AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Chapter 25: Practical

I barely see Clark wore clothes with glaring brands. Most of the time, sobrang sisimple ng damit niya na kung hindi mo sisilipin ang tag, hindi mo malalamang branded pala. After all, rich people didn't want to wear clothes with glaring brands kasi aware na silang mayaman sila. Some brands are meant to show-off for "not-so-rich" people to "look rich".

Sa kanilang magbabarkada, si Clark lang ang naririnig kong mas gusto ng mga mommy kaysa gusto ng mga ka-age niyang babae. Sila ni Patrick ang madalas kainisan pagdating sa pakikipag-date, and general turn-off na for Clark ang pagiging "clown" niya, to the point na wala na siyang sineseryosong babae kaya siya iniiwan. And Jaesie could attest to that kasi parang na-bad trip lang sa kanya si Jaesie noong nasa dating stage pa lang silang dalawa.

But Clark is one of the most serious guys I've ever known. Or maybe there's something in him na ako lang ang nakakakita and the rest were just looking at him at the tip of the iceberg.

A few minutes later, bumalik na rin siya at pilit na pilit ang ngiti. He clapped once and brushed his palms against each other. "Saan na tayo?"

I focused my eyes on him. "Parang may ginawa kang hindi maganda."

"Nag-cancel ako ng tsismis, natural hindi maganda 'yon."

"Ganoon ba 'yon kaimportante?"

"Medyo," sagot niya, pinaling-paling pa ang ulo sa magkabilang gilid. "Tsismis is important but your case is importanter kaya tara na! Sayang ang time!"

♥♥♥

Really, I felt like Clark and I were in Amazing Race doing impossible tasks. Habang nasa kotse kami, iniisa-isa ko na ang pupuntahan namin today habang kumakain kami ng takeout meals from a fast food joint. Another fatty food and reason to burn calories more.  

"Buti marunong kang gumamit ng spreadsheet sa mobile device," bati ni Clark habang iniisa-isa ko ang mga gastos ko mula pa kaninang umaga.

"Mum said I must be resourceful. Buti nga, may mobile app for spreadsheets kaysa mag-manual journal entry ako." I was chewing my fries habang nakikihiram ng tablet ni Clark na nakapatong sa dashboard. I downloaded the app para magamit, and he let me do it naman kaya malamang na okay lang sa kanya.

"Hindi halatang may alam ka sa accounting, ha."

"Required sa amin ni Kuya na magkaroon ng alam sa accounting kahit basic lang, or else, we're doomed."

"Ni-require ni Tita Tess?"

"Sino pa ba?"

Clark giggled and shook his head. Gaya ko, nguya lang siya nang nguya ng pinaka-lunch namin.

"Kaya ka siguro natitiis ni Tita. Alam niyang tatagal ka," sabi niya.

"Mum is a monster. She didn't raise us para maging spoiled brat."

"Tapos spoiled ka haha!"

"I'm just spoiling myself right now because I earned it! I'm just taking my childhood back! Si Kuya nga, inalisan nila ng laruan noong bata pa when we were both supposed to play because we're kids!"

"Kaya kayo inalisan kasi literal na nagpapatayan kayong dalawa para lang sa laruan. May Barbie ka naman pero trip mo talaga yung robot ni Rico. Kung ako rin si Tita, hindi ko kayo bibigyan ng laruan, e. Ang bata-bata n'yo pa, may killer's instinct na kayo."

"Then why did you make Kuya's toy museum, huh?"

"Ginawa ko ang toy museum ni Rico kasi gift ko sa kanya 'yon after so many years na banned siyang magkaroon ng laruan dahil sa 'kin."