#CTG25 Chapter 25

"Akala ko one Sunday lang duty mo?" Rory asked as she watch me prepare my things bago ako dumiretso sa hotel. I was tempted to answer 'I thought so, too' but decided against it. There's nothing good that would come from her knowing na kaya ako pupunta sa hotel ay dahil sa request ni Rhys na ako iyong maghatid ng LMTs niya at magwakeup call sa kanya...

Which was weird... since I discovered na ka-frat yata siya ni Iñigo. Because if that's the case, sigurado ako na bina-barops siya ng mga ka-frat niya. They even rented a whole floor of the hotel—which wasn't surprising knowing that their frat's the richest and most powerful in school. Sobrang dami nilang brods na nasa matataas na position—both in public and private sectors.

Pagdating ko sa hotel, dumiretso ako sa isa sa mga coffee shops doon. Inayos ko iyong mga gamit ko. Mamaya pa namang madaling araw ako kailangan. Nagsimula akong magbasa ng reviewer para hindi masayang ang oras ko. After a while, my eyes got tired. Tumayo ako at iniwan doon iyong gamit ko para maglakad-lakad.

"Cha!"

I sighed when I heard my name being called. I really wasn't in the mood to socialize—I never was... Naglakad lang naman ako para ma-relax dahil nahihilo na ako sa mga binabasa ko.

I turned around and saw Rhys waving at me. Agad na kumunot and noo ko nang makita ko si Gracey na katabi niya... at si Iñigo. What the hell was happening?

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko lalo na nang lumapit silang lahat sa akin—kasama iyong mga magulang ni Rhys... The hell... Magkapatid ba sila ni Gracey?

I looked at Iñigo's face and he looked like he'd be anywhere but here. I was starting to doubt every decision I made. Bakit ba ako umalis sa coffee shop? Bakit ba ginusto ko na maglakad-lakad? I should've stayed put. Hindi sana ako napunta sa sitwasyon na 'to.

"Small world," Gracey said, smiling. "Ikaw pala 'yung Cha na laging sinasabi—"

"Shut up," Rhys said, glaring at Gracey. He looked at me. "We're gonna have dinner... Gusto mong sumama?"

Hell no.

Bakit ako sasama sa dinner nilang pamilya?

"No, thanks," I politely said. "Nasa coffee shop pa po iyong gamit ko," sabi ko sa mga magulang niya na naka-tingin sa akin at naka-ngiti. Rhys was really polite with my Dad and I was never really rude to anyone... unless they were rude to me first. My rule is that I'm nice until you piss me off.

"Rhys, samahan mo siyang kunin iyong gamit," his mom said. "Let us treat you to dinner, hija... As thank you dahil sinamahan mo si Rhys namin last week. Hindi kasi kami naka-punta agad because of work."

I sighed.

I was left with no choice but to join them for dinner. Sumama sa akin si Rhys para kunin iyong iniwan ko na gamit sa coffee shop.

"Hey..." he said. "Ayaw mo ba talagang sumama? I can just make an excuse."

"No. Okay lang."

"You sure?"

"Yeah," sagot ko habang inaayos iyong gamit ko. "Bakit mo pa sinabi sa kanila na sinamahan kita last week?"

I wasn't looking at him and was just focused on putting my things in my bag. But even then, it's like I could see Rhys' smile. Palagi kasi siyang naka-ngiti talaga... but then so was Iñigo. I really couldn't keep up with these frat guys. It's like they're living dual lives.

"They felt really guilty about not being with me last week, so I told them I had someone with me."

"Did you mention na kaya lang ako nandun ay dahil ni-request mo?"

He laughed. "Chose not to mention that one."

"My answer from before remains the same, if you must know. If you tell me you like me now, thank you pa rin ang makukuha mong sagot."

He laughed again. "Your dad really likes me. Kung gusto mo rin ako, then things would be perfect."

I shrugged, hugging my books close to my chest. "Too bad my dad doesn't get to decide on who I'd date," I said, smiling at him sarcastically.

The resto his parents chose was on the other side of the hotel. It was an awful long time to walk without talking to each other.

