Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 26

"Insane! Stop flirting with me while driving!" Agad akong lumayo sa kanya, crossing my arms around my chest. "You're scaring me to death."

"Hindi naman mabilis 'yong pagpapatakbo ko," joshed Eli as he reach for my hand to hold. "Tiyaka ang bilis lang din naman ng kiss natin, nakakabitin nga-"

I didn't let him finish his words as I beat his arm softly. Given that he's just joking, it irritates me. Pero siguro, ayos na rin na maayos na kaming dalawa. Bumalik na 'yong bonding namin, na nahahampas ko na ulit siya kagaya ng dati.

I assumed that we're back to being a sweet couple, hoping that we'll never argue over Israel again.

*****

"Okay, matutulog na rin naman ako. Uubusin ko lang itong iniinom ko na milk."

"Bilisan mo, huh? Tabihan mo na ako agad," natatawang sambit ni Eli, kasabay n'yon ay hinalikan niya ako sa aking noo.

He's staying at my condo just for tonight. Tinatamad raw siyang umuwi pa sa bahay nila at magpasundo kung pwede naman daw na rito na lang muna siya sa condo ko magpalipas ng gabi. It's not a big deal naman on my part since he's been spending his nights here back then, tiyaka boyfriend ko naman siya. There's nothing to make an issue about.

Ngayon nga, bilang parte ng pampaantok ko ay uminom ako ng gatas. Kailangan ko ito dahil hindi ako sanay na natutulog around 8pm. Kadalasan kasi ng tulog ko ay 11 or 12, e since maaga ang pasok ko bukas, I need to sleep as early as possible.

As I kept myself busy browsing the net, pabigat na ng pabigat ang talukap ng mga mata ko. Kaya lang ay biglang naputol ang antok ko nang may dumaan sa newsfeed ko. Isang news article 'yon from Sunji Network, stating that Stacy Morales is the new ambassadress of Jestar---a luxury fashion house run by the richest man in Italy, Johannes Jestar.

"Is this a joke or not? Legit ba ito?" I laughed at the back of my mind. "Come on. Why did Jestar pick Stacy as their ambassadress? Cheap na ba ang kinukuha nila ngayon? Bumaba na ba ang standards nila?"

"Kailangan mo ba ng kausap, yeobo?"

It was from Eli, kinukusot ang kanyang mga mata na naupo sa tabi ko. Hinikaban niya pa ako. Mukhang naabala ang tulog niya dahil siguro sa sinabi ko. Feeling ko naman ay hindi pasigaw ang ginawa ko, ah?

"Para naman hindi ka parang baliw na kinakausap mo ang sarili mo," he added.

"Did I disturb you from sleeping?"

"Not exactly." He moved closer to me and placed his head over my shoulder. "Hindi pa naman ako gaano nahihimbing tapos narinig na lang kita na parang may kinakausap. Bigla akong napabangon kasi baka may maligno ka na palang kahuntahan dito, kaya lumabas ako dahil sa takot."

"Kalalaki mong tao!" I pushed him away from me. "Bumalik ka na nga roon!"

Inartehan niya ako by pouting his lips. "Ano ba kasi ang nangyari? May kaaway ka ba?"

"Ahh." I looked at my phone and turned it upside para makita niya. "I was shocked upon knowing this news update. Isn't it surprising?"

"Stacy? Step sister mo?"

"Uh-huh. Hindi ko alam kung paano nalason ni Stacy ang Jestar para tanggapin siya na maging ambassadress nito. Tsk, she doesn't deserve it!"

"Why do you seem so affected, Corrine?" His look was puzzled, trying to find answers in my reaction. "Is it because you think it's unfair to your side that she got accepted, while you were rejected by Jestar?"

Agad akong napaiwas ng tingin sa kadahilanang gaano ko man subukan na hindi mag-react sa sinabi ni Eli ay hirap akong gawin iyon. Last year, I tried to apply to become a global ambassador of Jestar. But then, I received a call that my application was rejected, treating that opportunity as never meant for me.