PULLED AT HIS STRINGS | Darren Espanto #3 (Spin-off)

Chapter Seven

Chapter 7

Affection

"Dude, what should I wear?"

I can't help but throw a fit of laughter while facing my laptop and sitting on a swivel chair. Umikot-ikot lamang ako habang tumatawa at saka nagtanong sa kausap ko.

"And you called... For that?" I asked Jace with a hint of humor in my voice.

"Gago, oo. Tulungan mo naman ako!" Hirit niya. Minura pa talaga ako.

Kulang nalang ay mapasapo ako sa noo. I was busy watching random series on Netflix until I got hooked with one, and when I was about to finish the eighth episode, bigla siyang tumawag. Video chat daw kami. I didn't want to, but he obliged me.

"Dali na!"

This demanding lad, really.

He looked like he's gonna pass out any minute. Ang dami na niyang naipakita na damit sa akin at kapag tumatawa ako o kaya napapangiti ng paloko, ibabato niya ito sa kama niya at maghahanap ng bago. Mukha na siyang pagod kakahanap. I wasn't even answering.

"Why don't you just tell me the reason behind choosing something to wear, Jace. Ang dami naman kasing pwedeng isuot, bakit ba natataranta ka?" I impatiently asked.

It's the fourth time I asked and he isn't spilling anything. It was a big deal for him to say the truth.

"Basta!" He answered the same thing.

"I can't help you with that, then. Hindi ko naman alam kung para saan ang isusuot mo."

"Dude naman," aniya.

I spun around and I laughed. Pagkaharap ko ay nagseryoso na naman ako ng mukha sa kanya. Let's see if he'd still keep it to himself.

"What?" I asked.

He sighed, a sign of giving up on me who's being so persistent about this. I chuckled a bit. Sasabihin na niya ang dahilan. Pinahirapan pa ako.

"Fine," aniya and I laughed. Sabi ko na nga ba. "Para sa Christmas Party natin. Hindi ba halata?" he laughed as well.

"That won't work on me, Angeles. Kung dahil lang naman sa Christmas Party ay alam mo na ang isusuot mo. Maporma ka naman, ah," sagot ko sa kanya.

He scratched his nape. Pagakatapos non ay parang mapapasabunot na siya sa buhok. I just wanna laugh at this ass. What's making it hard for him to admit the reason?

"That's the day, alright..." he trailed off. "That's the day I asked Sunshine if we can go out," Jace continued.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang tumawa. Sa sobrang pagtawa ko ay napapalakpak pa ako. He's a man! My stomach's even aching from so much laughter.

"Gago, sige. Tawa pa," aniya at nagsimulang hukayin ang mga damit na nakatambak sa kama. Doon na ulit siya naghanap ng isusuot.

As soon as he started again to look for something to wear, I stopped smiling. I am a bit worried about him, after all.

Pero pumayag naman ata si Sunshine na lumabas sila? I think that's a good sign... Kahit papaano. Hindi ko na kasi siya natanong.

"Okay, break muna!" Sunshine announced.

We were all tired from practicing. Sunod-sunod na kasi ang mga gawain sa school. Performace, requirements, last minute quizzes, and Christmas Party na. At least the last one's going to fun.

"You're doing good. Kaya mo naman pala, e. Parang wala ka ngang accent. Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing, ha," anang Sunshine.

Tumango naman ako. Hindi raw kasi halatang nahihirapan ako magsalita ng Tagalog. I do take that one as a compliment. Hindi rin kasi maganda para sa akin na mapakinggan na medyo slang ako kapag group performance na.