Chapter Thirty One
Ria’s POV
“What the flying eff—?”
I turned and saw Denise standing on the doorway, her arms full of groceries. Behind her was Liam, who looked like he was going to explode from laughing.
“What do you think are you doing with the keyboard?!”
Fine, they had reason to laugh / freak out / (insert-everything-here). I was holding the keyboard— Guitar Hero-style.
“Let it go. I paid for that!”
“NO! I’m not yet finished!”
“But—
“Den, sweetie, we have dinner to cook. Let it go. Ria, after that, magsaing ka na, ayt?”
“Alrighty… YES! 50 STREAK YO! WHO’S YOUR DADDY?”
“Jam Legend?”
Another person came into the room and—
“SH1T!”
“What did I do?” 
“THAT’S WHAT YOU DID!” I said, gesturing towards the monitor. “The streak is over! I WAS GOING FOR A NEW PERSONAL BEST, DAMMIT!”
“Don’t blame me,” he said calmly, despite the fact that I was yelling at his face. “It wasn’t my fault that you felt the need to turn and feast your eyes on my wonderful… features. 
”
Mukhang kailangan ko ng kakapitan ah. Ang lakas kasi bigla ng hangin. 
“Cheh.”
“Aminin na kasi. Hinihintay mo ako diba?”
“Pwet mo. 
”
He laughed.
“Ngek, ano ba yan,” he said, taking a glance at the monitor. “79 per cent? BANO. ”
“Excuse me?”
His features curled into a smirk.
“Gimme that. I’ll show you how to play.”
“HOY! WAG YAN ACCOUNT KO GAMITIN MO!”
“Ano ka ba, would you pass this up?” he asked as he got the keyboard from me, expertly arranging his fingers on the function keys. “I’ve got an immaculate 99% record on the next song. Wanna bet?”
“Yeah fine! Bibili kang ice cream if you get less than 99%.”
“Sus, yun lang? Game.”
“Game it is. ”
“Eh kung matalo ka?”
“Well, kahit hindi posible, sige. For the heck of it. Ikaw mamili.”
“Hmmmm. Sige. Kiss mo na lang ako. ”
“WHATEVER!”
“Haha! Feeling mo naman magpapahalik ako sayo. ”
“Yeah,” I said. “Halik lang ni Karissa gusto mo eh.”
“Ano sabi mo?”
“Wala. Sabi ko maglaro ka na ”
Sh1t. Ano ba pinagsasasabi ko?
Tingnan mo si ungas. Nakangiti oh.TSEH.
I simply looked as he played the next song.
Putek naman talaga oo. Mukhang magaling nga siya sa Jam Legend. Honestly, is there anything this person isn’t good at? Badtrip talaga.
“Oh my gosh. And I thought isa lang ang nababaliw rito ” Denise scoffed, as she went and gathered the groceries she had left at the doorstep.
“Sweetie, wag ka dyan. ISTORBO KA. ”
T_T
“Ay! Magsasaing pa pala ko!” 
“Wag na! Nakapagsaing na ako! Dyan ka na!”
THANKS, LIAM
“So ano, tuloy tayo apply sa JMA next sem?”
“Oo ba. Hindi ba mahirap mag-apply?”
“Hinde. I mean oo. Pero worth it daw, sabi ni Rafa.”
“Rafa?”
“Nag-apply siya diba? Tanggap na nga eh. Induction na nila bukas.”
“First sem siya nag-aaply?”
“Oo. Dali sama ka na.”
“Sino sino na ba?”
“Si Den, si Liam, si Aidan, Ako… ikaw. Ano, game?”
“Okay.”
I watched him some more. His fingers alternately rose and fell, in perfect sync with the chords.
“Sh1t, level 7 ka pa lang? HAHAHA NOOB.”
“Bastos ka!!!” I said sabay hampas. “Wait, are you free like, next weekend?”
“HAHA I knew it.”
“You knew what?”
“Are you officially asking me out?”