"How did you know Iñigo?" he asked.

"Our college is not that big, you know?"

"Right," he said, smiling as if he was utterly entertained by my response. "Was just surprised that you know him."

"Why?"

"Because the last time I heard, walang masyadong kaibigan si Iñigo sa college."

I wanted to ask more, but at the same time, I felt like it would be an invasion of Iñigo's privacy if I pried into his life... At kung may gusto man akong malaman, si Iñigo na lang mismo ang tatanungin ko.

"Here!" we heard someone say. Napa-tingin kami at nakita namin na naka-upo na sina Gracey sa gilid ng resto. They looked like they're all having fun. Napa-tingin ako kay Rhys. Kung kapatid nga niya si Gracey, then it meant na 'childhood friend' din niya si Iñigo... pero bakit ganoon ang reaksyon ni Iñigo nang makita niya kahapon na galing ako sa kwarto ni Rhys?

The parents were a delight. They were nice and very grateful na kasama ko si Rhys last week. Napansin ko rin na mabait sila kay Iñigo, but there's something I couldn't exactly point out... There's something weird about it... Something I knew I shouldn't concern myself about because I had other priorities.

"How about you, Iñigo? When will you take the BAR?"

"Next, next year, Tito."

"If you need anything, tell Gracey, okay?"

Iñigo just smiled and focused his attention on the untouched food on his plate. I did the same. The parents were nice, but I felt so out of place and I just wanted to leave... Nandito naman ang parents ni Rhys, so there's no need for me to stay.

When the dinner, ended, I excused myself para pumunta sa CR. Nagsabi si Gracey na sasama siya sa 'kin.

"Small world talaga, no?" Gracey said. Naka-tayo siya sa harap ng salamin sa CR habang pumasok ako sa cubicle. "Ikaw pala 'yung Cha na nambasted kay Rhys."

"Di ko siya binasted—"

"Yes, yes! He said he told you he liked you and you said thank you? That was hilarious! Ikaw pala 'yun! Now that I know it's you, it makes total sense," she said. I opened the door, my brow arched at her. "I mean, it makes sense na ikaw 'yung gumawa... Usually, Rhys is the one who does the thanking," she said, shrugging. "But my twin's standard is impossibly high. Ikaw lang nagustuhan nun."

I think I should feel flattered, but I just felt bad. It must've taken lots of guts para sabihin sa akin ni Rhys iyon, pero salamat lang ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Kaysa naman paasahin ko siya sa wala. Magsasayang lang kami ng oras dalawa.

"So, you're twins..." I said, diverting the topic.

"Yeah... I mean, magka-mukha naman yata kami," Gracey said, smiling. "Mukhang bati na kayo ni Iñigo, ah?"

"For Iñigo's ex, you're too... close."

She smiled. "Because before I became his 'ex,' I'm his best friend first," she said. "I hope kung magiging kayo man, you won't stop us from being friends... We're just friends, Cha. I'd always look after him."

I nodded, washing my hands. Gusto ko na sanang lumabas para maka-alis na ako pero mukhang balak pa ni Gracey na tumambay dito sa CR.

"You look like you have lots of questions. May gusto ka bang itanong?" she asked.

"I'd ask Iñigo myself if I'm that curious."

She grinned. "No wonder you both got my ex and my twin wrapped around your fingers," she said. "And I can't even get a boyfriend. God, life's unfair."

I'd tell Gracey she's mistaken, but from what I knew about her, she's more like a lawyer than a doctor. Alam ko na ipipilit niya lang sa akin ang gusto niya kaya naman tumahimik na lang ako.

"Both are great guys, Cha," she said, smiling. "But you're a great girl, too, so it's up to you. I love them both."

Paglabas namin, nagpaalam lang ako sa kanila at lumabas na ako. Magbu-book na sana ako nang makita na naman ako nung lalaki na nagbilin na ako ang maghahatid ng LMT ni Rhys. I already told him na kasama ni Rhys iyong parents niya, pero ako pa rin daw assigned dun. For God's sake, gusto kong matulog!

