Dreaming of You

Chapter 44

Umikot ng umikot ang bote. All of us are watching the bottle as it goes spinning. Seconds by seconds, it slows down.

Kinakabahan ako. I dont wanna have the chance to be first on the line. Alam kong si Candice ang magtatanung saakin. Aminin man natin sa hindi, the questions will be going out of bound. And I dont wanna be on the pit of the fire.

I'm having a cold feet. For the love of god.

Dang!

Saakin nakatapat.

Candice claps her hands. "Very well." She smiles at me a sweet one, makes my skin shivers.

Tumingin sila sa akin lahat. Concern all over their face. I answered them with a smile.

"Truth or dare?" Tanong nya.

"The first one." Sagot ko.

"My question is..." Kunwari nagiisip sya. Then she popped her head as if an idea crosses her mind. "Naniwala ka ba talagang minahal ka ni Calvin? I mean, why?" Then she laughs.

"That was way overboard." Si Carol. As if she was screeching.

"Whats the matter?" Candice asks innocently. Making Carol's face dim.

Pinindot ko ang braso ni Carol. Lumingon sya sakin. Concern is written all over her face. I smile a reassuring smile.

Huminga akong malalim. Lahat sila nakatingin sakin. Composing my self. Then I started.

"I was young. Not in age but it thoughts. I always believe on the blissful things love brings. But I was wrong." I smiled.

Kinuyum ko ang palad ko but realeses it on the same time. "So foolish. I didnt know what reality brings. That if you smile into it, it will bite you instead." Nagtaas ako ng tingin.

Lahat sila nakayuko. Aside from Calvin. He is staring at me. Incomplete thirst. Like he is struggling for oxygen.

"Yes. I do. Well, did. I was pathetic. Foolish. Pityful. The only silver lining is, It was already over before I knew it. Guess that was good, right?" I laughed in small amount but it consumed my whole being.

Walang nagsasalita. There were silence in the air. Nobody tried to break the invisible choker in our mouth.

I have to give this to myself. I didnt cry. Baka kasi sobrang pagod na ako. But I can still feel the familiar pain inside. But I gave it all just to conceal it. Naaawa na ako sa sarili ko. Kailangan ko na sigurong buuin ang pride ko. I'm gonna start there.

"So!" I clapped in dead air. That brought them back to reality. "Sisimulan ko ulit." Then I spin it.

Lahat ulit kami nakatingin sa bote. The drowning silence is still there. But not as overwhelming as before.

Unti unting bumagal ng bumagal ang ikot ng bote. We are waiting in grip. Ofcourse, nobody wants to be on the hot seat diba.

But then again, there should be that unfortunate one.

"Carol!" Sigaw ko. She sigh in vague disbelief.

Lahat nakangiti looking at her. And Vash.

I tapped my fingers on my face. Kunwari nagiisip. Im grinning like idiot. Nakatitig sya sakin. "Hhhmn. Ano kaya?"

Biglang tumawa sina Aura at Miranda. Carol scowls at them. Hahaha.

"Eto....." I smiled sweetly at her.

She raised her brow at me.

"Whats going on between you and Vash?"

"Ayan na!" Sigaw ni Silvanus.

Tumawa naman ng malakas ang Angels. We are waiting for her to answer. Nakayuko lang sya. Nagiisip. O....  Di alam ang sasabihin.

Nagtaas sya ng tingin. Then she smile. "Honestly? I dont know."

"Paanong you dont know?" Si Aura.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong set up. I dont know what we a----------"

And then there. Vash kiss her. Hindi na natapos yung sasabihin ni Carol. Nagulat kami. Nagtinginan kami nila Aura at Miranda.

Nanlaki yung mga mata ni Carol. Shock was written all over her face.

"Guess that says it all." Si Vash. At bumalik na sa upuan si Vash.

After a few, Carol composes her self. Huminga sya ng malalim. "See how complicated he is? One time, he is sweet. The next, he acts like he doesnt care at all."

"You know why?" Si Vash. "Because you are a complete puzzle. You should meet me half way."

Di kami nagsasalita. Lahat kami nakangiti lang. I cover my mouth. Kinikilig na kasi ako. Sila Aura at Miranda naman, nagsisikuhan. Nakita ko namang inakbayan ni Elton si Vash.

"Ganda nito oh!" Si Aura kay Carol.

Di ko napigilan. Tumawa na ako ng malakas! Hahahahaha. Nakakakilig naman kasi.

"Tantanan nyo ako." Si Carol. But she is smiling.

"Okay! Im going to spin it."

I look at Carol. I know she will be happy with Vash. She deserves to be happy. Alam kong magiging masaya sila. I hug her and she hugs me back even tighter.

"Aristeo!" Sigaw ni Carol. Nakita ko namang nagbulungan sina aaura, miranda at carol. Bakit kinakabahan ako kapag nagbubulungan silaaa?

May naiisip nanaman tong tatlong to eh.

"Okay."Simula ni Carol.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Nakangiti pa din yung tatlo. Ano kayang nasaisip nitong mga 'to?

"Do you like Ales?" Then she giggled.

Napatingin naman ako kay Carol. In disbelief. Why brought it up? I mean. Oh my ghad. Sinabi na sakin ni Aristeo na he likes me. And it was awkward. At masyado pang magulo ngayon. Baka kasi mas gumulo pa. I dont wanna feel more pain. I dobt want further damage.

Tumingin ako kay Aristeo. He sigh. The he started. "Ales is the easiest person one could ever like. Love." tumingin sya sakin. "I just feel the need to protect her. To comfort her. To give what ever she wants. She is an angel. She is priceless. Rare."

Hinawakan nya yung kamay ko ng dalawa nyang kamay. " I dobt want her hurt. I saw her in her most difficult time at ayoko ng mangyari yun." He looks at Calvin na nakayuko ngayon. "I wanna be her brother, bestfriend, companion, shoulder to cry on. Lets see what the future holds." Tinignan nya ako and then he smiled.

I smiled at him. He was there when I needed someone. Inalagaan nya ako. Di nya ako pinabayaan. I smiled at him for a silent gratitude. He then kissed my forehead.

"Tinalo ka te" Sabi ni Aura kay Carol.

"Alam mo naman yan no! Ayaw papakabog!" Si Carol. Tapos nagtawanan silang lahat. Natawa na din kami ni Aristeo.

All of a sudden, kinuha ni Calvin yung baso nya ng brandy. Tinungga nya lahat ng laman nun. Then he dropped it on the table making a loud bang.

Nagulat kami lahat. Napatingin sa kanya. Wide-eyed. He then stands up and walks to the door.

"Calvin!" Sigaw ni Candice. "Wait!"

Naiwan kaming gulat. Nagtinginan kaming lahat.

Vash shrugs. Umiling iling naman si Aristeo.

We dont know whats going on.

I dont know whats going on.