11 PM

CHAPTER TWELVE

We are already starting preparing after the call ended,.for my concert outfit, I am wearing a leather mini skirt partnering it with my black sleeveless top, showing little of my chest and of course my red leather jacket on it.

I’ll use a sling bag for my phone and other stuff na dapat dalhin. For my shoes, I’ll wear black ankle boots with heels. We are in the VIP section I need more of heights.

I heard Dale whistle when he saw me taking some pictures in the mirror.

“Kung straight ako Daniel baka niligawan na kita” biro niya pa sa akin.

“Kung alam kong papatol ka sa akin Dale baka limang taon na tayo”

Dale is wearing a grey pants casual polo on top and a boat shoe. Sobrang gwapo niya in his outfit kahit anong isuot talaga ne’to with his perfect body and handsome face lahat babagay sa kanya.

“Kaya lang hindi, kay Miks ka na lang” bawi niya pang sagot sa akin.

We take pictures after that, Cathy is still busy fixing her make-up. I did mine also pero light lang para mabuhay ang features ng mukha ko.

“Sali ako!” napatingin naman kami kay Cathy na kakalabas lang ng kwarto.

“Ay kabog si bakla” Cathy revealing how small her waist is wearing a wide leg jeans with a fanny pack, tube on top and a chunky shoes na mas lalong nagpatangkad sa kanya.

“’teh sana di ka kabagin niyan” biro ko sa kanya and she just roll her eyes on me.

We take a groupie pictures habang hinihintay sila Mika, they said naman na papunta na daw sila it’s already past 9 actually the concert starts 6 pa naman we still have a lot of time na gugugulin sa traffic.

A minutes more of waiting narinig na namin na may pumaradang sasakyan kaya kinuha na namin ang gamit we check it first, our tickets of course at saka lumabas na.

I can’t believe that today is the day na matagal na naming hinihintay ni Cathy for 5 freaking years.

As usual silang apat sa car ni Dawn at kami lang dalawa ni Mika sa sasakyan niya, ayaw talaga nila kaming kasama.

“Are you comfortable with your outfit?” as I stepped in inside his car, nakabusangot ang mukha nito. Siya ata pinaghugas ng pinggan kaya badtrip.

“Of course, I am” di ko naman isusuot ‘to kung hindi.

I saw him scanning me from head to toe and then inabot niya sa akin ang jacket niya to cover my lap.

I’m still fixing my seat belt.

He’s just wearing a plain white t-shirt, ripped jeans, and his usual white sneakers. Ang unfair simpleng damit ang gwapo na niya.

“You’re revealing too much of your skin” I am busy checking my things kung meron ba akong naiwan, kaya hindi ko narinig ang sinabi niya maliban sa mahina ito I’m not paying attention.

“What?” nang ma-check na ayos at walang naiwan tumingin ako sa kanya, seryoso pa rin ang mukha.

“Nothing” and then he just gave me his phone, for music siguro kaya I connect his phone from the radio. I play Paper Rings by Taylor Swift. I’m so excited para mamaya.

It will be a long drive for Mika, I still don’t have a driver's license kaya di ko siya mapapalitan.

Dale doesn’t want to be here with us doon na lang daw siya kila Cathy because they are teasing him na magiging third wheel siya.

I’ll just treat him na lang mamaya. Or I’ll let him do me a favor.

“Who’s the other two pala na kasama natin?” hawak ko pa rin ang phone gusto ko sana pakialam baka magalit siya. At saka takot din ako baka may makita akong hindi dapat makita ng mata ko. I’m just on his music application choosing some good music to listen.

“Viel’s cousin and her boyfriend” walang pagbabago sa expression niya but the tone of his voice sound so bitter.

I nodded my head and feel the music. Hindi naman halata sa boses niya may hinanakit siya huh?

“Papunta na rin ba sila?”

