her and saw her beautiful smile na lalong nakapagpangiti sa akin. Naunang lumakad si Alex sa amin at pumunta sa isang private area kung saan ang usual na pwesto ng barkada.

"Hi!" Alex laughed nervously at our friends. They stood up at isa-isang nagbeso kay Alex at sabay-sabay  nangamusta. They did the same for me until nakita nila si Maki sa likod ko. Everyone went silent. Ramdam na ramdam ang tension sa buong room.

"What are you doing here?" Bea broke the silence. Kalmado pero puno ng lason ang pagkakasabi nito. Even in her civilized demeanor ay nakakaintidimate ito. I saw Kean about to lose her shit pero agad naman itong kinalma ni Pia. She instantly calmed at her touch. Sarah was silent at halatang confuse sa nakita.

"Mind explaining, Margaux? We don't have all day." Pia said. Everytime she calls me by my first name, alam kong kailangan ko ng i-explain ng walang labis o kulang ang isang bagay.

"Why don't we all sit down, order our food and let them explain? I sure magugutom tayong lahat  dahil mahaba-habang kwentuhan ito." Greg broke the tension. Everyone obliged to sit. I held Maki's hand tighter and she gave me a very beautiful smile that surely made me melt. I knew that however this very much needed conversation goes, I will gladly shield this girl with all that I am from the deadly bullets that my friends will shoot her. And I know, with no doubt at all, that she will do the same for me.