His Invisible Halo 16 Chapter 15

I smiled after reading Draven's message. At the same time, hindi ko din maiwasang mag alala para sa kanya.

Draven: Sorry about last time, Remy. I just need to fix something right now.

/I understand. Pero hindi ka galit?/

Draven: No. I'll tell you everything soon.

/But still, I want to say sorry. Ingat ka./

Draven: You too, Remy.

After reading his last reply ay tinago ko na yung phone ko. Ersy as well as River are sitting at the backseat while talking about something funny that I can't relate while Asher was beside me, driving. It looks like he wasn't interested in everything happened in his surroundings.

Papunta kami ngayon sa Italian grill hindi kalayuan mula sa university. I suggested them to eat there not just because it's my favorite kundi dahil na din masarap ang pagkain doon. I just hope na wala masyadong mga estudyanteng chismosa doon para makakain ako ng maayos. River told us that it's his treat kaya pumayag na din ako.

We chose the space in the second floor. I just ordered carbonara and melona juice since medyo busog pa naman ako.

"You should eat more, Kel. Pumapayat ka na." wika ni Ersy kaya't napangiti ako.

"That's what I want. I'll take that as a compliment." sagot ko. Nang mailagay na yung order sa table namin ay panay kwentuhan pa din kami. Ersy is beside me samantalang si Asher naman ay nakaupo sa harap ko. Naalala ko na naman yung nangyari kahapon. I'm just curious if he remembers anything that's why I asked.

"Asher, about what happened yesterday, may naaalala ka ba?" tanong ko. I guess it's a wrong move dahil nrealize ko na hindi nga lang pala kaming dalawa ang tao dito ngayon.

"Wait, something happened? What is it, Kel?" gulat na tanong ng kaibigan ko. I just rolled my eyes at her. Kahit kailan talaga ay ibang klase ito kung mag isip.

"How many rounds, Asher?" halos batuhin ko ng hawak kong tinidor si River dahil sa sobrang inis. Nakuha pa nya talagang tumawa.

"I just saw condoms on Asher's drawer! That's it. Nothing happened." sagot ko pa. I want know to the reason why he's drunk yesterday. I just got curious pero ayoko ng itanong.

"It's not mine." Asher replied bago ito tumingin kay River.

"You should ask him instead." dugtong nya pa. Napakamot naman ng ulo si River.

"Babyloves sorry. Wala lang 'yon. Incase of emergency." sagot nito. I'm a little bit shocked because Ersy didn't get mad. Kung ako siguro iyon ay baka nabatukan ko na si River.

"Okay. I trust you but once na malaman ko na may kasama kang ibang babae, patay ka talaga sa akin!" mahina naman akong natawa dahil sa pagtatalo nila. I looked at Asher once again. Siguro ay nahihiya sya na nasukahan nya ako kahapon. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako nakakaramdam ng inis ngayon. I understand his situation yesterday. Whenever I'm drunk too, I also used to do that thing. Minsan nga ay bedsheet pa ang nasusukahan ko kaya't naiinis ako sa sarili ko kinabukasan.

"Why are you staring?" Asher asked. Mabilis tuloy akong napaiwas ng tingin. And FYI, i'm not staring.  Hindi naman pala dapat ako mahiya dahil nakakita ako ng condoms nya sa drawer. It should be the other way around. Sya yung dapat mahiya sa akin dahil tinawag nya akong baby kahapon.

"I just remember what you told me yesterday. You called me baby.  Halatang may gusto ka talaga sa akin." Hindi ko mapigilang mapatawa. I noticed thay they're just staring at me kaya't napahinto ako.

"Really Kelsey?" Ersy asked.

"Asher is not like that. He's not  interested with girls. He didn't even date one." River answered.

"What about Laurene? I thought they're in a relationship."

"Nothing's going on between them."

Napatingin ulit ako kay Asher na mukhang hindi interesado at hindi naniniwala sa sinabi ko.

