Chapter Eleven: Deal

Azen

I couldn't even suppress my grin as I watch the asshole, as Serina have said it, eyed us like a total creep. I don't know why Serina said shits about this guy, but as far as I can see, he's into her. Really into her.

That made it even more interesting. I never even thought things would end up like this— Me, pretending as someone's boyfriend.

When I met Serina at the cemetery, none of what's happening right now crossed my mind. Yes, she does have that mysterious effect going on, and yes, she had piqued my curiosity. But I didn't really thought she's that interesting. I tried getting her off my mind, and I was almost successful in doing it, until I saw her in one of Dante's— a close friend of mine— picture on his social media.

It wasn't that much. Not a 'woah' or a 'damn' kind of picture. I almost didn't even recognized her there, because she was wearing one of those nerdy thick-framed glasses, and she even wore her hair in a neat ponytail. But then, her eyes gave her away. That's what took my attention, and kept my eyes on her picture.

I remember seeing those sad-looking dark eyes, and then everything just clicked. I realized that it was her, the girl I met at the cemetery.

Since then, I've been pestering Dante almost everyday to spill out her name. He wasn't budging, at first. I even thought she was an ex of his, or a cousin maybe, that's why he's protecting her so much. But he finally surrendered when I asked his girlfriend, Miranda, for help.

I can still remember his expression, up to this day, when he said, "It's Serina Luiz, damn you! Now, will you leave Miranda alone? Go find a fucking girl of your own!"

He was ready to kill me! And I wouldn't be laughing in my mind right now if he wasn't my friend. That guy's a beast when he gets mad! Especially when it comes to his girl.

But it was worth it. The trouble I had to go through was worth it when I finally found Serina's social media account. And it even got better when Ethan's friend, Justin Caine, asked me to meet up with Zenna, which was actually her.

The world must've been cooperating with fate and coincidence.

And that's what it got me here.

I wrapped my arms around Serina's shoulders. Xyrus' friends have already settled in with us, acquiring almost half of the booth's space, so we don't have a choice but to sit close to each other. Like sardines, only some of us are on crack.

"Truth or dare?" A chick from across the table said.

I sighed, and cracked my neck out of boredom. Then while almost everyone was enjoying the boring game, I nuzzled my nose on Serina's hair.

I know. I look like a creep. But her hair just smells heavenly— a mixed of menthol and strawberry. Feisty, yet sweet. Just like her.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked, a few minutes later.

Fuck. I couldn't help but grin. "Enjoying your sweet smell."

"Para kang tanga."

"Well, this is better than watching these guys play a game meant for teenagers. Who the hell plays Truth or Dare in their twenties?" I whispered to her.

That made her laugh. Her shoulders shake as she tries to keep her voice. But she still pushed my face away from her to stop me from sniffing her hair.

So cute.

"Turn mo na, Zenna!"

My eyes shifted from Serina to this dude who called her. He was the previous one the bottle picked, and now apparently, it's Serina's turn.

This game is fuckin' stupid.

"Truth or dare?" A girl whose name I didn't bother to know asked her.

I brought my eyes back to Serina. She's bitting her soft lips, and God, how I wanted to bite those, too. I wonder how the other guys would react if I did?

"Dare?" she answered, followed by a shrug.

The girl who asked her smiled, sheepishly. I bet she's planning something, and I don't think I'm gonna like it.

"Okay," she then said. "I dare you to kiss Cloud on the lips."

The fuck? Is she serious?

Serina looked up at me, her eyes asking for help. I knew exactly what she wanted to say, so I quickly glanced at Xyrus who started this stupid game.

I didn't say a word, but I did scowled at him, showing him my disapproval. But the motherfucker just smirked at me. Like he approved of the dare, and doesn't care even if I punch that smug look off his face.

While the asshole, Cloud, looked uninterested but I know he wanted it, too.

Who wouldn't? Zenna was treated like a goddess by these guys, and a kiss with her might look like heaven for them.

"Sorry, dude. But it's just a game," Xyrus then said, and shrugged.

