Dealing With The Elite Four

XXVII

CHAD

I knew it! Liam, the Liam is with that Matt and it's creeping me out.

Why would Liam be with this Matt?

Madami na akong napapansin sa kanya, magmula nang makilala namin si Matt. It might seem unbelievable, because it is really unbelievable, but something is different with him.

Madalang na makikita ko siya sa tambayan naming apat at madalang na din siyang sumama kapag niyayaya namin siya.

I wouldn't care less if it was Peter because that one is a genius-freak person and he would rather choose his academics than us but Liam!?

Oh, come on!

He will never do that, he'd rather kill his time by doing something that would either benefit or make him happy than to study.

That's why I decided to follow him and you know what I learned?

The Liam is with this Matt. You might call me a stalker but I know that they went to this korean-looking restaurant and after that, Liam asked Jake to find something, an address, in particular and it was Matt's address.

But why would he do that?

I don't know the answer and I continued to do what I am doing and now, here we are.

At the beach which I know that is one of the many properties of Liam's family.

"And what the hell are the two of you doing here?" Kunot noong tanong ni Liam sa akin.

Yes, nasa harapan nila kaming dalawa. Kasama ko si Jake.

It is good that I dragged Jake into this because he knows how to locate someone or so their GPS.

If Peter is a genius-freak, I call Jake a tech-freak. Short for technology-freak.

"Well, we decided to unwind. After all, we're all getting bored of school. Well, setting aside Peter because he loves to study a lot." Naka kibit ang balikat na sagot ko sa kanya.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Tanong ni Jake na naka tingin kay Liam at Matt.

What's with this Matt at nagagawa niyang masamahan si Liam?

Knowing Liam, hindi siya basta-basta sasama sa isang tao without gaining something and looking at this Matt, I don't know, I don't get it.

"Nothing, Jake. Is it wrong to ask you that question?" Tanong ni Liam kay Jake.

Hindi na sumagot pa si Jake, "then, is it wrong for us to unwind?" Naka ngising tanong ko sa kanya.

Tinignan ako ni Liam, "pinipilosopo mo ba ako?" Tanong nito sa akin.

"Come on, man! Why so serious?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Stop the act, Chad. I'm not in the mood to play along with you." Sagot nito sa akin bago niya hinarap si Matt.

"Come on, let's go." Yaya nito kay Matt.

I told ya', something is different.

"Woah! And where are you two going? Ang aga-aga pa, aalis na kayo?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Doon na ako sinamaan nang tingin ni Liam, "shut the fuck up, Chad." Sabi niya sa akin pero imbes na matakot ay ngumisi ako sa kanya.

"And what if I don't?" Seryosong tanong ko sa kanya.

Doon na gumuhit ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. Ang ngising palagi kong nakikita bago siya may gawing kung ano.

"Are you seriously asking me that question, you fucker?" Tanong niya sa akin bago siya tumayo.

"I just did, Liam." Sagot ko na sinasabayan ang tensyon na nagmumula sa kanya.

Hindi nagtagal ay nasa harapan ko na siya at hawak na niya ang kwelyo ng damit ko.

"Bastard. You don't get to talk to me that way. You're just a mere jock who knows nothing but to play and fuck around." Tiim bagang na sabi nito sa akin.

"Oh, yeah? Then what about you?" Naka ngising tanong ko sa kanya.

Doon na siya napa pikit bago niya kinuyom ang kamao at handa nang suntukin ako pero isang boses ang pumailanlang at pumigil sa kanya.

"STOP IT!" Sigaw ni Matt na naging dahilan para mapa tingin kaming tatlo.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Tanong nito sa amin, "you're old enough to act like this, dick heads! Stop fooling around and come to your senses!" Dagdag nito bago niya kami itulak ni Liam.

"Let's go!" Matalim ang tinging sabi niya kay Liam. Hindi nagtagal ay sumunod naman si Liam matapos niya akong tapunan ng masamang tingin.

That Matt...

LIAM

Tsk. Mga asungot!

"Pasensya na." Sabi ko kay Matt nang makapunta na kami sa lugar kung saan ko ipinark ang sasakyan ko.

Hindi naman siya kumibo at nagtuloy-tuloy lang sa pinto ng kotse kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi alisin ang pagka-lock nun gamit ang susi ko.

Automatic yun na bubukas kapag pinindot ko ang switch na nasa may susing hawak ko.

"Haist. Panira kasi." Inis na sabi ko bago ko muling lingunin ang pinanggalingan namin ni Matt.

Bakit ba kasi sila biglang sumulpot!? At ang galing pa ng timing nila, sa mismong oras kung kailan dapat ay nag-eenjoy na kami, I mean si Matt because this is basically for him.

At buti nalang wala si Peter at baka kung saan na kami napunta kanina.

Mabuti nalang din at inawat kami ni Matt at baka basag na ang mukha ng gagung Chad na yun.

Kung maka asta akala mo kung sino eh wala namang binatbat. He may be the Jock but it's just because of his built.

If I just want it, I can steal his title from him dahil maganda din naman ang built ko but I don't like it.

"Hey, Matt. Sorry sa nangyari." Muling sabi ko bago ko ipihit ang susi at umandar ang engine ng sasakyan.

And again, hindi na naman siya kumibo. "Hey..." Tawag ko sa kanya, dun naman siya lumingon sa akin at ngumiti.

"Liam, that's okay. I know that this is not your plan. Maybe it's just a coincidence so let it pass." Sagot niya sa akin.

There's something different when he's talking in English. I find it interesting, I like it.

"Pero hindi ka naman nag-enjoy." Wala sa loob na sabi ko sa kanya.

Huminga nang malalim si Matt at napapangiting umiling, "Liam, I'm fine. The thought that you planned something like this for me is enough." Sabi niya sa akin.

"But it didn't go as planned." Sagot ko.

"Are we seriously gonna argue about this, Liam?" Biglang tanong niya sa akin.

Natahimik naman ako pero bigla din akong nagsalita, "it's not enough for me." Sabi ko sa kanya.

"Liam —seriously!? What are you, a kid?" Tanong niya sa akin, "it's the thought that matters, do you get it?" Dagdag niya.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya, "I get it, Matt but it's not enough for me and because it is not enough for me, we'll go somewhere nice." Sagot ko bago ko pinasibad ang sasakyan ko.

Pinasibad palayo sa dalawang asungot na sumira sa plano ko para kay Matt.