Chapter 5: Four-Eyed

I pouted my lips and crossed my arms, “Anak, later cut the ribbon with me pag wala pa yung mommy mong scammer.” Pinigilan ko matawa sa sinabi ni daddy.

Napatanaw ako sa entrance and saw my mom and Zian, her escort. “I guess there’s no need for that daddy, nandiyan na sila.” Tukoy ko.

“Your mom is still as fresh as a flower.” Tumaas ang kilay ko sa ka-maisan ng parents ko.

“Ge dad,” wika ko.

“Why? Did your boyfriend dump you again?” Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni daddy.

“Sabi ko kasi ‘di ba huwag muna mag-nobyo, ang mga lalake sakit sa ulo ‘yan, kabisado ko na ang galawan nila. Dapat naghahanap ka ng mabait, tulad ko.” Ngumuso ako sa sermon ni daddy sa akin.

“Hindi ka naman po mabait noon, para kang si Zian.” Turo ko sa kapatid na kalalapit lang.

“Ako na naman? Ginagawa ko sa’yo, ate?” Tila nagmamaktol na sabi ni Zian kaya natawa ako at nagkibit balikat.

Later on, dumating and lumapit rin yung brother ng lalake na kasama namin, both of them ang gwapo and malakas ang dating and I guess mas mabait yung isa.

“Azi, what took you so long?” Napalingon ako sa Azi na sinasabi ng lalakeng antipatiko na naka-salamin.

Four-eyed.

“Why are you early then?” Balik sumbat ng Azi, nang mapansin niya na nakatingin ako ay natigilan ako ng pasadahan niya muna ang kabuohan ko bago siya ngumiti.

“Sup?” He stated.

Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ngingiti ba ako o hindi, “Sup.” I greeted back and smiled a little.

Hindi sila nagkakalayo ng height, kaya hindi ko alam kung sino ang mas matanda sa kanila at isa pa parehas silang mas matanda sa akin kahit anong anggolo.

Yung si Azi mas bagay niya maging doctor, and this one si four-eyed mas bagay niya maging businessman. Tingin ko lang.

Ako? Bagay kay Yuno.

Nag-start ang party na sobrang bored ako not until nakita ko si Yuno sa gilid, nakangiti akong lumapit sa kaniya.

“Hoy.” Tawag ko.

Gulat siyang napalingon, “Oh. Sierah.”

Natigilan ako ng bahagya siyang umatras at dahil lang pala para titigan ang suot ko, “Ang ganda mo, siguro may date ka ‘no?” Natawa ako at umiling.

“Ikaw, ayaw mo?” Tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya tsaka siya huminga ng malalim at tumitig.

“Bago yata ‘yan, wala kang date.” Nagkibit balikat ako at sumama sa table niya, inabutan niya naman ako ng glass of wine.

“Bago? Wala lang talaga. Because this is urgent, and ayoko rin magdala ng unknown guy lang..” I stated.

He simply glanced at the crowd and nodded, “Well, that’s good. You know what’s temporary and permanent.” Ngumisi pa siya kaya nagtaka ako.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is you can only bring the man who’ll be there for you through ups and downs in this kind of party. Issue is a real deal in business.” He explained and made his legs cross.

“So I can bring you to this kind of party?” He stopped because of my question.

“You can’t play with me, Sierah. You know that your tactics won’t work on me.” His lips rose up and my heart almost exploded as he tried to touch my face.

“Yuno.” I warned him.

He stopped himself and chuckled, “You’ll just end up getting played by me if you try me.” He seriously stated that it made me roll my eyes.

“I’m not up for the play. I’m trying to be a good girl here to impress you, duh.” Natigilan ako nang akbayan niya.

“You don’t want me, Sierah. You just want me to like you.” Ngumiwi ako, I will never win if he’s my enemy.

I’ll end up losing myself to him, “C’mon don’t be like that, you’ll make it awkward for both of us.” Hindi na ako umimik sa sinabi niya at uminom na lang.

Wala namang kami ngunit gusto ko magtampo. He’s always doing this, paano ko ba siya mapapaibig?

“I like you for real, Yuno.” Hinarap ko siya matapos sabihin ‘yon, “No games, no jokes.”

Nangunot ang noo niya at napatitig sa akin, “Sierah, don’t be like this.” He gave me a low chuckle.

I touched his face and he instantly caught my wrist, “Sierah.” Banta ang pagtawag niya doon ngunit ayoko magpaawat.

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kaniya, ngunit bago pa man maglapat ang labi namin ay may tumikhim sa gilid namin. “Your dad is asking for you.”

Natigilan ako at nilingon si four-eyed guy na prenteng nakatayo sa gilid, “You should go.” Matipid na sabi ni Yuno at tumikhim na para bang may nakaharang sa lalamunan niya.

I sighed and stood up, “I’ll go first.” Paalam ko at naglakad na papunta sa kung nasaan si dad.

Nilingon ko naman si four-eyed, “Ano ‘di ka sasama?” Iritableng tanong ko, nabitin ako eh.

“Why would I? Go find your dad and ask him, dumb.” My lips parted when he walked away after calling me dumb, really?!

Gosh, he’s getting on my nerves!

Ang sarap niyang suntukin, masyado siyang antipatiko, does he think he suits it? He doesn’t!

Nang makita si daddy ay ngumiti ako, “What is it dad?”

“Uhm where’s this fine young man?” Ngumiwi ako. “Dad, hinanap niyo ako sa kaniya tapos ngayon hahanapin niyo siya sa akin? As if I know his whereabouts?” Nakakunot ang noo na sabi ko.

That made my father smile, “Kaya kita pinahanap sa kaniya kasi kailangan ko kayong dalawa.”

“Fine, I’ll find him for your sake dad.” Tumalikod ako sa daddy ko at tsaka ko ikinalat ang mata upang makita ang lalakeng ‘yon.

But I didn’t find him at all and then I remember he smokes, pumunta ako sa smoke area ng venue and there he was, smoking.

He was standing and if he’s attentive he’ll see me on his peripheral view, his coat hanging on his arms and he was standing there just inhaling some shit.

He’ll die early in this state.

“Hey, four-eyed..” He stopped and fixed his eyeglass before glancing at me, “What do you need dumb?”

My brows rose up on his remarks, “T-That’s offensive.” I hissed.

“So what do you need?” He repeated his question, I crossed my arms and gestured inside.

“My dad wants you to be there too,” utos ko.

“Just go instantly, ayoko na hanapin ka ulit.” Masungit na sabi ko at tsaka napatigil, “It will kill you.” Turo ko sa sigarilyo niya.

“I don’t care.” He said in a cold tone of voice, he threw it in the garbage after removing the fire from it.