"It's true. You even told me that I am cute." pagdepensa ko pa. This guy with a pair of a devil horns is really annoying. Gusto ko lang naman ipaalala sa kanya yung kahihiyang ginawa nya pero ako pa yung pagmumukaing sinungaling.

"You're just imagining things. You probably doesn't have any proof." he replied. I am not lying. Totoo naman kasi!

"Stop fighting okay? Kumain muna tayo." pag awat sa akin ni Ersy. I just followed her at kumain na lang habang nakikipagsukatan pa din ng tingin sa lalaking ito. An idea popped up into my mind. I want to prove them kung gaano talaga ako kagusto ng lalaking ito. Mamaya ka sa akin Asher.

"Kelsey, do you have something to do this saturday?" Fayr asked ng makarating ako ng room. I can hear almost all of them talking about a party.

"Anong meron?"

"It's my birthday. I'll be having a celebration and the whole class are invited." she explained. Napailing naman ako dahil malabo talaga akong makasama.

"Sorry Fayr! Birthday din ni mommy e." sagot ko. River's treat a while ago is a big helped. Nakatipid ako kahit papaano. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay hindi ko pa din alam kung ano ang ireregalo ko kay mommy.

After our class ay lumabas na ako. Nahagip ng mata ko si Asher na nakapamulsang naglalakad.

"Asher!

Nakailang tawag pa ako bago sya huminto at lumingon sa akin.

"Where will you go?" I exclaimed.

"Why do you ask?" kahit kailan talaga ay napakasungit ng lalaking ito.

"Let's have a dinner. What do you think? This is my way of thanking you for saving me last time."

"Please?"

He didn't answer but he's too quiet so I took that as a yes. Hindi na ako nakapaghintay pa at sumakay na ako ng kotse nya. He started the engine and I can't help but to look at him while he's seriously driving. I'll have my proof later. Mapapatunayan ko din sa'yo na hindi ako nagsisinungaling.

"What is that stare for?" binawi ko yung tingin ko ng magtanong sya.

"Just want to ask about Mara. How is she now?"

"She's fine." tipid nyang sagot. Hindi ko alam kung paano sya natatagalan ni River since sobrang tahimik at parang pilit pa kung magsalita.

"What about your pet?"

Nagpantig naman ang tenga ko dahil sa sinabi nya. Pet? I know he's pertaining to Draven again.

"Stop that thing Asher. Hindi ka nakakatuwa." inis na sagot ko.

"Why are you mad? I'm just asking."

"Ang sama mo kasi sa kanya. Draven is kind. And he's handsome." pagtatanggol ko pa. I don't know the reason why he can't see how good looking Draven is.

"Nothing's change. He's still an ugly dog." Hindi ko na lang sya pinansin. Maybe it's better that he will remain in silence rather than talking nonsense.

We're here again in the restaurant where we went earlier. Maybe he agree that the food here tastes good. Nang pumasok kami doon ay muli akong binati ni ate Rosa.

"Kelsey, boyfriend mo?" tanong nya na mabilis ko namang inilingan.

"Bagay kayo, iha." I don't know if Asher heard that pero alam kong baka magtatalon sa tuwa ang isang 'yon kapag narinig nya ang sinabi ni ate Rosa.

"Friends lang po kami." sagot ko.

"Naku, dyan naman talaga nag uumpisa ang lahat." tukso niya pa. Ate Rosa was called by a customer kaya't naputol ang pag uusap namin. Sumunod na lang ako kay Asher papunta sa taas. There's no customer beside the glass window. I felt excited seeing the sun sets again later.

"What's your order?" tumingin naman ako sa menu board. I just decided to have a carbonara again since it's my favorite.

"And 3 bottles of soju." dagdag ko pa.

"Mine is 5 bottles." turo nya sa waiter. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapangiti. I looked at my phone. Thank god at hindi ako low battery ngayon.

"Why are you smiling?" tanong nya. Pansin ko lang na lahat ng kilos ko ay pinupuna nya. He's very observant to the point na may mga bagay naman na hindi na kailangang itanong.

"Why not? I'm just happy." I replied.

