While everyone was still teasing Arthur and Jolianne inside, you decided to step away from the noise and join Cean, Justin, and Jroa by the billiards table. The sound of balls hitting each other echoed in the corner of the rooftop. Justin handed you a cue stick. “Game ka?” he asked with a small grin. “Why not?” you replied confidently. Cean laughed. “Sige nga, tingnan natin.” You lined up your shot carefully, focusing on the angle. The white ball rolled smoothly across the table—*clack*—and one of the striped balls dropped cleanly into the pocket.
The boys reacted instantly.
“Uy! May laro!” **Cean** laughed, lightly tapping the table.
Even **Justin**, who had been quiet the whole night, raised his eyebrows. “Beginner ba talaga ’yan?” he teased.
**Jroa** shook his head, pretending to be serious. “Parang kailangan na natin mag-practice.”
You just smiled and reached for your drink, taking a small sip—not too much, just enough to feel relaxed. The air on the rooftop felt cooler away from the noise. Inside, you could still hear everyone cheering and teasing.
From the living room speakers, one of **Arthur Nery**’s songs started playing, and immediately the teasing got louder.
“AYIEEEE!” Krizzy’s voice echoed.
“Live performance na ’yan!” Janine added.
Apparently, Arthur and Jolianne were sitting a little too close on the couch, laughing over the lyrics of the love song they wrote together. Everyone was shipping them hard—except Justin, Jroa, and Cean. They stayed outside, unbothered, focused on the game.
You glanced toward the sliding door and saw Arthur scratching the back of his neck, smiling shyly while everyone hyped him up. Jolianne looked equally embarrassed but happy.
Cean leaned closer to you and said quietly, “Kahit anong asar nila, bestfriends lang naman sila ni Saroise, diba?”
You nodded. Everyone knew Arthur and Saroise were solid bestfriends—no issue, no drama. Just pure friendship.
“Your turn,” Justin said, snapping you back to the game.
You leaned forward again, concentrating. The rooftop lights reflected on the green felt of the table. You took another clean shot—*clack*—another ball in.
“Grabe,” Jroa muttered. “Mukhang may bagong champ dito.”
Inside, the laughter grew louder as someone shouted, “KISS! KISS!” making Arthur almost choke on his drink.
But out here? It felt calmer. Less pressure. Just music in the background, soft city lights, the occasional laugh drifting outside, and the steady rhythm of billiard balls colliding.
You weren’t too drunk. Just light, just present.
For a moment, Justin glanced inside, then back at the table. “Let them have their moment,” he said casually.
And you realized something—while everyone was focused on the “love team,” this little corner of the party had its own vibe. Quiet competition. Low laughs. Real conversations.
“Last round,” Cean announced.
You smirked, twirling the cue stick slightly.
“Winner gets bragging rights.”
And this time, you weren’t planning to miss.
*something inside me just twisted but im not going to show it to them though*
The cue ball rested under your fingers, steady—but your chest wasn’t.
Something inside you twisted.
It was small. Quick. Almost unnoticeable.
You kept your face calm.
“Focus,” **Justin** muttered, watching your stance.
You inhaled slowly and took the shot.
*Clack.* The eight ball rolled, hit the side, then dropped cleanly into the pocket.
“AYOOO!” **Cean** shouted, grabbing your shoulder.
“Champion!” **Jroa** laughed.
You forced a grin. “Sabi ko sa inyo.”
But when the cheers from inside got louder—another round of teasing aimed at **Arthur Nery** and Jolianne—you felt it again. That quiet twist. Not jealousy. Not exactly. Just… something.
Maybe it was the way everyone looked at them like they were already a love story.
Maybe it was the way he smiled at her.
You picked up your drink, swirling the ice to distract yourself.
“Uy,” Cean nudged you lightly. “Okay ka lang?”
You nodded too quickly. “Oo naman.”
And you meant it. Mostly.
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