T_T
Sapakin ko kaya to ngayon na?
“Umayos ka nga. Seryoso eh.”
“HAHA. Sorry. Bakit ano bang meron?”
“Wala lang. Kasi naisip ko, sem-ender. Kahit road trip sa Tagaytay.”
“Tagaytay?”
“Yep.”
“Ehrrm… Parang hindi pwede e.”
“Ah.” I said, trying not to sound so disappointed. “Okay. Sige. Kami kami na lang.”
“Sorry.”
“Ano ka ba. Bakit ka nagsosorry? Labo mo.”
“Wala. Hehe. Wala kasing mag-aalaga sayo.”
Wait, what?
“AYUN YUN EH!”
Napatingin na ako sa monitor.
100%.
“Sh1t. Who’s your Daddy now huh?”
T_T
“Paano ba yan. Panalo ako!!! ”
“Fine. Ikaw na JAM LEGEND. Is there anything else you’re not good at?”
“I dunno… expressing how I feel?” he asked.
As he said it, he drilled his eyes into mine in an intense stare.
“AYUN!”
Napatingin kami pareho sa door ulit.
There was Aidan and Jon, standing there for what looked like a long while now. They looked very amused, their faces showing identical grins.
“Bilib na ko sayo Lance. SMOOTH!”
“Sapul na sapul eh.”
“Not to mention effective.”
“Onga! HAHA! APIR!”
Tingnan mo tong dalawang to. ISTORBO NA NGA NAMBUBUKING PA
Haha. Joke lang yun ah. 
“Ahem.”
Sh1t awkward. 
Ba’t ka ba affected, ha RIA? Tss.
*RING RING*
Unknown Number
“Who is it?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, even if I did have a hunch. His smile vanished.
“It’s an overseas call.”
Could it be?
“Tingnan mo nga. Baka si Maffy yan.”
I looked at the phone for another minute.
Was I honestly expecting Maffy?
Or am I – subconsciously— hoping it was someone else?
“Oh give me that,” he said, giving me no time to protest. “Hello? Maffy?”
I found myself staring at him hopefully with my mouth open.
“Yeah she’s here.”
He handed me the handset.
“It’s Maffy. She wants to talk to you.”
“Thanks. Hello?”
“What took you so long?”
Lance put the keyboard back in its place and went towards the kitchen.
“I— I was… in the bathroom. Sorry.”
“Oh. And he was holding your phone?”
“Well, he was passing by and sinagot niya.”
“Are you two alone?”
“No. Andito rin sila Den.”
“Really?”
“Yeah they’re cooking supper.”
Dead air.
“Any more questions?” I asked sarcastically.
“No. I’m sorry. I’m just curious.”
“Curious? To be completely honest Maffs, it was more like accusatory.”
“Why do you sound so defensive?”
“Who’s defensive?”
“Ria, who’re you yelling at?” Denise asked, peeking at me from the kitchen.
“No one. Sorry. Maffy couldn’t hear me.”
“All right. Be here in 5, it’s almost ready.”
“I do not have anything to be defensive about.”
“Are you sure?”
“Okay. What exactly are you getting at?”
“All I’m saying is that I think you’re moving too fast.”
“Moving? You totally lost me.”
“Don’t you think it’s too early? I mean, you and Ge… him. You guys didn’t even have a proper closure, and—
“Oh, is that what you were worried about?” I asked her, almost laughing. “I’m okay now, Maffy. See? I can say his name out loud already. GE-LO. I can even spell it out for you without breaking into tears.”
I heard an uneasy sigh from the other line.
“But… I dunno.” 
“Spit it out, Maffs.”
“Wala lang. Nagugulat lang talaga ko.”
“You’re making a really big deal out of this, you know.”
“Hindi kaya ginagamit mo lang si Lance para makalimutan si Gelo? Or… worse, makaganti?”
The way she dropped the question shocked me with the force of a bomb.
“Do you think I am actually capable of doing that?”
