KABANATA 5

The tune of the viral pop song greeted us when we came at the venue of Travis' party. It's held on rooftop floor of a condominium building na pagmamay-ari rin nila Travis. Aside from their telecommunication company, they're also a real estate broker.

The place is totally packed up. The place is surrounded by party goers and most of them are girls. All of them are cheering the night up, grooving to the music, having three sheets in the wind at ang iba naman ay nasa infinity pool. I could say na iyong karamihan sa mga ito ay dumalo lang para makipag-flirt.

Paano ko nasabi iyon?

Simply because some of them are making out anywhere. Tch!

I'm weighing my steps up habang nakasunod ako kay Reverie. Yes, dalawa lang kaming pumarito dahil wala naman kaming nadatnan ni anino ni Troy sa basement.

He was maybe preventing something unpleasant because of the fact that Reverie caught him waiting for me which made Rev remotely surprise.

Mukhang kailangan na talaga namin ng masusing pag-iingat dahil parang sumisikip na masyado ang mundong ginagalawan namin.

Then we spotted the birthday boy performing the role as a disk jockey on the man-made stage. Two women are accompanying him, touching him everywhere. Travis is shirtless while the women are only in their scanty two-piece bikini.

“Look at that kid, Ver! He looks cool tonight. Who would have thought that he's a fucking virgin?” Reverie enunciated behind my earlobe to make sure that I'll wise up her statement.

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. “Well, I felt sorry for those women who are trying to get inside his purple underwear.” Komento ko pa at humahighik.

Kumaway ako kay Travis nang namataan niya kami. He waved back at us in response. He looks delighted when he saw us.

We headed to the left corner of the floor. Naroon na si Trayvon at may babae pang nakapuwesto sa ibabaw ng kandungan nito. Trayce is also there and what surprise me the most is when I saw Addie and Willem in here as well.

Si Trayce ang unang nakakita sa 'min at tinapik niya si Trayvon na mukhang abala sa pakikipagbolahan sa kasama niya para ipaalam dito ang presensya namin ni Rev. Si Addie kasi at Willem ay mukhang seryoso sa kanilang pinag-uusapan.

“Hey, brother jerk!” Bati ni Reverie sa kapatid niyang si Trayce. Trayce gestures us to take the seats at his both sides.

I patted Trayce's shoulder as a greeting bago umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya. Sa kanan naman niya si Reverie.

“I'm expecting you to bring that doctor with you tonight, twin.” Napangiwi ako dahil sa sinalubong sa 'kin ng magaling kong kapatid.

“Here you go again, Tray!” I almost hiss at him. He just smirked at me bago niya binalingan muli ang babaeng nakakandong sa kaniya na halatang tuwang-tuwa rin habang live nitong minamanyak ang topless na katawan ng kakambal ko.

Sanay na ako sa ganitong eksena lalo pa't woman magnet itong kapatid ko at mga pinsan ko. At kung tutuusin ay yakang-yaka naman nilang magpalit ng babae in just a snap of their finger.

“Babe, could you give me a moment with them? Be with your friends for awhile. I will just find you up later, okay?” Malinis na pagtaboy ni Trayvon sa babae niya. The girl obeyed without having any second thought and abandoned Trayvon's lap.

“She's too plain for your type, Tray. Nagbago na pala ang taste mo sa babae!” Nanunuyang komento ni Reverie sa kakambal ko. She is smirking.

Reverie and her smart mouth really!

Matatag kasi ang loob niya na supalpalin ang sino man sa mga pinsan namin. Kay Kuya Trent lang siya tumitiklop. Well kahit rin naman ako at si Addie. Sa 'ming lahat kasi ay si Kuya Trent lang ang pinangingilagan namin. None of us wants to mess up with him ever since.

“Plain or not, it doesn't matter to me as long as she could satisfy my needs as an insatiable man.” Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin dahil sa sinagot nito.

“Gross!” I mouthed at him ngunit nagkibit lang ito ng balikat bago natawa.

“Did you mean Doc. Scott?” Addie chimed in. Obviously she heard Trayvon mentioned him.

“You also know him, Ad?” Trayvon confusingly asked.

