The Same Romance

IX

Am I waiting for it?

I guess Chelsea and Saya had built a love and hate relationship ever since the fight that started with Andrew. Maybe it's because they are so close. 

Mas mabuti naman iyon, kaysa sa mag away silang dalawa.

Andrew and I had a lengthy conversation for quite some time now. At first, I had fun talking to him. Like he's a new friend in our group. 

We have been sharing random stories and few life experiences. Laughing on some petty jokes we invented on the spot. 

I guess he's been starting some kind of getting to know her girlfriend's best friends or something. At ako yata ang una sa listahan niya.

 I am not gonna lie but he's pretty good at playing this. I am pretty convinced. 

Simula noong nag simula niya ako salinan ng alak ay nag simula na rin doon ang mahaba haba naming kwuwentuhan na para banag kami lang ang tao dito.

Lingid sa kaalaman ni Andrew. Pabawas na ng pabawas ang pagiging komportable ko sa inuupuan kasama siya.

Sa puntong pinipilit ko na lang din makipagsabayan sa ikinukuwento niya. 

"Are the orders complete?" wika ni Tyler nang dumating na ang huling order galing sa isa pang fast food. He is no checking all the goods we have ordered.

"Ah finally! good food!" wika ko nang matanaw ang nilapg ni Tyler na pagkain sa mesa.

I am certain that is definitely my food. I want that in my mouth now.

"That's your food right there" turo ni tyler sa akin.

Napansin niya siguro ang pag mata ko sa pagkain ko na iyon. He knew me.

Tatayo na ako upang kunin ang pagkain ko na tinuro ni Tyler nang biglang inunahan ako ni Andrew sa tabi.

Should I let him? 

"I will get it for you" Andrew volunteered.

"I'll get some more liquor for us too" he added and then flashed a weird smile at me.

Nilasing ba ng maaga ni Saya si Andrew. Because I think only a drunk person will be a nicer man to another girl even he's girl is around. I mean, drunk enough.

Andrew is being too nice to me. 

I am starting to think that I could be paranoid because I am a little socially off. Maybe I can't judge his gestures. He's being polite, I guess. 

Naiwan naman ang mga mata ko sa kanya ng sandaling panahon, dahil sa gulat ko sa ginawa niya.

Nang mahimasmasan ako ay pinulot ko ang telepono ko sa tabi upang madistract habang hinihintay siya na dala ang pagkain ko.

I need to be occupied. To also avoid some pretty accusations I had in mind.

Sa aaminin, hindi ako sanay na ganito si Andrew. Siguro ay bumabawi lamang siya dahil sa alitan nila Chelsea at Saya noon. Mali yatang iwasan ko siya. Baka nagiging polite lang si Andrew sa akin dahil isa ko sa mga kaibigan ni Saya.

To justify his actions, hinanap ko si Saya sa kwarto kung nasaan kami ngayon.

I saw Saya facing her speakers at the side of her television. Maybe she will play some loud music to spice up our fun. Not long after, she turned my way after setting the music up.

We exchanged stares for a while but she instead smiled genuinely at me while putting down both of her shoulders. SO I smiled back at her as a response.

"So ano ang uunahin mo dito?" tanong ni Andrew na nakakabalik lang kasama ang pagkain ko.

"Ha?" I unconsciously respond.

Siguro ay nais din ni Saya na mas makasalamuha namin si Andrew. 

Is she that sure with this man? I guess I will need to practice to be comfortable when he's around. He is part of our circle now. Saya should make sure that they will get married.

"Saan dito gusto mo uy" ulit ni Andrew nang mapagtanto niyang wala ang atensyon ko sa kanya.

Nilingon ko naman siya at kita kong isa-isa niya nang inilalabas ang laman ng mga plastic na iyon.

Hinayaan ko na muna siya roon kalkalin ang pagkain ko. I decided to check my phone again instead and checked my spam box for some messages that have arrived. But there were none. 

Inilapag ko naman muli ang telepono ko saka tinulungan si Andrew na mag labas ng pagkain sa platic.

I grabbed the bucket of midgets donuts for me to feast on. Finally, a taste of my cravings. My Youth is already waterin as I pick a midget to eat first inside the bucket. There are many flavors inside. So it is hard. especially for someone who is dying to eat one already.

"You want some?" alok ko kay Andrew sa pagkain na hawak. 

Inalok ko ang bucket sa kanya ngunit hindi niya ako agad pinansin.

