Shades of Flames (L'amour De Cebu Series #1)

16

"Allysh, ang tagal mo!" sabi ni Noellyn na ngayon ay lasing na rin. Mukhang nakailang shot pa talaga ito dahil namumungay na ang mga mata nito, parang inaantok. Sobrang pula nang mukha nito. Si Arziel rin ay patuloy lang sa pag-inom.

Napapailing nalang ako nang maglakad kami patungo sa sasakyan pagewang-gewang habang si Arziel naman ang nag-alalay kay Nice na ngayon ay tulog na.

"Ang bigat mo." sabi ko kay Noellyn.

Tumawa siya at umiling. Pinatunog ko ang sasakyan bago pinasok si Noellyn sa backseat at ganoon din si Arziel na ipinasok si Nice sa backseat. Walang imik na dumiretso si Arziel sa front seat at ipinikit ang mga mata. Napailing nalang ako at chineck kung nadala ba ang mga pursed nila Noellyn at Nice. They're so wasted.

"You're going home now?" napatigil ako sa pagsira nang pinto at napatingin kay Ethan.

He smiled and look at my friends who's closing there eyes because of too much alcohol. Tumango ako at isinira muna ang kotse. Naglakad ako palikod sa sasakyan upang hindi kami makita.

"Uuwi na ako, ikaw din ba?" tanong ko at tumigil sa paglalakad alam ko kasing nakasunod siya sa akin.

"Yes, keep safe. Are sure you will drive?" tanong niya na ikinatawa ko nang bahagya.

"I know how to drive, Ethan." sabi ko.

"I'm worried-" pinutol ko siya.

"I drank a little shots, hindi ako lasing, okay?" sabi ko at tumingin sa sasakyan.

"We usually encounter this scenario dapat pag naglalasing, iyong isa hindi. Dapat kasi may magdrive pauwi." sabi ko sa kanya.

He sighed and look at the car.

"Let me take you home first. You're with your car, I'll be with mine. I just want to sleep in peace." sabi niya.

"Hindi na, wala kang dapat ipag-alala, okay?" sabi ko at aalis na sana.

"Just let me, Ally. Ihahatid lang naman, I'll be going home after. I just want to see you going home safe." sabi niya.

Nagkibit balikat nalang ako at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"Ikaw bahala," sabi ko dito at napatigil.

"Sa susunod huwag mo na akong bigyan ng gamit. I'm not materialistic, Ethan." sabi ko sa kanya.

Humakbang naman siya papalapit sa akin. He glance at the car before looking back at me again. He bit his lower lip and put his hands inside the pocket of his jeans.

"I am courting you, Ally. I want to give you that." sabi niya.

Ngumiwi ako at umiling rito.

"Hindi naman dahil nangliligaw ka ay ganoon na, you can still court me without those. Simple things can already make me happy." sabi ko dito.

"But I want to. Will you agree if I ask you out? This weekend?" his brows are meeting in the center and he's becoming more serious each passing second.

I look at him intently, hesitating if I should say yes or not. Should I agree? Why am I even asking? He's already courting me and I should be expecting this. Or am I really okay of the thought that he's courting me?

Really, Ally? No architecture, huh,? Then how about Ethan? How about Arziel? Napapikit siya sa mata at huminga nang malalim.

Am I too carried away with my emotions that he end up courting at me now? Or am I really so attracted to him that I find it good now that he's courting me?

Tumango lang ako at humakbang na.

"I'll text you when I get home, is it okay?" sigaw niya dahil papasok na ako sa driver seat. Nagthumbs up ako at napangiti siya roon. He smiled wildly like he just won a lottery. I tried to bite the inner of my cheeks to stop my stifling smile from showing.