Chapter 35:

Sabi pa nga ay dapat ako raw ang isasabak nila pero dahil absent ako ay wala silang magawa kundi maghanap ng iba. I even asked if

Keila was nominated at least and he said 'yes' but Keila herself took down the opportunity.

I mean...no offense, but Keila had a lot more charms and obviously could win with her self-esteem. On the other hand, Mina was more on the soft, innocent type.

Kinabukasan ng hapon ay tsaka lang bumaba ang lagnat ko. I was on the verge of losing my mind from being rotten in the bed for too long!

And as per the usual, Yus delivered the notes again in the evening and updated me with the latest announcements and news.

Hanggang sa naka pasok na ulit ako. I brought my medical certificate and have the professors signed up before I talked to Mina.

It was our vacant now, and I would like to help Mina. Gusto ko lang maging parte ng proseso dahil natutuwa ako pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay.

I asked about her plans on how to win—almost seemed that I was trying to intervene or something.

Pagka uwian ay dumiretso kami sa bahay. All the girls—Keila, Maris and Mina were here too. They would love to be part of the process, they said.

"Really? You're going to help me?" She asked, and here we go again with her twinkling eyes.

"Of course, someone needs to tell you what to do. I want our class to win," I smiled at her as I started to measure her body.

I would love to provide for her needs even if she doesn't want to. Pero gusto kong tanggapin niya pa rin bilang pagsuporta sa kaniya. Keila groaned. Naka dekwatro siyang nakaupo sa sofa habang nakapangalumbaba at pinapanood kami.

"The class actually wanted you to represent us..."she sighed. "Too bad that you have fallen ill,"

Maris chuckled. "Bakit? Mina was pretty enough to join,"

Maris wasn't looking at us—her whole attention was on the magazine. She was busy flipping and scanning through the pages.

Keila groaned again before looking at her with brows furrowed and slightly parted lips. "I'm not insinuating otherwise,"

"And you know how she loves to tell people what to do," pagsingit ni Yus na abala sa paglalaro ng ps5.

Nakaupo siya sa polished chair at nakahiwalay sa mga babaeng nakaupo sa mini living area ko. When I heard that remark, I glanced at him and smiled sarcastically.

Umayos ako sa pagkakatayo nang matapos sukatin ang balakang niya bago nilingon ulit si Yus. I forgot that my iPad was still in the study room since I studied there last night for a new study set up.

"Hey, Yus...I need you to go to the study room. I forgot my Ipad...Mina has to look for gown inspiration," I said.

Yus's formed a small sarcastic smile when he looked at Mina. "See?" then he stood up before leaving the room.

Mina won the first place. She could have won if she introduced herself confidently. First time niya raw 'yon kaya kinakabahan siya at tuluyang nautal.

Well, I couldn't blame her since everything was not going to go smoothly as it planned. There will be flaws and that's completely okay.

Ngayon ay nasa walk-in closet kami ni Yus. He was finding his passport, and I was helping him. Bukas ang alis namin papuntang Barcelona dahil inaya kaming dalawa ni mommy ni Auntie Dani.

Going there was listed on my bucket list, so I wouldn't miss the opportunity. Atsaka hindi kami magtatagal dahil may klase pa kami.

"Hindi mo ba talaga matandaan kung saan mo nailagay?" I asked him while I was rummaging one of his drawer full of socks.

"Oo nga. Pero alam ko talaga ay nandito lang 'yon," He said while inspecting one of his suitcases.

I let out a sigh as I continued looking for it. Kung kelan kasi aalis na bukas ay tsaka pa niya naisipang hanapin ang passport!

Lumipat ako sa kabilang drawer dahil hindi ko naman mahanap sa drawer na puro medyas. I opened the drawer and there was a glass case containing his watches.

Binuksan ko ito dahil may isang relong pumukaw sa atensyon ko. It was a vintage one.

"Is this a gift from your grandfather?" I asked as I showed him the watch.

Tumigil siya saglit sa ginagawa para sulyapan ang hawak ko. "No. Kay grandma 'yan galing,"

I nodded as I closely examined the watch for a few seconds before returning it inside the glass watch case. Nagsalubong kaonti ang kilay ko nang may napansin akong maliit na plastic na nakaipit sa gilid ng case.

I picked it up using my right thumb and forefinger, and my eyes immediately widened with lips parted.

"Prius!" I called him as I showed him the small packet containing a white powder.

My heart was beating rapidly while my mind was processing what was going on right now. This is a small packet of drug!

Is he using this? Since when? Oh, my goodness!

"What the f**k?" He said with jaw almost dropped.

Hindi niya maalis ang tingin sa hawak ko na tila nakakita ng multo at hindi na makagalaw.

"Does Auntie know about this? Oh my goodness, Yus. Kelan pa?" I asked in disbelief as I blinked twice.

"W-what? Are you accusing me? That's not mine," he almost raised his voice.

"Edi kanino 'to? Dito nakalagay e," I said while my right forefinger pointing at the glass case of his watches.

Lumapit siya saakin at kinuha ang hawak. He raised it a bit while I was just watching him closely.

He rolled his eyes at me when our eyes met.

"You've got to be kidding me," he said.

"This is not okay, Yus. Kanino ba talaga 'yan?" I asked, with brows furrowed.

Nasa loob na ako ng sasakyan at nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana, nakatanaw sa bahay nila Yus habang hinihintay si mommy. We already found his passport and right now I was just concern about what was gonna happen tonight.

Pagkahanap kasi namin ng passport ay nagmadali siyang lumabas ng silid. He was obviously gonna ask his parents about that packet of drug.

