The Same Romance

IV

Familiarity

This month of October, hopefully, will end pretty well because I am tired of all the dramas my two friends already involved me in.

Ilang linggo na sila nag dadramahan.

Ibig kong sabihin, ilang linggo na hindi nag papansinan sina Chelsea at Saya. 

Good thing Andrew and Tyler somehow planned their reconciliation. Tinansya nila ang tamang panahon kung kailan sila dapat pag usapin. Tamang panahon, panahon kung kailan medyo malamig lamig na ang ulo nila sa issue nang pag aaway nila.

"Nasabihan mo na ba si Saya?" Tyler asked me.

He even told me na kaya ako ang inatasan niya na kumbinsihin si Saya dito, dahil under ko siya most of the time. 

You won't believe how not shocked I am about it.

Saya and Chelsea are like babies. So vulnerable and easy to poke. 

Last time she had a package delivered to my home. Just like her boyfriend did, to ask for a favor. And then I didn't open it yet for weeks now. Dahil ayokong madisappoint sa pinadala niya. 

My instinct is telling me na kape nanaman ang laman noon.

I have loads of coffee in my pantry. Sila dapat ang regaluhan ko noon. 

At least give a proper gift kapag may hihingiin na pabor.

"Yes Tyler paulit ulit ka" reklamo ko sa kaibigan.

Kanina pa siya naninigurado na sinabihan ko si Saya na pumunta dito. May trust issue yata sa akin.

"Ang tagal niya naman" wika niya.

"Excited ka? Iisa pa rin naman ang ending nito, mag babati sila" I told him. 

Tyler is so damn thrilled. Can't he wait?

It's like we are waiting for some grand reunion here.

Nasa club kami kung saan kami inimbita ni Saya like two months ago.

Tyler talked Chelsea out at napapayag na mag usap silang dalawa ni Saya upan mapag ayos.

The music is loud in here and my silence lets it have the floor in my ears. Nakasandal lamang ako sa couch habang hinihintay ang dalawa.

Maya maya ay natanaw ko na si Chelsea na papunta kung nasaan kami nakapuwesto.

"Is she here?" she asked habang hinhingal pa.

Do you see her girl?

"Wala pa si Saya, Chels upo ka muna"

"Mag warms up ka muna diyan" Tyler told Chelsea.

Wala pa si Andrew dito dahil mag kasabay yata sila ni Saya pupunta.

"Are you nervous?" I asked Chelsea as I leaned on her upang marinig niya ako.

She doubtly shook her head as a response to me.

She is obviously nervous. Maybe she's nervous cause they could start a catfight here. I hope not.

I can say that there's a chance but I think they will most likely talk calmly instead. They are both forgiving. I am sure about that.

Bumalik na ako sa pagkakasandal ko sa couch. Nag hihintay na muli sa pagdating ni saya at Andrew. 

Inalok naman ako ni Chelsea ng isang baso na nilagyan niya ng alak at tinanggap ko naman iyon. 

I too, deserve a warming up.

I stood up while holding my glass of liquor. Dinaluhan ko ang railings sa palapag kung saan kami at tinatanaw ang mga tao sa baba. Dancefloor ang bumungad na tanawin sa baba. 

I sophisticatedly look down, in my white lacey bralette under my long black coat. I let it open for my chest to breathe. I am wearing tight black jeans with it and a black stiletto. 

Wala namang patay.

I felt something odd as I enjoy my viewing of people from down there.

Hindi ko naman iyon masyado pinansin dahil maaaring guni-guni ko lamang iyon. As I saw Saya and Andrew making their way upstairs. Ay agad kong iniangat ang ulo ko. 

My eyes first landed on the front.

Natanaw ko naman ang isang pamilyar babae na mukhang kanina pa ako tinitingnan mula sa tapat na railings kung nasaan siya. Hindi nag tagal ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil nais kong salubungin ang mga kaibigan.

That's what I am here for in the first place.

How come she is looking at me while talking to someone in front of her.

Maybe she's drunk.

"Oh nandiyan na pala eh" sabi ko nang makabalik na sa mga kaibigan.

"Tara na muna" wika ni Tyler at inaya na kami paalis doon upang mag kausap na muna silang dalawa.

I didn't protest. I'm here as moral support.

