Chasing Love (Completed)

Chapter 48 - Reunion

I said I will not be wearing any costume but I found myself matching my clothing with Seb's. He wanted the purge vibe so we wore masks and props such as baseball bat.

When we arrived the venue was full of people in costumes.

"You sure okay ka lang magisa?" He looked at the crowd full of people -- our batchmates.

"Sinong may sabing magisa ako? I'm going to find Tati." I smiled. "Go."

Tingnan ko silang players na nagkumpulan sa gitna. Looks like they had a lot of catching up to do. Umupo ako sa isang upuan doon habang inaantay dumating si Tati. Viktoria is nowhere to be seen too.

"Nice. Purge?" Napalingon ako sa kumausap sa akin.

Tinaas ko sa ulo ang mask ko at tinignan ang kumausap sa akin. He was in a costume too.

"Liam."

There's that smile again.

"Long time no see. Kamusta ka na?"

3 years is not that long I wanted to say but I didn't. But really, kamusta, 'yun lang ang masasabi niya? He ought to be better than that.

"Same old." I answered anyway. Can't say the same about him though. He grew his hair long. Longer than what was allowed before during high school at medyo wavy ang dulo. Naging built rin ang katawan niya for all the gym sessions he had with my cousin.

Maybe he's right. It's been so long that it had been awkward for us to talk. So many memories so many happy moments together yet wala kaming mapagusapan ngayon.

It was a long 10 seconds before he asked, "Sinong kasama mo?"

"Seb pero kasama niya na 'yung mga players." Tinuro ko sila. "I'm waiting for Tati."

Tumango lang siya and I can't help but to stare because really, namiss ko 'to. Namiss ko siya. That face that I always wanted to see during those days. The face that instantly light up my mood no matter how irritated I was with Viktoria.

"Ikaw? Si Viktoria hindi mo kasama?" Tanong ko.

"Pagiisipan pa daw niya kung pupunta siya." Aniya.

"Grand entrance?" I chuckled.

He laughed too like remembering the prom when she and Sebastian came and everybody just stopped and look at her.

Gusto ko siyang itanong kung kamusta na siya o kung may girlfriend na ba siya ngayon but I didn't have the chance.

"Ramos!" Tinawag na siya ng mga varsity friends niya. He raised a hand to say wait.

"Not alone after all." I said.

"Yeah." He chuckled then hand me his phone. "So, uh, okay lang ba makuha 'yung number mo? We can catch up some time. Only if it's okay."

His words hang in the air. He is asking me to hang out with him but I don't know if I should. Should one even hang out with an ex? I don't know how he can be so casual with me after what I did.

Past is past and present is present. I reminded myself. And there is nothing wrong with catching up, right? Said my inner voice.

"I'm surprise you didn't ask Seb." A smile formed my lips. Nakuha niya ang number ko dati kay Seb pero hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano.

Kinuha ko ang phone at nilagay ang number ko. Napatitig ako sa screen ng phone niya dahil nakasave pa rin ang number ko.

Hindi ako nagpalit ng number pero hindi ko inexpect na nakasave pa rin at hindi niya binura. After all ano bang ineexpect ko galing kay Liam?

Napalingon kami dahil tinawag nanaman siya ng mga kaibigan niya. This time mas malakas at may masunod na mga banta na pag hindi pa siya lumapit hindi niya magugustuhan ang sunod na mangyayari.

"Hindi ka naman nila miss na miss noh?" I joked.

"I probably should go." He laughed.

I nodded but the next thing he did surprised me. He leaned forward and gave me a slight hug. So slight that our body didn't touch but his arm slid around my neck.

"Text kita. Magreply ka naman ha?"

I nodded absent-mindedly.

Pinanood ko siyang naglakad papunta sa grupo nila Seb at nahuli ko ang tingin ni Seb. Nakangiti siya sa akin na parang sinasabi na nahuli niya ako. Inirapan ko lang siya at inalis ang tingin.

Hindi pa rin ako makaget over sa pagyakap niya (If I can even call that a hug) nang dumating si Tati.

"Girl! Kanina pa ako nagtetext sayo. Nandito ka lang pala!" Tinapik ako ni Tati.

Doon ko lang inalis ko ang tingin ko kay Liam at hinarap siya. "Sorry. Wow angel!"

Hindi ko nga napansin na nakatingin pala ako sa kanila. Buti nalang at busy silang magcatch up. If the said catch up involves some punching in the arm and chest.

"Alam mo namang pang angel ang mukha ko noh!" Tumatawa siya.

Palagi kaming nagkikita ni Tati pero hindi pa rin kami naubusan ng paguusapan though most of the time wala sa kanya ang atensyon ko. I was busy looking at Liam who also kept glancing at me.

3 years. 3 years and yet these feelings I have. Hindi ko maexplain pero sa tuwing titignan ko siya ay parang may gustong lumabas na feelings na matagal ko nang binaon. I don't know what kind. I'm pretty sure it's not hate but not love either.

"Earth to Flynne." She's waving her hand in front of me. "Hello? Nakikinig ka pa ba?"

I gave her an apologetic look. Sinundan niya ang line of gaze ko kanina and found out what I was looking at.

I heard her sigh. "Halos hindi ko na siya nakilala kung hindi lang sila magkakasama. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba kitang i-urge na lumapit pero dahil best friend kita, fine. Go talk to him."

"Nakapagusap na kami bago ka dumating." I said and looked at her and Jordan. "Eh kayo?"

"Sino? Bakit kami maguusap?" Kung iritado ang boses niya hindi niya 'yun pinahalata sa akin.

I didn't push her because I know her and if she don't want to talk about it, I won't push her. Hindi naging okay ang break up nilang dalawa at may bitterness at hatred or whatever.

She pulled me and we went to the open bar.

Late nang dumating si Viktoria and I'm actually surprised that she is not wearing any costume. Akala ko pa naman hilig niya ang pagdredress up. Tonight she's just wearing a dress and her hair tied up.

"What is even this reunion? People are all talking and eating and drinking and no one is dancing." Reklamo niya agad nang nakita kami.

Natawa ako at nagpatuloy siya. "Pumunta lang ako kasi sabi ni Sebastian pupunta kayo. And knowing Liam is gonna be here too, I figured you need me here."

Sumingit si Tati sa gitna namin. "Excuse me, for a person who bullied her in her high school life, pumunta sa party because you think she need you?"

A smile appeared on Viktoria's pink lips. "'Yan ang gusto ko sayo."

Tatiana smiled back at nagbeso silang dalawa. Seryoso si Tati nung sinabi niya sa akin na gusto niyang maging kaibigan si Viktoria and indeed.

"What? You shouldn't talk to an ex! He is an ex for a reason, you know." Sabi ni Viktoria nung sinabi kong nagusap na kami ni Liam kanina.

"Ugh dapat hindi ka nagpapilit kay Sebastian! You should meet new people at hindi pumunta sa mga high school reunions. Especially when your ex is also attending." She rolled her eyes. "Where's Sebastian?"

Then she storms off leaving the two of us laughing. Sebastian is going to be so dead. So dead.