"Hey little sis. Himala, ang aga mong umuwi," Irene greeted her sister as we enter our condo unit. Nagdecide na lang siyang magstay na lang hanggang umaga kasi susunduin siya ni Seul from airport mamaya.
"Hi, ate. Inumaga yata kayo?"
"Siyempre nagwalwal galore talaga kami... Teka inaantok na ako. Dun na lang ako matutulog sa bed niyo ha? Miss ko nang katabi si Jen... May take out pala kaming dala sayo. Sige, good night... este good morning," hinila na ako ni Irene papunta sa kwarto namin ni Lisa.
It didn't take a long time for my best friend to fall into slumber. Ako naman ay hindi makatulog sa mga nangyari kagabi at usapan namin kanina. I cannot believe that I flirted with other girls and almost kissed one. Thank heavens for Chaeng for looking after me and making things easy for me to understand.
Bigla akong nakaramdam ng uhaw kaya naisipan kong lumabas para kumuha ng tubig. Medyo nahirapan lang akong umalis ng kama dahil sa higpit ng yakap ni Irene sa akin. I wonder how Seulgi managed to endure her koala attitude when sleeping.
"Phone mo, oh. Binalikan talaga ni Chaeyoung dahil nakalimutan mo daw kunin sa kanya," I heard Lisa's voice behind me as I wipe my wet hands with towel. Lumingon naman ako sa kanya at nakitang inaabot niya sa akin ang cellphone ko.
Damn, I realized that I have been missing her. But I don't miss her enough to squeeze her in my arms. Just like before.
"Oh, thanks."
"I did not know your phone has a keeper na pala. Na-inform sana ako para hindi na ako nag-effort na tumawag sayo ng paulit-ulit para sunduin ka sana kagabi."
I do not like the tone of her voice. Parang inaakusahan niya ako sa isang napakalaking kasalanan.
"I'm sorry. We were having a good time so I forgot to check my phone," I replied in a dry tone.
"Wow. You're having a good time and you forgot anything else. Cool."
"Yeah, cool."
I just don't wanna argue with her right now because my head is starting to feel shitty so I chose not to add the tension.
"Iba talaga pag kasama mo si Chaeyoung, no?"
"Why is this becoming an issue to you? I said sorry already. Ni hindi ko nga alam na nasa kanya yung phone ko kasi medyo naparami na ako ng inom. Miminsan na nga lang kaming magkasamang magkakaibigan eh."
"So masama na pala ngayong mag-alala sayo ngayon?"
"You're not worried Lalisa, you are accusing me. You wanted to point out something very foolish when in fact, I'm the one who's supposed to get upset with you for taking me for granted last night. I thought you'd mark it down in your calendar because it was postponed for five times already, now six. But I was wrong because you had something else in your mind already so I tried to give way and presented the best alternative for myself on behalf of your absence... I waited for you to invite me to hangout with your friends, you know. But well, it never happened."
She pressed her lips, a sign that she's losing control already. The said gesture revealed the dimple from the left side of her cheek and I cannot help but appreciate her beauty despite the fact that we are having an argument right now.
"Malay ko naman na gusto mo pa lang sumama. You should have told me."
Magsasalita na sana ako ngunit biglang may kumatok sa pinto. Nagkatinginan muna kaming dalawa na tila nagtatanong kung sino ang bubukas ng pinto.
"Ako na," giit ko at nagtungo na sa pintuan kung saan iniluwal ang napakagandang mukha ni Seul na nakasuot ng simpleng red t-shirt, itim na leather jacket at denim pants. Dumagdag rin sa kanyang appeal ang suot na sunglasses at itim na cap.
She greeted us in a very warm manner and it feels like the atmosphere of our house has somehow lightened. I really don't know how she had pulled it off but I guess it's her charming and positive vibration that turned up the place. Sometimes, I even wonder if her relationship with Irene has ever been on the rocks because they just complement each other very well. And for the past three years of being together, (they have been secretly seeing each other for a year already before coming out) I have never heard them having a major fight.
"Baaaaby Looooove!" Irene screamed out of nowhere while running towards her girlfriend, giving her a very tight hug and showered her with kisses. "Nakakainis ka. You look so pogi in your outfit. For sure, marami nanaman ang nagnanakaw ng tingin."
Medyo matagal tagal pa silang nagharutan sa harap namin bago nila i-acknowledge ang presence namin at nagpaalam nang umalis.
"I heard everything. I hope everything will be okay. Love you," whispered Irene before heading out of our place, clinging on the left arm of Seul.
...
Lisa and I haven't spoken to each other after her sister and Irene left our place. She went to our room while I proceeded to the guest room.
In this little space we have, we still chose to avoid each other than confront our issues. But I guess that it's the best for us to cool down our minds for a while because if we allow anger to get ahead of us, we would end up having less respect for each other.
Matutulog na sana ako ngunit naisipan kong magpasalamat muna kay Chaeng sa pagbalik niya ng cellphone ko kanina.
Jen: Hey, Chaeng. Thank you for safeguarding my phone. I can't even remember where I last saw it last night. Lol. 😘
Chaeng: No problem. You were busy.
Kahit sa text and tipid pa rin magsalita ng kaibigan kong 'to.
Jen: The place was great. The music was promising. The people are beautiful. Who am I to refuse?
Chaeng: You won't kasi malandi ka. 😒
Muntik na akong matawa dahil for the first time in history ay gumamit ng emoji si Chaeng. Improving na yata siya ngayon.
Jen: Alangan naman na matulog na lang ako sa couch? Ang lola mo talaga. Amph.
Chaeng: Wtf is 'amph'? Stop texting me, you jejemon.
Jen: Lol. Hahahahah
Chaeng: How can you say 'lol' and 'hahah' at the same time when they're the same?
Jen: Anyway, the girl you almost kissed last night asked my cousin of your name.
Dara, Chaeng's cousin, is the co-owner of "Flowers and Felines".
Jen: Sinabi niya?
Chaeng: No.
Jen: Butt naman.
Chaeng: What?
Jen: *Buti. Typo. 😂
Chaeng: Binitin mo kasi.
Jen: Nanghila ka kasi.
Chaeng: Bago ka kasi maglandi, tapusin mo muna ang problema niyo ni Lisa para hindi ka part-time landi at full time hapdi.
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na mapatawa ng mag-isa sa mga linyang binitwan ni Chaeng. Hindi ko alam na may low-key sense of humor pala siya. I was about to reply to her message when I received another message. It was from Lisa.
From: Baby Angel 👼
I'm going to practice. Magpapaalam sana ako but you seemed busy with your phone.
I just told her to take care at hindi na pinatulan ang huli niyang sinabi. Hindi ko na rin nareplyan si Chaeng dahil tuluyan na akong dinalaw ng antok.
YOU ARE READING
Devoid
Romance"So she asked me if I've already moved on from her. I told her that yes, I did... I have to. And I saw how anguish flickered from her eyes followed by uninterrupted tears which I eventually wiped before I could explain the things about her that I ha...
