The One With The Hate [QUARREL CITY SERIES #2]

Kabanata 8

"Ang kapal ng mukha talaga!" I blurted.

"Hoy, sino ba kaaway n'yan?"

"Ewan ko d'yan. Palagi may kaaway."

Matalim ang tingin ko kay Riley. "Kasalanan mo 'to, eh. Gago ka."

"Huh, bakit ako?" he said and proceeded on his phone. "Nalasing sa beer, amputa..."

"'Di ako lasing. Sinong lasing?"

Humalakhak si Riley at tinapat sa akin ang cellphone niya. His flash light is on. He is recording me.

I covered my face. "Tang ina mo! Isto-story mo na naman 'yan!"

"'Di ah. Isesend ko lang kay Primo."

"Gago ka!" I immediately reacted after hearing his name. "Delete mo 'yan!"

"Bakit? Tanga, aayain ko lang uminom."

"Eh, bakit kailangan pa i-video ako!"

"Para sumama."

"Gago ka!"

He laughed. "Kupal 'yon, e..."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Masama ang tingin ko kay Riley. I was tipsy and pretty occupied by the thought of him. I didn't want that. Tumayo na lamang ako at hinugot ang sigarilyo sa bag ko.

I don't smoke every day. Minsan lang kapag naiinis o sobrang stressed. I went to Riley's balcony to smoke. Nakahalukipkip ako roon habang nagscro-scroll sa phone ko.

Jackie posted a picture of us on Facebook. I bit my lips while laughing. It was a chaotic picture of us drunk a while ago. Humalakhak ako nang makita ko ang picture ni Riley na sinulatan ko ang mukha ng eyeliner at lipstick ko. Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya iyon maalis.

There was also a photo of me there. Nakanguso ako habang masama ang tingin sa camera. Hindi pa nakakapag-pose ng maayos. I reacted angry at her post. Ako at ang isa ay nakalike lamang doon.

Primo Jansen Vicente, I read. Asul na asul ang like reaction niya sa picture ko. Out of all the pictures, he just went and reacted to mine.

Napindot ba niya ito or what?

I went back to my friends while looking at my phone and still laughing. Natigil lamang ang tawa ko nang makita ko si Primo sa upuan ko kanina. Him and his friends are here.

Napawi kaagad ang tawa ko.

"Naku, hindi pa nausawan. Manggugulo na naman 'yan." si Allen iyon. "Tignan mo ginawa sa mukha ko."

"Quinn, you have a light?" Blair said. Mukhang kararating lang, aalis na agad.

Binato ko sa kaniya ang pink na lighter ko. She smiled and took her bag to go out. Ganiyan 'yan para makatakas sa inuman. Masyadong halata.

I cluelessly sat beside my bag. Nasa gitna namin iyon ngayon ni Primo. I saw him pinching his legs as I seat beside him. Tumikhim ako at inabot ang beer.

"Ano ba? Ubos na agad? Tang ina, ginawa mo yatang tubig, Jacqueline!" usal ko.

"Gago, si Riley 'yon!"

"Si Akiro, nakakadalawa agad. Hydrated ka naman masyado."

I looked at the guy who laughed. Japanese, nakilala ko kaagad. I smiled at him. Nahuli ko ang tingin ni Primo.

"Ano ba. Don't be rude, guys," I said and smiled to the Japanese guy. "More beer?"

Humalakhak sila sa akin. I laughed, too.

I mean, wala naman akong crushes na. Nilingon ko si Primo. He drank the rest of his beer. I saw him crush it a little bit. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Pagkatapos ay diretso ang tingin sa akin.