Chapter 11: Point Goes To?

Ace's POV

I feel like this day is the most outrageous day that I've ever experienced. Paano ba naman, tatlong weirdos ang nakasalamuha ko namely-Jeffrey, Lucas, and Seph.

May mas lalala pa ba sa gabing ito? Hay!

Lucas was just standing outside our room and waiting for our reply kung okay lang ba na sumama siya sa amin. I looked at Jeffrey and he smirked. What does it mean? Hmm?

"Sure! As long as friend ni Ace, I'm totally fine with that." Jeffrey said.

"Tara na! Libre mo ba? Nagugutom na ko eh. Parang marami akong makakain mamaya." Lucas said while showing a smile, but I know that it's a sarcastic smile.

As we went out of the dorm, naisipan naming mag dinner kami sa usual place namin nina Harry and Chester. And while we're walking, katabi ko silang dalawa, both Harry and Chester, and nakaakbay sila sa akin and binubulungan nila ako.

"Hoy, Ace! Ano ba 'tong ginagawa mo? Bakit mo kasi sila pinagsasabay-sabay!" Chester whispered.

I looked at him and said, "Anong pinagsasabay ka d'yan? Ano ko sila manliligaw?"

"Bakit? Hindi ba? I mean nag e-effort sila sa'yo." Harry added.

"No they're not! Tsaka Jeffrey is straight so malabo 'yun. Tapos, si Lucas, baka may girlfriend na siya... or boyfriend. I don't know, but alam nila that I'm straight so that's out of the line!" I said.

We looked at Jeffrey and Lucas for a while that's following us and they were smiling at me, then back to business ulit kaming tatlo nina Chester and Harry and nagbulungan.

"I don't think so, Ace. Nanliligaw sa'yo 'yang dalawang 'yan. Lalake ka so alam mo ang mga galawan!" Chester said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Libre ng dinner? Isn't that courting? Tapos bakit ka pupuntahan ni Kuya Lucas? He doesn't even go to our dorm noong di ka pa niya nakikilala." Harry explained.

"No! Si Jeffrey, nililibre niya lang ako kasi pinagdrive ko siya noong nalasing siya. Then si Lucas, baka makikipag exchange lang siya ng yaoi manga ulit." I said and I will keep on debating as long as I can!

"Pag iyan nadagdagan pa ng isa, Ace, sinasabi ko sa'yo... habulin ka na... ng mga lalaki!" Chester said and bursted out of laughter.

"I don't even like guys!" I exclaimed.

"Is everything okay?" Jeffrey asked.

"Wala naman masakit sa'yo, Ace?" Lucas also asked.

I looked at them and said, "No, we're fine. Ganito lang kami mag-usap. Akala mo laging nag-aaway, pero lambingan lang namin 'to." and then gave them a sheepishly smile.

Then kinausap ulit ako nina Harry and Chester.

"Paano kung parehas ka nilang gusto kahit alam nilang 'Straight' ka? Anong gagawin mo?" Chester asked.

"Edi bahala sila kung magkagusto sila sa akin. Basta ako, I will mind my own business. Isa pa, I'm not interested sa kahit sino sa kanilang dalawa. Tsaka ayoko nga ng sinusuyo ako!" I said.

"Eventually, mafa-fall ka sa isa sa kanila. Kung persistent sila, there's a tendency, I think. Isa pa, you're into BL stuff, I doubt na mapipigilan mo sarili mo." Harry said.

"Wala naman akong dapat pigilan 'no! And bahala sila mapagod kakasuyo. I don't even care." I said.

"Basta, Ace, kapag nahirapan ka mamili, sabihin mo lang sa amin ni Harry, kami bahala. Kami pipili para sa'yo. Haha!" Chester said.

"F you! Wala kayong pipiliin kasi wala naman dapat piliin!" I said.