Nakita ko naman siya na dumampot ng isang pirasong brownies sa isa pang kahon. I saw him eyeing that food as he sort the foods earlier.

This guy has a sweet tooth too?

He paused as soon as he saw me looking at me.

I doubt if he heard my offer.

Itinaas niya naman ang dalawa niyang kilay sa akin na para bang humihingi siya ng permiso upang kainin ito. 

I raised my eyebrows two times and smiled at him.

Isusubo niya na ang brownie na hawak niya ngunit tumigil siyang muli roon sa may bandang labi niya at tumingin muli sa akin.

"Kainin mo na"

"Sige na" wika ko sa kanya.

Napangiti naman ako sa reaksyon niya.

He's acting cute. And I don't think I am convinced. Mambuburaot lang naman eh. Ginagamitan pa ng mukha. 

I turned to our friends compressed on the other side of our table. They are pretty talking intense there.

The music here is pretty loud but we can both normally hear each other with our distance.

Sumandal naman ako sa couch habang kumakain.

"Andrew baby!"

"Stop bothering Mayumi there, maraming pagkain dito" Saya shouted at us.

"Pasimple ka pang nambuburaot diyan!" dagdag pa ni Tyler sa sinabi ni Saya.

I just laughed at what they said.

Well, it's quite true.

Nilingon ko naman si Andrew sa tabi ko na tumawa rin sa sinabi ng kaibigan. 

Maya maya ay tinungo ni Saya ang couch kung nasaan kaming dalawa ni Andrew.

Dala dala ang baso niya. Hindi siya nag dalawang isip na umupo sa hita ng nobyo.

Agad ko namang itinaas ang isa kong kamay sa kanilang dalawa.

This is outrageous. 

Respeto naman sa single hindi ba? 

"Uhh not in my face" I said. 

"Oh come on!" Saya reacted. She pulled Andrew closer at her face and made sure that I am seeing their act.

"I am out of here you two" I said as I grabbed my cup of liquor on the table near us.

The two love birds laughed at me as I walk away from their faces.

"Hanap ka na rin Mayumi" habol na sigaw ni Saya habang papaalis ako sa kung nasaan sila.

"Pangitain na to baliw" dagdag pa ni Saya na tuawang tuwa asarin ako. 

I waved my hand no in response.

Tinungo ko naman ang lugar nina Tyler. 

I will do way better with those people there. At may kasama ako, si Chelsea. Hindi na ako thrid wheel ng dalawang iyon.

Chelsea huh.

I guess I need to know something about Chelsea's new affair.

The music is louder in their spot. That makes their noise a bit unclear in my ears.

"So what's the deal" bungad ko sa kanila at kinuha ang bote sa mesa na nasa gitna nila.

I poured my cup some more even I have not emptied it yet.

I will be needing so much liquor this day. 

I am in the mood to get drunk and wasted. I am pretty confident to drink more. Because I already confirm that I have a high alcohol tolerance.

"There's no big news I think" Shay said and turned to Tyler as if he knows something.

I know something girl. I have something.

"That's not what I thought I heard" I intriguingly said.

I decided to sit on the arms of the couch. To join the conversation. I crossed my legs as I get ready to ask Chelsea.

"Aba anong meron?" tanong ni Tyler sa akin.

"Tanungin mo si Chelsea" sagot ko sa kanila.

Lahat naman ng atensyon ngayon ay nakatuon kay Chelsea. Handa na kaming pigain si Chelsea sa puwede niyang isagot.

Umiinom siya galing sa baso niya ng alak. Mukhang naiintriga rin yata siya sa mga matang nakatingin sa kanya ngayon.

That's right Chelsea. Feel the pressure.

"So Chels"

"Who's the new guy" tanong ko sa kanya.

I sipped through my cup. Waiting for the tea to be spilled. 

Naging ugat ng pag tatanong ko ang nabanggit ni Saya kanina tungkol sa bagong lalaki ni Chelsea.

I am pretty used to her fling engagements. And I am pretty sure that Chelsea won't take a guy seriously, at least for now.

Ngunit, sa dating nang pagkakasabi ni Saya kanina kung bakit ayaw niyang iimbita si Chelsea ngayon. Tingin ko ay may iba sa lalaking ito ngayon.

Though Chelsea doesn't usually involve herself with a boy or in a relationsship.

"Ah"

"Ayun tulog sa kwarto" kaswal na sagot ni Chelsea.

Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Pinagod mo yata masyado" wika ko"

"Nah he's just weak" Chelsea answered.

"But is he something special?" Shay asked.

"Him?"

"Oh, you are not asking me that" Chelsea said.

How I wish I am not but I think this guy is pretty something to me.

"Sure ka ba?"

"Baka dinideny mo lang" wika ko kay Chelsea.

"Kilala niyo naman ako"

"I am not even the marrying type" Chelsea added.

"You can't say that Chelsea" 

"We will actually grow sometime in the future" Tyler said.

Here goes counselor Tyler.

"Dapat sinama mo na dito para naman maumay si Mayumi" wika ni Tyler na nasa tabi ko lang.

"Shut up!" inis na wika ko kay Tyler.

Hinampas ko siya sa braso at nakasimangot na tumingin sa kanya.

"Naumay na nga ako dun sa dalawa kaya ako lumipat dito eh" dagdag ko.

"Ayan nanaman sila" inis na wika ni Chelsea habang nakatingin sa dalawang mag nobyo sa kabilang mesa. 

Nilingon ko rin sila at nakitang nag hahalikan ang dalawa. 

Mukhang nag sisimula nanaman na mairita si Chelsea sa dalawa. I feel her.

"Dito nga kayong dalawa!" sigaw ni Tyler sa kabilang mesa.

They both giggled at each other before making their way to our spot. 

I am not used to kissing scenes that involve my friends. I have never seen Tyer kissed Shay. Not unless we are at a club and I don't know them, they are not my friends. 

Saya is pulling Andrew by the hands as they approached us.

Like their relationship is a fairytale we need to envious of. 

Hmm.

To be honest it is pretty like it because Andrew is a good guy.

"So you both two are getting along huh" wika ni Tyler sa dalawang kakarating lang.

"We are" Andrew said.

"-Meant to be" dagdag ni Saya sa sinabi ng nobyo saka hinalikan itong muli.

"Oh stop" I said.

I can't help but to cringe out.

I need my phone.

Kinapa ko naman ang aking bulsa upang hagilapin ang phone ko. Nang hindi iyon maramdaman naisip kong baka naiwan ko iyon sa upuan kung nasaan ako unang nakaupo.

"Kunin ko lang phone ko" I gestured to Tyler as everyone else continue to talk.

Tumayo naman ako upnag tunguhin ang upuan ko kanina.

I swept the couch with my hand. And I found it on the corner of the couch.

I immediately unlocked it and checked my spam box once again.

Are you waiting for my message?:) 

That's what it said. 

Am I? 

I don't think I am though.

I walked back on the couch where they are with my phone.

I sat on the couch's arm again and decided to open my phone.

I enter the i********: app and decided to capture a boomerang for my story.

I hold my cup and shake it once.

There are party lights in this room and my phone captured the dance of the lights in the background too.

I didn't put any caption on it but I tagged my friends that are present at our get-together. After doing so, I browse a few through my feed and then checked my messages once again.

There are no new messages.

So I decided to put my phone down and continue meddling with everybody else with me in this room.

"Si Mayumi may tea to spill din yan eh" wika ni Shay nang makabalik ako.

"Wha-" I cut myself off and then turned to Tyler.

"I didn't tell her anything" Tyler said as he gestured her hands nothing.

I looked at him seriously.

"Fine just a bit" pag amin ni Tyler sa akin.

"No, I have nothing to tell you" wika ko nanag mapansin ang maiinit nilang tingin na dinidiin ako sa aking upuan.

"I swear to god!" I added.

"You sound guilty girl" wika ni Chelsea sa gilid.

I didn't tell them anything and stood silent for a while. And instead, poured myself another cup of drink even though it is not yet emptied for the second time.

Ininom ko iyon agad at hinayaan ang init sa aking lalamunan na dumaloy pababa sa laman loob ko. Inubos ko ang laman ng aking baso at ibinalik iyon sa mesa.

"Oh fine" wik ko nang mapagtantong nakatingin pa rin silang lahat sa akin kahit na matapos kong inumin ang isang basong may tatlong klase ng alak.

"I got a fling I-I guess" I finally said na naging dahilan nang pag hihiyawin nilang lahat.

"A fling huh?"

"That's pretty unusual and creepy for your case" wika ni Chelsea

"Well, someone approached me" I pridefully spat. I leaned on the couch.

"Because you are sexy and pretty" wika ni Shay sa tabi ni Tyler.

Liquor really is a fuel of courage.