Against the Tides

CHAPTER 10

“I’m excited! How does it feel to play with different ages than us?” Bulong ni Jas. Napailing na lang ako. Hindi naman na bago sa akin ang ganitong laro. Minsan pa nga, super wild na ng ibang dare na nakakasama namin.

Pero this time it's different. My Uncle is here; Elias is here. Kahit sabihin na natin na this is the same as his world and this kind of game is normal, hindi pa rin ako mapakali. Kasi unang-una, hindi kami close, katulad ng ibang mag-tito o tita na hindi magkakalayo ang edad. Eh kami? Sobrang bihira ang normal na pag-usap na meron kami.

And honestly, I still don’t trust him.

“Who is the first victim?” nakangising sabi ni Eric habang pinaikot ang bote na hindi ko alam kung saan nila nakuha.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang tumutok ito sa kaibigan nila Elias. And… this man is familiar... parang nakita ko na siya noon… oh wait, I think it’s Michael? Yung lalakeng nakipag-usap sa akin sa pool namin when Elias had his party in our house.

“Bring it on, kids,” nakangising sabi ni Michael.

I don’t know if this game will be okay and not awkward. Kasi it has three groups; mas maganda ang laro na ito kapag kilala ang isa’t isa to make it crazier. Pero eto? Paano nila matatanong o mada-dare ang hindi naman nila ka-close?

But never mind, it’s not my problem.

“Truth or dare?” tanong ni Eric. Pinaglaruan ni Michael ang labi niya na akala mo ang bigat ng tanong.

“Truth.” Bored na sagot nito.

“What’s your biggest turn-on in a woman?” Michael smirked before answering.

“Hot, baby. Of course.” He just shrugged like it’s a normal thing to say. Kinuha nito ang bote at ipinaikot.

Tumapat ito kay Andreu, and about boys, truth or dare happened. Hanggang sa napapadako na sa mga kaibigan kong babae; but thank God, it’s a normal dare if it’s a dare. Kasi... this group is not that close to each other so the game will not push through the limit.

I laughed when one of Eric’s classmates needed to do a dare, which was to kiss a girl she found pretty. And it's Jas; kilig na kilig naman ang babae.

“Sa wakas, di rin sayang ang pag-push ko sa laro na ito,” bulong niya na may halong patagong kurot sa braso ko.

The game continued, and it was more funny and slightly intimate but not that much. Kinakabahan na ako kasi hindi pa napupunta sa akin ang bote.

Not until tumutok ito sa isang kaibigan nila Elias, and sakto, kaibigan pa nila ang nagpaikot ng bote.

“Kiss someone you like on the lips, bro.” One of their friends walked over and kissed a girl from their group. And to take note, it’s not just a simple kiss but more like a French kiss. The circle clapped their hands and shouted to tease.

I glanced at Elias and caught him looking at me, but he quickly looked away.

“Enough, later after the party,” said Kuya Symon.

The game continued, and this is where the crazy game began.

This focused on the female friend of Elias, and she chose dare. “Lap dance someone.”

The girl smiled and rolled her eyes at everyone.

“I want them, but they are young. I mean, 22 and above, yeah, but not comfy for me. So…” She stood up, and I was frozen in my seat when I saw her sit on Elias’ lap.

Oh s**t, my heartbeat sped up. And my whole system went crazy.

Once the woman sat on his lap, the circle went wild. I looked at Elias carefully; his face was emotionless. Psh, as if. For sure, he was thrilled deep inside and couldn't wait for the party to end so he could take her wherever he wanted.

The woman bit her lips and started grinding. The cheers grew louder, so it was impossible for the other guests to look our way. The woman sexually ground on Elias’ lap while caressing his body. I focused intently on Elias’ face, and he remained emotionless… while freaking looking at me! Tangina! Why is he looking at me?

I just stared at him, unable to read what was on his mind. His hands were in his pockets, and I didn't know how many seconds we were staring at each other, or if anyone was noticing us. But it seemed like no one was because almost everyone was busy with the girl on Elias’ lap.

Some were taking videos or photos and continued teasing the two. But Elias and I kept staring, making my heart beat faster.

“Damn, stop, Carla. It’s like Elias doesn’t care. This is really a miracle happening to you, bro.” The girl playfully got off Elias’ lap and returned to her seat.

I looked away and sighed. This is insane.

The girl spun the bottle, and it stopped at one of Eric’s friends. Another dare was chosen.

“Kiss someone you like since you came here.” I gulped when I saw Eric’s friend looking around. And I suddenly got nervous when his gaze stopped on me. s**t.

Tumayo siya at naglakad papunta sa akin. My friends were shocked, and just like me, they started to get nervous. I slowly glanced at Elias, who was looking at me while he raised his eyebrow. I rolled my eyes at him and looked at the man in front of me, and yep, he’s handsome, so…not bad.

Yumuko siya hanggang magpantay ang mukha naming dalawa. I tilted my head up para hindi na siya mahirapan. Kinakabahan ako; this is not my first kiss since I had a boyfriend before, but doing this for a dare will be a first time. Kasi ang ginagawa ko lang palagi sa mga dare na binibigay sa akin noon ay more on crazy stuff and such. And this is the first time for this.

