Chapter Ost: Eyes Closed by The Narrative

Cari Ramirez

Two weeks had already passed when I saw him again. One would think we would be on better terms after spending that trip together but no, it was far from truth because it's as if the Pagsanjan trip never happened. Like we were never friends.

It was purely by coincidence that we met at Geon's place. Nandoon ako dahil pinapupunta ako ni Tita A. Siya naman, dahil kay Geon. Andrei was cordial, sure. He nodded at me and even smiled to acknowledge me. But that's it. Not that I cared because frankly speaking, I didn't expect much. Kung tutuusin, sa dalawang linggong lumipas, he only crossed my mind once at 'yon ay dahil binanggit lang siya nina Mariz.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say we didn't make lasting impressions on one another.

When I arrived in the Castillo household, Aaron, the youngest Castillo, was sprawled on the couch, playing with his PSP.

"Yo, ate. You're here again. Kuya's not here. He's out swimming with his daft friends."

Napangisi ako sa nahihimigan kong selos sa bunso nila. "I'm here for Tita, not him."

Without looking at me, he said, "Yeah? She's in the kitchen." The boy put his PSP down to sneak a quick glance at me.

When he saw the paper bags in my hands, he jolted up and eyed me closely, the smallest traces of a grin spreading on his face. "Are those what I think they are?"

I played along and mocked wonder. "Hmm. Depends. What do you think they are?"

"Baking materials?"

I nodded, smiling as well.

"Hell, yeah! That's why I like it when you visit, Ate. You make the best cakes."

Tumawa ako at dumiretso sa kitchen kung saan nagluluto si Tita A. Wala naming rason kung bakit niya ako pinapupunta. She just wanted to see me. Lagi na raw akong busy at hindi nagagawi dito, which wasn't true dahil a month ago lang nandito naman ako.

But she was right. It was quite different from before when I used to drop by every week. It wasn't a big deal. Back when we were less busy, I used to spend all my days at their place and Geon always spent the summer with us. Ganoon ka-tight ang pamilya namin. Unlike popular belief na best friends ang family namin kaya kami naging magkaibigan, it was more like, they were just good acquaintances until Geon and I became really close.

"I know you've been busy. Thanks for dropping by, Cari. It gets a bit lonely here sometimes. Aaron's as you see. Growing up like his brothers. Shut in his own world. Always playing his videogames."

"He's a boy po kasi. You know how they are."

"Yeah. I was lucky to have Nally but she's busy now, too. You know, with her paintings and with the business. And your tito, well, he's busier than ever. Ako na lang talaga?" Marahan siyang tumawa.

Napangiti ako sa accented Filipino niya. Tita A is probably the nicest person I'd ever come to know. The fact that she was here, leaving behind her wealth and lifestyle in London just to be with her husband, resonated with me. I could never understand that kind of devotion because for one, I'd never really fallen in love and second, I never pondered on the mystery of it.

Para sa 'kin, hindrance lang 'yon sa mga gusto kong marating sa buhay. I wanted fun and for me, love simply drained fun out of everything in life.

There are times of course when I see the fun in a relationship—at rare moments like these when Tita A was speaking reverently about her husband or when my mom and dad would go out on a lazy Sunday to spend time with each other—but most of the time kasi, I only ever hear of the downside of it. Like whenever Geon tells me on drunken Sunday nights how his family owned the gene of douchery.

During those times, I feel justified and proud of my decision to stay away from boys.

But boys don't seem to get the clue. For instance, this boy, Joshua, couldn't really get a hint. I'd been deleting his texts, blocking his social media, and avoiding him at school but he sure was persistent. He kept on texting me using different numbers so I learned not to answer numbers not programmed on my phone. He was a true stalker, and it bummed me to no end but what could I do? I didn't want to blow this whole thing out of proportion and give him the attention he was seeking.

I was about done with the cake and muffins I made when Geon and his friend arrived. Nandoon ako sa kitcken, pinasusubok kay Aaron yung sample ng cake nang pumasok si Geon para batiin ang mommy niya. Andrei wasn't far behind.

Pansamantalang nagtama ang mga mata namin. There was nothing there, just a casual nod, and then we were back to our business. I chatted with Aaron and Andrei disappeared into the gaming room while Geon stole half of the muffins I made. I didn't bother going after him. That sod can choke himself with them basta bukas, wag siyang mamimilit na samahan ko siyang mag-jogging just because he wanted to burn those calories away. Vain as ever.