I’m wondering bakit hindi na lang sila sumabay sa amin. If they are two naman kasya naman sila dito but okay I understand na they are couple and kaming dalawa ni Mika ang mag-thirdwheel.

Before we leave kanina tinawagan ko na rin si Mom and Dad to update them na paalis na kami. Sinabi ko na rin na sa Boarding House na kami uuwi, tomorrow na lang ako uuwi. Buti na lang at pinayagan naman ako ni Dad.

“Yeah…” walang ganang sagot niya. Ano naman kaya ginawa ng dalawa sa kanya at na-badtrip siya ng ganito.

Walang imikan ang nangyari I just stared sa bintana and browse on my social media account. Sa sobrang inip ko napagpasiyahan kong umidlip muna kaya isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa binatana. Hindi ko naman makausap ng matino itong kasama ko.

“Yeah, one apple pie with one float and…” nagising ako nang marinig ko si Mika. I scan the place and we’re at the drive-thru pala. I have a travel pillow na rin sa leeg ko he probably put it when I’m asleep.

Sumulyap din ako sa rear mirror ng sasakyan to see if nasa likuran pa rin ba namin sila Cathy.

“Sorry nakatulog ako” sabi ko after I saw him finishing ordering for our foods.

“Tulog mantika ka pala?” he finally smiles pagkatapos niyang sabihin ‘yon. Hindi na ata siya badtrip.

“Hindi ah, di mo lang talaga ako ginising” defending myself.

nagpatuloy na ulit kami sa byahe dahil malayo layo pa ang lugar na pupuntahan namin.

I’m eating the light snack that he ordered, nasa mood na nga siya dahil nagawa na niya akong bwisitin.

“Feed me, I’m driving Dan” while he is smirking. Parang kanina lang badtrip na badtrip siya ngayon ang lakas na niya mang-asar.

“Bahala kang gutumin diyan” continue eating the applie pie.

“Come on Daniel,” I gave him an annoyed expression at saka lumapit and feed him with the apple pie that I’m eating.

Tuwang-tuwa naman siya. He can actually drive with his one hand, but he chooses to not to para bwisitin ako.

I swear this man.

Hindi na ako nagreklamo at tinuloy ko na lang ang pagpapakain sa kanya. Tutal siya naman ang nag-drive para magka-ambag naman ako.

I heard my phone rung it’s a call from Cathy kaya sinagot ko ito.

“Hello?” I answered it with my one hand dahil ang isa kong kamay ay nakahawak sa drinks habang umiinom si Mika, imagine how tired I am with this man.

Sa totoo lang kaya naman niyang hawakan sa isa niyang kamay pero ayaw niya he can’t focus daw.

"Sana hindi ako nakakaistorbo’"

bungad na asar niya I heard Dale’s laughed on the line.

“Obviously not, kung oo di ko sinagot tawag mo.” And I roll my eyes.

“Tapos na po?” sarcastic na tanong ko kay Mika and he just smirk at me.

"Sungit naman neto’" rinig kong sagot niya kaya natawa ako. We talked about what we will do sa concert, and how the four of them teasing us. Kung pwede lang manapak through call baka nagawa ko na sa kanila.

The long drive stops nang makadating na kami sa isang restaurant near at the concert venue. While Mika’s busy parking his car I saw two people standing in the front of the entrance probably waiting for us, assuming na sila nga ang kasama namin.

Naunang bumaba si Mika and then sila Dawn on the other car. I check my face on the mirror kung maayos pa ba ang mukha ko saka na bumaba ng sasakyan.

I saw how the girl hugs Mika in front of me. nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad papunta sa kanila. Sinabayan naman ako ni Cathy. Ignoring the sight that I’ve witness.

Nang makalapit sa kanila I smiled at them.

The girl is wearing a sleveeless floral dress with his denim jacket. She’s so lovely lalo na kapag nakangiti, may pagkahawig nga sila ni Viel because they are cousins. She’s holding the arms of the man na katabi niya, her boyfriend siguro.

