Nights Like This

CHAPTER 30

Teejay invited us to a pet friendly cafe where pets can play on their own while the owners are having the time to chill and meet with other furr parents. Hindi ko sana gustong sumama because silang dalawa naman yung friends but Vance insisted na dahil sya ang sumundo sa akin, sya rin ang maghahatid.

I honestly don't like it because I am getting really conscious about him. Not just he feels off or what, he's really nice and he's a gentleman but knowing na sya yung ka- sayaw ko sa club noon, it just doesn't sit right with me. I feel kind of awkward with the situation lalo na he's Vance's friend.

Apparently, sya nga talaga yung naka tira sa Tower B but he left even before akong lumipaat roon. Rinig ko sa catch up nila na they're in the same circle during college but theye have different courses. Vance took a management course and Teejay's in medicine. Nagulat daw si Teejay kay Vance to be out early in the morning like this if he's free for the day.

Kahit ako rin naman, nagulat na may active circle of friends pala 'tong si Vance.

"I'm sorry guys, do you mind me asking?" ani Teejay. I looked at him saka binaba ko yung matcha frappe ko na kanina ko pa na ginagamit as diversion para iwasan yung mga tingin ni Teejay sa akin.

"No pre. Ano yun?" saabi ni Vance sa kanya.

I looked at him and pa- palit palit yung tingin nya sa aming dalawa ni Vance.

"Are you guys together?" he asked us. Napaka genuine nung the way how he asked because he looks like napaka caareful nya not to offend us nung tinananong nya.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Vance. I have the shocked pickachu face and sya, his shock didn't even last for a few seconds at naka resting face na naman sya.

"No," we answered in unison.

Napa sandal si Teejay sa sandalan nya. Mukha na syang eblighted at natawa pa. "I'm sorry I just had to ask para naman cleared tayo rito. I was assuming kasi na you guys are together. You look like you're together."

Napa ngiwi ako. Kami? Ni Vance? How in the world that we look like we're a couple? I want to suggest him na magpa tingin sya sa mata because ang labo ng nakikita nya. Hindi naman kami flirty or sweet with other when he saw me and Vance. I really don't get it.

"So, what are you guys? Hindi naman siguro kayo mag pinsan 'no? Because sayang. You guys look good together and I could see the sparks," aniya. He's eyeing us like of those friend in a group na ang hilig hilig mang asar.

Kung hindi lang sya friend ni Vance, baka kanina ko pa sya nalatagan ng reasons kung bakit sya nagkakamali at and why he should have his eyes checked lalo na ngayon. Hindi ko talaga nakikita yung nakikita nya.

"We're not. We're really just close workmates," sagot ni Vance.

There. That's it. I am well aware that Vance is so guwapo and he's hot pero shipping us and saying that we look good together is not really it. Baka naman yung spark that he's feeling between Vance and me eh yung spark because of the almost intense cringe that I am getting.

Teejay raised his eyebrows na parang hindi sya naniniwala sa amin but then he said, "Okay. You're just workmates na magkasama out of the office during day off. Okay. Sabi mo eh."

Teejay shrugged and grinned at the both of us.

Okay. I want to take back my first impression to him. He's not nice and he just don't know to stop pushing us. I kind of want to tabe his bibig just so he would shut up.

"Paano kayo nagka- kilala nito ni Camila? Sa club?" tanong ni Vance and I looked at him and gave him a look. A warning na huwag nyang ituloy yung sinasabi nya but he just eyed me and eventually ignored me.

I am just lucky na walaa akong sinisipsip na drinks as of the moment because if ever that I have, maibubuga ko tlaga and that would be so embarassing for real.

Imbis na magulat, mukhang lalo pang natuwa si Teejay because he's smirking and looking playfully at his friend.

"Sa Space Bar and Club a few months ago. That was the first and the last time that I saw her," aniya saka lumingo sa akin. "You know, I tried to find you after that."

That, too, came as a surprise to me.

"Bakit mo sya hinahanap?" tanong ni Vance sa kanya. Inunahan pa ako.

Ito naman si Vance, inungakat pa. Nag maang maangan na nga lang ako kanina like I didn't hear anything nung una nyang sinabi na he knew me eh. Okay na sana eh.

Iyan na naman tuloy yung kaba ko. Kulang na lang at itali ko yung sarili ko sa upuan ko kasi hindi ako mapakali.

Teejay chuckled, looking amused at his friend and then to me. "Because I want to apologize to her."

Kumunot ang noo ni Vance sa kaibigan nya and he darkly looke at him. "Why do you want to apologize, Teej? Did you do something to her?"

Kung kaninang neutral at normal lang ang speaking voice ni Vance, it became harder and darker as he said his question.

Teejay laughed.

Teejay laughed like he just watched a funny thing while his friend, Vance, looks like he's pressed over something. I really don't understand why he's pressed, really. But I appreciate naman na he's concerned if ever something bad really happened.

"Chill bro! I didn't, okay? We just danced together at the club gaya ng sabi ko kanina," he said, still laughing and his eyes found mine. "I just wanted to say sorry if I ever see you again if ever you felt that na- bastos kita because of the dance. I am not that kind of guy, I swear. Vance could attest to that. I was just so drunk that night that I did that."

Oh. Hindi naman ako na bastos sa kanya. It was just a dance kahit na medyo explicit. I never felt like na bastos ako at all.

Sinulyapan ko si Vance and he's jaws are clenching while he lets out a heavy sigh. His bothered look started to wear off.

My heart skipped an unfamiliar beat.