“Sino ba iyang pinag-uusapan ninyo?” Trayce cut his silence. Trayce is Rev's elder brother and sa lahat ng pinsan kong lalaki ay ito ang kaugali ni Troy kaya nama'y magkasundo sila sa maraming bagay.

And speaking of the devil! Nasaan na kaya ang isang 'yon?

“I've got the same question, actually.” Reverie said, stealing her brother's Scotch. “Sinong doktor? At bakit may doktor?”

Addie and I exchanged a subtle perplex look. Nakuha ko naman kaagad ang ibig niyang ipahiwatig.

“Ah... Uhm, he's a friend of mine. I've met him through the chemist who worked in my company.” I answered a bit comfortably.

“A friend my ass! Manliligaw niya 'yon.” Trayvon stubbornly knocking my statement off. At nagawa pa niya akong akbayan kahit maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na naiinis ako sa kanya.

“Oh for real?” Galak na bulalas ni Rev. “Wow! Ang sabi mo kanina ay wala ka pang manliligaw. Nakakatampo ka, Averie! You can lie to me na.” Napanguso si Reverie at in-straight ang natitirang scotch sa baso ng Kuya niya.

Trayce just released a slight frown for his sister.

“Hindi pa naman siya nanliligaw.” I said as a matter of fact. Nagpapadala nga siya ng mga bulaklak pero hindi pa naman ito pormal na nagpapaalam na manliligaw siya. Though I am not sure if I could entertain his motives.

“Pero may balak kang magpaligaw?” Seryosong tanong ni Trayce na direktang nakatingin sa 'kin. I can see something behind that teak wood eyes of him.

Sometimes ay naiisip ko na baka may alam si Trayce tungkol sa relasyon namin ni Troy. Ewan ko kung napa-paranoid lang ako o ano dahil ang alam ko ay palaging magkasama ang dalawa.

Kapag si Trayce na ang kaharap ko ay parang kusa kong dinadala ang aking sarili sa hot seat. His stares were like telling me that I could lie to everyone else but not to him.

“Why not, brother? E single naman itong si Averie atsaka matagal nang hinahanapan nina Tita ng boyfriend itong pinsan natin.” Rev nearly mock her brother.

“Let me rephrase that, Rev. She's a divine single lady ever since.” Addie seconded.

Napalingon na lang ako sa direksyon nila ni Addie at inismiran siya. Bahagya namang natawa si Willem sa inasta ko.

Ang status ko na naman ang ginawa nilang pulutan.

They're so ridiculous!

If I could just tell them that I ain't what they think I am. I am in an illicit relationship with my brother. Taken,  yeah but completely complicated.

“Hey, everyone...” Sabay kaming napalingon kay Travis. He joined us in our table. He's barely showing his ecstatic set of dimple to us.

“Happy birthday, Trav!” Bati ko sa kanya at isang kindat naman ang itinugon niya sa akin.

Thanks, God he came! At least na-divert na ang usapan mula sa 'kin.

I chuckled!

Women could kill for that wink. Travis is a charming boy. Simple lang kung umatake ng babae hindi katulad ni Trayvon at Trevor na may dumaan lang na naka-mini skirt sa harapan nila ay nagkakandarapa na. Travis is different in his own way. Yes, he does fling but believe it or not, he's still a greenhorn and doesn't have all the bed experience that others do have.

“Oh, they're you are. The neophyte birthday punk. S dnem rozhdeniya.” (Happy birthday.) Energetically, Rev greeted him also using a Russian tongue.

“Thanks, Rev but quit calling me that!” There's a stain of irritation in Trav's voice.

“Oh?” Rev ejaculated. “Why not? Aren't you proud to be called as such, boy?”

Natawa ako nang binato ni Addie ng cracker ang malarong si Reverie. “Give him a break, Rev. It's his birthday so tantanan mo muna siya kahit ngayon lang.”

“Ate?” Pinanliitan ni Trav ng mata si Addie. He doesn't like someone to be his protector.

Noong mga bata pa lang kasi kami ay inaasar na ni Rev si Travis at parati namang at his service si Addie para ipagtanggol ang bunso nila which is ayaw na ayaw naman ni Travis.

