Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)

16

"Ano ba naman ito. Wala akong masuot."

Wala sa sariling akong bumuntong-hininga. I was face to face with my closet after a long badly needed hot bath to ease my stress and calm my bones down.

Napaismid kaagad si Maki sa likuran ko. "Lima ang cabinet mo tapos sasabihin mo na wala kang masuot? Bakit ka ganiyan?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa 'kin.

Napakamot ako sa pisngi ko at tumawa nang marahan. He was leaning casually on the door frame of my walk in closet, drinking a bottle of Yakult. Nakasuot lang siya ng fitted plain black shirt, itim ding cargo pants.

"Bihis ka na. Punta muna ako sa kabila dahil paniguradong 'di pa nagsisimula mga iyon mag-ihaw," paalam niya, referring to Ares and Echo. Darating ang friends niya ngayon for dinner.

I didn't spend time picking an outfit since sa kabila lang naman. Bardagulan ni Ares at Echo ang bumungad sa tenga ko pagkalabas ng patio. Si Maki ay shirtless na pinapayan ang barbecue na iniihaw. The sun has setted and the lamps were already on.

To think of it, Echo was his only friend that I have been introduced to formally. I knew Cali and Raya but they don't know that I'm in a relationship with Maki. I met Sasy out of the bar. May isa pa silang friend, whom I forgot the name.

"Marco, sino nga iyong friend mo na angelic. Iyong maganda na maputi. The one who's always calm when she speaks," I unconsciously asked him.

"Amputa," react agad ni Jericho sa tabi ko at nilakasan ang volume ng speaker, mukhang may iniiwasan.

They exchanged just one glance before they began berating one another, as if they had remembered something amusing. Napataas ang mga kilay ko. Geez, their telepathy communication's so strong!

"Esme. Ex niya," pangbubuking ni Marco at bumalik sa pagpaypay ng barbecue.

"Hayop! Bakit mo naman ako inexpose?! Bro code!"

I halted. My forehead creased. "Wait... So you're telling me, out of the millions of women here on earth the both of you liked, I mean, fell in love with your own barkada? Best friend?" I asked in disbelief.

"Matagal na iyon," seryosong sabi ni Maki.

"Mabait siya, eh!" naiiyak na sabi naman ni Jericho.

I burst out laughing at the disparity in their responses. It was perfectly fine with me to talk about Marco's past feelings for his best friend. He already gave me assurance and I trust him. I have something to hold on to.

"Akala n'yo ba nasa barkada ang true love, ha?" pang-aasar ko sa kanila at inagaw ang baraha kay Echo. Binalasa ko iyon.

They both had their mouths open as if to defend themselves, but I raised my brow at them, telling them they had no excuse because I had caught them red-handed.

I got bored waiting for the food to be cooked. Tumalon ako sa likod ni Maki kaya nagulat siya. "Pucha! Iyong paypay ko, nahulog!" Iyon ang concern niya. Inayos niya ang hawak sa binti ko bago yumuko para pulutin ang paypay.

"Oops, sorry!" I giggled and wrapped my legs better around his waist.

"Okay lang." Tumawa siya. He was carrying me effortlessly, like I weighed nothing. I probably do, compared to the barbell he carries all the time at the gym. Lumingon siya kay Echo. "Papunta na sila Esme, p're. Alis ka na."

"Eh?" Echo looked cute when he frowned, scratching his head. "Pwede bang siya muna mag-adjust? Kahit ngayon lang, ako na ulit bukas. Promise!"

"Malapit na raw sila. Pero pwede ka rin naman mag stay para reunion. I-welcome mo muna, ganoon." Nagawa pa siyang asarin ulit ni Maki.