This situation is starting to piss me off.

"Guess I have to say sorry, too. 'Cos my girlfriend's lips are exclusively mine."

Xyrus' grin grew wider. "Anong gusto mong gawin natin?"

"I want someone else to do the dare. Make them kiss, suck each other's tongue— I don't care. Just leave my girl alone."

"Then why don't the two of you kiss, then? Instead of Cloud and Zenna."

I was caught off guard. I didn't expect that coming. But now, it's my turn to flash a wide grin.

So this was his plan all along. Good. At least I don't have to punch him.

Wait. Was I really serious about that?

"Now you're talking," I said, before turning to Serina.

She rolled her eyes in a cute way. I know she doesn't agree to this, but she have no other choice. It's either me, or that asshole.

And I'm sure, she'd pick me.

"It's your choice, Serina. Me, or him?" I whispered to her ear.

She looked up. Our eyes met, and aside from the sadness that's always evident in them, I saw something else. Emotions that completely mirrored mine— excitement and lust.

So without saying a word, I grabbed her by the nape then gently draw her face to mine. The cheers from our friends echoed around the booth, but all my attention was on Serina, and hers only.

Damn. I don't think I've ever wanted to kiss a girl this much.

Her warm breath teased me even more when it hit my skin. Without wasting another second, I claimed her lips. Her soft, and freakin' sweet lips. A low moan escaped her mouth, that only I was able to hear. It made me smile.

I slid my hand on her back, pushing her against me, while my other one cupped her head so I could control the kiss. I wanted to taste her more, thrust my tongue deeper until I'd explored every inch of her mouth.

She makes me lose all my control. And at the moment, I don't want anything else but that. I wanted to lose control, lose my mind and let the kiss take over me until I'm drunk.

But before that happened, Serina already pulled away, leaving me wanting for more. My eyes stayed on her as she bit her lips that's now swollen because of my kisses. And it fucking tempted me to taste those lips of hers, once again.

* * *

Serina

Hindi ko na maalala kung paano natapos ang gabing 'yon na kasama sina Xy at ang mga kaibigan niya. Hindi ko maalala kung paano sila nagpaalam sa amin, kung paano kami nagwatak-watak lahat, at kung ano-ano 'yong iba pang nangyari sa booth namin.

Almost everything was a big blur to me. I can't even remember how I got out of Moonlight and got into Red's fancy pick-up truck. All I know was. . . my plan worked.

Tandang tanda ko kung paano ako masuring titigan ni Cloud. Halos sa buong gabi na 'yon, hindi ako nilubayan ng mga mata niya pati na rin si Red. Lalo na noong gawin namin 'yong dare. At lalo pang mas naging nakakaaliw ang lahat noong dumating si Alexis.

Yes, Alexis. That bitch.

Dumating siya noong gabing 'yon at tumabi kay Cloud. Wala naman nang bago roon, dahil lagi silang magkasama. Pero ang nag-iba lang ay ang ugali niya.

Kung sa school ay napakasama ng ugali niya, na akala mo ay isa siyang reyna, noong kasama namin siya ay para naman siyang anghel.

She kept on smiling whenever someone talks to her. She laughed softly when someone jokes about something. And she kept on talking to me and Red that night, as if we were really close friends. And that pissed me so much, that I just wanted to pull all her hair out.

But of course, I suppressed every bad thoughts and emotions I had that night.

I don't want to make a scene, so I just let her act her fake angel-like attitude. It didn't took long enough for my suffering to be rewarded, though.

Dahil kalagitnaan ng gabi, unti-unti nang lumalabas ang inis sa mukha ni Alexis. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba 'yon sa hindi siya masyadong napapansin ni Cloud dahil panay ang tingin nito sa amin ni Red, o dahil nahahalata niyang may interes ito sa akin.

Either way, it's a satisfying scene to watch. Very satisfying.

