The Damned Chase

-2-

Chapter Two

As much as I want to forget the incident at the cafe, I can't. Because it was just. so. embarrasing.

"Problem, miss?" He still has that smirk plastered on his face.

I flushed. "Um-no. Nothing." I said, slightly shaking my head.

He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms on his chest, looking amused. "You sure? Or perhaps there's something on my face."  Arrogant. I thought.

"Nevermind, really. Napatingin lang." I looked down and I think I heard him chuckle. God, I need to get out of here. 

I snatched my phone and hastily dumped it inside my purse, not bothering to grab my frappe which was still half full. I made my way out of the cafe taking the farthest route possible from the stranger I never wish to bump into again.

As soon as I got inside my car I promised myself I would never enter that cafe again. Atleast not for a month or two.

When I came home, naabutan ko sa kitchen si Reign talking to someone over the phone with her back on me. I tapped the nearest cabinet to announce my arrival. She simply threw me a glance over her shoulder and that's it. No 'hey you're back' or any other welcoming remark. Such a sweet friend.

A few minutes after I got inside my room, I heard a knock on my door.

"Jet, nag-order na ko ng pizza. Is that okay for dinner?" says Reign.

I would always choose take-outs and deliveries over anything Reign cooked so I said "Sounds good."

__

"Happy Birthday, bro" I told Lance the moment I saw him. It's his birthday.

He gave me a bear hug. "Kala ko di na kayo dadating eh," I handed him my gift which is a gold watch wrapped in blue and silver. "Always fashionably late, huh"

"Kami pa ba? Sisihin mo yang si Trish. Nagpasundo pa sa kanila." Sabi ni Reign. Yes, we're thirty minutes late because Trish asked us for a lift kahit out of the way yung house niya.

"What are friends for?" Said Trish, faking innocence. As if we don't know that most probably, after the party, she'll be as wasted as a drunk lizard. Of course she needs us to drive her home.

"Osya tama na yan, let's go inside." Lance escorted us in.

By the looks of it, there are a lot of people invited. I spotted some friends, some people from my school, some familiar faces and some I don't recognize. Probably Lance's friends or relatives.

We headed to a table near the counter where my brother is stationed at, talking to a bartender. I tried to stifle a laugh when I saw Reign fiddling with her fingers. Hay nako, too obvious. The moment Jethro saw us, he waved and then dismissed the bartender to tend to the other guests. He approached us, both hands holding a few bottles each.

"Look who's here." He said, acknowledging my friends. He turned to me, "How's my little sister?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Stop calling me that." Little sister? Gross.

Music is blasting all over the place courtesy of Josh, another friend of ours and the bar's resident DJ. We're all seated around a black table, chatting animatedly. By 'we', I mean me, my brother, Trish, Reign and Lance. We were talking about everything: school stuff and whatever's up with whoever's life when a girl I've never seen before approached us and pecked at Lance's cheek saying "Hey babe." Everyone fell silent.