In Another Life

4: Be truthful

Tyrese

Everyone was there when we arrived. One of ate Gloria and Mike's businesses was a fish pond, but since it was such a nice place to relax, they decided to build a gazebo in the area and surround it with different types of flowers and plants. The gazebo was also lit with yellow lights, which I really, really liked. I felt like we were in a paradise straight out of a fairy tale. May karaoke machine pa na hinuhulugan ng coins at korean bbq sa round table.

Of course, Bev was the one singing. Pinapahinto na nga siya ni Nyle, pero ayaw niya talagang tumigil.

"Lilindol na," panloloko pa ni Nyle sa kanya kaya pasimple niya itong sinipa kahit nakita naman naming lahat.

"Ay, ambot! Mas pangit boses mo. Kapal ng mukha nito?!" she countered. Nag-bisaya na!

Isang oras pa lang kaming nandoon ni Eisley, umuwi na agad yung mga matatanda. Pinaghanda lang daw nila kami ng pagkain. Mag-enjoy na lang daw kami at magpakalasing. I assumed they thought we were responsible adults, that's why they said that.

Ilang oras pa, lasing na yung mga tao. Baka malasing na rin ako. I was starting to become tipsy.

Nagkakantahan na lahat at paingay na rin nang paingay. We were laughing so much. On the other hand, Eisley was just quiet.

"You don't drink?" I asked Eisley.

"Rarely, why?"

"Why?"

"I don't like alcohol," he responded.

I gave him a pat on the head. "What a good boy."

Inalis niya yung kamay ko. "Don't."

"You don't like being treated like a dog?" I pouted. "But dogs are cute? And you are cute?" I pinched his cheeks, but he removed my fingers again as he scowled at me. "Sorry, my bad." I couldn't stop giggling, too. What was happening to me?

"Am I annoying?" I asked, putting a big smile on my face, so he would say no.

He didn't even think twice before saying, "No."

Uy, effective!

I leaned in close to him and whispered, "Eisley."

He had a surprised look on his face; my breath probably tickled his ear because I felt him move, so I laughed. "Sorry, I didn't know you're ticklish. Okay, I won't whisper anymore but you have to come closer because you won't be able to hear me." Sile was holding the mic, singing Wannabe by Spice Girls. It was really loud because they were all singing along to the song.

"What?" Eisley asked. Sinabi ko na nga eh!

I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him closer to me. "Why did you lie to me? I have trust issues, so you shouldn't do that."

"Tyrese."

I pulled him even closer, then I started to smile. "It's okay, I forgive you. Answer my next question without lying, then. Promise me."

He nodded, staring at me blankly.

"Why did you lie to me?"

"I don't-"

"Nevermind, it doesn't matter." I chortled. "Not important. Ito na lang sagutin mo, okay?" Hindi siya sumagot, so I continued talking, "Did you remember me? Did you, do you, did you not?" The words just rolled of my tongue. Ano 'yun? Was I drunk?!

I thought he wouldn't understand my question, but he nodded.

I should be happy with his answer, but I was not satisfied. I wanted him to tell me more, like why he didn't tell me he remembered me, why he didn't introduce himself, why he never showed up, and so on and so forth, but he only gave me a nod as a response. Nevermind.