Head Over Feet

This and That

RJ and his friends have been at their meeting place since 7:30pm.

"Hindi naman sa excited tayo diba, ang aga natin."

"Ayoko ma late. Chaka baka mamaya maingay na masyado di ko na makakausap si Dei."

"Saan ba tayo pupwesto?"

"Dito muna tayo sa labas para makita tayo agad. Ikaw Tuns, mag save ka na ng table sa loob."

"Sakto makakayosi muna ako" Je pulls out his cigarette and lighter.

Dei's friends arrive at the venue at 8:15pm, without Dei.

"Uy RJ! Ang aga nyo ha!" Cai busses cheeks with him and Je.

"Yeah, para maganda pwesto natin. Nandyan na si Tuns sa loob, he's saving our table."

"Halika pasok na tayo, sagot ko isang Tequila bottle nyo ngayon!" Kim says to the group as they walk in the bar.

Everyone took their seats and the waiter came to take their orders.

After a few minutes their orders arrive, and RJ fidgets in his seat.

"Ano ba nangyayari sayo para sinisindihan yang pwet mo dyan." Je whispers to RJ.

"Ang tagal naman ni Dei."

"Diba nga sabi ni Cai kanina may klase pa hanggang 9?" Je looks at his watch "O, 8:40 pa lang o. Chill."

"Oo nga.... Sunduin ko ba?"

"Good luck sayo sa parking pag balik mo dito mamaya. Kung ako sayo, hintayin mo na lang. Ganda na ng pwesto natin o."

"Tsk... Sige sige."

RJ tries to distract himself and joins in the conversations of the group. Cai and Je resume their men vs women argument, picking up from where they left off a few weeks back. This time, Tuns and Kim also batting for each team.

Cai hears her phone ring at 9:40 and it was Dei.

"Hello?"

"Ca--"

"Hello, Dei?"

"Pa--- na---- mi!"

"Ano?"

"H---llo!"

"Dei? Choppy ka!"

"M---pit n---- k--mi!"

"Teka teka lalabas ako, di kita marinig!" Cai shouts while her finger was on her ear to better hear Dei.

"Hello? Okay na ba?" Cai says as she goes outside of the bar to the street.

RJ noticed that she stepped outside and immediately follows her.

Baka parating na si Dei. He thought.

"Hello! Cai?"

"Ayan okay malinaw na. Asan ka na Mare ang tagal mo naman!"

"Malapit na kami. Paliko na dyan."

"Kami?" Cai asks.

"Oo, uh, hinatid ako ni Sir Danny."

"Oooohhhh." Cai says in a teasing tone. She looks at both sides of the street, awaiting their arrival.

"Sige na sige na. Bye." Dei ends their call.

She will never hear the end of this, especially from Cai she thought.

As Cai looks at her phone, RJ stands beside her and asks "Si Dei yun? Saan na daw sya? Parating na ba? Hanapan ko na ba ng parking? Or ako na lang mag park ng koche nya para di na sya mahirapan?"

Cai doesn't know what to say.

"Ay, RJ. Andyan ka pala. Sa loob ka na lang maghintay, uh, ako na bahala kay Dei. Di naman sya nag dala ng koche."

"Ah naka taxi sya.... Sige hintayin ko na lang rin, galing syang class diba? Baka maraming dala. Tutulungan ko na lang."

"Hinde hinde, walang dala yun. Ako na bahala, promise. Sige na pasok ka na ul---" Cai stops as she sees Dei, in Dr. Dreamy Danny's car. He stops right in front of them, and pulls the handbrake.

"Dito na Sir. Ayan na sila Cai o."

"Oh, good."

"Baba nako Sir ha, thank you ulit." Dei immediately gets out of the car and greets Cai.

"Uy Mars!" Cai meets her and stands by the window of Danny's car. "Sir, thank you sa paghatid kay Dei ha."

"No problem, Ms. Cortez."

"Uhm, you wanna... Join us?" Cai asks as it seems like the polite thing to do.

"Sorry I can't, I have an early meeting tomorrow." Danny answers.

"Sige sir pasok na kami ha, salamat ulit." Dei smiles sweetly.

Teka. Ano ba, invisible ba ako?! Anak ng...

RJ thought as he tries to control his temper at the presence of this... this guy.

"Sir. Good evening po. Richard Faulkerson." RJ casually raises his hand to Danny.

"Hi Mr. Faulkerson." Danny nods at him. "Ms. Mendoza, it's a pleasure. I'll see you on Monday."

Danny drives away slowly through the sea of people.

"Lika, pasok na tayo." Dei says to both of them.

"Naku. Jelly ata si bagets ha. Bala ka dyan. You owe me kwento dear." Cai whispers as she clings her arm to Dei's and walks in the bar.