CHAPTER 2

46 23 11
                                    

Bonding

It's Monday morning, kasalukuyan akong nakatambay sa office ko inside our shop. I'm currently checking our sales, mukhang mas tumaas nga ngayon because of the occasion last day...

Since wala namang masyadong gawain I decided to open my social media account. Medjo naging inactive ako sa SocMed this past days, siguro kase mas nakatutok ako sa growth ng business ko kaya wala ng time para makapagliwaliw.

I opened my YouTube app para magsearch ng videos related to art, especially painting. I want to learn more. Well, painting is also one of my hobbies and pastime. Mahilig ako sa nature, kadalasan sa mga napipinta ko ay garden, sunset or beach.

Wala na din pala akong art materials na natira. I'll go buy those things nalang if magkaroon ng free time.

Nang magsawa na ako sa kakapanood ay binuksan ko naman yung Facebook account ko. I check the messages first, mga hindi naman importante halos hi and hello lang galing sa mga college batch mates ko.

I'm in middle of scrolling on my feed when someone called mi through video call.

Reisse Saavedra is calling...

Accept     Decline

It's Reese my bestfriend. We've been friends since highschool. Halos hindi daw kami mapaghiwalay, komento ng iba.

I click the accept button.

"SHEYYYYY....", napatakip ako ng tenga dahil sa sobrang ingay niya. Bungangera talaga kahit kailan. Naalala ko sinabihan ko siyang tumahimik dati kase hindi maganda tignan baka sumakit pa lalamunan niya pero sabi niya lang "Pake ba nila, di naman sila yung sasakit yung lalamunan".

"REESE CARMINA SAAVEDRA CAN YOU PLEASE LOWER DOWN YOUR VOICE, ANG INGAY MO. MASAKIT SA TENGA!", singhal ko pabalik

"Can you stop calling me in using my fullname. Seriously? Carmina? Pang old-school. At isa pa sumigaw ka din naman.", Diridiretsong sagot niya while rolling her eyes.

"Old-school pala ha, isusumbong kita ky Tita", pang-aasar ko. Her mother's name is Carminna kaya ginawang Carmina yung second name niya while her firstname cames from her father's name which is Rhys. Ang talino ng parents niya mag-isip no.

"Btw, anong kailangan mo? Bakit ka napatawag?" I asked. Hindi naman kasi to tumatawag kapag walang kailangan o need sabihin.

"Are you free this lunch? Let's meet to catch up. Masyado ka ng busy sa business mo. Hindi ka na sumasama sa galaan", she said

"Yeah sure sinong kasama? Yung dalawa ba?", I asked. I was talking about our other friends. We are four in our group. 3 girls and isang hindi sure, you know medjo baliko... lalaking pusong babae.

"Actually ikaw yung una kong tinawagan. I'll ask them after this, so it's settled? Same place...bye see you later.", sabi niya bago iend yung call.

I check the time, it's 10:00 in the morning. I still have time to prepare.

Nagpaalam ako sa employees ko that I'll be gone this lunch. I assign Ciara to take in charge while I'm not around since she's my most trusted employee.

I stay for a hour bago umalis sa shop. I decided to go to my condo first to change. I'm currently driving papunta sa meeting place which is the "Choi Cafe", dito talaga kami tumatambay back when we are still on college. It is owned by our friend's family.

I received a call while I'm on my way. It's Grei the one I'm talking about earlier, the Cafe owner's son.

"Hey Shey, where are you? Andito na si Reese at Scarlet. Hello girl... Late ka nanaman", he said

I chuckled. Yeah he's right pero 5 minutes lang naman. Masyadong nagmamadali yung baklitang toh.

"Chill girl... I'm on my way don't worry. Masyado ka namang excited", I replied

"Minsan lang toh dapat sulitin yung every minute. Alam mo na, madaming shawty dito sa Cafe right now. Bilisan mo baka wala ka ng maabutan", ani niya.

Maharot talaga, ginaya pa ako sakanya.

"Che sayo na beh. Ano namang pake ko sa mga shawty na yan. Capital NI as in NOT INTERESTED", ani ko while rolling my eyes kahit hindi niya naman nakikita.

"Kaya hindi ka nagkakajowa eh", aniya. As if I want one.

I end the call and continue driving. I saw then wave their hands nang makapasok ako sa entrance. I just greeted them before taking a sit.

This Cafe have a great ambiance. The surroundings are great. Even the view is nice.

We ordered and have a little chitchats.

"Pahiram ako ng cellphone mo girl", Reese said while we are in the middle of our conversation. Agad ko namang binigay. Sanay na ako jan, hilig niyang pakialam yung mga gamit ko. It's not a big deal for me since I don't have any secrets inside that phone of mine.

"Here", aniya sabay about ng phone. She's smiling widely and it's weird.

I didn't mind here and just continue what I'm doing.

After our lunch, we go to our next destination which is Mall. When it comes to bonding hindi mawawala yung shopping. Guess who's idea it is... Well it's the one and only fashionista sa quadro, Scarlet Montenegro.

"Scar, you're not done yet?", I ask. Masakit na yung paa ko, I badly want to rest.

"A little more time, I still have to buy something", she replied.

Seryoso kulang pa? More that 10 shopping bags na ata yung dala niya.

"Girl balak mo bang ubusin yung laman ng mall. What if bilhin mo nalang to", sabat naman ni Grei.

"Ow great idea Grei, I'll ask dad to do that for me", ani ni Scarlet.

Napatampal nalang ako sa noo. Paano ko ba naging kaibigan to.

"I'll go now, kailangan ko pa dumaan sa Shop before I go home. Malapit na mag-5pm.", paalam ko sakanila.

"Hey una na ako. Kayo ng bahala jan sa isa", tapik ko kay Reese na kanina pa tahimik. She only nod as a response. Pagod na toh for sure. Hindi naman toh tatahimik if may energy pa.

Like what I said dumaan ako sa shop to check the sales and if what happened this afternoon before going home.

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