Just This Once (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 24

#JustThisOnce

Kabanata 24 

"Boring."

Kanina pa sabi nang sabi si Maven ng boring but surprisingly, I was enjoying the party. I kept on seeing people na sa t.v. ko lang nakikita! Gusto ko ngang sabihin kay Maven na ipakilala ako sa lolo niya, but his grandpa's busy talking to people. But still, it felt surreal to be in a party with all these influencial people!

"Wala ka bang kaibigan dito para hindi ka ma-bore?" I asked him while I was still gawking like an idiot. This felt like I was a kid in a carnival. Ang amazing! Never in my wildest dreams na naisip ko na makakapunta ako rito, let alone get invited in a dinner like this!

Instead of answering, Maven stood up and walked. Agad na sumunod ako sa kanya dahil ayokong maiwanan mag-isa dito sa party. Naglalakad si Maven hanggang sa may marinig ako na tumawag sa pangalan niya.

"Maven!" tawag nung lalaki na matangkad na kulot ang buhok. Huminto si Maven at saka lumapit sa kanya. "Abuela's looking for you," sabi nung lalaki at napa-tingin sa akin. He smiled and offered his hand. "I'm Psalm, Maven's cousin. You are?"

Napa-tingin ako kay Maven dahil hindi ko alam kung sino iyong lalaki sa harap ko. But I accepted his hand, as a courtesy. "Ah... Hi. I'm Genesis."

"Oh! Bible name! Cool!" manghang sabi niya. I looked at Maven again, but he looked bored. Simula nung makarating kami sa party, gusto niya na umuwi agad.

I smiled at Psalm, hindi alam ang sasabihin. I wasn't comfortable meeting new people. Buong buhay ko kasi, palagi lang akong nagta-trabaho o kaya naman ay nag-aaral. Hindi ako magaling makipag-usap sa mga tao na bagong kakilala ko pa lang.

Psalm seemed nice. I just listened to their conversation habang tahimik na nakaupo. Hindi talaga sila nagtatagalog.

"I'm bored," sabi na rin ni Psalm matapos ang ilang minuto na nakaupo. So... ang common denominator ng magpinsan na 'to ay pareho silang mabilis ma-bore.

"Let's ditch," Maven said.

"Sure, but seriously, Abuela's looking for you. Find before she threatens to disown you again," natatawa na sabi ni Psalm while Maven looked bored to death.

Maven looked at me. "Do you wanna stay here or do you wanna accompany me with my grandma?" tanong niya.

I immediately shook my head. Ni hindi nga ako mapalagay na nagsinungaling sa Mama niya, dadagdagan ko pa ng lola?

"Where's Cindy? Or Maggie?"

Psalm shrugged. "Maggie's probably gawking at her security again. Cindy's... around. Probably hiding from Mama. Why?"

Maven looked at me. "Let's go," sabi niya sa akin.

"Ha? Bakit? Akala ko maiiwan ako kasama si Psalm?"

Maven snorted. "Yeah, right. As if I'd leave you with Psalm, of all people."

"Hey!" Psalm said. "I'm offended."

"You reek of desperation, Psalm. Get yourself your own girl," sabi ni Maven at saka hinatak ako palayo.

"Grabe ka naman sa pinsan mo!"

"He's desperate to have a girlfriend. He'll just hit on you if I leave you for one second with him," sabi niya habang palinga-linga dahil may hinahanap.

"It doesn't even matter. I'm just done with guys... for now."

"Won't stop him from flirting," Maven said. Finally, napahinto kami at may nilapitan siya na babae.