"Ah, so 'di pa dumadating 'yung katapat mo... Okay! Pero hinay hinay ka lang, Ace, okay na 'yung dalawang manliligaw. Kapag tinatlo mo pa 'yan, mahihirapan kami mamili ni Harry. Isa pa, baka tumaba kaming dalawa." Chester said to me then may sinabi siya kay Harry, "Harry, may plano ako!"

"Ano na naman 'yang naiisip mo?" Harry asked.

"Since marami nanliligaw kay Ace, at may tendency na ilibre siya, kailangan lagi tayo kasama! Haha!" Chester said.

"Baliw ka! Are you taking advantage of them?" I asked.

"Why not? If they're into you, they have to pass our test." Harry said.

"Anong test naman 'yan?" I asked.

"Basta! Kaming bahala ni Harry sa mga tests! At kung sino ang pinaka okay sa amin, sasabihin namin sa'yo. Sa ngayon, si Kuya Jeffrey ang okay sa amin. May one point na siya! Record mo na, Harry!" Chester said.

Harry then took his phone from his pocket and binuksan ang Notes app to make a record of the pointing system. Nilagyan niya na ng 1 bar si Jeffrey.

"Baliw talaga kayong dalawa! We're here! Kumain na lang tayo!" I said as soon as nakarating na kami in front of our usual place kung saan kami madalas mag dinner.

Umupo na kaming lima sa isang table. Harry and Chester is sitting beside me while kaharap naman namin sina Lucas and Jeffrey.

"What do you want to order?" Jeffrey asked and smiled at us.

Kabisado na naming tatlo nina Harry and Chester ang menu, but since this is a treat and I guess minsan lang ito because Jeffrey owes me one, I've decided na kunin ang pinakamahal and pinakamasarap sa menu.

"Gusto ko ng sisig with rice, chicharong bulaklak, mango milkshake, sinigang na baboy and halohalo." Lucas said.

"Kuya Lucas, mauubos mo ba 'yan? 'Di ba hindi ka naman kumakain niyan kasi health-conscious ka?" Chester asked.

"Gutom ako, tsaka isa pa, libre 'to. Sayang!" Lucas said.

"Okay, got it. How about you, Ace, Harry and Chester?" Jeffrey asked.

"Sisig with rice, french fries, nachos and sprite." Chester said.

"Ceasar salad, macaroni salad, and water." Harry said.

Grabe naman sila kung makapag-order. Parang bigla akong nahiya sa dami ng inorder nila. I feel guilty tuloy... hmmm.

"Fried chicken with one rice and sprite lang sa akin." I said.

"'Yun lang? No additional or any side dishes?" Jeffrey asked.

"None. Busog pa kasi ako, isa pa, andaming inorder ng mga friends ko." I said while looking at them with squinting eyes.

"Okay lang naman, Ace, 'wag ka na mahiya." Jeffrey said.

"Ako, parang gusto ko pa magdagdag." Lucas interrupted, "Isang yema."

Tinawag na ni Jeffrey ang kumukuha sa mga order and waited for a while. Habang hinihintay na i-serve ang mga food, walang nagsasalita. Tahimik kaming lahat and the mood is so awkward.

"Kruu... kruu... kruu..." Chester said, "Bakit ang tahimik?"

Sobrang tahimik nga namin, tapos Jeffey and Lucas aren't talking to each other and I forgot na ipakilala silang dalawa!

"Ay oo nga pala, Jeffrey, si Lucas. Senior High sa school namin. Senior din nina Chester and Harry sa basketball team. Then, Lucas, meet Jeffrey. He's a writer." I said.

Lucas and Jeffrey looked at each other and smiled and bigla na sila tumingin sa iba. I think, they don't like each other?

"Paano kayo nagkakilala ni Ace, Jeffrey?" Lucas asked.

"Okay, mukhang magugustuhan ko 'tong palabas na 'to. Dapat pala umorder akong popcorn!" Chester whispered to me.