I looked down at my phone and saw a message from our group chat. Nag aaya si Keila na pumunta sa isang art gallery in Makati. Suminghap ako bago nilapag muli ang phone sa kandungan.

Ngayon ay nasa loob na kami ng airport at pinapakiramdaman ko si Yus na tahimik lang at nakaupo. He had his headphones on as if though he doesn't want to be bothered right now, so I gave him his space.

Luminga ako sa paligid at napadalawang balik ako ng tingin sa isang pamilyar na lalaki. He was talking to a girl, and they seemed having fun.

I found myself walking towards him—towards Chadler. Nagtama ang tingin namin ng babae at napahinto siya sa pagsasalita bago marahang siniko si Chadler na medyo salubong ang kilay na napatingin saakin.

"Hi!" I said as I inhaled swiftly, suddenly feeling elated to see him.

"Oh, hey!" Chadler greeted me with a smile.

"It's been a long time. Where are you headed to?" He added and roamed his eyes around.

My lips stretched even more to form a smile. "We're going to Barcelona for a quick vacay. How about you?"

"Really? That's a good coincidence then. Pupunta rin kami doon," he said.

My eyes widened. "Oh my! We should hang out there then. I mean...I'd like to...uh...know you more?" then chuckled awkwardly.

His eyes widened and now seemed amused. Naramdaman ko agad ang pag iinit ng dalawang pisngi ko habang nakatikom ang labi.

"I feel the same way, Azalea. But...aren't you and my brother already dating? Ayaw ko kasing dalawa kami," then chuckled.

Agad akong umiling. "No! Brix and I are just friends and will never be a couple,"

Because I like you more than him.

At dahil nga sa katapangan ko ay tinupad niya ang gusto kong mangyari. Sa loob ng ilang araw na pananatili namin sa Barcelona ay laman siya ng isip ko.

We hang out just like I wanted to. And I even asked him if he was single and that certain day, I confessed to him that I was attracted to him.

His answer made me almost float in the air. "We can try...since I would like to know you more too,"

"Hindi ba sumasakit ang pisngi mo nyan?" Yus asked.

Kakalabas lang namin sa suite at mag che-check out na dahil mamaya na ang alis namin. Meanwhile, Chadler already left yesterday since they weren't planning to stay here for a long time.

Nag angat ako ng tingin kay Yus galing sa phone na hawak dahil abala ako sa pagtitipa ng mensahe kay Chadler. My crush and I were having a conversation, yet Yus was spoiling my mood.

"Huh? " I asked while the smirk on my lips was still plastered on it.

I heard him mocked my response, which I clearly don't understand. Patuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa nakalabas na kami ng hotel at pumasok agad sa sasakyan na naghihintay saamin.

Our parents were already in the car. Kami lang talagang dalawa ang hinihintay dahil may pinuntahan pa kaming dalawa at tsaka lang namin naalala na ngayon pala ang uwi namin kaya napatagal sa pag iimpake ng mga gamit.

"Hello! I'd like you all to meet my new friends," Keila introduced us.

Sa harap namin ay isang grupo na nasa VIP section. I don't see them properly because of the rotating neon lights, but I know that they were mixed with boys and girls.

"This is Maris,"

Maris extended her right hand to one of them before one of the boys shook it briefly. Napatingin naman ako kay Mina nang nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa gilid ko para may ibulong.

"I think taga kabilang university sila. One of them seems familiar to me," she whispered.

"Really?" I asked.

Her statement piqued my attention a bit, so I looked at them swiftly one by one when the rotating neon blue lights passed them.

Pinakilala kami ni Keila pagtapos at nakipag kamayan din kaming lahat sa kanila. Until two of the girls who were really bubbly dragged us towards the middle of the crowd to dance when we got tired of having a conversation.

"Hey, I really like you. Kahit this is our first time meeting each other," she said while she was dancing in front of me, vibing with the rhythm.

"I feel the same way," I said with a chuckle.

I danced sensually too by swaying my hips from side to side while my hands were in the air. "Do you have a boyfriend?" she asked.

"Boyfriend? Uh...I don't know kung pwede ko na ba siyang tawagin na boyfriend," I said.

"What do you mean? Nasa getting to know each other palang kayo?"

Saglit niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko na nasa ere bago umikot. She grinded her butt on me lightly while now her hands were touching her body from the side of her boobs down to her hips.

"Yes. This last week lang kami nag usap,"

"Hmm, I see" she said.

Nang mapagod kami sa pagsayaw ay hinila niya na naman ako sa bartender's area. She immediately ordered two shot glasses of tequila.

Binigay niya agad ang isa saakin at nilagok ko ito na agad kong kinangiwi dahil sa init at pait.

I wiped the side of my lips while she was already talking to someone.

Nilapag ko ang shot glass sa lamesa bago tinignang mabuti ang kausap niya. My eyes widened when me and Chadler made an eye contact.

"Azalea," he said before clearing his throat.

My lips parted while my eyes were now fixated on him. "H-hello," as I waved my right hand a bit.

"Oh, so you two know each other?" I heard from her.

I nodded and so was Chadler. She chuckled, then I noticed from my peripheral vision that she looked at me. "Don't tell me that he is...this guy right beside me is the 'boyfriend' we're talking about?" while she was pointing her index finger at him.

"Boyfriend, huh?" Chadler sounded amused.

Hindi ko alam na magpinsan pala silang dalawa hanggang sa iniwan niya na kaming dalawa ni Chadler dahil babalik daw siya sa pagsasayaw.