Reckless Abandon

Chapter Seventeen

Eureka's POV

"Hinihintay ka na ng friend mo. I have to go." sabi ko kay Enrico Hale.

I feel like I shouldn't have come here. Pakiramdam ko tuloy nagmukha akong tanga. Paano ba naman kasi, hindi ako mapakali sa sinabi niya nung huli kaming nag-usap sa balcony.

He's right, though. He has seen me at my worst times. During the night at the tub, puking in the dark, and seeing me soaked up with coffee, saved me from getting hit by a car... and the list goes on. Pero wala akong ginawa kundi sungitan at iwasan siya.

He at least deserves something. Ilang araw kong pinag-isipan ito. My pride wouldn't let me sa totoo lang, but I felt really bad.

Tiningnan ko ang maamo niyang mukha. At the back of my mind, I know that in a way, I can't resist him. I know I have the power to do so, pero there is something about him that just draws me closer, kahit na pinipilit kong lumayo sa kanya. I know I am starting to act so careless... and this feels like driving in the dark without headlights on.

He was looking at me intently, his eyes speaking with an unfathomable emotion I can't seem to grasp... or maybe I already know it, I just didn't want to recognize.

He licks his lip before he asks, "Eureka, please huwag ka munang umalis. Do you want to go with us?"

"Go where?" He smiles at me, and I hate that he looked so handsome, so effortlessly sexy that I almost want to grab his face and kiss him. I rolled my eyes at the back of my head.

"Basta. Pero teka, ipapakilala muna kita sa mga kaibigan ko."

I froze. I hate meeting new people... it makes me anxious. "E-enrico Hale, no. Hindi na kailangan. I gotta go."

"Hindi, sandali lang." he insisted. He gently nudged me to come near his friends. "Guys!"

Nung nakalapit na kami ni Enrico sa kanila, they all jumped to greet him. I took a step back, feeling suddenly alienated. Ginulo nila ang buhok ni Enrico at niyakap siya, asking him how he's doing and playfully cussing at him as well. But he just smiled and hugged them in return, patting them in their backs.

A really pretty girl from their group hugged Enrico a little while longer. "I missed you, dummy!" said she. "Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita."

Enrico wrapped his arms around her. I pretend not to notice it. The girl who I found bickering with Enrico earlier chimed in. She had a bright red hair and is wearing a maroon Ramones baggy T-shirt, black high-waisted shorts, and from what I recognize a Dr. Martens boots. I like her style. "I know, right! Huling beses tayong nagkita kita was eight months ago! Can you all believe that?"

Enrico and the pretty girl broke from their hug. "Except us, Alice." Enrico remarked at the red-haired fairy. Finally, she has a name. "Unfortunately madalas tayong nagkikita."

Sinapak niya si Enrico, but he turned and gave her a hug instead.

"Come on guys, ako ang nag-aaya sa inyo noon. Kesyo sabi niyo masyado kayong busy, at eto namang kambal nasa HongKong." Enrico smiled at me at inakbayan ako. "Oo nga pala, I'd like you all to meet Eureka. Eureka, these are my friends."

Isa-isa niya akong inintroduce sa mga kaibigan niya. The chinky guy was Sandro, and then there's Jake, who is apparently the pretty girl's fiance, whose name is Jane. Then there's Miles, who was tall and insanely cute who looks like a Korean pop star, who turned out to be Alice the red head's twin brother.

They all said hi and smiled at me. I did the same.

"God, I know you!" the redhead gushed and stepped forward, her face inches to mine and stared at my eyes closely. I blinked, suddenly feeling creeped out a little bit. "Ikaw ba yung parehong Eureka na leader ng dance group na nanalo like years ago sa Sayawatha dance marathon?"

Oh, god. My eyeballs wanted to pop out of their sockets. Paano niya akong nakilala? Does she know about---

"Kilala mo siya?" Enrico Hale interrupted. He's as surprised as me too.

"Yes! I knew it!" Alice gasped. "Siya nga iyon! Kaya pala pamilyar na ang mukha mo sa akin. We went to the same college!"

Shit, a schoolmate. I tried to smile. "Uh, hi. Ako nga yun. Matagal na yun."

"I know, but, super galing mo!" I smiled widely at her. This carrot cake isn't just punk looking, but underneath all that grunge eye make up she was also pretty. I wonder kung itong pagiging rakista ng kanyang outfit ay isang cover up para matago ang kagandahan niya.

"Thanks."

"Alice, stop making her uncomfortable." Miles, her twin brother, warned and turned to me. "Pasensya ka na kanya, ah? May ADHD kasi yan, hindi pa nakakainom ng gamot. We may be twins but I ain't a loca like her."

"Huwag kang maniwala sa hilaw na Koreanong yan. Totoong magkakambal kami pero hindi ko matanggap kasi ang ganda ko naman para sa mukhang paa na yan no!" Alice retorted back.

Miles decided for another comeback. "Unless we're fraternal, pwede mong sabihin yan. But whatever, you carrot, kung mukha akong paa, ikaw naman ang ingrown!" Alice pouted and they all laughed.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. Kung tititigan mo, magkamukha talaga sila, ngunit male version lang nitong Alice si Miles. Miles has ebony hair while Alice's were, well, dyed reddish brown.

"Alright, we better be going kasi malayo-layo pa ang magiging biyahe natin." the Sandro guy announced and went back to the car.

Napatingin ako kay Enrico, who was already looking at me. Isa-isa silang pumasok sa loob ng van.

"Eureka, you should come with us." he pleaded.

I took a step back and shook my head slowly. "Err... no. I---"

"Chico, hop in!" tawag ni Alice sa kanya.

"Eureka, can you go with us?" he answered before turning to me. "Please?"

Nilabas ni Alice ang kanyang ulo sa bintana ng kotse. "You two! Dali, halina kayo."

Napa-awang ang bibig ko at tiningnan si Enrico Hale. Hinarap ko si Alice. "I-I'm sorry, Alice. Pero next time na lang ako sasama sa inyo."

"No way!" binuksan niya muli ang pinto ng sasakyan at bumaba. "You have to come with us! Trust me, mag-eenjoy ka kasama kami."

I bite my lip. How could these people be so welcoming? They don't even know me.

"I'm not so sure..."

Kinuha ni Alice ang kamay ko. "Come on, Eurekaaa! For the sake of sisterhood!"

"Member ka rin pala ng Sayawatha?"

Tumango siya. "Duh?"

I smiled, letting all my nerves relax. "O-okay. Sige na nga. Sasama na ako."

"Yesss!" chirped Alice. I looked at Enrico. His eyes glimmered even more, as he was smiling down at me triumphantly.