Araw-Araw (Playlist Series 1) (On hold)

21

"Hoy! Gaga! Hindi, Kuya! Join ka na! Serious ako don!"

"Ano ba ginagawa mo, Hera?!" Gwyneth protested.

"Aarte ka pa?" Hera sassed back at her in response. And the argument between the two gals continued. Para tapos ang usapan, nagdesisyon akong magsalita.

'To hell with my ego. I'm actually starving from all the waiting I've been doing,'

"Yeah sure. I'll join you guys," And on cue, they both paused from talking and looked at me as if I have grown three heads right there and then.

"Oh eh sasama naman pala eh," Sinikuhan lang ni Gwyneth si Hera while her mouth is hanging low, still probably in disbelief.

"Unless... ayaw ako sumama ni Gwyneth?" I raised my eyebrow at Gwyneth and looked at her patiently. Sumingit na naman yung kaibigan ni Gwyneth.

"Ay hindi! Okay na okay lang sa kanya yan! Gwyneth pa ba?" Naunang naglakad si Hera, leaving a speechless Gwyneth with me.

"Hera naman!" After a few seconds of daydreaming, mukhang natauhan siya at tumakbo sa direksyon ni Hera para sundan ito. I followed them quietly from behind.

We walked down the streets of session towards the direction of Harrison Bazaar. It was such a busy day, every corners of the street and restaurants along the town are filled with people; both foreigners, locals, local tourists, students. It's a lovely afternoon, perfectly partnered with street snacks the food stalls has to offer. Hinayaan kong maglakad yung dalawa sa harapan ko, letting them lead the way. They were talking and chattering amongst themselves, laughing and smacking each other from time to time. Habang papalapit na kami sa Harrison, about a street a way, biglang nagsalita si Hera.

"Ah...guys alis na ako ha? I forgot pala, dadating pala si mama!" May halong pang-aasar ang tono niya. I even saw her winked at Gwyneth, indicating she's about to do something ridiculous.

"Ha?! Hera! Hoy! 'Wag mo kong iwan!" Gwyneth's eyes widened, like saucers. She pulled Hera's jacket, preventing her from going anywhere. But the petite girl has some strength hidden in her. She was able to detached herself from Gwyneth. Nothing I have never seen before. Ganyan na ganyan din si Cecilio kapag may kagaguhang gagawin.

"See you tomorrow sis! Ikaw na bahala jan kay Gwyneth, Kuya ha!" Hera started running away from the other direction.

"Gaga! Hindi naman dadating mama mo! Hoy! Shit!" Naiinis na sigaw ni Gwyneth sa kanya. Some people around us looked at her like she's mad. She continued cursing Hera underneath her breath, not minding other people.

Then there left us two.

"Why?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ahh.... wala...." She only shook her head.

"Then let's go," I sighed and continued walking towards the direction of the Harrison. Malapit naman na kami and I'm starving. I could really use some newly cooked empanadas, maybe some barbecue too. Haven't had any of those for a long time.

"T-tuloy pa tayo?" Nauutal na tanong ni Gwyneth as she tries catching up to me.

"Yeah. Is there something wrong?"

"W-wala naman. Tara..."

"Takte. Ang haba-haba ng biyas mo. Antay naman," I heard her muttered angrily. That made me chuckled quietly. Hirap siyang makacatch up dahil mas malalaki ang hakbang ko kesa sa kanya.

"Pick one," Sabi ko sa kanya nang makarating kami sa mga food stalls. Ang daming tao, ang dami ding food stalls na pagpipilian.

"Pick---? Teka nga, sigurado ka bang okay lang sa'yo na dito tayo kumain? Okay lang naman sa'kin kahit ano eh pero ikaw baka ayaw mo niyan?" Paninigurado niya. Napairap na lang ako.