The four boys arrived at the building where the billiards place was located. As the playful youngest of them, Nigel opened the door for the older three and even bowed while smiling playfully, earning a giggle from his kuyas.
Reese and Archie immediately looked around their new environment. The place was dimly lit, rows of pool tables lined up, some occupied, some empty. They also noticed the snack bar right by the entrance, where you could buy food, drinks, and even alcohol. The best friends exchanged looks and nodded at each other.
“Kit”, Axel calls out while raising his hand.
Reese’s eyes darted to the direction of the table where the person Axel greeted was standing.
oh
His eyes widened immediately, facing Archie, slapping the boy’s shoulders.“WTF”, he whispered.
“Aray, ano ba?” Archie winced in pain, rubbing the injured area.
“Tingnan mo kasi”, he pointed to where Axel was heading.
“Ohh, wow”, they exchanged looks once again.
Axel reached the table and dap up Kit and Vince; Nigel did the same. Axel turned to Reese and Archie, “Oh, by the way, this is Reese and Archie, sila yung ininvite namin na isa pa. Nalakaban ko sila hanggang final round sa quiz bee hehe”
Kit’s eyes immediately fixate on the taller of the two.
Archie initiates by waving and smiling, “Hi, nice to meet you,” then nudges Reese. “Hello”, he follows.
“This is Kit and Vince, walwal buddies namin”, Axel chuckles.
“Grabe ka naman, baka akalain nila na puro lang kami inom”, Vince giggles. “By the way, nice to meet you guys.” he smiles and goes for a handshake, which the two accept.
“Kit”, offering a small smile and a casual salute, eyes quickly flicking back to Reese.
Axel: Ano, tara na?
Nigel: 10 ball lang muna since may beginners tayong kasama.
Nigel nods, setting up the balls using the triangle.
Axel: Pa break ako.
Everyone makes space as Axel positions the white ball, finding the right angle to hit it. With a swift motion, he strikes it towards the rest, making a crisp sound with the collision.
Reese and Archie look at each other in awe.
Axel: Simple lang, aim for the balls based sa number nila, from one to ten.
Kit goes first, then Vince and finally Nigel.
Axel: Reese, gusto mo i-try?
Reese almost jumps, and slightly pushes Archie towards Axel. “Chie, ikaw muna”, he laughs awkwardly.
Archie: Sige pa’no ba?
Axel hands him a cue.
Nigel: Gagi kuys, almost kaheight mo lang. Making the whole table laugh
Archie: Wow, thank you, ah, Scoffing jokingly.
Archie tries to pose based on what he saw earlier, but the cue stick keeps going askew from his hand. Axel then moves closer and adjusts Archie’s pose, bodies in full contact. Reese sees this, an unfamiliar sensation taking over his stomach. He shifts his eyes in a new direction, and accidentally meets Kit’s, both of them avoiding.
Archie strikes but hits the wrong number.
Axel: Bad shot, pero solid pagkatama mo ah.
Archie: Thanks. Shoulders rising in pride.
He then hands the cue stick to Reese, making the boy flinch.
Axel: Reese, ikaw naman.
Reese meekly comes closer and awkwardly poses. Axel steps behind Reese without thinking, adjusting his grip on the cue. One hand steadies Reese’s wrist while the other lightly guides his shoulder. Reese gulps.
As they were in that position, Reese looks up and catches Kit looking, but as he follows Kit’s eyes, he was actually looking at Axel’s hand holding Reese’s. He skates it off and focuses on the ball.
Axel pulls away and instructs him to strike, but Reese did it so weakly; so the ball rolls softly, touching the intended number.
Vince: Ooh nagdikit.
Axel: Nice, good shot pa rin yan.
He holds up a hand for a high five and Reese shyly reciprocates.
It was Axel’s turn once again; he managed to pocket two balls. “Yay, may tutok ako”
Kit just smirks and proceeds to pocket the last three balls, finishing the round.
Nigel: Woah grabe ka Kuya Kit.
Axel: Si idol pala toh ih.
Kit: Tch, maliit na bagay. Not hiding the grin on his lips.
Shots keep coming, sharp sound of balls colliding echoing off the table. Reese and Archie are slowly getting the hang of the sport.