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at huminga nang malalim. I marched back to the coffee shop and just studied there until I was needed. Ipapa-reimburse ko na 'tong bill ko sa coffee shop. Libre naman 'to sa condo ko.

When time came, I went to the HQ to get the LMTs. Kumuha na rin ako ng kape ni Rhys just to be sure. Uwing-uwi na ko. 'Di na ako magpapakita dito sa last week. Mas importante iyong finals ko kaysa sa paghahatid ng LMT.

I knocked and waited for a few minutes bago bumukas ang pinto. Rhys was yawning.

"Here," I said, handing him the coffee and LMTs.

He smiled. "Thanks, Cha," he said. "You want donuts? Nagdala sila Mama kanina, e. 'Di ko nga alam kung bakit e hindi naman ako mahilig 'dun."

"No, thanks," I said.

"Wala na sila Mama—" he said, as if he knew that the reason why I didn't want to go in his suite was because I didn't want to get caught in a long conversation again.

"Uuwi na ko," sagot ko.

"Fine," he said. "Hintayin mo na lang ako dito."

I stood there awkwardly and waited for his return. Every second that passed made me cautious about my surrounding. Baka mamaya nandito na naman si Iñigo... Floor pa naman nila 'to.

"Here," he said, handing me a box of donuts. "Please? Ang dami talagang pagkain sa loob."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine," sabi ko.

Tumawa siya. "Thanks for helping me with my food problem."

I just nodded. "Sige na. Basahin mo na 'yang LMT mo," sabi ko sa kanya... Although I really didn't get the appeal of LMT. Wala na akong balak magreview few hours from the exam itself. I would just relax my brain and not bother reading the last minute tips.

Nang bumalik na sa loob si Rhys, naglakad na ako papunta sa elevator. When it opened, I saw Iñigo. His eyes gave away how he was surprised to see me, but it was later replaced with his forehead creasing.

He got out of the elevator. I was supposed to get in... but all I did was watch the elevator door close.

"Do you need help?" I asked when I saw him holding a couple of paper bags from different restos.

"No, thanks," he said in a clipped tone na para bang ayaw niya akong kausap.

"Fine," I said, pressing the arrow button down repeatedly para malaman ni Iñigo na alis na alis na ako. I kept my eyes on the small screen as I watched the elevator number go up and up.

"I'm sorry," he said in a low tone. "Pagod lang ako."

I remained silent.

"I'd take the help if you're still offering it."

Hindi pa rin ako nagsalita.

"Sige na, Cha... Pagod na ako sa barops... Next month mo na lang ako sungitan," he said. I looked at him with my forehead creased, but he was smiling at me—the old smile, hindi iyong douche smile niya.

The elevator door opened again. I looked at it and then at Iñigo.

"Ano ba'ng gagawin?" I asked, rolling my eyes as I got some of the paper bags from his grasp.

"Sort 'tong food tapos idedeliver mamayang 4:30 for breakfast," he said as we walked. Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa huminto kami sa pinaka-dulo ng hallway. There's a small room there na may couches at lamesa. Doon nilagay ni Iñigo iyong mga paper bag.

"Wala bang mas bata sa 'yo na pwedeng gumawa nito?" I asked. He's already 3rd year... surely may freshman o sophomore silang member na pwedeng utusan nito.

Iñigo normally answers my question, but this one, he just blatantly ignored. Naglabas siya ng papel na may mga request. Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ang dami naman nito for breakfast," I noted. "Mauubos ba nila 'to?"

He shrugged. "Hindi," sagot niya. "Pero malaki fund for barops."

Nagsimula kaming magsort ng mga pagkain ng brods niya. I noticed that Rhys' breakfast iyong pinaka-demanding. To think na maraming pagkain sa room niya...

"Kambal pala ni Gracey si Rhys..." I mentioned.

"Yeah," simpleng sagot niya. "Pwede bang 'wag na nating pag-usapan?" diretsong tanong niya.

"Why?" I asked.

"It pisses me off."

My lips parted at his answer.

Iñigo looked at me.

"It pisses me off because if he likes you, then I have to back down... And I don't want to back down," he said, looking straight into my eyes.