Bad for You (GU #1)

thirty-three pt 2

Thirty-Three: The Other Side

Nakatingin pa rin ako kay Slade nang biglang may babaeng lumapit sa kanya at pumwesto sa kanyang harapan, blocking my sight. The girl, not like the two other girls before, was wearing a dress. A red tube dress. At kahit likod niya lang ang nakikita ko, alam kong hindi siya si Keara. Medyo lumapit pa ang babae kay Slade at nang makita kong pumunta ang kamay ni Slade sa bewang nito, doon na ako nag-iwas ng tingin at humarap ulit sa bar.

Wow. Hindi niya talaga mapigilan ang landi. He saw that I was here. And after telling all those words to me, I couldn't believe he just did that in front of my face. He said that he likes me and yet he's still with other girls.

Nang makuha ko na ang atensyon ng bartender, nag-order na naman ako ng parehong inumin. Like before, I drank it all up in just one gulp. I was on my third order when I felt a presence behind me. Gusto ko na sana siyang lingunin para malaman kung sino siya nang bigla siyang magsalita.

"Thought you don't drink."

I was frozen in place and my heart went on its abnormal speed, again. But I remained my composure. There was no way I would let him see how well he could affect me.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nginitian ang bartender na ngayon ay inilagay na sa harap ko ang baso. "Thanks," I said as sweetly as I could to the bartender. He just winked at me and then he left.

Maya-maya pa, napansin kong lumapit si Slade sa babaeng nakaupo sa katabi kong stool. Seriously? Ilan bang babae ang balak niyang landiin ngayong gabi? And now, I was starting to regret my decision. Dapat siguro, doon na lang ako pumunta sa recital ni Vanessa.

Napansin ko pa silang nag-usap at mas lalo lang nag-init ang dugo ko. Umarte kaya akong hindi sinasadyang tapunan sila nitong iniinom ko?

I was about to execute that plan when I noticed the girl leave her stool. At ang pumalit na umupo doon ay si Slade. What?

Curious, I glanced at him and saw that he was looking at me already. Ilang sandali pa nang putulin niya ang tinginan namin at sumenyas sa bartender. Agad na naglagay ang bartender ng beer sa harap niya.

He gulped at it once before he looked at me, again. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay na para bang tahimik na nagtatanong kung anong ginagawa ko doon at bakit ako umiinom.

Nang hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita ay kinuha niya na ang pagkakataon. "You said you don't drink."

I breathed deeply. Mukhang hindi niya ko titigilan kung hindi ako sasagot. I shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes, I don't. But I never told you I didn't and won't."

Napatango lang siya at uminom na ulit. Maya-maya pa, tumingin na naman siya sa akin na para bang ako ang pinakainteresanteng bagay sa mundo. Fita. Ano bang ginagawa niya?

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What are you doing?"

He smirked mischievously. "What is it look like I'm doing?"

Oh yeah. This was how he wanted to play this. Ibinabalik niya lang sa akin ang tanong.

Shaking my head, I gave him a stern look. "Why don't you just go back with your girl earlier? Sigurado ako, hindi siya natutuwang makita na may tinitingnan kang iba."

Parang natigilan siya doon. Pero, agad ding bumalik ang kalma niyang ekspresyon maging ang ngisi sa kanyang labi. "Are you really speaking for her or for yourself?"

I gaped. I didn't expect that.

When I didn't talk, Slade breathed out a sigh. "She's nothing, okay?" I heard him say. "And I want here beside you. I don't know if you can handle your drink."