Axel: Wow, nasasanay na kayong dalawa, ah.
Archie: Sorry, fast learner. shrugging cockily
Reese: Lumabas pagka-competitive ko eh. He laughs.
Kit’s eyes briefly look at Axel and Reese, then he looks away.
Nigel: Tara 8 ball na
Axel: Yown sige
Vince: Pa’no yung teams?
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Kit: Let’s do the usual. Tayong dalawa, then si Axel and Nigel.
Nigel: Tapos ampon sila Kuya Archie and Kuya Reese.
Archie: Grabe naman sa ampon. He says jokingly, making the whole table laugh once again.
Axel: Sige samin na si Reese. Gently resting his hand on Reese’s shoulder, making the latter tense up a bit at the contact.
Kit just hums in response.
Vince: Sige samin na si Archie.
Kit starts the round with a break, making a crisp sound scattering the balls on the table.
Axel: Sige, Reese, una ka na, kahit alin, tirahin mo diyan.
Reese manages to shoot a striped ball.
Axel: Nice, stripes tayo, ngayon dapat stripes na lang tataman mo. To which Reese just nods.
The round slowly goes around, and balls are pocketed one by one. Then Nigel rubs his stomach.
Nigel: Nagugutom na ako. Tara, order snacks.
Axel: Tara, reese ano gusto mo?
Reese: De, okay lang busog ako
Axel: Sure ka? fries?
Reese: No, I’m okay.
Axel: Order na lang ako ng medium fries in case na gusto mo rin.
Reese was abt to object but stopped.
The rounds go by; they strike the ball back and forth. Celebrating whenever it goes in, groaning if it doesn’t. Chatter, laughter, and high fives exchanged all around. This newfound synergy has enveloped them, getting lost in the fun. Nigel looks at the clock and notices 2 hours have passed.
Nigel: Ano? G pa ba?
Reese: Sorry, baka last game na muna namin. May need pa kami tapusin.
Archie: Hala oo nga. Buti pinaalala mo
Axel: Sige, nice g na muna para sabay na tayong umuwi.
Reese: Ihahatid nyo nanaman kami?
Axel: Bakit? Same way naman tayo eh. Ayaw mo ba akong kasama? He looks at reese playfully pouting.
Nigel: Yuck, kuya, ano ba yan, di bagay. He grimaces
Reese: Over naman toh. Oo na. Sige na. Shaking his head in defeat, but a small smile creeps up his lips.
Vince: Uyy nice game guys. He daps everyone up.
Kit: Nice g.
He daps everyone up except Axel, dapping him up. Then it was Reese’s turn; he taps Reese like the rest, but their eyes meet.
A second too long.
Kit looks away first.
Nigel: Tara, picture tayo.
Axel holds up his phone to take a group selfie.
Nigel: Pa-tag na lang, kuys, ah.
Axel: What if gawa tayo GC? Ano g ba kayo?
Vince: Sure
Nigel: Tara
Kit: Geh
Archie: sigi
All eyes on Reese now. “Sige gow”, he responds.
Axel: Yay, para madali na ayaan.
Nigel: Baka sabihin nila, Kuya Reese, adik tayo sa bilyar.
Axel: Luh, wala naman ako sinabing bilyar lang
Vince: Inom din, pwede haha joke.
Kit: Yan, jan ka magaling.
Vince: Wow, as if hindi ka sumama lagi.
Kit just rolls his eyes.
Archie: Wow, ganito ba ang may social life?
Reese: Grabe ka naman, magmumukha tayong loser niyan.
Archie: Bakit? Totoo naman. Lagi lang tayo nasa cafe eh.
Axel: Bibigyan namin kayo ng social life, don’t worry. He says smugly.
Nigel: Tara na nga Kuya, maglalakad pa tayo.
Axel: Ayy oo nga tara na.
Archie: Kayo ba, Vince, Kit, saan kayo?
Vince: Ah, malapit lang dorm namin dito, sa kabilang kanto lang.
The six boys all went down the building together. As they reached the next corner, Vince and Kit waved goodbye, separating from the others. Reese glanced back, just for a second. Kit happened to look over his shoulder at the same time. Neither of them waved.
