One Of The Few

Sa Tuwing Ako'y Lumalapit Ika'y Lumalayo

(Ako'y sayo at ika'y akin - first circle)

Smoke lang ako sa labas. Kumuha ako ng isang stick ng sigarilyo sa lagayan at, umabot ng candy at lighter.

Alam ko naman na hindi naman ako dapat makaramdam ng bitterness, I hate it but I do. I lit up the cigarette inhaling and exhaling the smoke, habang inililibot ang mga mata ko sa backyard nila Dave. Marami-rami na din akong nainom but I don't think I'm far from the state of being drunk. Nasa mood yata ang bahay alak ko.

I chuckled from the thought.

Bakit ka nandito sa labas?

I almost jump nang biglang may magsalita sa likuran ko, it was Kaye. I just shrugged my shoulders, showing the cigarette in between my fingers.

He looked at it and took a sigh.

I didn't know you smoke.

We don't need to know everything about each other, do we? I retorted. My eyes were stern straight to his, then I made a small smirk.

Siguro medyo na off sya dun sa sinabi ko kaya hindi sya nakaimik, nag nod lang upward yung eyebrows nya. So I just have to make it like a joke.

Itinigil ko na kasi to before, pero just recently parang na-miss ko :) I smiled sheepishly. Nakakamiss din naman ang past di ba? Nakakamiss din yung mga dati, di ba??

Those words were meant to come with double meaning.

Ikaw ba? Hindi mo rin naman mareresist, di ba? I added sabay hithit ng sigarilyo.

Kaye lick his lower lip, Tigilan mo na yan, nag-iinom ka na nga nagsi-smoke ka pa. Hinila nya ang kamay ko. Tama na yan, halika na sa loob, Lu.

I pulled my hand away carefully, napatitig naman ang mga mata namin sa isa't isa. Alam kong alam nya kung bakit ganon na lang ang mga mata ko sa kanya.

Lu??? I repeated in a cold chuckle. But as I was in my way to start bragging, Bea's voice came in that made me stop from opening my mouth.

Kaye?

We both turn our eyes to her. She looked at me, then to Kaye.

Gusto ko na sanang umuwi. Sumulyap na naman sya sa akin sandali, then back to Kaye. Pero baka mag taxi na lang ako.

Ah, Bea.. it was Kaye.

Sige na Kaye, I smile. You two go ahead. Late na din, masama sa buntis ang mapuyat. I lit off the cigar and leave without any word.

....

Uhm, guys.. Kaye spoke, una na kami, gabi na kasi at pagod na si Bea. His eyes stop to my direction but I looked away.

Pumpkin.. it felt like someone poke a needle to my skin when I heard him said that word.

I only gave a second of my attention to him, then again look away.

Do you want me to drive you home? We can drop you by..

No, no. I shook my head. Okay lang naman ako. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at napabaling din ako kila Dave. Baka nga dito na lang ako magpaumaga... Okay lang ba? Sabay tawa.

Tinatanong pa ba yan? Sagot naman ni Dave.

Ahh.. okay, so pano guys. We'll go ahead? He looked at Bea, Bea was looking at him. He nod signaling they'll go, and Bea smile as a reply.