Don't Look Back

Chapter 16

"Sinabi mo na ba kay Doms?" Manuel asked as they were driving towards his apartement. Yvan offered to drop him off which Manuel gladly accepted.

"Di pa. Siguro pag nagkita na kami ulit." Khel replied. Yvan was just listening to their conversation while driving. Nasa passenger seat si Khel habang nasa backseat naman si Manuel.

"Pero sa totoo lang huh, di ako nagulat. Nagpustahan kaya kami ni Dominique." Manuel said.

"Huh?" Khel was confused about that statement so he acted as if he wanted to hear more.

"Wag ka magseselos, Yvan ah..." Manuel looked at Yvan who's eyes were on the road but was constantly gazing at him. "...naalala mo nung college tayo yung USC president?"

"Ah, si Kuya Keifer?" Khel responded. Agad namang nagtagis ang bagang ni Yvan nang marinig niyang may sinabing pangalan ng lalaki si Khel.

"Oo. During founding anniversary, diba kinuha ka niya as assistant?"

"Yeah? Ano naman dun?"

"Binilhan ka niya ng cupcakes, then nanood kayo sa movie booth, tapos may pa-photo booth pa kayo? Siguro masyado ka lang inosente. He was actually lowkey flirting with you -AAYYY PUKEE!" Napasigaw si Manuel nang biglang huminto ang kotse dahilan para tumilapon siya paharap.

Agad namang bumaling ang dalawa kay Yvan na mahigpit na nakahawak sa manibela at salubong ang kilay na nakatingin kay Khel."Someone was flirting with you?" Sabi nito.

"Hoy! Kakasabi ko lang na wag magselos, 'di ba?" Agad na sabat ni Manuel habang pabalik sa pagkakaupo. "Tangina ang sakit nun ah." Dagdag pa nito habang hinihimas ang noo.

"Okay ka lang?" Tanong ni Khel kay Manuel at tila di pinansin ang tanong ni Yvan.

"Hey! I'm asking you." Yvan tried to get Khel's attention.

"Okay lang naman ako. Asikasuhin mo boyfriend mo, nagseselos ata." Manuel said as he looked at himself through his phone's camera.

"Seryoso ka ba? Pinagseselosan mo talaga yun?" Tanong ni Khel dahil di talaga siya makapaniwala.

"Yes. You already have a picture together, you watched a movie together and he bought you cupcakes. I'm the only person who should be doing that."

"Yikes! Possessive." Pabirong komento ni Manuel saka nagpatuloy sa ginagawa niya at hinayaan ang magkasintahan sa harap niya na mag-usap.

"That was three years ago. And I didn't even know what flirting was." Khel explained.

"Tell me about it." Komento ulit ni Manuel na ikinabaling ng dalawa. "What?" Manuel asked when he saw how the two people in front of him were staring weirdly at him."Mag-usap lang kayo. Kunwari invisible ako."

"Doesn't matter. Did he held your hand?" Yvan asked.

"Di ko maalala."

"Did you kiss during the movie?"

"Eeww. No! Una sa lahat, ikaw yung first kiss ko. Pangalawa, bakit ka magseselos sa  isang pangyayaring tatlong taon na ang nakakalipas? You didn't even know that time if I existed. And lastly, kaibigan lang tingin ko kay Kuya Keifer." Khel explained.

Magsasalita pa sana si Manuel nang bigla siyang tignan ng masama ni Khel dahilan para itiklop niya ang mga labi niya. Napagtanto nito na masyado na siyang nagiging madaldal. Gusto pa niya dagdagan kasi nag-eenjoy siya sa bangayan ng dalawa.

Unang beses na nakita niya si Khel nang ganito at sa di maipaliwanag na kadahilanan ay natutuwa siya para dito. Sa wakas ay nakahanap na din ito ng katapat niya.