STATUS

CHAPTER 37

Rafael

Inis kong tinignan si Claire at Angie na tinatawanan ako "Yan kasi kuya, why did you make out with your boyfriend? Napagalitan ka tuloy" Kaunti nalang ay masasapak ko na 'tong babaeng to.

Kung hindi lang ako pinipigilan ni Trouble "Tara na, ang ingay nyo" Sabi ni Keisler na kakarating palang.

"Late ka nga eh, bilis na! Libre ni Rafael ngayon," Nagtaas baba ang kilay ni Angie habang tumitingin sakin. "Bat di nyo sinabi edi sana binilisan ko,"

"Ang bilis nyo pag libre no?" Puno ng sarkasmong wika mo.

I walked to Trouble's direction. He's been waiting since thirty minutes ago.

Ang tagal kasi ni Keisler.

We arrived at the mall after ten minutes of driving. "Kain muna tayo" Agad na sabi ni Claire. "Mamaya nayan, pumunta muna tayong arcade, libre ni Rafael" Pagpupumilit ni Angie.

"Hindi manonood tayo ng movie! Airing na ang isang magandang spy movie" Napa-irap nalang ako sa pagtatalo nila.

"San mo gustong pumunta?" Tanong ko kay Trouble "Bakit ako?" Napa-buntong hininga nalang ako.

"Alangan naman tanungin ko sila, mag aaway lang 'yang tatlong yan" Sandali syang nag isip.

"I don't really have any particular thing on my mind, but I did hear that there's a new opened grilling resto. I think we should eat before foing anything else" I agreed and faced those three who are still arguing.

"Let's eat first" Agad na nag reklamo sila Angie at Keisler "Sabi sainyo eh, malakas ako sa kuya ko" Napairap ako sa pag mamalaki ni Claire. "Dun tayo sa dati nating-" I cut her off.

"Let's go to a place that Trouble suggested" Sabay na tumawa si Angie at Keisler.

"Anlakas mo talaga" Tinapik sya ni Keisler at nag si tawanan uli. "Manahimik nga kayo" Inis na sabi ni Claire at binatukan sila.

"Itigil nyo nayan, pumunta na tayo sa resto" Nauna akong naglakad sakanila. Kasunod ko si Trouble at ang tatlo sa dulo.

"Their food is actually yummy" Angie said while eating a grilled chicken. "Yes, the taste is just right" Claire agreed.

"Bakit hindi ka kumakain?" I asked him. I don't know why but he immediately turned red "Are you okay?" I reached out to touch his forehead.

"That's odd, you don't have any fever. Why are you so red?" I saw him gulped. "I-I'm fine, I'll just go to the bathroom" My forehead creased. Something is really wrong with him.

"Let him be, he has always been weird you know" Claire said.

We continued eating but after some time I decided to look for Keisler. He has been on the bathroom for half an hour now.

I decided to look for him at the bathroom first. There was no one there. Where did he go?

I was about to go out when I heard a sound on the nearest cubicle "What the fuck are you doing?" It was Keisler's voice.

"Go out with me" That voice sound a bit familiar "You're a crazy asshole. Get off me before someone hears you talking nonsense" Nagmadali akong lumabas at bumalik sa table.

"Oh, asan si Keisler?" Tanong ni Trouble pagka-rating ko sa table. "I didn't see him. Let's just wait until he gets back"

Everyone agreed and we all waited. "Nagka-diarrhea kaba at ang tagal mo sa Cr?" Agad na bungad ni Angie ng masilayan si Keisler.

"A-ah oo, sumakit ang tiyan ko" Nauutal na sabi nya. "Oh, saang Cr kaba nag punta? Kuya came looking for you?"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Claire "O-out of order yung Cr kaya sa ibang Cr ako pumunta" Nag patuloy kami sa pagkain. Everytime I look at Keisler, he always looks away.

Sino ba kasi yung kasama nya sa Cr?

"Okay san tayo next?" Tanong ko sakanila. "Arcade, arcade, arcade!" Parang batamg sigaw ni Angie.

Ang akala ko ay aayaw si Keisler pero sa halip na tumutol ay mas nauna pa itong mag-lakad sa direksyon ng arcade.

"Can I tag along" Napalingon kaming lahat ng may magsalita sa likod namin. That voice was familiar.

It was Philipp.

"Sure, we are heading to the arcade" I said.

I took a glance at Keisler, he's face is as red as a ripe tomato.

Please dont tell me...

I gulped when I realized everything. No wonder why that voice is so familiar.

"Are you okay? You look pale?" Nahimas-masan ako ng marinig ang nag aalalang boses ni Trouble.

"I'm fine, I'm really fine" Throughout the time we spent in the arcade, I tried so hard to convince myself to not interfere with someone else's business.

I tried so hard but I was distracted because of my curiosity.

"Tell me, what's wrong with you?" Trouble whispered while everyone is busy playing different kinds of games.

Sinulyapan ko muna sila bago hinila si Trouble sa malayo "Kyahh I heard them! I heard them!" I was so excited to tell this to someone. I couldn't keep it a secret.

"Who?" Kunot noong tanong nya "Keisler and Philipp" I giggled. He let out a sigh.

"And now your curious?" Sunod-sunod akong tumango kaya nag salubong ang kilay nya "Do not interfere, let them be"

"But I'm dying to know," I pouted "Raf, they'll tell you once their ready."

"But I can't wait." Mahina nya akong kinaltukan kaya napa aray ako "Isa pa talaga Raf. Keep it a secret or I'll tape your mouth" Nakataas ang kilay kong tumingin sakanya.

"You'll really do that?"

"Unfortunately, no" Mahina syang natawa. "Let's  go now, remember, keep it a secret" Like an obedient puppy, I nodded.

"Okay good, let's head back"

"Wait, I want to play those" I pointed the shooting game "Sure, let's go" We intertwined our hands walked towards the game.

"Play with me" I handed him the toy gun" Umiling sya "I'm not really good at this"

"I don't mind, just play with me" Sa wakas ay napapayag ko rin sya. I was quite impressed with his skills.

"Are you sure you're not good at this? You killed many zombies than me" I said after the game is done "Beginners luck"

"Beginners luck my ass. Anyway let's tell the others to head home. It's already 7 pm" He nodded and we both went to pick up the others.

Then we went separate ways. "Bye kuya, kita nalang tayo sa birthday mo"  Kumakaway na sabi ni Claire.

"Sige, ingat pag uwi" Sasakayna sana ako ng may bumangga sakin at dinukot ang wallet ko.

Shit!

Okay lang sana kung pera lang nandon, pero andun ang childhood picture ni Trouble.

"Rafael!" Rinig kong sabi ni Trouble bago ko sya tuluyang iniwan para habulin ang magnanakaw.

To Be Continued....