"You're happy because you had a dinner with me?" napawi ang ngiti ko dahil sa sinabi nya.

"No. FYI, I'm happy because I want to. Hindi dahil sa date natin ngayon."

Masyadong assuming talaga ang lalaking ito.

"A dinner with friend is actually different from a date." wika nya.

"Sino bang may sabing nagdedate tayo?" napailing naman sya sa sinabi ko. Kahit kailan talaga ay hindi sya papatalo.

I just drink a bottle of soju. There is another question I want to ask him at sigurado ako na baka hindi na naman ako makakuha ng matinong sagot mula sa kanya.

"About last time you saved me, how come na pumunta ka sa apartment namin? Is it just a co-incident or what?"

I waited for his answer. I just want to know but I thank him a lot dahil kung hindi sya dumating ay baka kung ano na ang magawa ni Jerome sa akin.

"Laurene got angry with you because of me."

"And you're guilty or concerned?"

"What do you think?"

Napainom ulit ako bago sumagot sa tanong nya. I didn't think twice because it's too obvious.

"Thank you for your concerns." confident kong sagot. A wide smile plastered on my lips. The scenery outside caught my attention. I get my cellphone and took a picture of the sunset. Ang ganda!

I drink a glass of soju again as I had my conversation with Asher. I'm am very pissed right now because everytime I told him a joke, he didn't laugh even a little.

"We should go home." rinig kong wika niya. I looked at my phone. 6:45 pm pa lang naman. It's too early. Napahawak tuloy ako sa ulo. God! What the hell happened?

Nagpanic ako at napatayo sa upuan ko. I look at everyone and their calmly eating at their seats. Hindi ba nila naramdaman yung naramdaman ko?

"Hey everyone! We should leave this place now. Lumilindol!" I panic but they didn't listen to me. I even heard them laugh.

"Stupid." I heard what Asher said.

"Lumilindol di'ba?" tanong ko ulit. Napahawak tuloy ako sa silya ko kasi pakiramdam ko umiikot na yung paligid. Nahihilo na ako.

"You're drunk."

"No! Lumilindol na Asher! Ayoko na. Aalis na ako. Aalis na ako dito." kinuha ko yung bag ko pero nagulat ako ng umikot yung paligid hanggang sa nagpagewang gewang ako at bumagsak sa sahig. Damn! Ang sakit.

"You get drunk easily, stupid lady." naramdaman ko na lang na parang umangat ako sa ere. Iyak lang ako ng iyak kasi pakiramdam ko ito na yung katapusan ko. When I opened my eyes, I'm already inside a car. Tapos lumindol ulit ng paikot. I look at the man beside me.

"How come that there's an earthquake and you're still calm like nothing happened!?" tanong ko habang bumibigat na yung talukap ng mga mata ko. Hinampas ko sya ng hinampas sa braso hanggang sa magising sya sa katotohanang lumilindol na nga. Pagkatapos n'on ay lumabas ako ng kotse. Hinarang ko yung sasakyan para sabihin sa kanila na lumilindol na. Bumagsak ulit ako sa sahig at pagkatapos ay lumutang ulit ako. There's a magic happened dahil nasa loob na ulit ako ng kotse. How come? Lumabas ako di'ba? Minamaligno na ata ko.

I realized that I am not alone inside this car. There was a handsome man beside me kaya't nilapit ko yung mukha ko para tingnan sya.

"Hmm, I remember you. You look familiar. There's this guy who saved me for three consecutive times. The first time we met, I really find him attractive. I like him. Pero hindi nagtagal yung feelings ko. Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi masyado syang masungit. Honestly, you look like him." napatawa naman ako sa sinabi ko. Lumilindol na't lahat pero inaalala ko pa din ang lalaking iyon.

"You like me?" he asked. Halos kumapit na yung nya pabango nya sa akin dahil sa sobrang lapit namin sa isa't isa.

I just pinched his cheeks before answering.

"I like you."

Before I could totally close my eyes, I saw the man beside me smiled.

Chapter end