Can We Make It Right?

CHAPTER 8.1: Chase

CHAPTER 8.1 (Chase)

"Hi, Tita!" Max greets Coby's mom after opening the door for us. "Kuya iseset up ko na yung ps4 ah" he shouts running to the stairs going up to his cousin's room.

His mom is holding a tea cup, stirring it carefully on her shiny evening dress.

"Good evening po, Tita..."

Ow. wait. I don't know her name.

"Marj.." she continues, smiling sweet to me. "Chase? Tama ba?"

Oh. How embarrasing that her Mom knew my name and I didn't know hers.

"Ah opo" I just say. I didn't expect that she already know me. Or maybe just my name.

"Palagi ka saking nakekwento ni Coby. Pinapakita niya yung mga shots mo... and I'm very Impressed, keep it up!" she says then takes a sip on her tea.

Her face sickened. She surely disliked the tea she's having. "Ang pait!" She almost yell upset and place the cup on a table nearby.

"Ba't ka kasi umiinom niyan?" Coby asks. "naubusan ka na ba ng kape?"

"Naghalungkat kasi ako sa package ng papa mo dati tapos nakita ko 'tong box ng tsaa. Malapit nang maexpired kaya sinubukan ko na. Sabi rin kasi ng tita mo, mas maraming health benefits ang tsaa. Oh diba! Hashtag healthy living" then brings out a phone out of the pocket of her dress. "dapat makita 'to ng mga friends ko"

Focused, she takes a photo. Serious that this little cup with tea should be Intragram worthy.

"Ay! Chase!" She continues, looking at me
"Nakwento rin pala sakin ni Coby na—-"

"Ma!" Coby butts in. He drags me out of her mom and pushes me going to the stairs. While her mom was left, with her phone and unwanted tea but still managed to post in on Instagram.

We get inside the room, with Max finished setting up the ps4, ready to play. They are now sitting on floor, facing the screen. I sit on the bed behind them, just observing.

Max put up a game we, three can play. It's the latest Tekken, far more fantastic than the version we, my kuya used to play when were kids.

"Kaya mo na ba 'ko? Ilang taon ka ng naglalaro nito, di mo pa rin ko natatalo!" Coby starts the talking.

"Hoy!" Max responds. "Kahit magpustahan pa tayo baka maubos lang pera mo"

"Pustahan pa ngayon?" e lagi ka nga lang nagpapalibre sakin sa school"

"Ahhh....Oh! truth or dare nalang pag natalo!"

"Lakas ng loob ah? Yun lang pala e." He answers, confidently, without a doubt that he might lose.

But that's a real twist. Truth or dare punishment to someone who lose the game would bring so much fun and...revelation.

"Chase, ready ka na dyan ah" He looks at me, trying to scare. "Pagkatapos kong durugin 'to, ikaw naman sunod"

The game comes to start. Both are serious like they are in a life and death situation. But just like what usually happen, Max lost the game.

"Maduga!"Max yells in disappointment. "Isang sipa nalang 'yun e!"

"Talo ka parin" Coby chuckles. "Oh ano?! Truth or Dare!? Dare nalang! Kumuha ka ng pagkain sa baba!" He says but answers himself in continuous command.

"ayoko nga!" Max refuses. "Truth nalang"

Coby is circling his finger on his chin, thinking what to ask.

"Ah alam ko na" He says. "Nagkakabalikan na kayo ni Sofie no?"

Max is stunned. He just stare straight to the TV screen. Shaking his head quick.

"E bakit nakita ko kayong magkasama?" Coby follows up, laughing in joy seeing his cousin being affected by his question.

"Kung ano mang meron saming dalawa dati, tapos na 'yon."

"Luh? Defensive? E bakit nga kayo magkasama?" He asks, again, laughing.

"Kukuha nalang ako ng pagkain!" Max yells, stands up and drag his feet out of the room.

Coby gets the controller Max used, goes up in the bed beside me.

"Handa ka na?" Coby asks me, with his face close to mine, staring like a devil.

"Stop the talk" I answer, smiling.

I saw him play. He's good. But not impressive. My brother is too good from him and I was trained to that level. I'm sure, he gonna suffer a very bad game ahead. So Coby must watch out and get ready to eat his words.

All eyes are on the screen, the first round is about to start. He's more relax this time. Not knowing what I'm capable of.

And.

He lost.

Obviously because he underestimated me. So I better not to take this one as a fair round.

"Akala ko camera lang pinipindot mo" he just say, surprised, hiding his dismay while keeping his composure.

"Pero 'di pa tapos" he continues, slowly getting his face near to mine.

Ow, God. This look again. His eyes are just hypnotizing. My heart is now jumping again in pleasure. My stare lingers for awhile. I can't take it off from this very beautiful view.

Unaware, the second round has started, and my character is about to lose all the life. I tried to catch up, give him a good fight, but it's too late, it wasn't enough. I lose the round.

"Pero mas magaling parin ako" he, again closes his face to mine, laughing in victory.

Final round. The decision round. Both of us are on our tightest grip. No one wants to lose. it's like a game of dignity and pride. An equitable start. Just and fair. No one's blinking.

He's doing absolutely good, he really wants this game. But nevertheless, just like what I said, I was trained to play with much stronger player than him. I know how to counter his moves.

He's about to lose, I can see him sweating. He's about to eat his words.

But then, he's more competitive than I thought. He takes a quick hand over my controller, not letting me to move.

I swipe it out of his reach. He got no chance to win.

But no, he forcibly dives his body, still reaching my hands. He's heavy, I can't resist his weight. I lose my balance, and fall out on this bed.

He's now over me.

He's on top of me.

Looking straight to my eyes. an energy-absorbing look that I almost let go of my controller. While his both hands are over my head, still on grip with his controller. He now looks at the screen, continue to play, not standing back. Never going up.

While me, stuck on his face. That face being this close to me is such an ecstacy.

A full five seconds, he looks back. And a heart-stopping smile appears out of his shining red lips.

Player 1 Wins!

The game declares. That's Coby, he won.

"Umasa ka naman?" He chuckles, sweetly.

Stunned, I can't respond. That's definitely for me, hoping to win but I could take that question differently. It's more likely to be more deeper when it comes with hoping.

"Ngayon? Handa ka na?" He asks again, still over my body.

The door opens, we both take a quick glance. It's Max, on his hands are bag of chips and a pitcher of juice while on his face is a reaction I can't even explain.