"Sa counter muna tayo" yaya ni Andrew sa amin upang iwan na muna ang dalawa.

Sumama naman ako sa dalawang lalaki na ito upang mag hanap ng pagkakaablahan dito.

These two guys with me are both taller than me. But it is just a few inches because I also am pretty tall even without my stilettos. 

Tiningnan ko naman ang baso sa kamay ko na may laman pang inumin. Nakita naman ako ni Tyler na ginawa iyon.  

"Ubusin mo na yan parang tanga kanina mo pa hawak yan" Tyler spat.

Sa inis ko ay tinungga ko ang alak sa basong hawak ko at nauna na mag lakad patungo sa counter.

"Tagal niyo" wika ko habang papalayo nang nag lalakad sa kanila at sandali silang nilingon.

Bago makarating sa bilihan ng inumin ay kailangan dumaan sa gitna ng mga taong nag sasayawan sa dancefloor.

Habang dumadaan sa gitna ng maraming taong nag kakasiyahan ay hindi ko naiwasang tingalain ang ikalawwang palapag kung nasaan ang babaeng may pamilyar na mukha.

She is the girl from the last time. The one who faked a puke to ditch a horny guy he could've found from the dance floor of this club.

She is also the girl that I saw from the coffee shop last time I got there. 

The new employee.

She got these hazel eyes and a warm smile. Anyone could not possibly resist especially the boys. 

It's the third time I got to encounter her.

The second time at the coffee shop, I didn't pay attention to her that much because she is not big of a deal.

Is she working to go to this club?

Maybe not or maybe?

Nakita ko naman siyang nakasandal pa rin sa railings ng ikalawang palapag at may kausap na babae.

She is wearing a fitted gray tank top and denim shorts. 

Her hair is long. It made her way more attractive to easy predators.

Nag patuloy na ako sa pag lalakad nang makita kong nngitian niya ako galing sa taas. nahuli niya akong tumitingin sa kanya at sinubukan ko naman na mag panggap na hinahanap ko ang mga kibigan sa dagat ng mga nag sassayawan.

Ginawa ko ngang lumingon sa likod ko upang hagilapin sina Tyler at Andre ngunit hindi ko na sila nakita.

Siguro ay nauna na sila roon. Kung kaya binilisan ko na makalis sa parte ng club na ito.

"Nag sayaw ka pa no?" bungad ni Andrew na tanong sa akin nang makarating ako sa counter.

Umupo ako sa is a sa mga upuan sa tabi ni Andrew.

"Oo" sagot ko nang makaupo dahil ayoko na pahabain ang pag tatanong niya.

"Oh" wika ni Tyler nang padulasin ang isang baso ng inumn para sa akin.

"Thank you" sagot ko at tumalikod sa counter upang harapin ang dancefloor.

The three of us stayed quiet for a while as we enjoy the company of our own drinks.

Our silence didn't last long when Tyler asked something.

"Nag sabunutan na kaya sila?" Tyler asked that made me and Andrew look at him violently.

"Ayaw mo ba sila mag kaaayos?" tanong ko sa kaibigan nang masama pa rin ang tingin sa kanya.

"It is better to think of the worst thing to happen para hindi tayo madisappoint kapag hindi sila nag kaayos" he defended.

Nakita ko naman ang naging kalmang postura ni Andrew sa paliwanag ni tyler.

He has a point but still. What he asked was outrageous. Especially for Andrew.

"I know you guys na kilala niyo si Saya"

"Maybe way better than me," Andrew said.

Ayoko ng drama ha.

"We know kung gaano kadaling mapagaan ang loob ni Saya"

"For sure lasing na silang dalawa pag balik natin don" Andrew added with no dramas.

"Maybe" I commented.

Pwedeng hindi siya nag kakamali dahil Chelsea is a f*****g wild party girl too. Madali na lamang silang mag kakasundo kapag nag kaayos na sila.

"I am expecting them to go down here" sabay nguso ko sa dancefloor sa harap naming tatlo.

Napangiti naman si Andrew sa sinabi ko nang lingunin ko ang banda nilang dalawa. While Tyler, on the other hand, is laughing at what I just said.

After that, we continue talking and having multiple drinks from the bar. 

That moment I discovered that Andrew is a man. Saya deserves this guy, someone who really cares for him.

