Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

"You'll stay for the after party?" tanong ni Adren sa akin habang nakaabang sa pagpasok ko ng sasakyan.

I nodded. "Etienne asked me to. Besides, I won't be drinking."

Hindi rin naman talaga ako mahilig sa alak. Adren frowned at my statement, it probably had to do something about drinking and parties. Agad naman siyang bumuntonghininga.

"Ingat ka," bilin n'ya. Tumango lang ako at kumaway pa nang tuluyan na n'yang sinara ang pinto ng kotse.

"Ikaw rin," I replied.

Humarurot na ang sasakyan at iniwan ako sa malamig na gabi. I took my time as I go back to the mansion of the Soteiros. Wala na ang ibang bisita dahil ang after party ay para na talaga sa mga kaibigan o kakilala ni Etienne. Yet, some children of the infamous conglomerate in the Philippines stayed for the party. Balita ko nga kahit ang ilan sa mga anak ng mga politicians ay nandito.

"Solstice!"

Inangkla ni Euan ang kan'yang braso sa akin. Mukhang gusto n'yang makawala sa iilang mga babaing lumalapit sa kan'ya. The girls who were pestering him decided to give up upon seeing me. Euan sighed and gave a small smile at me.

"Hindi ka rin iinom 'di ba?" Euan asked. "Should we ask for lemon water or juice?"

"Soda will do," I agreed that we should at least get some drinks for the night.

Pumunta kami malapit sa mga bar stool. I let my eyes wander off to see where Etienne went. Kitang-kita ko siya na may mga kausap na mukhang anak ng mga kaibigan ni Tita Ellise. He had his tie loose, his fingers racking on his hair as he kept laughing even if I could tell that they weren't talking about humorous stuff.

"Parang tanga si Etienne," puna ni Euan. "Kanina pa tawa nang tawa, di mo alam kung tumitira ng pinagbabawal na gamot."

Pinamulahan ako ng pisngi. "Baka masaya lang siya kasi syempre, happy birthday. . ."

Euan tilted his head to my direction. "What?"

I sounded gibberish, alright. I waved my hands off. Natawa na lang ako dahil sa pagkunot ng noo ni Euan sa akin. Ang totoo n'yan ay di ko alam kung paano sasabihan sa kanila na kami na ni Etienne. I feel like telling them about us will probably make them confuse. It was out of the blue, lalo na dahil alam nila ang atraso ko kay Etienne.

They know about what I did to him. I wonder if Kaiaria, Euan and Snyder hated me before too. Hindi man nila sabihin, they regarded Etienne as their younger brother. Masakit 'yon para sa kanila dahil kahit madalas nilang inaaway si Etienne, they cared for him genuinely.

Etienne met my gaze and he acted shy, he scratched his nape and averted his sight on me. Natawa naman ako. Mukhang ako pa ang unang magf-first move sa aming dalawa sa inaakto n'ya.

"Nabigay mo na ba regalo mo kay Etienne?" I asked, umupo sa tabi ni Euan na umiinom ng juice.

"Yes," Euan said. "Just some shoes and a few bags."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What brand?"

"High end ones," Euan answered. His tone made me feel like it was supposed to be obvious. Siya nga pala ang pinakamaarte sa mga Soteiro, I should have known it already.

Napalingon ako sa mga regalo na para kay Etienne. I was curious so I decided to check on it. Wala rin namang kumakausap sa akin at mukhang inaantok na si Euan. He kept sipping on his strawberry juice to keep him awake.

"I'll just go to the gift section," paalam ko kay Euan. He boredly dismissed me using his hands. Umalis na rin ako at tiningnan ang mga regalo kay Etienne.