Love Next Door

Chapter 10

She is such a flirt.

Hindi ko maintindihan sa lahat ng pinsan ko siya lang yung may katangi-tanging ugali.

No wonder some of us don't like her. She gets everything her way.

Halos lahat kami pinagbibigyan na lang siya so that we won't get in trouble at walang nang away na maganap.

I should have warned Ace and Beau.

Wait, why am I so concerned about them?

Hindi ko na lang pinansin kung ano yung nakita ko. I got up from my seat and looked for Miguel.

"She's here and she's doing it again,"

"What do you want me to do?" he asked with a playful smile on his lips.

"Of course, you're not going to do anything. But this is the part where you should say, "Don't worry Zoe. I'm sure this won't last. Ingrid will be out of the country before you know it."

"Oh, right," he faked innocence, then bumalik siya sa ginagawa niya.

"Ano ba? I thought we're best friends?" habol ko sa kanya.

" We are. Sino ba nagsabing hindi?" he grinned then laughed.

"Oh, anong nakakatawa?"

"Eh, ikaw? Bakit ka ba masyadong affected?" balik niyang tanong sa 'kin.

"Heh! Ewan?!" hindi ko na ulit siya sinundan at tumalikod na ako.

"Ah!" napatili ako. Nagulat kasi ako na may tao pagtalikod ko.

"Sorry," that monotone voice tho... nakakairita.

"Hindi kasi nage-excuse eh," pabulong kong sinabi pero malakas na para marinig niya .

"Sorry na nga, diba?" he sounded a bit irritated.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo, Ace," tinignan ko lang siya ng masama at umalis na sa harap niya.

******

Nagsisidatingan na yung mga bisita ng natapos kaming makapagbihis.

Tube cocktail dress yung sinuot ko just a few inches above my knees.

Since this is a big celebration for Lolo, he invited a lot of friends, relatives and colleagues.

As I was heading for the stairs, nasalubong ko nanaman si Ace.

Nakabihis na rin siya ng suit and tie.

Parang nagulat pa siya na nakasalubong niya ako.

Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay at bumaba na. Wala pa ako sa pangatlong hakbang ng matapilok ako.

"Ah!" I closed my eyes and I could feel my arms flailing. Before I completely fall down the stairs my arm caught something. Or someone?

"So clumsy. Mag ingat ka kasi," he steadied me at pinahawak sa railings ng hagdan.

"T-thanks," medj pahiya ako dun ah.

He offered his arm para kapitan ng isang kamay ko.

"Hindi na. Kaya ko na," pagtanggi ko sa offer niya.

He just shrugged then nauna nang bumaba.

Hindi pa ako bumaba at tinignan ko lang siya habang naglalakad.

Inaalala ko kung ano yung dapat kong sasabihin ko sa kanya.

Ah, alam ko na.

Hinabol ko siya pababa but this time nag ingat na ako at humawak sa railing.