Ch. 3: Rēstaurant

Hunter's point of view

​I pulled up in front of the restaurant at ibinigay ko agad 'yung susi sa valet. High-class 'yung lugar, kaya nung pumasok kami, napansin ko agad na medyo nailang si Kadecy. Pasimple pa siyang nag-aayos ng damit habang nakatingin sa paligid.

​Conscious na naman siya sa hitsura niya. Silly girl. Kahit ano namang isuot nito, napakaganda pa rin sa paningin ko. Effortless lang talaga.

​"Hunter! Dito!" sigaw ni Kane habang kumakaway sa reserved table namin for six. Kumpleto na sila roon—si Kane, Declan, Jack, at Leonhardt. Perfect seating arrangement.

​"Ayan na pala ang presidente ng Torpe Club!" bungad agad ni Kane nang makalapit kami.

​"Gagó," natatawa kong sagot sabay hila ng upuan para kay Kadecy bago ako umupo sa tabi niya.

​"O, Kadecy! Lakas talaga ng kapit mo rito kay Hunter, ah. Sundo, hatid, libre dinner?" asar naman ni Jack.

​"Special treatment talaga kapag VIP assistant," biro ni Kadecy sabay irap, pero kitang-kita ko 'yung patagong ngiti niya.

​"Assistant daw? Weh?" hirit ni Leonhardt. "Bro, mahiya naman kayo sa salitang best friend! Tumingin ka nga sa kanya, Hunter, para kang tagabantay ng mamahaling alahas. Bagay na bagay kayo, pre."

​"Tigilan niyo nga siya," pagsasaway ko habang nangingisi. Isinandal ko 'yung braso ko sa likod ng upuan niya, isang galaw na sobrang natural na sa akin tuwing kasama ko siya.

​"Sus, Hunter! Protective ka lang kasi ayaw mong maagawan!" dugtong pa ni Declan habang nagtatawanan silang lahat.

​Napailing na lang ako. Tumingin ako nang patago kay Kadecy. Namumula na 'yung pisngi niya habang pilit na nagse-cellphone para lang magmukhang cool, pero huling-huli ko ang pamumula hanggang leeg niya.

​Cute.

​Masarap man silang batukan sa pang-aasar, deep inside, pumasok agad sa isip ko 'yung paper bag na nakatago sa back seat ng kotse ko, 'yung Aries constellation necklace with diamond na binili ko para sa kanya. Nakita ko kasi siyang titig na titig doon, kaya 'yun na lang ang kinuha ko. 'Yun din ang graduation gift ko na hindi ko pa mailabas-labas sa ngayon dahil medyo torpe nga ata talaga ako pagdating sa kanya.

​Inabot ko 'yung glass of water at inilapit sa pwesto niya. "Inom ka muna. Baka mabulunan ka sa ingay ng mga 'to."

​Tumingin siya sa akin, nakataas na ang kilay pero halatang kinikilig na ewan. Fvck. Parang hindi ko alam 'to, ah. "Salamat, ha. Gantihan mo kaya 'yang mga tropa mo?"

​"Hayaan mo na sila," bulong ko sa kanya habang bahagyang yumuyuko malapit sa tainga niya. "At least alam nilang sa akin ka lang sumasama."

Nang dumating 'yung mga inorder naming pagkain, bahagyang kumalma 'yung gulo sa lamesa. They focused on eating while the food was hot, pero syempre, hindi pa rin nawawala 'yung mga pasimpleng hirit at asaran sa amin ni Kadecy.

​Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang subo siya nang subo ng steak. Parang kanina lang nagrereklamo na gutom na pulubi, ngayon parang ayaw na nga talaga magsalita sa sarap ng kinakain. I chuckled softly and grabbed a napkin to hand it over to her.

​"Dahan-dahan naman. No one’s gonna steal your food," I murmured while gently wiping a bit of sauce off the corner of her lip.

​And there it was, that cute, sudden blush on her face. "Daming sinasabi. Masarap kasi, eh," pabulong niyang ganti sabay irap, though she quickly took a sip of water just to hide her smile.

​"Sobrang maalaga talaga, oh!" hirit na naman ni Kane habang nagta-tap sa mesa. "Baka naman pwedeng pahiram muna ng VIP assistant mo, Hunter? Magpapatulong lang sana ako sa layout next week."

