Ace Of The Beauty (El Vicente Series #3) COMPLETED

Kabanata 4

"This is Shane, my friend!" pakilala ni Catherine sa kaibigan niyang payat at morena nang matapos kaming ipakilala. She looks like a human barbie doll. I never been so insecured about my creamy skin but somehow I hoped for a morena skin, too.

Tipid akong ngumiti kay Shane. She's two years older than me, just like Issa and Catherine. Apat kaming babae sa couch at ang dalawa kong pinsan na lalaki ay nakikipagkamustahan sa mga kakilala.

"ULV kayo 'no?" Shane smiled at me and Issa. "I've been there last year's school fair. Ang lawak talaga ng gym niyo!"

"UEV has a wide gym, too. Occupied lang lagi ang kalahati kaya hindi mo napapansin." Catherine shrugged.

I had two shots of margarita while they were talking. I sometimes chat with them but I'd rather just shut my mouth up. Sumisipsip ako ng lemon nang ipinakilala ang bandang tutugtog. Nanatili ang mata ko sa stage, mukhang alam ko na kung sino iyon.

"Hi, we're The Alpha.." Hunter's deep voice summoned all the girl's attention inside this bar.

Nagtipon pa lalo ang iba sa gitna para manood. We're too far yet we can clearly see what's happening on the stage.

Niyugyog ni Shane si Catherine na akala mo'y isang bigating artista ang tumutugtog sa entablado ngayon. Well, they're still a big star for all of the girls right now.

Cath laughed, "Don't worry! Kilala raw ni Issa ang mga 'yan, we'll talk to them later!"

Issa, my seatmate right now, chuckled. "Sino d'yan, Shane? You know, I can tell if they're single or not."

"I told you, si Añonuevo!" panlalaglag ni Catherine sa kaibigan. "Tagal na niyang crush 'yan. They were classmates in elementary. Hindi na nalimutan hanggang ngayon!"

"Hindi 'no.." mahinhin na sabi ni Shane at bahagyang namula. "I saw him on a exhibit with his family. We talked and.. well, I built my feelings for him again."

I don't want to react too much but I can't help but to be irritated. I know there's a lot of girls who liked him and I never reacted this way to them. Some are even my classmates and pretty girls! Wala namang masama kung gusto niya din si Rashid.. unless Rashid is mine— which will never happen, I guess.

The band started to play. Wala akong ginawa kundi manood at makinig— hindi sa banda kundi kila Shane. My lips went grim and I know my eyes are cold, too, while silently peeking at Rashid who is chewing a gum and playing his profession.

"He's really a good pianist. Marunong rin 'yan mag-gitara!" binida ni Issa. "Iyon lang, he looks introvert and very mysterious. My friend also thinks he's like that."

Shane smiled shyly while her eyes are twinkling while looking at the stage. "Well, for me he's so interesting. Which makes me like him more."

Tumitig ako kay Shane. She thinks that, too? Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang mas lalo kong hindi nagustuhan na pareho kami ng iniisip kay Rashid.

He's interesting, she's right. He's like a whole big puzzle that has no any pattern yet there's something about him that you want to solve. A maze with an unknown ending yet I'm not even scared to enter.

Sometimes, I think liking him is the biggest waste of time I'd ever do. With all his insults, I think I have no chance at all. Pero hindi ko alam. Maybe I wasn't really trying my best at all. Maybe I was playing around all the time and this time, I need to be serious.

I was tipsy when Rashid and the band came on our seat because of Issa. My eyes went directly to the man who sat beside Hunter. Seryoso ang mata kay Issa habang ngumunguya pa din ng bubble gum.