SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW

Chapter 11

She has been trying to act normal after the conversation about the outcoming outing on the day after christmas. The fact that Reston kept on glancing at her made her more uneasy. The night has been getting late but Reston's friends are still there. They've been talking and drinking the whole time. Zach's hand rested on her back's seat. With a hooded eyes, he directed his stares at her. His undeniably drunk that she doubt if he could drive home safe.
She failed to agree when Rio tried to give him another shot of brandy. She immediately took the shot instead.

"Woah, it was supposed to be mine." Ngumuso si Zach at halatang lasing na nga.

"You're too drunk to take that." Umiling siya rito. At her peripheral vision she saw how Reston's face formed into a grimace.

"Is that an indirect statement that I should go home now?..hmm."  Zach said laughing.

"You should be, Zach." Reston butt in a cold as an ice tone. She shivered at what he said. Sigurado siyang hindi iyon dala ng malamig na hangin ng gabi. It was indeed because of him.

"Zach, Reston is right, you should go home now." She suggested to to avoid the possible fight between the two. It was obvious that Reston doesn't like Zach for her, he even stated that. Zach though, holding his cool towards him, she doubt he can, specially now that he was purely drunk. Human inhibition lesser or even completely lost when he or she is drunk.

"Oh, anything my lady wants." He said with a smirk. Nagtawanan ang mga kaibigan nito. And Ema had the guts to mock.

"Woah!Our playboy here seems so fuck up tamed. He even offered his help in the kitchen. Dude, you can now plan to settle down and say goodbye to your line of girls." Bulalas nito sabay tawa.

"Ganyan talaga pagtinamaan ka na.. and I already stop seeing other girls for almost weeks now you know." He said seriously while looking at her. Uneasiness crept her system. She is more than aware that Zach is trying to hit on her but he never said it directly to her. She's hoping he's doing it slowly. Yes, they were friends but she isn't numb not to feel his affection towards her. It has more than a friendship relationship thing and she's afraid to name it for now. And she also believes that Zach's knew it too not until now that he blatantly said it in front of his friends and the mere fact is making her awkward at the moment.

"Who wouldn't anyway, the lady is worth the change Ema. If I were the one who first met Sid -" Zach immediately cut Axel for what ever words he has going to say.

"Hey bro, back off." Zach said seriously and move even closer to her as if marking his teritory. He is acting like a child who stole his favorite toy for being possesive. Tumawa lamang si Axel sa inakto niya bago siya sinulyapan at kinindatan.

The dagger look of Reston doesn't do any help. Mas lalo siyang nailang sa mga pinag uusapan nila. Makaraan ang ilang sandali ay napagpasyahan na ng mga magkakaibigan na umuwi.

"Are you sure you can drive?" Tanong niya kay Zach. Nakaupo na ito sa driver seat habang siya ay nasa hamba ng pinto nito. Ito na lamang ang nahuling umalis.
Hinatid niya ito sa sasakyan sa labas ng bahay. Nangamgamba siya kung baka anong mangyari dito. But he made her sure he'll drive safe.

"Don't worry. Hindi naman ako masyadong lasing. I drunk worst than this but I arrived home safe." Sa mapupungay na mata ay sagot nito. Tumango lamang siya rito. Hindi naman kalayuan ang tinutuluyan nito sakanila kaya napanatag na siya. She's about to close his door when he spoke again.

"Hey, I'm sorry for what happened awhile ago Sid." He said sincerely. She just nodded at what he said. Her mind is flying to something else. Naalala niya ang mukha ni Reston kanina. He kept on throwing hints that made her think his jealous of Zach. Ayaw niyang bigyan ng mga meaning ang inaakto nito pero hindi niya mapigilan.