"Go ahead, love. Play with Geon. I'll be fine here," Tita A said in the middle of our conversation.

"I'm okay here," I replied, taking a bite of the strawberry shortcake I baked.

"Sure? 'Cause you keep looking in their direction." She jerked her head to the right where the gaming room was located, her blonde curls dancing over her shoulders in the process. "Sige na. You go to them."

A few more presses, I reluctantly caved in. A second later, I was knocking at the door of the gaming room. Andrei answered the door, his muted gaze light like a feather as it settled down on me.

"Mind if I join?" I said, lifting the tray full of sliced cakes, muffins, and mango juice.

He nodded, saying nothing else, and stepped to the side to give way to me. Geon was engrossed in the game, even spewing curses that would put the sailors to good shame if they even heard him.

I sat beside him. Geon took his eyes off the game for a fraction of second to grin at me, his grey eyes glinting in the dark of the room, before he dove his focus back on the game he was playing. I didn't even know what game it was, just that there were a lot of zombies and blood.

Andrei took a seat right beside me, effectively placing me between the two of them. Right away, he resumed his game.

"So Mom sent you here?" Geon asked without looking.

"Yeah." I shrugged. "Sometimes I think she asks me to come here just to play cupid. I bet she still wants us to end up together."

I inwardly shuddered at the thought. Disgusting. It almost like felt like I was committing a sin just by thinking about it.

He snorted. "Yeah, like that would happen."

"Talaga. I'm not in the wrong state of my mind to even consider dating you." I rolled my eyes.

Geon laughed. "Bakit? I'm not so bad."

I scoffed. "I don't like vain guys."

"I'm not vain," he said, turning to look at me and sounding scandalized. "And what about Andrei? You like him but he's a bigger narcissist than me, you know."

Two things happened all at once. First, Andrei paused in his game to glance at Geon, his brows raised in utmost curiosity. Second, my mouth hang open at his outrageous remark.

"She doesn't like me."

"He's not more vain than you."

Andrei and I then exchanged glances, more in amusement than in surprise, then burst into laughter. Then, a soft tug at the corner of his lips pulled to form a genuine smile there.

Geon gaped at us, his brows furrowing as his eyes cut back and forth between us. His hand gestured to indicate Andrei and me. "What, so you two are the new best friends in town na?"

Andrei laughed, his chest vibrating. I shrugged and popped a small piece of the muffin into my mouth.

"Unfair," Geon said, pouting but then he grinned again."But seriously, I don't mind this new thing between you. Just don't start thirdwheeling me."

"You might thirdwheel me instead," I said, making a joke about the enormous bromance between them.

"Or me. I hope I'm not intruding in your lovers' quarrel," Andrei said lightheartedly, chuckling.

Tinitigan ko siyang mabuti, thinking whether he was simply making a joke or if he was really under the impression that something was going on between Geon and me. I was used to this, used to people thinking there was something there. But seriously. We were just good friends.

"We are and will never be lovers. I'm not interested in dating yet, and I'm not interested in dating him," I clarified, making sure the point was driven hard into his head. Ewan ko why I felt the need to do that. I just felt like it should be cleared as early as now.

"Yeah, dude. I'm not her type."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Hm." Andrei passed a sidelong glance at me, the same collected expression plastered on his face. "Why, what's your type?"

I shrugged. "Not him, definitely."

"Why you asking?" Geon waggled his brows.

Andrei lifted a brow, looking mildly intrigued.

"If you really wanna know, I think you fit the bill, bro," Geon said.

Andrei's brows shot up. "Me?"

"Yeah? She likes mysterious and laidback guys. So you, right?" Tumawa si Geon. "I'm hardly mysterious. We know each other inside and out. Sawang-sawa na nga ako. Yuck."

Sa sinabi niyang 'yon, siniko ko siya. I glanced apologetically at Andrei. "Don't listen to him. He loves to run his mouth off all the time without knowing anything."

"What do you mean? I don't mind." A cryptic smile danced on his lips. "So I'm your type. I really don't mind. Why would I when you make the best muffins in the world?" And for good measure, he took a piece into his mouth.

And the playful guy that hides inside that cool mask finally came out. Syempre. I highly doubt Geon could ever make friends with someone who isn't like him, one way or another. Or that someone so quiet and laidback can stick to this childish sod for a long time. Of course there must be a common denominator between them—and it was this: their love for games and fun. Just how far that affinity ran was beyond me though.

"Yiiie. Mag-de-date na 'yan," teased Geon.