​Bago pa man ako makapagsalita, biglang sumingit si Jack from across the table.

​"O kaya sa akin na lang magpatulong," he said, keeping his tone smooth while looking directly at Kadecy. "Actually, Kadecy... free ka ba ngayong weekend? I know a cool cafe right by the beach. Maybe you want to come with me? My treat."

​Biglang natigilan si Kadecy sa pagsubo, clearly surprised as she stared back at Jack.

​Bahagyang uminit 'yung ulo ko. My jaw clenched as I set my fork down a bit too loudly on the plate.

​I know that look. Kilala ko si Jack, and I know exactly how he acts when he’s interested in a girl. But seeing him look at my Kadecy like that? Absolute hell no.

​"She’s not free," I cut in immediately, keeping my voice low and dangerously calm while locking eyes with Jack.

​Natahimik bigla sina Leonhardt at Declan, while Kane tried and failed to hide a smirk as the mood at the table completely shifted.

​"Bro, why not let her speak for herself?" Jack joked, trying to keep it casual, but he was clearly testing my limits.

​"I'm telling you, she's busy," I replied firmly, not breaking eye contact for even a second. "Besides, we have plans this weekend."

​I tightened my grip on the back of Kadecy's chair, subtly pulling her an inch closer to me. Clear message to Jack that he needs to back off. She's completely off-limits.

​Paramdam pa lang 'tong tropa ko, nakakaimbyerna na agad. Over my dead body before they even get a chance to take her out.

​Call me torpe all you want, but Kadecy's time and attention belong to me. End of story.

Habang tahimik na bumalik na sa pagkain ang lahat, my eyes caught a familiar figure standing right outside the glass walls of the restaurant.

​It was Haylen. She lightly waved at me from the entrance, checking her watch. I immediately pulled out my phone and texted her to come inside and join us, pero mabilis din siyang nag-reply at tumanggi. Ayaw niya raw pumasok kasi sigurado raw na aasarin lang siya ng tropa. Well, she wasn't wrong, mga asero talaga 'tong mga mokong na 'to.

​I grabbed the shopping bag from under my chair, 'yung may laman na unity bracelet.

​"Excuse me for a second," I told everyone softly before standing up.

​Bitbit 'yung bag, I walked outside to meet Haylen near the valet area.

​"Hey," salubong niya sa akin nang makalapit ako, giving me a polite, easy smile. "Sorry to disturb your dinner."

​"It's fine. Here," I handed her the bag. "I got the bracelet you asked me to pick up for your mom's birthday."

​"Thank you so much, Hunter!" kinuha niya 'yung bag at sinilip 'yung loob. "Perfect! Sabi ko naman sa'yo, simple designs like this are her favorite. Alam mo namang sobrang arte ni Mama sa alahas."

​"Glad I could help," I smiled slightly.

​I didn't mean to use Haylen's name as an excuse to Kadecy earlier at the store. Nagpatulong lang naman kasi talaga ako pumili kasi certified shopaholic si Kadecy, and I knew she had great taste. Pero ngayon, napaisip ako bigla... I realized I completely forgot to tell her something really important.

​Haylen and I broke up a week ago.

​It was a mutual decision. Mare-realize mo na lang talaga na hindi pala kayo fit para sa isa't isa, and Haylen knew that as well as I did. Walang sumbatan o malalang away na nangyari. We just decided to call it quits and stay as civil friends after all the years we spent together.

​"So... who's the girl inside?" tanong ni Haylen, snapping me back to reality. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay habang nakatingin sa salamin ng restaurant, straight toward our table. " The one sitting right next to you? Is she Kadecy?"

​"Yeah," I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. "That's her."

​Haylen smirked, looking back at me with an amused expression. "You know, for someone who claims he's just taking care of his assistant, the way you pull her chair closer looks pretty suspicious, Mr. Torpe."

​"Shut up, Haylen," I scoffed, but I couldn't hide the slight grin on my face.

​"I'm just saying! I've known you for years, Hunter, and I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her," she chuckled, giving my arm a light, sisterly tap. "Anyway, I have to go before your loud friends spot me here. Tell your girl I said hi."

​"She's not my girl... yet," pabulong kong sagot.

​"Whatever you say, torpe," biro niya bago tumalikod at sumakay sa kotse niya. "Thanks again for the help!"

​