Take Me

Three

"What was that?" Raille poked me the moment she sat on our usual spot sa cafeteria.

I lay my head exhausted. Three exams in the morning is just too much. Sigurado ba silang hindi pa to mid term!? Naghihingalo na ata mga natitira kong kiti-kiti sa utak.

"Did you just ignore Gav?" Raille asked again kaya napairap nalang ako. I'm quite busy salvaging my grades, I don't have time to flirt right now.

"Yes,"

"But that was Gav!" Napairap nalang ulit ako sa kanya. Paulit-ulit, te? Cassette na sira?

"I know who Gavin is." I answered calmly but her lips parted at my statement as if some unknown spirit had possessed me. Ang OA talaga.

"Girl, last week you were extra. May pa towel and water ka pa after varsity practice and you even had those annoying pompoms during their practice match with St. Augustine." She elaborated at mas lalong sumakit lang ang ulo ko.

"Well, we didn't have that talk last week. And also, last week, I was still interested."

She didn't look convinced anyhow. I'm trying to be a changed person here, I hope she sees my effort.

"Hey, ladies! " We stopped talking when Giorgi came out of nowhere. Parang kabute, lulubog, lilitaw.

"Can we help you, Gio?" He gave us his famous woman catcher smile. Buti nalang talaga immune kami sa mga ganiyang bagay.

"Party later. Text ko nalang venue." And he went away. Parang nagmamadali lagi iyong taong yon. Well, Gio is known for being the ultimate party goer in the campus. Mas sikat pa nga pagiging party goer niya kesa sa pagiging babaero. We call him the 'adh', which stands for alcohol dependent human. Wala naman kasing ginagawa sa mga party kundi maki-inom. He's like literally living in the pub. He's a weird one, I'm telling you.

"You going?"

"Nah. Pass."

-

Here I am, though.

I directly went to the bar counter the moment I arrived. Buti nalang talaga nakasalubong ko si Gio outside or else iisipin ko na naman na we were gate crashing. Grabe talaga si G, basta may free drinks go siya agad kahit di siya invited ang malala pa don, sinasama niya kami ni Raille.

I was welcomed by a familiar person. She was sitting next to me as she drinks her glass of martini. She raised her eyebrow as she recognized me.

"Fancy seeing you here, cousin." She said with bitterness. Hindi naman kasi talaga kami close ng mga pinsan ko.

"You look malnourished, Marie." Sinamaan nya ako ng tingin. She had always been distant.

"Is that an insult?" She'd always been cold. Iyong tipo ng taong masyadong uptight. Iyong gusto mo nalang yugyugin sa balikat at sigawan ng 'take a chill pill'.

"It's a compliment, cousin." A playful smile appeared on her stoic face.

"You're very generous in giving compliments then. That is thoughtful of you." She retorted sarcastically. I laughed at her response.

I was thinking of a good thing to say 'cause she definitely didn't like my previous one. Well, the scowl on her face made me feel triumphant enough but she stood up like she was already leaving.

"Di pa nagstart yong party, aalis ka na agad?" I asked.

She looked at her watch like coming here was just a waste of her time. Typical, Marie.

"Came here to drink, not to party. I've had it, now I'm leaving." She didn't even wait for my response. She turned her heels the moment she bid her goodbye.

What a bummer. Lonely girl and her martini.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Ah, cliché scenes inside the pub.

"Wala ka bang cash?" I asked sarcastically. I was expecting something fiesty for a response but all I got was a soft yet masculine chuckle making me grimace in suprise.

His cheeks are slightly pinkish making it quite obvious na nakainom sya. His face was so flawless seeming like he had a skin care routine. He has a pair of long lashes above his chestnut colored eyes. His nose was long and pointed, foreign blood imminent from his features.

"Checking me out?" I was still spaced out when he caught me staring at him.

"Yes. Definitely." Replying with my poker face.

He gave me a suprised look. Like he didn't see that coming but then his lips curved into a mischievous grin as he utter, "A cash for your thoughts?"

"Five thousand. Pay up or forget it." I said teasingly but he got his wallet and pulled out five one thousand peso bills and put it on top of the table. I was awe stricken for a moment but a smile appeared on my face. I took the five thousand pesos bill and held it for a few moment before I went closer and whispered in his ears, "How about five thousand for you?"

He quickly placed his hand on my waist, pulled me close to his body and replied, "You can have me for free."