Adamantine

Chapter 9

I Am Jealous

"Shun!" Tawag ko sa ka-date ko. This is considered as a date, right?

Ngumiti siya ng nakita ako. Ang gwapo niya sa tuxedo. May tikas siya at tindig. And because of his height, he also looks intimidating. Bagay na bagay sa kanya. Kung mag-aabogasyq siya at palagi siyang naka-suit and tie. I bet he'll always look handsome. He's not just handsome. He's also charismatic.

"Bagay sa'yo, ha," komplimento ko.

My nose captivated his manly scent. Ang bango niya. His perfume is not like any other guy's perfumes which are really strong. Iyung sa kanya ay tamang-tama lamang. He's hair is swept in one side. It looks neat and clean. I always admire him. Although, if I would admit this feelings I have for him, then it may completely vanish. Kaya mas pipiliin kong maging one-sided na lang ito. It may soon fade. I'm only seventeen and this should not be taken seriously.

He has no tiny bit of an idea of how much I admire him. His charm. His demeanor.

"You're beautiful," he said.

A shiver crept into my spine. Naramdaman ko rin ang medyo pag-init ng aking mga pisngi. It must really be odd that my cheeks heated despite of the cold breeze. Buti na lang at gabi. Hindi masyadong halata. It can be faked as a blush on. Npatingin ako sa kanyang mapupungay na mga mata. How should I react? Will I say thank you? Or will I do the usual?

"You know what? Halika na," sabi ko sa kanya. When it comes to him, I just forget how to react properly.

LED lights everywhere. House music at EDM din ang pinapatunog ng DJ. Hindi ko alam kung saan nila kinuha ang DJ. He may be from the Arts Department of the university or he's an outsider. He really is good, though.

It was cocktail party, obviously. Lahat na sinerve ay fingerfood. Maraming tao rin ang nakikita kong nag-uusap, kumakain, umiinom at sumasayaw.

"Gusto mong kumain?" Bulong ni Shun. Nakaramdam ako ng kiliti sa aking tainga dahil sa bulong niya kaya bahagya akong lumayo. Tumango na lamang ako bilang pag-oo. We got ourselves some fingerfood. Too bad walang hard drinks. Mayroong cocktail drinks pero hindi ka naman agad malalasing ng mga ito.

I got myself a drink.

"Palit tayo," ani Shun. "I'll order an iced tea."

Napairap ako. What does he think of me? Hindi ako santa-santita. "Ano ka ba? I have high alchohol tolerance. Besides, cocktails don't get me drunk."

Biglang tumigas ang ekspresyon ni Shun. Ang mga mata niya ay naging seryoso. "No, Erina," he said firmly. Halos magsitindigan na ang balahibo ko sa kanya.

"Hindi ko gaanong mae-enjoy ang pagsayaw sa dancefloor kung hindi ako iinom," paliwanag ko. No. Hindi lang pag-enjoy ang motibo ko. I can enjoy the dancefloor without drinking. Alcholic beverages make me more aggressive. I want to admit to him that I like him without feeling shame or embarrassed. I want to tell him and admit it to him so that this feeling I have for him will vanish. Gusto ko na itong mawala dahil una sa lahat, I have sworn to not like a guy like him. Ayokong lamunin ang sarili kong salita. I want to honour anything that I said. I want to stand by my pride.

Nag-order din siya ng cocktail drink.

I'd rather drink Jack Daniel's or something. Hindi nga lang available ngayon. Nagawa ko na ito ilang beses na noon kasama si Ate Cass at Ate Mayette. All I did was act and dress maturely.

"Do what you want," ani Shun at napabuntong-hininga. "Pero isang beses lang, Erina."

"Fine!"

Matapos naming kumain ay ako naman ang nag-ayang sumayaw. I love the music! It would have been more fun if I got I little bit tipsy.