Bullets and Kisses (On-Hold)

Chapter 9: Aerial Shoot-Out

Chapter Nine: Aerial Shoot-out

Xander

Three bottles were finished to quench our thirst while Xavier's beer remained untouched. Nakatulog na 'yung tatlo kong kakambal.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa kalooban ng fuselage. The heavy breathing of my brothers race to town of exhaustion. Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan at napagdesisyunang puntahan si James sa cockpit.

When I'm about to open the door, I came to realize that I should bring him a beer. Sumalungat ako ng lakad papunta sa mini fridge ng eroplano at kumuha ako ng dalawang beer.

Pabalik na ako nang makita ko si James na lumabas. "Beer?" I showed him the bottles.

"Oh, I was about to get one," he said. He looked over the other people in this plane and he threw them a smile.

Sabay kaming bumalik sa loob at naupo. I handed him a bottle of beer, and we made a toss. "I think, I'll get some chips."

He left me alone and went back to the fuselage to get the chips.

I chugged my beer and fixed my eyes on the clouds. Kamusta na kaya si Zoe? I'm still thinking about her, kung okay lang ba siya? Ano ang ginagawa niya ngayon? Umiiyak pa rin ba siya dahil sa pagkamatay ni Kath? Napatulala na lamang ako sa kakaisip.

"Here," wika ni James pagdating niya. I was pulled out of my trance and my mind quickly diverted its attention to James. Ipinasa niya sa akin ang isang plastic ng chips at binuksan ko naman iyon.

"Kamusta naman sila sa mansyon?" tanong ko. The thought of Zoe came back again. Inaamin ko, oo, gusto ko Zoe. Mula pa noon kilala ko na siya. Mula pa noon nakita ko na siya. Not personally, but pictures are able to tell details of a person's appearance. She is so beautiful. I remember a picture of her where she's wearing a white dress and her smile can captivate a heart.

James grinned at me as if I said something awful. "C'mon bud, if you wanted to ask how is she, you can ask me right away."

I was completely taken aback though I don't know what he's saying. Surely, he knows my feelings about Zoe and that person he'd addressed as she, is certainly her.

I pretended cracking a chuckle.

"Dude, what are you talking about?" I asked in mock stupidity. My throat dry of fear that he definitely knew my sentiments for Zoe.

He smirked. "That won't work bud, I know you have feelings for her. For Zoe, am I right?"

Surrender, my only choice. I let a smile to escape my lips. "Yes, but don't tell the others, okay?" I said, convincing him not to tell anyone. "This thing should be between you and me only. The others are out of the bracket."

His eyes narrowed into slits.

"What?" I asked. The curve on my lips faded as I looked at him. He seemed so confused as if I said something he didn't understand.

"Bud, we don't keep secrets, right? And you know that."

Napa-isip ako sa sinabi niya. Oo, bawal ang magtago ng sikreto sa amin, pero iba 'to eh. May pagtingin ako kay Zoe pero hindi pa ako sigurado do'n. Maybe that's it. This will remain as a secret because I also knew that Xavier has feelings for her, and the thought of that makes my feelings mercurial. Sometimes I see Zoe as my ideal girl, sometimes not, because of Xavier.

"Yes I know, but I'm still not sure of it," sagot ko. "Hindi pa ako sigurado sa nararamdaman ko."

He looked at me seriously. "If I am Xander Jackson, I won't waste a time to get what I want before others do," he said and diverted his eyes back in front.