“I… don’t know. The way things are going…”
“What things? We’re just friends who are perfectly capable of hanging out—
“Do you like him?”
Ano raw?
“Do I WHAT?”
“I’m asking if you like him. That’s only answerable by two words. Yes and No.”
“Maffs!”
“Yes or no, Ria.”
TANG INA ANO BA!!!
“Hoy! Ready na dinner!”
“Coming!”
“Come and get it Ria Banana!”
Ria banana raw? HAHAHA!
“Shet ka Maffy.”
She laughed hysterically.
“Gag0 ka talaga. Sige na. Saka mo na sagutin.”
“Sure kang ayaw mo nang ipasagot?”
“Hindi na kailangan. Alam ko na sagot.”
O-kay?
“Nga pala. Kaya nga pala ako tumawag…”
“Oo nga. Bakit nga ba?”
“I’m coming home in a week or two.”
“WHAT?!”
“Lakas ng boses mo gagu. ”
“HAHA! YES! WOOHOO!”
“Osha, ikaw na magsabi sa kanila. Pati sabihin mo kay Jonathan tatawag ako mamaya!”
“OKAY~! YEHEY! Thanks Maffs!”
“Bye!”
Suddenly, Den came running into the room.
Dumeretso siya ng silip doon sa window.
“Sh1t, andyan na naman yung Vios.”
“What Vios?”
Nagsilabasan lahat ng tao sa kusina.
“Nung isang araw pa yan. Wala namang kahit isa sa ating naka Vios. Kahit saan tayo pumunta nandyan yan.”
“Baka naman classmate nating taga rito rin sa boarding house na to?”
“Basta. Hindi ko maintindihan pero hindi maganda yung feeling ko dyan sa Vios na yan.”
“Wag mo na lang pansinin.”
Gelo’s POV
“Hindi sabi ako gutom eh.”
“Ano bang nangyayari sayo?”
I angrily put the food tray back on the side table. Kanina pa ko nakikipagnegotiate sa kanya na kumain.
“May problema ka ba?”
Wala. Wala pa ring sagot.
Kanina pa to eh, simula nung dumating kami mula sa bahay. Sandali lang naming naiwan, naging ganito na. Hindi ko maintindihan. Mugto yung mata, malungkot. Hindi mapatawa. Ni ayaw magsalita ng maayos.
“Konti lang. Para magkalaman lang yang tyan mo. Yung huli mong kain kanina pang umalis kami—
She grabbed the plate and threw it angrily on the ground.
“O ayan. Ubos na.”
“What’s wrong with you?!”
“Sabi ko naman sayo ayaw kong kumain eh. MASYADO KANG MAKULIT.”
“Hindi ko alam kung sinapian ka ng demonyo o ano, pero—
“Pero ano?”
“Rish, wag mo akong galitin,” I said as I went and picked up the food splattered on the floor.
“Bakit? Takot ka bang may masabi ka?” she asked. “Sabihin mo na. Para nagkakalinawan tayong lahat dito.”
“Rish maawa ka naman samin!” I shouted. “Akala mo ba madali yung ginagawa namin para sayo?!”
“Tingnan mo sila Mama pati si Dad. Ayun! Nagtatrabaho. Para may mapakain sayo, para may pambayad rito. Kahit anytime pwede silang makulong dahil hindi naman legal. Nagwowork ng extra hours, naghihirap kasi below minimum wage yung pinapasweldo… para lang hindi mahuli. Alam mo kung bakit? Kasi ikaw yung iniisip nila! Paano pag di sila nagtrabaho… hindi ka na mapapagamot! Pag nahuli naman sila sinong mag-aalaga sayo?”
“Sinabi ko bang gawin niyo yun? Hindi naman diba? Nagdadrama ka pa. Eh kung pabayaan niyo na lang ako edi tapos na.”
