Page 45 of Chasing Mr. Prefect
I pushed his shoulder in retaliation. He made me sit in the passenger seat and drove me home, helping me with getting the presents out of the trunk and into my house.
“Ay, wow. How much do I owe you for gas and the effort, then? Kakahiya sa’yo, eh,” I teased.
“You know I’m joking!” he teased. “But imagine how all this would have cost you on the app.”
“Luh, why would I pay? The gift givers will pay for it, noh.”
“Grabe talaga ugali mo,” he scoffed, and I just made a face in reply. “Anyway. Loads to do once we’re back in January.”
“Yes, boss! But our team is done with our part, right? Since we’ve finalized all the posters, banners, and other materials?” I told him as he laid the presents on our living room floor.
He frowned at me. “Well, all major event committee officers are supposed to help Logistics on the weeks and days leading to the event itself. And I gave you an out, remember? You didn’t want it.”
“You did say I could hand those papers in anytime so, as of today, I could technically choose not to be a committee officer. I’m a detention kid whose services you needed and I already delivered.”
I watched his frown deepen. Cackling, I went to the fridge and got him a bottle of orange juice.
“Come on, I’m messing with you. You know I’m going to help out.”
“Good,” he said, opening the bottle. “You better not skive off as you still report to me, underling.”
“Let it be known that I am helping from now on as a friend and a peer, not as an underling being punished.”
He made a face at me and took a swig off his juice bottle.
“If you don’t have anything up tonight, do you want to stay for dinner? I can get something delivered,” I said.
“Naks. Sure!”
“Okay, I’ll get my phone upstairs to get something delivered. Hang on.”
I ran and got my phone and I was back downstairs before it fully booted. As soon as I unlocked it, a call came through.
“O, bakit?” I answered, not bothering with pleasantries upon seeing Gian’s name on the screen.
“Don’t ‘o, bakit’me. I know what happened the other day with Liana.”
“I was planning to make amends–”
“Lucky for you, I have a better one. Be ready tomorrow at 8 a.m.”
“On a Saturday? Mukha mo,” I whined. “I need to sleep in!”
“Liana’s lost sleep for years because you pick a fight with her every other day, one morning won’t kill you. You and Chucky will help me with her birthday party things. I need all the help that I can get.”
I looked at Cholo, who was watching me with one eyebrow slightly raised.
“You said yes to helping Gian tomorrow?” I asked, putting my phone down slightly.
“Yep. He said you were going?”
I shook my head.
“Fine. We’ll be there. Wait, planning her birthday! Boyfriend ‘yon?” I teased. “Sinagot ka na?”
“Hoy, Vinnie, I don’t meddle in your affairs with Spawn of Satan, ha, so keep your nose out of mine.”
“Aba—”