Bad for You (GU #1)

forty-three

Forty-Three: Changes

Drew's party went well. Oddly, I enjoyed it, even with the idea of spending it with people I barely know. Maybe, because it was that Slade and I were okay. Really okay. Idagdag pa na nakakapalagayan ko na rin ng loob si Melissa. Kung hindi si Slade ang kasama ko ay si Melissa ang sumasama sa akin. I found out too that the girl loved to talk. I mean, a lot. Wala man lang sa astig na itsura niya. Hindi mo lang talaga iisipin na sa likod ng mga tattoo niya at edgy na look ay ganoon ang personality niya.

I learned a lot about her. Mas matanda siya sa akin ng sampung taon at naintindihan ko na rin kung bakit nasabi niya na nakakabatang kapatid lang ang turing niya kay Slade dahil nakilala niya ito nang sampung taon pa lang ang huli.

She was the Montereal's maid's daughter but Slade didn't treat her any less. Si Slade pa nga raw ang unang nakipagkaibigan sa kanya. At kwento pa niya na kahit nung una silang magkilala ay hindi na daw siya nito tinawag na ate kahit pa malaki ang tanda niya dito. Inisip niya na marahil ay dahil galing sa Amerika si Slade.

Natukso akong tanungin kay Melissa kung papaano si Slade nung bata pa ang huli. If he loved black clothes then, if he used to fight and broke his playmate's nose, or how he was with his family. Pero, lahat ng mga iyon ay inilagay ko sa likod ng isipan at piniling manahimik na lang. Kung malalaman ko man ang mga bagay na iyon, kay Slade ko ito gustong manggaling.

Nang bumalik kami ng Manila, kina Tyler na sumabay si Melissa. Mas malapit naman daw kasi ang bahay nila dito at isa pa dito siya sumabay kaninang umaga papunta kina Drew. I'd like to argue but just let her decide on she wanted. That left me and Slade in the latter's car. And that moment, silence didn't fill the room.

"I didn't see you swim," I heard him say. Nasa labas ang atensyon ko pero agad na inilipat ito sa kanya. Sinulyapan niya lang ako saka ibinalik ulit sa daan ang tingin.

I shrugged. "I did. With Melissa."

"You did?" ulit niya. "But I didn't see you without your shorts."

Natigilan ako kasabay ng pagdama ng init sa pisngi ko. It was his words. Ang simple lang naman ng sinabi niya pero yung kahulugan sa likod nito ang tumakbo sa isipan ko. I shook my head, irritation was seeping in. "It's because I didn't take them off."

Napailing siya. "Too bad. I was even looking forward seeing you without it."

At that, I rolled my eyes. Kung meron nga lang na bagay na malapit sa akin ay kanina ko pa naibato sa kanya. Slade could really be irritating at times. At bakit ko nga ba nakalimutan na maloko ang isang 'to? It was like our first meeting all over again. The day he thought me offering the nasty to him. Ugh. Way to remember that moment.

I gave him a piercing look, a long one, before rolling my eyes again then muttered, "Pervert."

He chuckled and I knew he heard it. At nakumpirma ko yun nang tumingin siya sa akin at sinabing, "What do you expect? I'm a guy."

Niliitan ko lang siya ng mga mata. When he sensed that I was not enjoying our talk anymore, he quickly divert our topic to Melissa. "On a serious note, I'm happy that you and Mel are getting okay together now."

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "She's a nice person."

He nodded. "She really is."

-=-=-=-=-=-

Kinaumagahan, sabay na kaming pumasok ni Slade papuntang university. Pero ang akala kong magiging magandang umaga ay tila hindi ata mangyayari nang biglang agawan si Slade ng parking space. He muttered a curse under his breath. Nakita ko rin kung papaanong nag-igting ang panga niya. He was furious. And it was not good.