SAME COURSE [COMPLETED]

IV. APPLE

Steph's crazy!! Pagtalikod ko, hindi ko na makita si Jinn. Maybe pinuntahan niya si Christine. Kelangan kong makapasok sa loob ng bahay at alam ko sa kitchen tahimik.

"Whew! Escaped." Umupo ako sa countertop then nakakita akong washed apples, kumain ako kasi hindi pako nagdidinner.

"Feel at home?" when I looked si Christine.

"Ahh. I'm sorry" bumaba ako sa counter top. "Hindi lang talaga party person."

"I see" Then kumuha siya ng water sa ref. "By the way, I have something to ask."

"Oh sure. About what?"

"Hmm. I'm curious." Tapos uminom siya ng water. "Is there something going on between you and Jinn?"

"Ha?"

"Well. Maybe you know na nanliligaw nga sakin si Jinn?" She looked at me. I nodded since yun naman talaga ng alam ko. "I can feel kasi na hindi na siya katulad ng before. I just want to know the reason why, alam mo ba?"

"I'm sorry but I don't know anything about you and him."

"Ganun ba." She sighed. "I'm starting to like him na kasi. Even more. Sasagutin ko na nga sana kaso bigla naman nawala loob niya saken. Well, ganun yung nafeel ko." She looked at me. "Can you help me know the reason why? My friends told me na medyo close daw kayo"

"Ahhmm. I'm sorry Christine. But, I think it's much better if you'll ask Jinn directly regarding this." I smiled.

"Fine!" She said tapos padabog na inilapag niya yung baso. "I just wish you are not involved." Then tinarayan niya ko.

The hell? Bakit naman ako maiinvolved? I just want to go home! "This party is over!" Nilapag ko din padabog yung apple. Lumabas ako tapos nakita ko si Steph, nakapulupot kay Gabriel. "This little snake!!" Hinigit ko siya.

"Hey!" when she looked naiba reaction ng face niya. "Oh, darling Pawee ikaw pala. Enjoying?"

"What? Enjoying your face! Let's go! We need to go, you're drunk!"

"No, she's not!" Gabriel butted in.

"I am not talking to you! Go away!"

"You've got guts ha!" Gabriel hurriedly pulled me and pushed me sa pool. 

"Serves you right!"  ang unang narinig ko from him pagangat ko sa water and then nakita ko yung kamay ni Steph, inaabot niya saken.

"Bullshit! Pawee! My haaand.." Steph, na high na high na sa alak.

"Excuse me!" Christine pushed Steph backward tapos napaupo siya. Tinulungan naman agad siya ni Gabriel. I looked at Christine with angry face and she's into this kontrabida character mode "Hindi ko pa nga nacoconfirm kung involve ka, napahiya kana agad" she said

"What happened here?" When I looked si Jinn.

"Nahulog siya sa pool eh, I was trying to help her pero ayaw niya" Christine said. WOW, another bedtime story ba yon?

"Take my hand" Jinn looked at me.

I just smiled tapos umakyat ako sa hagdan. Jinn hurriedly wrapped his jacket around me.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"What do you think?" I looked at him and asked.

"Obviously not." We walked towards Christine. Nagpaalam na siya na uuwi. Kinuha din niya si Steph from Gabriel. Lasing na si bakla nakatulog na. Binuhat ni Gabriel si Steph papunta sa car. Pinaupo nako sa passenger seat ni Jinn.