“Oh! Hi you are their friends?” agad na tanong naman niya saka lumapit sa akin to have beso-beso. Ganoon din ang ginawa niya kay Cathy

“I’m Trinity, Viel’s cousins and…” she leans her head sa shoulder ng katabi niya “this is my boyfriend Mark” isang matipid na ngiti naman ang ibinigay ng lalakeng kasama niya I also do.

Ipinakilala ko rin sila Dale and Cathy and bago pa kami makapasok sa loob she already teases Cathy with Dawn.

Naging mailap naman si Mika nawala na naman ata sa mood kaya dumikit na muna ako kay Dale to avoid awkwardness.

Sila Trinity pala ang nagpareserve ng table dito for our early dinner. Also, para na rin daw to say sorry dahil hindi siya nakasama sa Monasterio noong isang araw.

Magkatabi si Mika and Trinity ngayon her boyfriend is on her left side of course, kaharap ko si Viel na parehong nasa dulo and Dale and on my side. Ang layo ng pwesto ko kay Mika, I didn’t gave him a gaze mas iintindihin ko muna ang tiyan ko bago siya.

“Mika told me na ikaw pala yung nakabili doon sa extra ticket niya,” I shifted my look on Trinity as she talks “Sabi ko na kasi sa kanya huwag na niya ako bilhan, good thing nabenta pa niya” ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya kita ko rin na nakikinig ang mga kasama namin.

Sinulyapan ko naman si Mika and he’s busy serving Trinity sa foods niya. Mas mukha pa silang magjowa actually kaysa sa kanilang dalawa ni Mark. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin at pinagpatuloy lang ang pagkain ko. I saw Viel staring at me kaya humarap ako sakanya “Why?”

Bago pa ako makatanggap ng sagot sa kanya he already put the slice of meat sa plate ko kaya natawa ako ng bahagya “Thank you” he just smiled.

Dawn and Cathy really look like a couple pero walang label.

We talk a lot of things; I also didn’t mind the action of Mika towards Trinity because he is also like that to me maybe that is his natural behavior and Trinity is his friend or at least I think so…. Hindi ko lang talaga magawang mairita kay Trinity because she’s literally an angel and I understand how Mika is head over heels to her.

“You’re an EE student?” gulat kong tanong kay Mark. We have a lot of similar subjects.

“Yup! I’m also struggling on Circuits to be honest” we laughed at him because we’re the same.

“I mean… who would not?” dagdag pa ni Cathy, kaya kahit hindi makarelate ang iba nakitawa na rin sa amin.

Nagtagal kami ng ilang oras doon and nang makita namin that 2 hours before the concert we decided to go to the venue. While we’re on the car Mika and I didn’t talk buti na lang at malapit na lang kami. As in even a single word no one dares to speak hanggang sa makadating sa venue.

We straight to the inside for the sound check, hindi ko napansin na Mika is here beside me I thought sasama siya kila Trinity.

Cathy and Dawn and the others are on the right side of the stage. Mika, Me, Trinity, and her boyfriend are here on the left side.

I just want to enjoy the sound check kaya hindi ko na inintindi. I’m kinda sad because magkahiwalay kami ni Cathy. Medyo malapit kami sa stage and I’m so happy with that.

Etong kasama ko kanina pa tahimik baka nalilimot niyang concert itong pinuntahan namin? “HEY! ARE YOU OKAY?” pasigaw kong bulong sa kanya because the crowd is already on fire they are singing loud. He just nodded at me. After that he sing along na rin naman kahit papaano.

I saw Trinity and Mark are in front of us hindi kalayuan but you can still see them.

I felt Mika’s hand wrapped on my waist kaya napatingin ako sa kanya pero isang ngiti lang ang isinagot niya sa akin. Ang gwapo.

Hindi pa nag-start ang concert but I felt so hype na agad. Half more hour I’ll finally see her.