Candy Fair Dare (Taglish)

Candy Cuties (2)

Why am I still here?

Gusto ko na ng frappe!

Ara naman kasi e. Malandi na, madaldal pa. Kanina pa sila nagca-catching up kuno nung Prince na hindi naman mukhang royalty. Obvious na rich kid, though - english ba naman ng english with a twinge of conyoness.

"Oh, sorry," apologized Ara. She looked over her shoulder at us, who no doubt looked bored out of our minds. "These are my friends, Raffy, Kiko, and Asia."

We exchanged a number of "hey's" and "hi's".

"My bros Sev and Matt," introduced Prince, nodding toward the guys beside him.

Mukhang odd one out yung naka-glasses na isa, looking like he was only fourteen or fifteen. Pero in fairness, ang cute niya. Yung tipong adorable ang cuteness.

They nodded at us. Yun lang. Konting forced smile na parang wala din. Hindi nga snob, mukhang sapilitan naman. 'Wag nalang.

Nabasa ata ni Raffy yung nasa isip ko from my expression, because she whispered to me, "Pagod lang sila kakarampa."

"Whatever," I muttered.

"Oo nga pala!" exclaimed Prince, as though he remembered something. "Don't you go to the same school with Sev?"

"Yeah," smiled Ara.

Thank God at hindi niya binanggit yung 'incident' last January. Kahihiyan ko din yun. Buti nalang hindi nanglaglag si Ara ng kaibigan.

"Minsan, assigned si Asia to take your picture on the court during UAAP season."

I take that back. The bitch.

Tumingin sa'kin si Sev. A slow grin creeped up to his lips. Maganda naman yung ngipin niya, kaya mas lumakas ang dating niya nung ngumiti siya. I've seen him smile lots of times before, pero hindi ganito ka-intense yung shine.

Ngayon gets ko na yung sinasabi nila. Nakaka-adik nga yung ngiti niya - lalo na kapag sayo nakatutok. Lintik na yan. Parang gusto ko tuloy siyang halikan. Damn it.

"Talaga?" he said. "Cool."

Sabi nila down-to-earth daw siya. Ewan ko. Parang 'di naman.

"Not really," I replied straightforwardly.

He blinked. They all blinked.

I get that reaction a lot.

"Bakit naman?" tanong ni Matt, the adorable toddler-looking teen.

"Hassle e."

Sev looked at me curiously. "Why don't you quit, then?"

I sighed. "I guess at some point, nag-enjoy ako."

Last year was fun for me, before I found out you were a dick to your fans . . . at least, some of them. Isa na ko dun. Ugh. Kadiri ako.

"Yun naman pala e," singit ni Prince.

"Not anymore," I snorted.

"What changed your mind?" asked Sev. He was still looking at me curiously. Hindi naman siya mukhang galit. Genuinely intrigued lang siguro.

Kung hindi lang siguro ako na turned off sa kanya nung January, malamang natunaw na 'ko ngayon sa titig niya. Mainit na nga yung panahon, mainit pa yung effect niya sa'kin. Tsk.

"Your attitude," I simply said.

Ara opened her mouth to add something, so I quickly shot her a look. Tinikom din niya ang bibig niya. Buti naman.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

"Well!" began Prince, obviously about to change the topic. He looked at Ara and smiled. "I bet you cheered for him kanina," he teased, with a hint of seduction in his tone.