My Life With You

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

We decided to go to the pool after that alluring sunset. My friends apparently loved that idea. In fact, it is their suggestion. They even forced the boys to play with us. Unfortunately, they agreed.

"We'll play spin the bottle. Then, truth or dare sa matatapatan, but... with a twist!" nasasabik na ani Mingzhu. "Kapag hindi nasagot ang tanong or hindi ginawa ang dare, there must be a punishment. Understand?" she explained.

Napalunok ako. "What punishment?" I asked. I am kind of troubled with their punishments because I know that they have strange ideas when it comes to these things.

"Secret!" si Trinity.

Sumimangot ako. "That's unfair!"

Sakto namang dating ni Sophia, may hawak siyang bote ng mga alak. Hindi lang basta basta alak, they're hard liquors. "Iinom ng isang baso ng alak, choose whatever you want to drink."

"Ang dami n'yong hanash, start na tayo. Kalurkey!"
ani Jo.

I really admired him for not keeping his real identity. Because we all know that racism runs in this society—human equality's neglected. People in this world are also good in pulling each other down just to lift themselves up.

Umahon na kami sa pool at nagsimulang gumawa ng bilog. Nilagay ni Mingzhu ang bote sa gitna. Ganito ang pwesto namin — Kuya Owen, Nathan, Carlos, Calvin, Kuya Ethan, Ate Ana, Jo, Trinity, Ako, Mingzhu, at Sophia. Wala na ang mga bata dahil hindi na sila pinayagan ni Tita.

"I'll spin the bottle first. Kung sino ang matapatan ay siya naman ang sunod," ani Mingzhu at inikot na ang bote. My heart beats wildly while looking at the spinning bottle. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng unti unti itong huminto at tumigil kay... Nathan.

"Uh-oh," aniya.

Ngumiti ng nakakaloko si Mingzhu, tila may namumuong ideya sa kaniyang isipan. "Truth or dare?"

Natigilan si Nathan, nagiisip. "Uh. Truth."

"Who's your crush?"

Suminghap si Trinity. "Wow! That's too unique," she mocked.

"Who ca-,"

"Ate Charm," putol sa kanya ni Nathan.

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Binigyan naman siya ng hindi makapaniwalang tingin ng mga kaibigan ko. The other boys chuckled while Carlos and Calvin remained serious.

"What?" he questioned. He just shrugged his shoulders and spinned the bottle. Ginawa niya 'yon kahit nakatunganga pa rin kaming nakatingin sa kaniya. Huminto ang bote sa tapat ni Kuya Owen.

The game went on and on. Napuno ng tawanan ang pool area dahil sa mga sagot at pinaggagawa nila. Apparently, wala pang nakakagawa ng punishment. Thank God the bottle hasn't stop on me yet.

"Okay, my turn!" Trinity exclaimed after she'd done the dare.

Kuya Ethan dared her to swim back-and-forth in the pool. Well, that's easy for her because she knows how to swim. Umalis na rin sila matapos 'yon, aniya'y pagod na si Ate Ana at kailangan na nilang magpahinga.

Huminga ako ng malalim nang paikutin niya na ang bote. Tumapat ito kay Carlos. "Truth or dare?"

Tumingin muna siya sa akin bago sumagot. I didn't know what's the meaning of that gesture. "Dare."

"Kiss, Charm!" utos niya.

"Trinity!" I exclaimed. Naghiyawan ang mga kaibigan namin. And I met Calvin's dagger look.

Ang akala ko ay kukuhanin na ni Carlos ang baso ng alak na nasa tapat niya, but he came closer to me instead. He stopped and kneel in front of me.

"Carlos..." I mumbled, my heart beating rapidly.

Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko sa maaari niyang gawin. My eyes spontaneously shut, waiting for his next move. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang sunod na nangyari, isang malambot na bagay ang dumampi sa noo ko. He kissed me on my forehead. Mabilisan kong naidilat ang mata ko. Then, he smirked when our eyes met.

Namumula ang mukha akong umiwas ng tingin. He chuckled. "I'm not going to do that to you," he whispered and go back to his seat. Nahugot ko ang aking hininga na kanina ko pa pala pinipigilan.

"Taray ng lola mo, ganda ka girl?" bungad na tanong ni Jo matapos ng nakabibinging katahimikan. Nahinto lang siya nang tumapat sa kanya ang bote.

"Ay! Bakit naman sa'kin, eclavu?" tanong niya kay Carlos. Sabay sabay kaming natawa sa inasta niya. Kahit kailan talaga, he never failed to make us laugh. Baklang 'to! His turn finished and the bottle he spinned ended up with Calvin.

Ngumisi si Calvin. "Dare," he said without hesitation.

"Katulad ng dare ni Trinity," sambit niya. Nanlalaki ang mata akong bumaling sa kaniya. Tututol na sana ako but his next words stopped me from talking. "Pero kay baklang Mingzhu."

"Is that all?" said Calvin, the side of his lips curved.

I actually expected that but I also hope for him to just drink the glass of wine. A part of me didn't want to see those lips kiss another woman unless it's me. I shook my head and I let that thought slipped away.

Mingzhu looked at him in disbelief. "Oh my God!"

Dahan dahan siyang tumayo at naglakad. Imbis na malapit na siya kay Mingzhu ay umikot pa siya sa likod ko. "Watch and learn, baby," he whispered, just enough for me to heard him. I stiffened. My hands formed into a fist for I don't know why.

It seems like my world stop when his lips fell into her. It looks like it's just the three of us left here. It's like they're having a performance with me as their audience and that I need to see what they are 'bout to do. I witnessed how his tongue enter into her mouth. My throat dried so I drink the bottle of wine in front of me straight. Gumuhit sa lalamunan ko ang lasa ng alak. I bowed my head a little.

"Hey!" pagtawag sa akin ni Carlos. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah, yeah," I answered in a tipsy voice. Ngayon lang ako nakainom ng alak at hindi ko alam na mabilis pala akong tatamaan. Nakaramdam rin ako ng pangangati. "C-Can you hand me your drink?"

He groaned. "That's enough, you silly girl."

Saka lamang ako nag angat ng ulo at nagulat nang magtama ang tingin namin ni Calvin. His brows were furrowed while looking at me. Parang sa pamamagitan no'n ay ipinararamdaman niya sa akin na naiinis siya. Wow! Siya pa ang may ganang magalit sa akin after what he did? Really, dude?

Nang tingnan ko si Mingzhu ay nakita kong tulala siya, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa ginawa ng lalaking 'yon. Ang mga kaibigan namin ay gano'n rin ang reaksyon.

"Woah!" sigaw ni Trinity na sinundan na rin ng iba.

Natatawang inikot ni Calvin ang bote na huminto sa tapat ko. "Well," his lips twitched. "Truth... or... dare?" he slowly asked.

"Truth."

"Are you a virgin?" walang pagaalinlangan niyang tanong.

Uminom muna ako ng isang baso pa ng alak bago siya sagutin. "Asshole!" sigaw ko bago tumayo at iwan sila ro'n.

"Are you out of your mind?" I heard someone yelled before everything went black.