Embrace the Suck (Bad, #1)

Chapter Sixteen

My friends from across the table were unabashedly sending stares at the guy who's sitting beside me. Pampalubag loob pa nga na hindi na sila nakanganga katulad kanina.

I can't blame them, though. Even the people around us were staring at him! Ang iba ay sinasadya pa na magpabalik-balik sa lamesa namin.

I honestly don't know what to feel. Should I feel proud because I'm with the man of almost all the girls' wet dreams and fantasy? Or should I be annoyed because I want him all for myself?

But then again, I'm not with him-with him and he's not mine. That leaves me with what? An untitled and unlabeled whatever we are. I have no claim on him. I have no say. I have no right.

I didn't like it, but I'll take what I can get. I won't demand for more. It's enough for me that I get to spend time with him. Even more enough because he makes me feel special. He makes me like myself a little better when I'm with him.

"So... How long have you liked Kenna?" si Oliver ang unang bumasag ng katahimikan.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa deretsong tanong niya. Agad na nag-init ang mukha ko. I kicked Oliver's foot underneath. Napatingin siya sa akin at patay malisyang sinipa rin ang paa ko pabalik.

Ang baklang 'to!

"A while," Saint answered. My eyes were nearly bulging out of its sockets when I snapped my head to his direction. He wasn't looking at me. Nanatili ang mga mata niya kay Oliver. His face was calm and collected, unfazed by Oliver's blunt questions.

Nayanig ang loob ko sa naging sagot niya. It's news to me. I never asked if he liked me. I just concluded on my own because that's what he makes me feel. That and I was also afraid to find out the answer. Kuntento na ako sa mga ipinaparamdam niya sa akin. As I have said, I'll take what I can get.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang nag make ng move?" He squinted his eyes.

I think he's trying to look intimidating but he's failing it so hard. Mukha lang siyang nasisilaw sa kagwapuhan ni Saint, sa totoo lang. I want to face palm at the secondhand embarrassment. Nakakahiya.

"Because I couldn't take seeing her with other guys anymore." He simply shrugged. Like he didn't just blow me away with his words for the second time.

Kung kanina ay para akong nayayanig, ngayon ay tuluyan na nagcollapse ang kaloob-looban ko at hindi na ako makahinga sa sobrang sikip ng dibdib ko.

Oliver's mouth turned into an 'o'. His hands raised and clapped his red cheeks in sync. I briefly remember the expression of Kevin from Home Alone after the aftershave.

Itinapon ni Oliver ang tingin sa akin. Ibinaba niya ang mga kamay. Kita ang bahagyang pamumula ng kanyang mukha. Pinilit niyang magseryoso ng mukha. "Ken, it's a yes for me."

Natawa ako kay Oliver pero napawi rin agad nang sikuhin ni Nina si Oliver. She's got her bitch face on.

"Seryoso ka ba sa Kenna namin?" matapang na tanong ni Nina rito.

The placid expression that was resting on Saint's face was replaced with a warm smile. I melted upon seeing it. It's such a rare and miraculous occurrence. I could hear the angels singing from above.

"Thank you for always taking care of Mackenzie, Nina," Saint said with utmost sincerity.

Hindi ko inaasahan ang sagot na 'yon mula sa kanya. Nina's just as taken aback. All she could do was repetitively blink at him. What do you say to that anyway?

Unti-unting kumunot ang noo ni Nina. Her defensive shoulders relaxed a bit. "Oh... kay?"

Saint managed to thaw Nina's thick icy wall and disarm her with just a single sentence. Gustong-gusto ko siyang palakpakan.