Beneath What it Seems

Kabanata 5

Breathless

No way.

How can this be?

"Alam mo, tamang-tama," Ava said. "Chinika sakin nung ka-sorority ko yung sinabi niyan kay Arden sa cafeteria eh. Ano nga 'yun?" she paused for a while. "People like us are up to no good daw? Ha! Prove them wrong Lia."

Napalunok ako.

"Guys I doubt that this is a good idea-"

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Lia! You already agreed,"

Tumango-tango si Quinn.

"All you have to do is to be friends with him lang naman, babe eh. Unless?" Quinn inquired while raising both her eyebrows.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Sumapaw pa si Ava.

"Unless gusto mong gawin na lang din yung ginagawa namin kung type mo sya," she said then sipped on her drinks.

"No way!" I said panicking. "I'm never doing that,"

"Wag magsalita nang tapos," Ava teased.

"Right," Zoe added.

"Don't worry, you can always revise the plan to your liking, Lia." Quinn smirked.

Napailing-iling na lang ako habang ngumingiwi.

Napagkasunduang hintayin na muna ang peak ng gabi para magspread out na ang lahat pati ang magbabarkada. Mahirap daw kasing dumiskarte pag maraming kasama ang lalapitan.

"Seriously, I don't know how to approach him," I problematically blurted out.

Kung ang mga kasama ko rito ay eksperto na pagdating sa pakikipag-mingle ay hirap naman ako. Ang tanging mga naging kaibigan kong lalaki dati ay dahil lamang mga nakakalaro ko sa basketball.

"Ganto lang yan tuturuan kita-" Ava was cut off.

"Wait, I think I have a better idea," sabi ni Quinn na tila lumiwanag pa ang mukha.

"Markus told me that there would be dirty games later-"

"What dirty games?! Akala ko ba makikipagkaibigan lang ako?! Ayoko na!" agad na sabi ko.

Quinn laughed. "Lia, calm down. Getting near him is the first step, of course. You have to get his attention,"

I groaned. "Hindi ba pwedeng yung normal lang na lalapitan ko siya tas tanungin ko kung pwede kaming maging magkaibigan?"

"Gaga! Nung ginawa mo ba yan sa iba dati gumana?" Ava sarcastically said.

Natigilan ako.

"Oo nga Lia. Once you get into his radar, things would be much easier for you to be.. closer.. as friends," nakakatakot na ngumisi si Zoe.

Pinagpatuloy ni Quinn ang sinasabi. Ayon sa kanya, pag mas lumalim daw ang gabi mamaya ay magkakaroon ng iba't ibang dirty games. Pwedeng magvolunteer at may pagkakataon na magrarandom ang party host.

"Teka, tingin nyo ba sasali yun? Mukha siyang seryoso," ani Ava.

Hindi ko maiwasang sumang-ayon.

Quinn flashed a smile. "I'll get some help to make him... a little bit... tipsy... or.. drunk?" humalakhak siya.

Nakitawa rin ang dalawa habang nagdadalawang-isip na ko sa pinasok ko. Just the mere mention of 'dirty games' creep me out. I mean, what exactly could it be?!