Hoax (VBoys Series #1)

019

EUNICE

"Ace?" I called.

Humarap ang lalaking tinawag ko. The moment I saw his face, I confirmed that he was indeed the man I thought he was. It was Ace.

"Oh," he looked surprised, but he managed to smile and wave at me. "Hi, Eunice."

I stood there, forehead creased. Hindi ko in-expect na makita sya rito. His school was miles from here!

Habang abala ako sa pag-iisip kung anong ginagawa rito ni Ace ay bigla na lamang may kumalabit sa balikat ko. I looked to my right and saw Red's also confused face.

"You know him?" he asked.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay tumayo na si Ace at nag-alok ng kamay sa katabi ko. "Ace nga pala, kaibigan ni Eunice."

Red accepted his hand and stated his name too. I was only standing between them awkwardly. Nang bitawan nila ang kamay ng isa't-isa ay napatingin sa'kin si Ace at akmang may sasabihin, ngunit bigla syang tumingin sa likod ko kung nasaan ang entrance ng cafe.

He pointed at something behind me. "Isn't that your boyfriend?"

Agad na bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I had only had two boyfriends my entire life. One is already standing in front of me. Ibig sabihin lang no'n...

Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nakita ang isang grupo ng mga lalaki na pumasok sa cafe. As soon as the guy in front looked at my direction, I immediately recognized his face.

It was Jaiden, with his friends, again.

"Oh my God." mahinang bulong ko.

Could this day get any better? I was with two of my ex-boyfriends and another man inside of the same goddamn room!

"Hey, you okay?" Red asked when I suddenly turned into a statue.

Dahil sa tanong nya ay napatingin ako sa kanya, sunod sa katabi nyang si Ace, sunod sa unahan ko kung nasaan si Jaiden, sunod kay Teo, kay Zyron, kay Night, at kay Clyde na pare-parehas ding nakatingin sa'kin.

Tangina.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko kay Red (na hanggang ngayon ay nag-aantay ng sagot sa tanong nya) bago ako tumango. "O-Oo, ayos lang ako."

His brow raised. "Okay? You look pale."

Mabilis akong umiling. "H-Hindi ako maputla. Talagang m-maputi lang ako."

I wanted to slap myself for saying that. Nagmukha akong mayabang dahil lang kinakain na ako ng kaba. Pakshet talaga.

Umupo ako sa upuang napili namin ni Red kanina pa lang. Kahit nagtataka sa asta ko ay umupo rin si Red sa aking harapan.

"Anong order mo?" Red asked, still trying to figure me out.

"A-Ano... ikaw na ang bahala." was all could say. Dahil sa sobrang nerbyos ko ay hindi na ako makapag-isip ng ayos.

He plastered a confused look before nodding and walking towards the counter. Sinundan ko naman sya ng tingin at mas kinabahan ako sa aking nakita.

Ace, Jaiden, and Red were all at the counter. Together.

"Holy shit, Eunice. Holy fucking shit." mura ko sa sarili ko. I have never felt so nervous just because some guys were standing by each other, not until now. I was beyond nervous!