“Oo nga naman,” I said with an ironic laugh. “Hindi ko naman kailangang mabulok rito para maghintay kung kailan mo kailangan ng blood donor. Oo nga naman, hindi ko naman kailangang itapon yung future ko para mag babysit dito, para lang may pandagdag sa pampagamot mo… hindi ko lalo kailangang iwanan silang lahat doon, lalo na si Ria, para lang sayo.
Ano? Yun ang gusto mong marinig diba? Yun yung gusto mong isipin?”
“Dahil yun yung totoo.”
“You know what…”
I grabbed my jacket from the table and stood up.
“Bahala ka na sa buhay mo.”
Crossing the room in three strides, I opened the door, got out, and slammed it shut.
“Hey Gelo.”
I looked up and saw Sheen smiling at me, holding a bouquet of what looked like Malaysian mums. Even as I looked at her, I noticed something different about the way she smiled.
“Um… is this a bad time?” she asked, taking a quick glance at the door. “I was about to surprise you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. And I brought stuff for your sister too.”
“Sorry, Sheen, but I don’t think this is the right time for you to meet my sister.”
“Why do you look so upset? Did you have a row or something?”
“Well,” I said with an annoyed snort. “Basta. Gusto ko lang lumayo dito.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Ewan. Kahit saan. Ikaw bahala.”
“Sinong magbabantay sa kapatid mo?”
“Dad’s arriving in thirty minutes. She’ll be fine.”
“Sigurado ka?”
“Oo. Basta bahala na siya,” I said, pulling her by the hand. “I just badly need someone to talk to. I need my space too, you know. Kung ganyan rin lang na hindi naman niya naaappreciate yung mga ginagawa ko…”
“Baka naman bad mood lang siya. Intindihin mo na lang. Total Kuya ka naman eh.”
“Wala na akong pake dun.”
“Gelo…”
“Sige na, pagbigyan mo na ko. Ikaw na nga lang nakakaintindi sakin…”
She gave me a reassuring smile.
“Okay. If you say so.”
Panalo ang acting ni Sheen ha.
comments naman dyan! Yehey!!!
baybehjam: oh, oo nga. matanda na talaga ako
sige sige. here's the next chap. hope ye liked it
sunakochan: haha yey! eto na update.
krizZ@candy: syempre! diehard fan to oy!
mika.523: hoy vakla! miss na kita!
eto na update yey!
melody_aleihs18: haha nakakamiss nga yung belly na yun!
wow talaga? cool! diba siya yung maliit na babae?
jmjana10: hahaha! true! o eto pa, tayo nang mainis kay sheen
lissy_14: hey lis! ive read your update. poor david. kaso kainis si chanel inunahan ako! kala ko pa naman makakascore ako kay david toink
untamed77angel: okay lang yan. ah okay okay! jeez i badly need a med terms tutorial!!!
Taurusian21: haha eto na update mo sorry na
ang hirap kasi mag isip. grabe. naiwan ko yata sa seminar yung utak ko shiyet
xinylove22: roma! grabe long time. cheesy line but true!
thankyoou!
burn_eya: haha you're scary.
makapag hanap nga ng pwedeng Sheen
mheng_infatuated: pinapaslang? ay trulalu ka dyan ate!!!
jezhime: whoa whoa whoa ate easy ka lang
ria-ian? AHERM. NO.
haha. sorry
jha_xx: okay thank you! here it is. enjoy!
princessgraxxie: thankyousomuch! i've just posted the update. hope you lalalike it!
shinigami08: haha! you kinda totally lost me.
anyhoo, sino yung sister mo? thanks a lot!!!
it_must_be_me: OH-KAY? ang labo mo. if you make other authors a reason for you not to write, then you have a BIG problem. kasi kung titingin ka ng iba and ikukumpara mo lang sa sarili mo eh natural. kahit ako pag tinitingnan ko SDTG naiinsecure ako hahaha
hoy ana umayos ka ah.
johnny_madrid: thanks kuya ken!
i'm using the stuff you sent me. it's a lot of help!
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