“Don’t be nervous, I won’t.” He closed the gap between us, and he put his hands on my cheeks, so I slowly closed my eyes. I felt him kiss the side of my lips kaya napadilat ako dahil sa hindi paghalik sa labi ko.

He just smirked at me. Hindi kita ng iba ang pwesto namin, lalo na sa pwesto ni Elias. Mukhang naghahalikan kami sa ganitong angle, but we're not. He kissed a peck on my cheek until his lips reached my ear and whispered, “I know you're not comfy.” I smiled and looked into his eyes when he moved away. He winked at me before going back to his seat.

I looked at my friends, and they were waiting for my sign if I was okay with it. I just nodded at them and smiled. Ganito rin ginawa nila kay Jas kanina, pero halatang halata naman kay Jas na okay na okay siya.

Sinilip ko si Elias, na ngayon ay may hawak na phone at busy scrolling. The game continued until tumayo na si Kuya Symon and told us anong oras na. His friends started to leave.

I hugged my friends and waved them goodbye. Same with Eric’s friends. Nagpaalam muna si Eric na ihahatid lang sila sa labas. Uupo na sana ulit ako since sabi ni Elias sa kanya ako sasabay. But I heard Elias's voice.

“Ready to go home?” I faced him when he asked me. I just nodded.

“Elias, you're gonna leave na?” one of the girls from their group said. Elias just nodded, and I noticed Kuya Symon looking at me and Elias.

Nabigla ako nang hawakan ni Elias ang kamay ko and softly pulled me away. Marami pa ring tao, mostly mga guests ni Kuya Symon.

I sighed when we were inside Elias’s car, and we were both quiet. Hindi ko naiwasang mapailing nang makitang iba na naman ang sasakyang gamit.

“You enjoyed the party?” I looked at him from the side.

“Yeah, so much,” I simply answered. Wala ako sa mood makipag-asaran sa kanya. I’m dead tired.

“Why didn’t you drink? I told you, you don’t need to worry.” I sighed.

“Kung uminom ako, baka nakipag-make out na ako sa kaibigan ni Eric.” I expected a different reaction… since you know, like an uncle mode. Pero napakunot-noo ako nang tumawa siya nang malakas.

“I didn’t expect this baby girl knows that word.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

“Na-lap dance ka lang, kung saan-saan na napupunta takbo ng utak mo,” naiinis kong sabi.

“Oh, that. I don’t feel anything about that. But same goes for you—if I were drunk, baka nakipag-make out na rin ako.” He said and glanced at me, smirking. Like he was mocking what I said.

“Well, I guess it’s not new. But for me, it is—watching you being malandi live.”

“You have your own imagination again.” I just rolled my eyes. Inaantok na ako at alam kong wala namang mapupuntahan na maganda ang usapan namin na ’to.

“Of course, I have a wonderful mind, thank you very much. Unlike you—na-lap dance lang ng kaibigan kung saan-saan na napunta ang... mind.” I shrugged teasingly.

“Ahuh, lap dance is involved again. FYI, Carla is not my friend. One of Michael’s friends… if you do remember him.” I rolled my eyes.

“Edi ano? f**k buddy? Fling? Ex? One of your girls before?”

“You and your mouth. Nahalikan ka lang, kung ano-ano na lumalabas sa maliit mong bunganga.”

“Excuse me?!” Tinignan ko siya nang masama pero ’di niya ako nilingon, kundi tumawa lang ng malakas.

Pinagkrus ko ang mga kamay ko sa dibdib at nakasimangot na tumingin sa bintana. Puro childish moments na naman ang meron sa aming dalawa. Ano pa ba ang aasahan ko? We’re gonna have a talk about the party in a normal way?

“You looked like you weren’t comfy in the game earlier,” he said in a serious voice.

“Kasi kasama kayo,” I bluntly said. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang saglit niyang paglingon.

“My, my. Masyadong inis sa akin ang mahal kong pamangkin.”

“Your friends are on a different level when it comes to games like that. Kung pwede ko nga lang sabunutan si Jas kanina para ’di na kayo ayain, ginawa ko na. And besides, it’s awkward.”

“They’re like that, but they’re good naman.” I made a face.

“Of course. You guys live in the same wild world. Of course, they’re good.”

“Your mouth is a bit wild too tonight, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Walang kwenta talaga ang pagtatalo namin. Siguro talo pa kami ng mga batang nag-aaway. Siguro mas may sense pa kung sila ang kaaway mo. Pero kay Elias, nagiging immature talaga ako nang hindi ko namamalayan.

“You know what? Walang magandang patutunguhan ang usapan natin. Nagkakainisan lang tayo. Let’s drop it.”

“Huh? Ikaw lang naman ang naiinis, Jade,” he said in a mock voice.

“f**k you.”

“Oh, wild one. In a car huh? Hmm, my type.” Malakas ko siyang sinuntok sa braso.

“You… grabe mo ’ko awayin. Bukas magsisimba tayo. Baka pagpasok pa lang ng pintuan, malusaw ka na sa kasamaan ng ugali mo.”

I just rolled my eyes and closed my eyes. Ako na mag-a-adjust. Alam kong ’di ako titigilan ni Elias sa kakaasar, at baka mabangga pa kami kapag panay patol ko.

“Sleep tight, babe.” I sighed heavily when I heard his half-serious, half-mocking voice.

What a d**k indeed.