It Started With A Game

Chapter Twenty One : Welcome Party

Celest's POV:

"P-party?" nauutal kong tanong kay Megumi. Nakasalubong kasi namin siya ni Sab sa cafeteria tapos bigla siyang may inabot sa'min na invitation. Nakakagulat lang kasi hindi naman kami ganon ka-close. "Yes, Welcome Party ko. I hope makapunta kayo ng friend mo." nakangiti niyang sabi sa'min.

"Why are you even inviting us? Hindi naman tayo close." nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Sab kaya siniko ko siya. Minsan talaga out of place na yung pagiging frank niya. "Sab!" saway ko sa kanya. "What?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata tapos humarap kay Megumi at humingi ng pasensya. "Pasensya na, Megumi. Baliw lang talaga 'tong kaibigan ko." pero imbis na magalit siya o magtaray, tumawa lang siya. "It's okay."

"Ang kaibigan nila Rex, kaibigan ko na rin." I saw Sab roll her eyes heavenwards upon hearing what she said kaya palihim ko itong siniko. "I hope you could come, Celest." instead of responding to her nginitian ko  nalang siya. "See you! Bye." she waved to us good bye and started walking away.

"Who's that ba?" naiiritang tanong ni Sab. Obvious na ayaw niya dito. "Friend ata nila Rex." Friend nga lang ba? "Dapat hindi mo tinarayan yung tao. Maganda naman approach niya."

"I don't like her. Halatang plastik!" she hissed. "So, are you coming to the party?" pupunta nga ba ako? I have a feeling that I shouldn't. Besides, it would be awkward for me lalo na't alam kong nandon din si Rex. "I don't think so."

"Of course you should!" Nagulat ako nang biglang sumigaw si Sab. What's wrong with her? "It's pretty obvious naman that that girl is interested in Rex! Hahayaan mo nalang ba na masolo niya ito 'don sa party?!" Yes, alam na ni Sab na may gusto ako kay Rex. I opened up it to her nung nasa ice cream parlor kami.

"I agree with her, Miss Manager." pareho kaming napatingin sa nagsalita. Si Dexter. "What?" naguguluhan kong tanong sa kanya.

"Hindi ko naman sinasadyang marinig ang usapan niyo, pero I did. And honestly, I think your best friend here is right."

"What do you mean? I think gusto naman ni Rex si Megumi," before I could even finish the sentence, Dexter already cut me off. "She's the ex girlfriend, Celest. Ex. She's already in the past. She's ancient history! She left my brother before, how much more now?" Left? Iniwan niya si Rex? "Oh, so she's the controversial ex girlfriend pala." Sab said na halatang nagulat din sa sinabi ni Dex.

"Go to the party, Celest." he said while Sab kept on nodding in agreement. Should I? I breathed heavily first and said, "Fine. I will."

-

The party was scheduled tonight at 7 pm. Sab and I decided to go shopping right after classes. Syempre, tinawagan ko muna si mama para ipaalam na gagabihin ako ng uwi dahil may pupuntahan kaming party ni Sab. Nag-iintay kami na may dumaan na taxi since hindi niya dala yung kotse niya when a flashing green sports car parked in front of us. Bumukas ang bintana nito at bumungad sa'min si Dexter. "Need a ride?" nagkatinginan kami ni Sab. "Is it free?" pabirong tanong ni Sab sa kanya kaya napatawa ito. "You could pay me with your time." kinindatan pa nito si Sab pero siniringan lamang siya nito. "Whatever."