BIG SHOT #1: RICKY

Big Shot #1: Ricky ❣ Chapter Six ❣

Two days

The next five days passed in a blur.

And I still didn’t have enough courage to talk to Ricky.

Problemado akong naglakad palabas para pumunta sa parking lot. I let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the end of the hallway nang mapatigil ako sa paglalakad.

I saw a familiar figure walking towards my direction.

Time to escape Rain!

Pipihit na sana ako pabalik sa pinanggalingan ko, nang marinig ko yung pangalan ko. “Hey Rain!”

I slumped my shoulders in defeat.

So much for escaping.

I plastered a smile on my lips before I looked at her direction. “Embry.”

Nagmamadali tong lumapit sa kinakatayuan ko at hinalikan yung magkabila kong pisngi.

Saka ko napansin si Natalie na nasa likuran pala ni Embry. Busy to sa pagte-text.

After a few minutes, Natalie stopped texting and she joined us. I kissed her cheek. “Natalie.”

“How’s the interview?” Wala man lang na pasakalye na tanong ni Embry.

“What interview?” Tanong ni Natalie habang pinaglipat lipat yung tingin samin ni Embry.

“The popular icon issue. Rain needs to work with Ricky.” Puno ng malisya na sagot ni Embry kay Natalie.

“Oh. Ricky?” Natalie gave Embry a knowing look bago nito nilipat yung tingin sakin. “Embry’s devious ploy. I presume.”

“Hey! You made me sound so bad.” Pagpo-protesta ni Embry dito.

Umismid lang si Natalie sa ginawang pagpo-protesta ni Embry pero may ngiti namang naglalaro sa mga labi nito. “Oh please Emz. We both know, behind that saint look. You’re kind of devious.”

Embry gasped and pretended to be offended but she couldn’t keep the glint out of her eyes.

Natalie rolled her eyes in response.

These two know each other so well.

Embry looked at my direction pagkatapos nitong tawanan yung reaksyon ni Natalie. “So, did you already talk to him?”

“Not yet.” Nagkibit ako ng balikat. “I’m helping Rei. His deadline is near.”

More like, nag volunteer ako na tulungan to para maudlot yung balak kong pagkausap kay Ricky.

“Oh! Rei of creative writing? He’s cute in a geeky way. Definitely an ok date.” Sabat ni Natalie.

“You have a boyfriend Natalie.” Saway ni Embry dito.

Natalie just waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “And I’m not blind.”

Natawa nalang ako iringan nilang dalawa.

Natatawa din na binalingan nalang ako ni Embry. “Galing ka sa office?” Turo nito sa pinaka dulo ng hallway kung saan nakalagay yung quarter ng The Voice.

“Yep.”

“Where are you planning to go?” Tanong naman ni Natalie.

“Fast food. I’m hungry.”

“You’re in luck. Ade brought food.” Tinignan nito yung iPhone nito. “Speaking of Ade, I need to help him. He’s already at the parking lot.” Pagpapatuloy ni Embry habang umaatras na pabalik sa pinanggalingan nila kanina.

Bago pa ako makapag protesta, nakatakbo nato papalayo samin.

Nang mawala na sa paningin namin si Embry, pabuntunghininga na nagpa akay nalang ako kay Natalie.

Pagkapasok na pagkapasok namin sa quarter, dumiretso agad ako sa lamesa ko habang naupo naman si Natalie sa lamesa ni Embry.

“So, you’re going to work with Ricky?”

I nodded my head and gave her a curious glance.

“It must be tough.”

“You know about our past, right?” Kaswal na tanong ko dito habang inaayos ko yung papel sa lamesa ko.

“Yeah. Embry told me everything.” She answered. Natalie’s tone was frank.

Curious naman akong tumingin dito. “Then, why?” Why are you not asking any question about him?

Natalie is the total opposite of Embry. Never pa tong nag usisa tungkol sa naging relasyon ko kay Ricky.

Natalie shrugged her shoulders. “Let’s just say, I know the feeling. We’re on the same boat Rain. I also have an ex, I don’t want to talk about.”

I frowned. “Did Embry know about this?”

Natalie shook her head. She gave me a sombre look. “No. It’s kind of complicated, he’s Adien’s cousin. Not in blood but sort of.”

Mag-uusisa pa sana ako nang makarinig kami ng mga hakbang mula sa labas ng pinto.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, humahakbang na papasok si Embry. May hawak hawak tong isang box ng pizza. Kasunod si Adien na may hawak namang drinks. At kasunod si Ricky na may hawak ulit na isa pang box ng pizza.

Tinago ko agad yung pagka gulat sa mukha ko nang makita ko si Ricky.

“Hey guys, pizza time.”

Pareho kaming tumango ni Natalie kila Ade at Ricky.

Ngumisi lang Adien habang si Ricky, tinanguan lang din kami.

Nilagay nila yung drinks at isang box ng pizza sa lamesa ni Embry habang lumalapit naman sakin si Embry hawak hawak yung dala nito.

“What’s that?” Tanong ni Embry sa hawak kong papel habang nilalapag yung box sa lamesa ko.

“I told you, I’m helping Rei with his work loads.”

“Let me see.” Lumapit to sakin.

Nang kukunin na nito yung papel na hawak ko, natigil yung kamay nito sa ere. Instead na kunin yung papel, yung frame na kakalagay ko lang kahapon yung kinuha nito.

“Oh wait! Who’s this?” Tanong ni Embry habang sinisipat ng mabuti yung frame.

Lumapit din samin si Natalie para makiusyoso. After a while, she looked down at me and wiggled her eyebrow in a teasing manner. “Wow, he’s quite hot.”

I chuckled. “Really Natalie?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Taas kilay na sagot naman nito, patungkol sa sinabi nito na di to bulag.

Umiling nalang ako habang inaayos ko yung mga papel na kelangan kong itama.

“Who’s this hunk?” Tanong ulit ni Natalie.

Saka ko napansin na pati sila Ade at Ricky, lumapit na din sa pwesto namin.

Binalik ko yung atensyon ko sa hawak kong papel bago ko to sinagot. “My boyfriend.”

“Her best friend.”

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang mas nagulat saming dalawa ni Ricky.

“Ano ba talaga?” Basag ni Embry sa pagtititigan naming dalawa ni Ricky. “Boyfriend?” Tumingin muna to sakin bago nito nilipat yung tingin kay Ricky. “O best friend?”

“He’s your boyfriend?” Tanong sakin ni Ricky nang hindi pinapansin yung sinabi ni Embry.

Imbis na sagutin ko si Ricky, si Embry yung nilingon ko. “He’s my boyfriend and he’s also my best friend.”

“He’s your sister’s boyfriend.” Bulalas ni Ricky habang tinitignan yung mukha ko na para bang yung nagawa ko eh mortal sin.

Nagpanting yung tenga at nagdilim naman yung paningin ko dahil don.

Kunot noo at taas kilay na tinignan ko din yung pagmumukha nito.

Napaismid ako.

Kapal!

“Ex-boyfriend.” Pagtatama ko sa sinabi ni Ricky. “They broke up three years ago, not two days ago.” I said in a mocking manner, daring him to say more.

I dare you! You asshole!

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