Kahit Kunwari

7

Ej held my arms and we went back inside. I saw Karlie talking to some of her friends and looked at us. Mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin. Pagkarating namin sa table ay masayang nagkukwentuhan ang mga kaibigan namin. They looked at us. Ally is eyeing me like she wants to know what happened back there. Ngumiti nalang ako at tsaka ko na ikukwento ito.

I sat and Ej is beside me.

"No more beer, Grae. I'll get you a cold water." He said. Agad ko siyang pinigilan, ano? Papasok siya ulit doon? Baka matagalan nanaman siya makabalik. He looked at me asking.

"No, okay lang ako Ej." I told him without saying what's inside my head.

"Whoa! Ej? Jayce, Ej tawag ni Grae sayo?" Si Dave na gulat pero kalaunan ay nangingiti na rin.

"Shut up, Dave." He said. Caleb was handing him a drink but surprisingly Ej shooked his head. "I can't drink, ihahatid ko pa si Grae mamaya."

Agad naman akong napatingin sa kanya. What? Ally and I already talked about this. Sasabay ako sa kanya mamaya. Medyo nakakahiya lang dahil out of the way ang street namin.

"Ej, sasabay ako kay Ally." I told him.

Agad siyang nagbalik ng tingin sa akin.

"Ha? Sasabay ka sa akin? May usapan ba tayo, Grae?" Ally looked at me and pretending to be shocked. What the heck? Binebenta ba ako nito?
Matalim ko siyang tiningnan pero ang gaga ngumiti lang ng matamis.

I looked at Ally and almost choke her.

"Gio, let's get some water. Mukhang hilo pa ang kaibigan ko, ayaw naman paalisin si Jayce sa tabi niya." Ally said and laughed. I eyed her. Kahit kailan talaga!

"Sure. Dyan ka nalang Jayce, mamaya uminom na naman si Grae." Gio stood up and they went inside.

I looked at Ej. His now fighting a smile. Nakataas ang isang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I looked away. Nahagip ng mata ko si Caleb na ngayon ay nakataas na ang kilay sa amin.

"Madaya ka Jayce! Nagpadagdag tayo ng beer tapos hindi ka pala iinom!" Dave snorted.

"Tigilan mo ako Vargas, I don't want to drive drunk. Kasama ko si Grae." He said then put his arms at the back of my chair.

Nag-apir naman si Dave at Ronnie. Caleb smirked and drink his shot. Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na sila Ally. She gave me the glass of cold water. Agad ko iyon ininom at nakalahati agad. Medyo nakakauhaw pala kapag uminom ka ng alak? I don't know. Pakiramdam ko lang nauuhaw ako.

"You don't drink, right?" Ej asked. Tiningnan niya ang mga alak sa harapan namin.

"Tonight's the first time." I answered.

"And why is that?" Aniya

"Just don't ask please." Ako na nahihiya dahil mukhang alam niya kung bakit.

"You shouldn't drink, alright? Pero sige at may occasion naman. But not always, baka pagalitan ka sa inyo." Mahaba niyang litanya.

"You sound like a father." I told him and laughed.

"I made you laugh. Achievement unlocked." He said now touching his lower lip. This guy should seriously stop doing that. I might lose my sanity. Ngayon pa na may alcohol sa sistema ko.