"Didn't you hear her? I don't have a chance. She doesn't want to date," Andrei told him.

"Yeah? But you're her type."

"And so are you."

Angelo looked appalled. "Ew, man. Not nice. Not nice at all."

Okay. I felt like I was being ganged up on. They were talking like wala ako dito. Of course in some ways, I appreciate it, but right now, I felt like I was the butt of their joke.

"Hey, keep me out of it," saway ko sa kanila—mostly kay Geon.

"Right. Ayaw mo nga pala nang ganyan." His attention was back to the game now and so far, he was close to losing. The zombies were giving chase already. "By the way, bes. Joshua told me you ain't replyin to him. What's up? Is he hitting on you?"

Joshua. The mention of his name brought a sour taste to my mouth and my face contorted in annoyance. "Yeah."

"And?"

"I'm not interested."

"Still offlimits? What's up with you ba?" Geon puckered his brows. "Why don't you want to give those blokes their chance?"

I leaned against the couch, my shoulders relaxing and I spread my legs on the floor. I lazily broke a muffin in half and put one into my mouth.

"More like I just want to enjoy muna. I don't want complications."

"Single and free to mingle. Like me."

"I'm not going to play around. You sleep around too much you'll probably contract STD by the end of his sem."

Geon's face coiled in shock. "What? Where did you get that idea? If I must say so myself, this helluva body is one hundred percent a virgin."

I laughed, shaking my head. From the corner of my eye, I knew Andrei was watching the both of us. I couldn't read the expression there, but I saw the barest trace of curiosity there.

I stayed with them for an hour or so before I announced, "Uwi na ako."

Lumingon si Geon. "Susunduin ka ni Tito?"

"No. I'll just flag a cab."

Geon dropped the console and stood up, taller than me but a few inches shorter than Andrei. "Hatid na kita."

Tumayo na rin si Andrei. "I'll drive her home. Pauwi na rin naman ako.

"You sure? Won't that hassle you?"

"Nah, it's good. I've been there before anyway." He sneaked a brief glance at me.

Geon waited for my answer. "So, okay lang with you?"

"If it's fine with him, then it's fine with me as well," I said, my voice taking nonchalant lilt.

Inside his car, the atmosphere wasn't oppressive but it wasn't comfortable either. We rode in relative silence, simply immersing ourselves in the song blasting through the sound system.

Soon enough, he lowered the volume and his warm voice filled the air.

"Madalas kang magpunta kina Geon?"

"Yes. Lagi kasi akong pinapapunta ni Tita."

"How did you get there if you don't have a car?"

"Hinatid ako ng driver namin."

Then silence again. He didn't ask further and I didn't bother with the small talks. Sure, we were friends—at least I think we were—but we weren't that close to warrant long and deep conversations with each other. Briefly, I flashed back to the day I rode with him to Pagsanjan. Halos ganito din kami no'n. Except we were less interactive with each other now. I'd chalk it all up to our personalities. He was the quiet type and I wasn't the prodding type. Hindi kami compatible. At least, we'd never hit it off without Geon right in the middle, balancing the two of us.

I closed my eyes, soaking up the slow music that came on after the previous song ended. It was a rainy night. Buti na lang hinatid ako ni Andrei dahil sobrang traffic pabalik sa 'min.

The rhythmic pitter-patter of the rain against the roof of the car soothed me and without thinking, I started humming along with the song.

The car came to a halt—it was a red light—and I opened my eyes, accidentally catching his gaze on me. There was an unfathomable light there, an unreadable smoldering emotion that skittered behind his hazel eyes but it was gone as fast as it came.

I looked at him as well, my forehead creasing in wonder. Andrei didn't look away and held my gaze. He scrutinized me like he was trying to decode me or something, like he was in deep thought about me and he couldn't figure out where his thoughts were running off to.

The light shifted to green and just like that, the moment was broken and he turned back to the road. Not once did he look at me again after that.

I frowned, not really understanding how he ticked. He was as enigmatic as the silver moon in the sky: distant, quiet but beautiful. Very beautiful indeed but dangerously so. That kind of beauty doesn't come without repercussions and I wasn't willing to delve further into the trap that was him, for I know nothing good can come out of this.

And besides, he was Geon's friend. That was a clear warning sign for me not to get involved.

Andrei dropped me off at my place an hour later. Being a gentleman, lumabas siya para pagbuksan pa ako ng pinto. He stayed outside until he was sure I was safe and sound inside my home.

But that was it.

We didn't even bother to get each other's contact number.