Page 40 of Chasing Mr. Prefect

“Where was that?”

“BGC.”

“Buong araw ‘yun?” I asked, taking a sip, and he gave me an annoyed look as he knew I was pulling his leg.

“I had a hangover, if you must know. And I wasn’t about to drive my kuya’s car from Alabang if I couldn’t even see straight. Plus, my sister-in-law wouldn’t let me out of the house until I finished that hangover soup. So I ended up leaving in the afternoon.”

“Ayan. Inom pa more,” I said, just to be annoying. Gah, I missed this slightly pikon face he was wearing now. “Wait, which Kuya lived in Ortigas again?”

“Daming tanong, o,” he complained. “You know, if you want to ask questions, you’ve got to answer some, too.”

“Like I didn’t tell you my inner conflicts just now?”

“Fine. It’s my eldest kuya, Chip, who lives in Alabang. My second Kuya—that’s Chan—is the one living in Ortigas that I stay with during weekdays. He owns that car, too, but he lets me use it all the time.”

“Interesting names. Chip, Chan, Cholo,” I recited.

“Do I get to ask something now?”

“Uh. Why not.”

“Back then, before all this happened. Why did you hate Juliana so much? You knew she was just a kid, too.”

The question made me a little queasy. I did not like the topic so much as it was giving me guilt. “Um, pass.”

“Bastos,” he groaned, punching me on the shoulder.

“What the heck! Nakakainis kasi ‘yung tone mo,” I snarled. “And all I said was that you could ask questions. I didn’t promise anything about answering them. Tsaka teka, why are you punching me? Close ba tayo?”

“Aren’t we, huh?” he teased, doing it again, and we ended up just a little bit short of beating each other up when the staff arrived with the food.

“Whoa, solid!” said Cholo, staring open-mouthed at the food in front of us.

“Chicken Barbecue! That smells so good,” I exclaimed. The smell of it made my mouth water. “I’d ask for a bite but I’m allergic to chicken.”

As though on cue, the waiter put a shrimp and garlic pizza in front of me. My jaw dropped.

“Sir, can you put the mojos right here in the middle, please?” Cholo said, looking at the mojos still on the tray.

I stared at him disbelievingly. “You ordered two?” I said, and Cholo nodded. “Plus the mojos?”

“Yup. You said you could eat a whole one, right? Ayoko maubusan. Ow!” he complained as I did a tiny, evil pinch on his tummy at that remark. “And I’m allergic to shrimp, you’re allergic to chicken… It’s better this way.”

“What a sad life you have.”

“Says a person who will never be able to eat ChickenJoy,” he taunted. “Teka, you had chicken nuggets last time, right?”

“Yes. I don’t get allergic reactions from those but real chicken gives me hives.”

“Okay. So bakit ka nga galit kay Juliana?”

Our mouths were full the next minute so neither of us were able to speak for a while. I saw barbecue sauce on his cheek so I took a tissue and wiped it off.

“Ang dugyot, o!” I teased, evading the question again. “How much do I owe you pala?”

“None. I’m buying pizza because I lost the bet. Also I got in. Thought I’d celebrate.”

“Got in where?” I asked, distracted.