"Baliw!" I whispered and listened to Lucas and Jeffrey's conversation.

"Ah, nakilala ko si Ace sa isang..." Jeffrey looked at me and I gave him a signal na baka masabi niya 'yung group namin, but good thing he noticed, "nakilala ko siya through my step sister na classmate ni Ace."

"Yes, si Tara, kilala mo ba siya, Lucas?" I asked.

"Ah, no. I don't know her. Ang kilala ko lang kasi, lahat ng basketball team, lahat ng classmates at naging classmates ko, and then you, Ace, then wala na." Lucas said.

"How about you? How did you meet Ace?" Jeffrey asked Lucas.

"Matagal ko na nakikita si Ace sa dorm, sa school cafeteria, or even kapag nanonood siya ng basketball game kapag hinihintay niya sina Harry and Chester, but I never got the chance to know him. Mukha kasing suplado si Ace and I feel like hindi siya 'yung tipo na kumakausap ng mga tao na hindi niya close." Lucas said.

"Baliw ka, Lucas! Totoo ba? Mukha akong suplado?" I asked.

"Yes. I was dying to know your name and makipagkilala sayo but I don't know how to. Pero sobrang familiar na ng face mo sa akin na parang kahit di ko alam pangalan mo, I know you. Also, I don't know if paano ako makikipagkilala since we're both guys and magiging awkward sa atin pareho if I introduced myself na para akong nanliligaw. But then, when I saw you reading a yaoi manga, I got interested since may same interests na tayo. So nilakasan ko ang loob ko to get to know you, Ace." Lucas explained.

Biglang humikbi si Chester and para siyang naiiyak and said, "Point goes to Kuya Lucas. Record mo na, Harry."

"Baliw ka talaga, Chester!" I whispered.

Harry, then, took out his phone again and added one bar to Lucas. It seems na tie na silang dalawa... wait... bakit ako naiintrigued sa point system nila! Erase! Erase!

But then again, it was so fun knowing na kilala na pala ako ni Lucas noon but he was just so shy to know my name. I think I need to look more friendly that's why si Harry and Chester lang ang lumalapit ata sa akin. Haha!

Dumating na rin ang food na inorder namin and while we're eating I invited them sa isang concert for a cause, which is by they way the one that Seph gave me, 'yung nakilala kong aggressive guy sa manga library slash bookstore.

"Anyway, guys, gusto niyo bang sumama sa..." I asked but then I was interrupted.

"Yes!" Lucas and Jeffrey said.

"Wait lang, wala pa nga akong sinasabi, maka-yes agad kayong dalawa." I said.

"So naniniwala ka na ba na may gusto silang dalawa sa'yo? Gustong gusto ka nga nila makasama." Chester whispered while I can smell the sisig sa hininga niya.

"No wala silang gusto! Go away! Tch! Amoy sisig yang hininga mo, Chester!" I whispered to him.

Then, bigla akong hiningahan pa ni Chester, "Haaaaaaahh!"

"Kadiri ka talaga!" I said, then I continued, "Yayayain ko lang kayo sa isang concert for a cause tomorrow night. G kayo?"

"Saan 'yan, Ace?" Harry asked.

"Sa school lang din. Here's the ticket." I said and gave the ticket to Harry and Chester.

"Paano ka nakakuha nito, Ace? Sold out na 'to ah?" Chester asked while he was looking so amazed.

"A guy named 'Seph' gave that to me. Sabi niya isa daw siya sa mga mag peperform tomorrow night." I said.

"Si 'Seph' 'yung vocalist?" gulat na tanong ni Chester.

"Oo, why? Is there something wrong?" I asked.

Chester looked at Harry and they were so confused.

"Kuya Lucas, classmate mo si Seph 'di ba?" Chester asked.

"Oo, halos lahat ng mga babae gustong gusto siya. Napakamisteryoso niya kasi, matalino and maganda boses niya pero isa lang ang ayaw ko sa kanya, hindi siya sociable." Lucas said.