Sa pagkakataon na 'to alam kong hindi namamamlastik si Andrew sa harap namin. I didn't see a trace of him trying hard to get along with us. I can tell that he is an open book. 

A gentleman, but I still hope this impression of mine to him will last.

We waited and waited for the two ladies upstairs down here. 

Nauwi sa pustahan ang  posibleng imaging results ng pag aayos nina Chelsea at Saya.

It has been 30 minutes or more than that, we have been waiting here.

"In 5 minutes we will probably find the two dancing here on the dancefloor" I dared.

"And Saya will be twerking" I added at kinindatan si Andrew sa tabi ko. 

I took a sip in my drink and ate the slice of lime on the side of my glass. 

"This is so good" I commented on my lime.

"In 5 minutes they are drunk" pag pupusta naman ni Tyler.

Andrew sighed deeply before dropping his bet.

"In 5 minutes they will attend to us here and treat us drinks" he dared enthusiastically 

Oh, poor boy. I hate to let you down but you are indeed right. We know your girl and Chelsea better. 

I can't help but scoff happily at his dare. 

This guy is so cute.

We stayed quiet for a while again until Andrew spoke to me first.

"Do you know her?" he asked me while referring to the girl at the railings on the second floor.

Iniangat ko ang tingin sa babae at nilipat ang tingin kay Andrew.

"Actually no, do you know her?" I smilingly asked him.

"Yes, she is my friend" he said.

"Tala's the name" Andrew added.

Oh, Tala.

I am not interested but it won't hurt to ask about her anyway. I am just curious.

"She's new here doesn't she?" I confirmed. 

"Ah oo kakalipat niya lang nga ng residency dito eh" he said.

Napatango naman ako sa sinabi niya.

Nais ko pa sana mag tanong ng mga bagay tungkol sa Tala na iyon ngunit namataan na namin sina Chelsea at saya na pababa galing sa itaas na puwesto namin. 

"The game starts now" wika ni Tyler sa kabilang tabi ni Andrew.

Umayos naman kaming tatlo sa pag kakaupo upang hayaan ang dalawa kung saan pupunta.

They looked drunk.

They are laughing while heading to the dancefloor. 

I am thrilled with this bet we did.

Nakangiti lamang ako buong oras habang pinagmamasdan silang dalawwa na halos pagewang gewan na mag lakad. 

I am right with the first thing they did. They headed to the dancefloor and didn't even bother to search for us three.

They dance their way at the center of the dancefloor while giggling at each other. 

Hindi na namin sila halos matanaw sa anggulo kung nasaan kami nakaupo. Tila natatabunan na sila ng mga taong nag sasayawan din doon.

Nag tinginan kaming tatlo at pareparehong walang balak na tumayo para hanapin ang dalawa sa dagat ng tao sa harap namin. 

I laughed at Tyler's reaction and as well as Andrew's. Si Andrew ay mukhang nag aalala na sa maaaring sinapit ng kaniyang girlfriend sa loob ng dancefloor. While Tyler could be worried about his ego as he loses our game.

Nakatingin sila sa akin habang tinatawanan ko sila habang nakaupo.

I am just gracing my way to victory with my drink as I stood up sa pagkakaupo galing sa upuan ko.

I signed to the drink maker to make me one more of what I am having. Dahil paubos na iyon.

Maya maya ay nag sisigawan na ang isang kumpol ng mga tao sa dancefloor. 

Agad namang naintriga ang dalawa kong katabing lalaki at tumayo upang tingnan iyon. As I wait for my drink to be made. Sinamahan ko naman silang tingnan ang nangyayari sa ibang anggulo.

"Oh, my f*****g-" I reacted and then burst out into laughter.

My prediction is right. 

Pinagkakaguluhan si Saya at Chelsea dahil nagpapakitang gilas silang mag twerk sa gitna ng dancefloor. 

They are competing for each other's butt on the dancefloor.

I flee out of the scene, leaving Tyler cheering for our friends at si Andrew na bumubwelo upang patigilin si Saya sa ginagawa niya.

I saw Tyler stopping Andrew sa binabalak niya because maybe he thought Andrew should chill. After all, this is our normal thing.

I attended to the bartender and told him to make my drink three. Because I am celebrating my victory in our game.

It is a game of who knows them the best. 

And I won.