I can't believe Jomar would have said that! Tumawa ako dahilan para matigil kami sa paglalakad ng mabilis at tumingin siya sa akin, "What's wrong with you?" nagtataka niyang tanong. Hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong pisngi, "Are you insane?"
Lalo tuloy akong natawa, "Why did you say that? See you 'never'?" tumawa pa ako lalo.
Mukhang napikon siya. Yumuko siya hanggang sa maging magka-level na ang mga mata namin, "I said it right, tabs. I don't want to that guy who hurted you again," may diin niyang sinabi yung 'again'.
Napangiti na lang ako at nagpatangay na naman sa kaniya hanggang makarating kami sa lobby ng commerce building.
"I don't know what your next class is. But I will stay here with you until you get into your class," sabi niya sabay upo sa bench.
I looked at him, "You did change a lot, no? You became matured and reliable as always. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang, ikaw yung nagtatanggol sakin ngayon, ngayon lang ha!" sabay kaming tumawa.
"And it's because you became tanga! Ang tali-talino mo tapos magkakaganyan kasi nag-LQ kayo ng jowa mo? What an idiot!" he slowly clapped.
Natigilan ako, talaga bang dahil sa kaniya kaya ako nagkakaganito?
Ilang minuto rin kaming natahimik at halos mahiga na siya sa bench sa sobrang pagkabagot.
"You know what? I have an upcoming class in ten minutes. But you still don't look fine. So I'll stay," wala na akong nasabi dahil umakto na siyang natutulog habang nakaupo.
"You don't have to, ako na ang bahala sa kaniya. You may go to your class," napaligon ako sa nagsasalita at nakita kong si AJ iyon. Hindi pa pala siya umaalis.
Ayoko siyang makausap. Hindi ko alam kung hindi pa ako handa o ayaw ko lang talaga dahil wala ng dapat pang pag-usapan. Napalingon ako kay Jomar at nakita kong unti-unti siyang dumidilat. Nabuhayan ako ng loob.
"You are the one that should go. You are not even a student here. Mind your own business, Dude," naiiritang sabi nito.
"She's my business," sagot ni AJ.
Jomar looked at me. He was telling me that he can't take it anymore. He stands up and faced AJ, "If she's a business to you, Dude, she's valuable to me. You can leave your business unattended and forget every single thing about it because there will always be someone to handle and take care of everything for you. Remember this, you can't leave your valuables unattended. So I can't leave her with you," he smirked and take me away again. This time we got into his car and left the campus.
I sighed, "How many times did we run away?"
"I can't remember. But did you count how many times I dumped that asshole?" he laughed.
"I can't believe you! Parang sanay na sanay ka na sa mga ganoong eksena ah? Naagawan ka na ba? O ikaw ang nang-agaw?" tiningnan ko siya kahit nasa kalsada ang mga mata niya.
"Alam mo? And daldal mo!" kunwari pa siyang nag-isip, "How about, let's grab a drink?" tumingin na siya sa akin.
Nadismaya ako ng hindi niya sinagot kaya napasandal nalang ako sa upuan ko, "Okay, let's go! I probably need a drinking buddy right now!"
"Wow! Are you a heavy drinker na?" he asked with amusement in his tone, "Any suggestion where can we best go to?"
I smiled, "Of course! Let us go to Pub!"
He looked at me with disbelief, "Yes, I am referring to which pub we should go to."
"I said we will go to Pub! That's the name of the Pub. There's a great band there," I smiled but I remembered that I promised to sing this night. I hurriedly texted Fritz that I can't make it tonight. He better tells the boys so they can change the lineup.
"Did he texted you? You look tense," he said while his eyes on the road.
"No, I just texted someone. Sinabi ko na hindi ako makakarating at may aasikasuhin akong importante," did I made a valid reason?
"That's right! Treat yourself as an important being, okay? Where to go?" I forgot to tell him about the direction.
"Here," I showed him my GPS.
"Okay, but first we need to shop for new clothes. We can't enter that pub with you wearing those uniform," he said.
"If you say so!" I'm tired to make an argument. Pwede naman kasi akong pumasok doon kahit na naka-uniform ako. Ako pa ba? Char.
"Is this it ?" we are now outside the Pub.
"Yes, we're here."
"Good evening, Ma—" natigilan si Fritz ng makita ako, pinandilatan ko siya, "Good evening, Sir!" bati niya kay Jomar, "Good evening, Ma'am?" patanong sabay irap.
"Is there any available rroom for us?" tanong ni Jomar.
"There is no available VIP room as of now, Sir. Our customers expected that our Star Performer will come today, but eventually, she can not make it," tiningnan ako ni Fritz, "All of them chose to stay po eh. To watch the band's performance without her," inirapan niya ako.
"There's still an available room, I believe," tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Ang tinutukoy ko dito ay yung VIP room 1.
Nagulat siya, "Let me check, Sir. Please sit down for a moment," ngitian niya si Jomar, after ilang minutes, "Ma'am, Sir, sorry for my mistake. I have overlooked the bookings. VIP Room 1 is still available po pala. Let me lead you there."
"Thank you!"
Fritz opened the door for us, "Here's the room. Enjoy your stay. Just ring the bell if there is anything that you need."
Naupo agad siya sa couch, "Oh! What a long day! I will be up for a beer, you?"
"Soju with chocolate and chicken with extra sauce," I said.
"Wow! Talking like such a pro!" we both laughed.
"Napansin ko, yung baklang nag-assist sa atin, gwapo sana," sabi niya kaya halos maibuga ko na ang lahat ng iniinom ko.
"Anong sabi mo?" bakla din ba ito? Nawiwindang ako.
"Don't get me wrong. Marami lang talaga akong kakilala na gwapo tapos bakla o hindi kaya magandang lalaki pero bakla ang hanap," paglilinaw niya.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, "Lilinawin mo kasi! Winiwindang mo ako eh!"
"I am always honest with anything I show. It's just them who get me wrong," tinitigan niya ako sa mata na para bang may gusto siyang ipahiwatig.