Bahagya kong inalis ang atensyon ko sa usapan ng mga pinsan ko at palihim na sinipat ang buong venue. I am searching for Troy kung nandito na ba siya. Ang buong akala ko kasi ay nauna na siya rito kanina kaya hindi na niya ako nahintay sa basement. But he's still out of sight.

“Oh myghad!” My awareness flew back at Reverie when I heard her scream in surprise.

Sinundan namin kung saan siya nakatingin. I saw Trevor coming our way at kaya gano'n ka-exaggerated ang reaksyon ni Rev because for a record ay may kasama si Trevor na unfamiliar na babae. Bringing women isn't Trevor's thing. If he wants to blow his horniness off ay naghahanap lang siya ng babae sa paligid. Bukod kasi kay Celine ay ngayon lang ito nagsama ng babae sa ganitong pagtitipon.

I could say that she's something that special.

All of us giving Trevor a speculating and teasing look nang nakalapit sila sa table namin. The girl is obviously not that comfortable with her surrounding.

“Amanda, hi!” Addie reacted to in a specified manner when she recognized the woman. “Wow! You look stunning tonight. Mas gumanda ka ngayon.”

Ow? Kilala na pala siya ni Addie? Mukhang gusto ko rin siyang makilala.

The woman blushed with Addie's statement. “Uh, s—salamat po, Ma'am Addison.”

Ma'am?

“There are creations here who also appreciated your gorgeousness, Miss.” My prick for a brother butted in. Basta maganda talaga.. Naku! “Trev, do you mind introducing her to us?” Trayvon's wicked side outwardly displayed.

He can't take his eyes off the woman.

“Not necessary! She's not interested to know you anyway.” Malamig na sabi ni Trevor sa loko-loko kong kapatid. As if I know. Binabakuran lang ni Trevor ang date niya mula kay Trayvon.

“Woah! Selfish asshole!” Trayvon childishly blurted out and rose from his seat.

“Where do you think you're going?” I asked him. “Stay! Baka magkalat ka na naman dito!”

“I'll just go get us some drink, twin. Ano pala ang gusto mong kainin?”

Ah!  Akala ko naman..

“Barbecued chicken pizza will do and pineapple colada shake na rin. Thanks.” I smiled.

“Cantaloupe Salad sa 'kin.” Dagdag pa ni Reverie pero nginisihan lang siya ng kakambal ko.

“Serve yourself! Hindi ka naman person with disability.”

“Asshole!” Asik ni Reverie at tumayo ito para sundan si Trayvon.

Pagkaalis ng dalawa ay lumipat ako sa inabandunang upuan ni Trayce para makipag-usap sa babaeng kasama ni Trevor. Trayce excused himself for awhile now. May sariling mundo rin kasi ang isang iyon.

“Oh you're his secretary, I see.” Tumango-tango ako habang nagkikuwento si Amanda. I see myself in her kaya magaan ang loob ko sa kanya. She's simple but obviously brainy base sa pananalita nito. “Buti napapakisamahan mo ng maayos itong si Trevor?”

“Why wouldn't she, Ave? As if I'm kinda a crazy wolf and eat her alive.” Depensa naman ni Trevor sa sarili niya.

“No, you know that's not my point. Tsk! I know you too well, Trevor de Santis and I also know how you deal with women.” I said at bumaling ulit kay Amanda. “Kapag may ginawang masama sa'yo si Trev just let me know.”

Mahinang natawa si Amanda habang nakasimangot naman ngayon si Trevor.

The party went wilder and bolder as the night gets sunken. Dahil may selebrasyon naman daw kaya pinagbigyan akong uminom ni Trayvon. Hindi ako sanay uminom unlike Addie and Rev pero madali namang nagkasundo ang matapang na Bourbon Whiskey at ang aking lalamunan.

Kaming lima na lang ang naiwan sa table namin. Addie, Willem, Trevor and his date tapos ako. Si Reverie kasi ay mukhang nakahanap na ng biktima. Gano'n din si Trayvon siyempre at maging si Trayce ay may kasama na ring babae.

“Troy's here..” Anunsyo ni Trevor kaya mabilis na hinanap ng mga mata ko kung nasaan ito. Agad namang nag-react ang puso ko nang makita ko siya pero parang sumikip ang dibdib ko nang mawari kong hindi ito nag-iisa.

He's with someone and that someone is none other than Natalie Balducci.