Salt & Pepper [A JaDine FanFic]

Chapter Seventeen: Switch

Saturday, 1040PM, Benches by the Outdoor Terrace

"Ikaw!" Paolo blurted.

"Huh?" Nadine replied with confused look on her face. "Ako?"

I removed eye contact from her since I couldn't process whatever was happening right now. I couldn't even stand nor sit properly. All I could do was stare at the empty bottles of San Miguel beer scattered on the ground.

Lala stood up and went towards Nadine to help her with her stuff.

"I meant... Ikaw Nadine, sino sa tingin mo ang crush ni James?" Paolo was quick to save me. Let's see if Nadine picked up anything from that clear attack on me.

"Hay nako. Kakagaling ko lang sa doctor guys. Sabi niya no mental fatigue." She replied.

"Nagdinner ka na ba?" Lala asked. "Tara kumain ka muna sa itaas." The girls went up to the apartment, Marco, Kuya Pao and I were left downstairs.

"Nice save, Kuya Pao." Marco whispered.

"Anytime." Kuya Paolo winked at Marco. "James, chill. Walang laglagan dito sa org!" He stood up and lightly hit my arm. "Pasalamat kang under medication yung crush mo kaya hindi pa niya maproseso tong nangyayari."

"Kailangan ba akong magpasalamat?" I asked.

"Aba, teka lang." Kuya Paolo replied and crossed his arms.

I stood up and grabbed his shoulders. "Kuya Pao!!! Nagbibiro lang naman ako. Salamat po! Salamat po at napakabait niyo po sa akin."

"Ang aga pa pala!" Kuya Paolo said as he looked at his watch. "Akala ko mga hating gabi na!"

"May halos isa't kalahating oras pa si James sa bet." Marco said. "Kaya mo pa ba bro?"

"Kaya!" I said as I took a sip of beer. "Mas madali naman kung tayong tatlo nalang ang nandito." Not sure if it was the alcohol but I really felt confident that I could last until 12 just spurting pure Tagalog.

"So anong pakiramdam, na muntik ka na mabuking?" Kuya Paolo asked. "Tagaaaaay!" He motioned with his beer bottle.

I shook my head as we hit our bottles. "Hindi ko na nga siya matignan sa mata! Tapos sinabi mo pa 'Ikaw'. Haaaaay! Yung puso ko." I gritted my teeth too for blurting that last line out. But it was too late.

Marco and Kuya Paolo laughed. "Teka akala ko ba Marco, crush lang to? Bakit parang iba na yung nararamdaman ng kaibigan natin?" Kuya Paolo asked. "Baka naman dahil sa beer yan."

"Kuya, hindi ko na alam. Baka nga may amats na yan. Hindi niya ata alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng salitang crush eh." Marco assured. "Hayaan na natin. Baka iba ang depinisyon."

We laughed altogether.

"Crush parin ang topic?" Nadine suddenly asked. She was standing behind Paolo and Marco who were sitting across me. They both paused for a while with a second round of shocked faces. I myself wondered how she got there. Why does she have to appear just about anytime?

"Oo! Hot topic eh!" Marco assured. "Siyempre, pag ganitong oras na, ganito ang mga usapan, masaya makichismis." Marco motioned to Nadine. "Nadz upo ka na! Samahan mo kami dito. Tumagay ka na rin."

"Chismis pala ah!" She went around to sit on the empty spot beside me. Yes, beside me. "Sorry guys uminom ako ng gamot eh kaya hindi ako pwedeng uminom. Next time, promise."

"Tama! Tama! May next time pa to!" Kuya Paolo replied. "Sayang naman, eh housewarming party niyo to eh! Sayang di ka makacelebrate nang maayos."

"Okay lang! Hindi ko rin feel uminom. Sa totoo lang, pinagbigyan ko lang mom ko sa doctor's check-up." She answered.