Lumingon ako kay Red na kasalukuyang nagmamaneho ngayon. Mas lalo nang halata ang napakagandang pagkakatangos ng kanyang ilong ngayong nakatagilid siya mula sa 'kin, maging ang mahahaba niyang pilik-mata ay kitang kita ko kahit na bahagyang nahihilo.

He's so perfect. Not just his looks, but also his acting as my fake boyfriend.

Kahit paminsan-minsan ay nakakaasar ang mga ginagawa at sinasabi niya, hindi ko pa rin pinagsisisihan na siya ang napili ko.

"What are you looking at?" he suddenly said, pulling me away from my train of thoughts.

I smiled and giggled. "You," I frankly said which made him grin.

"Why?"

"Why? Well... because you're so perfect? And you were really really great earlier."

He chuckled, obviously pleased with what I just said. "Go ahead. Praise me more."

Pabiro ko siyang sinapak sa braso, pero hindi ko na rin napigilan ang tawa ko. "Yabang mo!"

Hindi ko alam pero parang tuwang tuwa ako ngayon. Alam kong napakadaldal ko rin, pero hindi ko naman mapigilan ang mga sinasabi ko. Siguro dahil sa naging maayos ang lahat kanina, o baka dahil sa alak na nasa buong sistema ko. Alin man doon ang dahilan, masaya pa rin ako.

Sandali akong nilingon ni Red, bago niya ibinalik sa kalsada ang kanyang paningin. Bahagya rin siyang umiling na para bang natutuwa na naman.

"Where do you want to eat?" sabay tanong niya.

Kumurap-kurap ako. "Eat? Why?"

Mahina siyang natawa at umiling ulit. "Because you didn't seem to eat dinner last night. You got drunk so fast, Serina."

"But I'm not drunk. Just. . . Tipsy." I smiled.

Okay, maybe I am a bit drunk. But I can still walk, I guess? And I still know what I was doing.

Red turned to me and carefully tucked a loose hair behind my ear. Then he shifted his eyes back on the road. "I'll take your word for it. But you still have to eat. I don't want my girlfriend to starve."

Natawa ako nang malakas dahil sa sinabi niya. He's so into the role, that even if it's just us, he still calls me his girlfriend. He even refused to call me Zenna when it's just us two, saying that it's sweeter calling me by my real name.

"You're so funny," I said, then reached up to him to pinch him in the cheek. "And so cute, too."

Okay. I'm being too honest.

His eyes widened for a moment, but then a crooked smile appeared right after that. "I know."

Nang makabalik ako sa upuan ko, isang fast food restaurant ang itinuro ko sa kanya na malapit lang sa lugar kung nasaan kami. Sabi ko ay mag-drive thru na lang kami at sa sasakyan niya na lang kami kumain. Pumayag naman siya at ilang sandali lang ay naroon na kami sa fast food na 'yon.

"You sure you don't want anything else?" tanong niya matapos kong sabihin ang mga gusto ko, which is just spaghetti and soda.

"I'm sure. Okay na 'ko do'n sa order ko."

He looked at me intently, as if trying to find out if I was telling the truth. But in the end, he dropped the conversation while nodding. "Okay. Sabi mo e. Happy girlfriend, happy life."

Natawa akong muli sa parinig niya, pero hindi na ako nagsalita. Hinayaan ko na lang siya at tahimik na lang na naghintay para sa order namin.

Noong maibigay sa amin ang pagkain, mainit-init pa ito. Agad na ibinigay sa akin ni Red ang pagkain ko, at ipinatong ko 'yon sa mga binti ko para makakain.

This is supposed to be breakfast, since it's already past four a.m. But because I didn't eat dinner last night, this is my dinner. My dinner that I had to skip last night, because my mom didn't invite me to eat with her on her birthday.

Mabuti pa si Red, niyaya akong kumain, naisip kong bigla kaya bahagya akong natawa.

Because it is funny. Painfully funny, that someone who barely know me would ask me to eat with him, like he's really concerned for me. Yet my mom wouldn't, and haven't even done that for me.

Yeah. Funny.

