Something That Will Last

25 // My Hand Smells Like Coffee

25 // My Hand Smells Like Coffee

Okay, so we got kicked out of the hotel just before the after-party started. Yup, me and all of my cousins. They got dragged into the mess because of Elon. Our parents heard, now they sent us all back to the mansion.

Hindi muna raw kami lahat papasok sa iskul.

Alcohol na alcohol kasi si Elon, ang bwiset! Lumabas kasi siya ng event hall noon for the bar sana, but then he saw the bagarre between Wyatt and Jerrick. He called Hayes and Kuya Mason for backup. Then the next thing I knew, all the girls went out, too.

Jerrick winced upon the contact of the cotton ball on his cheekbone. It turned a bit purple kasi. Hmm, I guess Wyatt could punch afterall.

"Sunshine, you are being so harsh," he pouted.

"Sunshine, you're being so maarte."

I couldn't believe he even pouted. Bumagsak pa ang tingin niya sa hita after I mocked him. He just kept on wincing while I tend to his bruise.

Nasa garden swing kami ni Jerrick. Lumapit si Ate Carina para magbigay ng baso ng tubig. Hindi naman ako nauuhaw pero sige okay na rin.

"Kay Jerrick 'yan," she said after my mouth touched the rim of the glass.

Ngumiwi ako. "Crush mo ba, Ate?"

"What? No!" she quickly said. Tumingin siya kay Jerrick. "No offense meant."

Jerrick just bobbed his head like a puppy. "Sure."

E kasi, para lang sure! Ayoko kasing magkaroon ng kaagaw na family, e. Feeling ko kasi ako iyong magpaparaya kung nagkataon. Tapos kapag naging sila, during family celebrations like this one, sila na ang magkasama.

Masasaktan ako sa gilid pero sasabihin kong okay lang ako, kahit hindi. Ngingiti ako pero sa loob ko, patay na ako. Tapos sa huli malalaman ko na ako pa rin pala talaga iyong mahal ni guy. Tatanggapin ko ulit siya nang patago. Kaso sa dulo magmamakaawa sa 'kin si Ate Carina na ibigay ko na lang sa kanya itong lalaki ko kasi hindi siya mabuhuhay nang wala siya.

Ayan, parang ganyan. Ang scary lang kasi.

May kasunod pa 'yan, e, iyong buntisan part. Kaso hindi pa ako ready sa ganoon. So...

"Viennica, stop spacing out. 'Di ko aagawin sayo jowa mo!"

"Hah! 'Di ko siya jowa," I groaned.

Elon appeared with a bottle of champagne on one hand. Lifting his arm up, he did a rowdy celebratory shake, causing the cork of the champagne bottle to rocket up in the air.

"Wooo! Getting kicked out is fun!" he even beamed.

Ate Carina rolled her eyes. "Elon, birthday party 'yon ni Lolo."

"Yeah, and it's their loss. What they didn't know was that we the partey!" he said and started to run around the garden like an athlete, making the champagne bottle his alternative torch.

Iniwan kami ni Ate Carina para hagarin si Elon. Idinidikit na niya kasi iyong bote sa bibig ng standee ni Lolo Gustin, inom daw sila.

Jerrick poked my cheek. "Selos ka kanina?"

"Says who?" I raised a brow.

"Says you."

"Mesa didn't say that," I said like Jar Jar Binks.

Pinigilan niya ang kamay ko sa paggamot sa pasa niya at inangkla iyon sa balikat niya. Ang isa ko pang kamay ay hinawakan naman niya.

"Halikan mo na lang, Vie... I bet it'll heal faster."