Arch of the Centuries

23

DRAKE’S POV

Kakalabas ko lang ng shower room nang marinig ko ang pag tunog ng aking phone. Tinanggal ko ito mula sa pagkakacharge at bumungad ang text message mula kay Lance.

Lance : 8 pm, Xylo, don’t be late.

Nakahanap raw siya ng bagong club sa may xylo kaya’t naisipan naming mag unwind. Isang buwan rin ang sunod-sunod at puspusan naming training, hindi naman siguro masama ang magrelax at magenjoy ng isang araw, ‘di ba?

New message swooped back. Another one from Lance.

Lance : Strictly no girls! Walang magdadala ng babae.

Napangisi ako, akala mo naman talaga may maidadala ako. Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro ba ‘tong si Lance o hindi.

Nagbihis lang ako saglit at dumiretso na sa Xylo. Saktong alas otso na ng tingnan ko ang aking relo, walang bago late na naman sila!

I sent a message to our group chat.

: Akala ko ba 8 o’clock. 10 minutes at wala pa kayo rito, uuwi na ‘ko.

Pero hindi naman talaga ‘ko uuwi. Panakot lang para magmadali na sila. Habang naghihintay sa loob ng kotse ay unti-unti na kong nababagot, sa aming magkakaibigan ako palagi yung nauuna, sumusunod sa oras, kaya’t ako rin yung naghihintay.

Mauuna akong makakarating, sunod ay si Renzo, pagkatapos ay si Lance at huli namang susulpot si Vince. Alam na alam ko na galawan ng tatlong ‘yan.

Someone knocked at my car window.

He opened the door, “Waiting for me?” Renzo said with a teasing tone. I chuckled, “At bakit naman kita iintayin, ano ka ginto?” He frowned. He looks disappointed. Pumasok ito ng kotse at umupo, walang kibo. Purong katahimikan lang. I catch a glimpse on him but he’s just like a statue scrolling up and down on his phone.

“Fine, I was waiting for you. Alam ko namang ikaw mauunang dumating sa tatlo.” I confessed, shyly.

“I knew it.” Renzo flashed a smile. After that confession he became his normal self again. Maingay at puro kwento. Which I like better.

I like all three of them in their own way. But Renzo is my personal favorite.

Someone knocked at the same door, aggressively, as if he’s trying to break my car window.

“Let’s go na!” Lance shouted.

“Wala pa si Vince.” Renzo said.

“He can’t make it. May photoshoot siya tonight. He’ll try to habol raw after his work.” pagpapalinawag ni Vince habang inaayos ang buhok niya sa car mirror.

Bumaba na kami sa Car at pumasok sa loob ng bar na sinasabi ni Lance dito sa may Xylo. It’s our first time to try this one, usually doon lang kami palagi nagiinom sa may BGC.

Habang naglalakad sa hallway ay maririnig mo na agad ang tindi ng sounds na nanggagaling rito.

“This is gonna be fun,” Renzo said, excitedly.

“Fun, baka sakit sa ulo,”

“Basag trip!” sagot niya sakin sabay titig ng masama.

Pagbukas namin ng pinto ay limang beses na mas malakas na tunog ang sumalubong samin. The venue is packed, some people are drunk, others are dancing to the music and majority of the crowds are flirting.

It’s actually fun, i saw a lot of familiar faces from the neighbor schools. I can tell na this is a place for the privilege, it feels like it was exclusively made for us.

We head over to the bar to get something to drink before finding a seat.

“Do you have cocktails?” Lance asked to the person on the counter.

“We have a lot,” the bartender replied.

“Do you have one for a coffee lover like me?” follow up question ni Lance.

“We sure have.”

After a minute of working, he slide a martini glass on the table, “Here’s a espresso martini, it’s a caffeinated cocktail. I used freshly brewed espresso and a dash of coffee liqueur for a real flavor hit. Enjoy your drink sir.”

Lance grab the martini glass and taste it. His eyes widened. He takes another sip of his cocktail, “this is really good.” he said while nodding his head continuously.

I ordered a drink for me and Renzo. This bartender is a top tier, he really knows what the client wants.

While sipping are drinks, we stayed for the bar area for a while. Lance was about to order the similar one he had earlier because he appears to like it a lot, until…

“Sir, can I please have one martini espresso. Thank you.”

Bumungad sa aming harapan ang isang eleganteng babae na nakasuot ng knitted top na may katernong denim shorts.

She looks familiar.

Habang pinagmamasdan ang babae ay napansin ko ang pagkinang ng gintong kwintas na suot nito, ng basahin ko ang nakasulat rito ay lumingon siya.

“STEFFANIE”

Napalakas ata ng bahagya ang pagkakabigkas ko mabuti na lang at maraming tao rito kaya’t nag patay malisya na lang ako ng makita kong lumingon siya sa ‘kin.

Lumapit ako kay Renzo,”Look at that girl, Does she looks familiar to you?” bulong ko.

“Where?” tanong niya.

Itinuro ko ang babaeng nasa harapan lang namin. Tinitigan niya ito ng ilang mga minuto.

“Hindi ba’t siya yung magandang babae sa Arko? Yung nakita natin.”

Right. That’s why she looks so familiar to me. Tama nga ako, nakita na rin namin siya before.

“I know what you’re thinking, wag mo ng balakin pa.” pagbabanta nito.

Renzo really knows me well.

“Hi, are you from UST?” I shoot my shot.

Nang lumingon ito sa aking harapan ay napansin kong nagulat siya mula sa expression ng kaniyang mukha. Ganda naman nito magulat.

“Hi, Yes. I’m a law student there.” even her voice is pretty.

She seems shy.

“Sorry, but. Can I ask for your name?” hindi na ‘ko nagpaligoy-ligoy pa.

It took her a minute before answering,” Steffanie Mariel De leon.”

F*ck, everything about her is pretty.

I offer my hand. “I’m Drake, here are my friends, Renzo and Lance.” itinuro ko ang mga kaibigang nasa likod.

Lance smiled but Renzo seems upset, he didn’t even bother to smile, he looks intimidating.

“Nice to meet you,Drake. See you around.” hinila na siya ng mga kasama niya kaya’t nagpaalam ito agad.

Humarap ako sa dalawa kong kaibigan, “Talo,pre. Si Lance ang gusto.” I dramatically said.

“Me? Ba’t ako?” nagtatakang tanong nito.

“ ‘Di mo ba nakita? Iba yung tingin sayo pre. Ako ang pomorma pero sayo nakatingin.” I said at bumalik na sa pagkakaupo.

I ordered another cocktail drink for my broken heart. I laughed like an idiot.

“Did I heard it right? She’s a law student?” Lance suddenly became interested.

“Yup, bakit? Popormahan mo?” I asked.

“Nothing, I just remembered someone na law student rin.” he said, his cheeks where turning red.

I noticed Renzo being distant and cold to me after I talked to Steff. What’s wrong with him? Nagseselos ba siya.

“What’s her name again?” biglang tanong ni Lance.

“Hindi raw popormahan pero gusto malaman ang pangalan. Style mo bulok.” pagbibiro ko.

“Hindi nga.” he denied.

“Fine. Steffanie Mariel De leon.”

“Thanks,bro!”