Medyo naguluhan ako dahil sinabi ni Lucas na hindi sociable Seph. Well, he was so aggressive when I first met him, but hindi ko naman siya nakitaan ng pagiging 'unsociable' and in fact, he was really nice to me noong magkasama kami.

"But I met him the other day and he looks nice." I said.

Bigla akong inakbayan ni Chester and said, "Pangatlo." he whispered.

"What do you mean?" I asked out of curiousity.

"Pangatlong manliligaw." Harry added and whispered.

"No he's not!" I said.

"Sobrang idol namin 'to si Kuya Seph kasi sobrang ganda ng boses nito. Hindi mo ba alam na sikat 'yung banda nila sa school?" Chester asked.

"No. I've been living under a rock. Isa pa, nasa dorm lang ako lagi, 'di ba?" I said.

"Ang lakas mo talaga, Ace. Nagiging habulin ka na talaga ng mga lalaki. Haha!" Chester whispered.

"Baliw!" I said, then niyaya ko ulit sila lahat. Good thing na pumayag sila so may kasama ako and marami kaming makakatulong sa concert for a cause. I hope na makakatulong ako kay Seph nito.

"But, just to set things straight, Ace... 'Wag ka masyadong lalapit kay Seph." Lucas said.

"Bakit? Is he dangerous?" I asked.

"Hindi. Pero 'yung mga umaaligid sa kanya, mga fans niya, sila ang dangerous." Lucas said.

"Oh ano naman kinalaman ko sa mga fans niya? And bakit hindi ako dapat dumikit sa kanya? As if he's untouchable." I said.

"Hindi mo talaga kilala si Kuya Seph, Ace? Seryoso ka?" Harry asked.

"Why? Bakit kailangan ko ba siya kilalanin? Magbabago ba buhay ko kapag nakilala ko siya?" I said.

"I mean, if isasama natin siya sa roster ng mga manliligaw mo, he's way over-qualified!" Harry whispered.

"Oo, biruin mo, pogi, matalino, magaling kumanta, sikat, marami nagkakagusto, mayaman din siya... kaso hindi nga lang siya sociable." Chester added, "Harry, lagay mo na si Kuya Seph sa listahan ng mga manliligaw ni Ace. Lagyan mo na ng one point agad kasi binigyan niya tayo ng ticket!"

"Alam niyo, kayong dalawa, hindi ko alam kung mga kaibigan ko talaga kayo! Masyado niyo kong binebenta sa lahat!" I whispered.

I looked at Harry's phone and nilalagyan niya na ng isang bar si Seph and mayroon ng triple tie. All 1 na silang tatlo nina Jeffrey, Lucas and Seph. I wonder, sino kaya ang mananalo.... wait! What am I thinking!

Phone beeping!

Speaking of the devil, the unsociable devil is here and texted me.

"Master, see you tomorrow night! May surprise ako sa'yo. :) -Seph"

"Master, see you..." Chester whispered and bigla niya ako pinalo ng malakas sa likod, "Sh*t ka, Ace! Anong pinakain mo d'yan kay Kuya Seph!"

"Hoy! Ace, anong ginawa niyong dalawa noong nagkita kayo? Hindi ganyan si Kuya Seph, sobrang cold ng tao na 'yun! Bakit iba siya sa'yo?" Harry asked and whispered.

Actually, I really don't know! I thought everything was just being normal! Wala naman akong iniisip na iba, pero itong dalawang kaibigan ko, kung ano ano pinagiisip!

I think, dapat pala hindi ko na sila niyaya lahat, pero I think, tomorrow night will be a disaster! A chaos! Isang delubyo at parang kinakabahan na ko sa mangyayari lalo na sa surprise ni Seph. Mag sakit-sakitan kaya ako bukas? Hayst!

End of Chapter 11