I heaved a sigh, trying to breathe out the heaviness in my chest. It took Red's attention. From the side of my eyes, I could see him looking at me, intently.

So I turned to him, and asked, "Why?"

"What?" he answered, like he doesn't even know he's staring at me.

"Sabi ko, bakit mo 'ko tinitignan? May itatanong ka ba?"

He averted his eyes, and focused them in his burger that he's eating. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"Anong wala? E kung makatingin ka parang gusto mo 'kong paulanan ng tanong e."

"It's nothing, Serina. You're just drunk."

I narrowed my eyes on him. May tinatago yata 'tong lalaking 'to sa 'kin, pero hindi ko lang alam kung ano 'yon.

He's been acting a little weird since we left Moonlight. I don't know if I'm just imagining things, or if I really am just drunk. But I can sense it. He's different now.

Noong kanina bago namin nakita si Xy, ramdam ko na ang tingin niya lang sa akin ay isang 'time-killer'. Just a game, or an excuse to escape his boring life. But now, his aura changed for some reason. It felt different. I just can't put my finger on it.

"Really?" I said, still watching him. "Edi ako na lang ang magtatanong."

He shrugged, then said, "Sure."

"Why did you agreed to help me?"

Red looked like he was caught off guard by my question. But he quickly recovered, then continued eating his burger.

"Do you want an honest answer? Or something that would please your ears?"

"An honest one."

He nodded. "I agreed to help you, 'cos it's a great way to kill some time. Not to brag, but I never experienced pretending as someone's boyfriend because girls flock over me without me trying. All of these were so new, so I went with the flow."

I knew it.

"Initially," he continued, emphasizing the word, "that was my reason. But now... To tell you the truth, I don't even know why I really did agreed."

"Okay, you're not making sense. Care to explain?"

"Let's just say I jumped off the cliff without thinking. But so far, I'm enjoying the free fall. You're more interesting than I thought you were. So I'll be sticking around 'til I get bored." He flashed me a crooked smile, that made me roll my eyes.

"Wow. Salamat ha? Don't worry, it'll try not to get you bored, Prince Red."

He threw his head back and filled the car with his laughter. It was so carefree, so amusing to watch that it made me smile, too.

Red is like the sun. Sa sandaling panahon na nakasama ko siya, 'yon ang napansin ko. He just have this charm that makes everyone feel giddy inside. He's so refreshing to watch, and as much as I hate to admit it, he makes you want to be close to him. Like a magnet.

But he's still annoying, though.

"Just call me Azen. Everyone's been calling me Red for as long as I could remember. Nakakasawa na."

"Sure." I answered, nonchalantly. "Whatever you want, my prince."

He laughed again. "Hey. Just to give you a heads-up, I'm not as good as you think I am; as everyone thinks I am. I'm no prince charming."

"I know," I quickly said.

"Really now?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "Wanna know how I knew? Because you're wearing a mask just like I do." Then I laughed, but void of humor.

Red turned silent. His chocolate-colored eyes stayed on me, as if he was watching something important. They bored into me, and for a moment, I felt naked and vulnerable. Like he could see pass through my walls, my mask, and everything else covering and desperately hiding my true emotions. But he never said anything. Not even one word.

Then after a while, he let out a sigh that shattered the silence between us.

"You're smart," he seriously said, but with a faint smile on his lips.

It made me smile, too. His words somehow made me feel like I have a comrade— that I wasn't facing this loneliness that's starting to creep into me alone.

I wanted him to feel the way he made me feel, so I said, "Go on, praise me more."

He turned to me, and slowly, his smile grew wider. And this time, they weren't forced.

"You really never fail to make me smile."

"That's because we're a really good team. Natutulungan mo 'ko, tapos sabi mo nga na napapasaya kita. Perfect."

He shook his head, a smile still intact on his face. "True. But promise me you won't tell anyone about the mask— our masks. Or this perfect team will crumble in a snap," he said. "I have trust fuckin' issues."

I snickered, before nodding. "Sure. Deal."

He grinned, before saying, "Deal," as well.