The Spaces In Between

[42] The One With The OTP

I nearly choked on my drink. Did I hear her right? "Ha?! Porn subscriptions? May ganun si Andreau?" I almost shouted. Buti na lang kaming dalawa lang sa smoking area! "Eh parang hindi naman nanonood ng porn si Andreau!"

Halos hikain na ata si Ate Anya sa kakatawa dahil sinabi ko. Gulung-gulo naman ako sa reaction niya. Wala namang nakakatawa ah! Nagtatanong lang naman ako! "Zades," hinihingal niyang sabi, "never believe a guy when he says he never watches porn. It's a universal lie, girl. Don't ever fall for it."

Triple shit. No, Zades. Wag mong imaginin na nanonood si A-- "Eh!? I couldn't believe it! Siya.. nanonood ng porn?" tumawa nang malakas si Ate Anya sa reaction ko. "Oh come on! He's not like that! Andreau's a prude! Nagbublush nga siya kapag nababanggit ang sex! Tapos.." I mentally slapped myself for allowing my thoughts to wander down that road.

"I can list down adjectives to describe Andreau Cortez but prude will never be one of them, Zades."

"I refuse to believe that."

"Fine. Just don't come running back to me kapag nabuksan mo yung Nat Geo Secret Folder sa isang hard drive niya. I did it once and I swear.. scarred forever, Zades. The things you find in his hard dri—"

"Ate Anya tama na please!" I shrieked in plea. Umabot na ata sa mga bilbil ko ang pagbublush ko! Hindi ko talaga maimagine si Andreau na... ahhh! "Ibang topic na lang, okay?"

Naawa na siya sa itsura ko kaya iniba na niya ang topic namin (thank god!). Finally, she opened about her work in California. Since hindi pa siya nakakakuha ng architecture board exam, nagtatrabaho siya as an artist sa isang animation studio ng friend niya. She also told me kung paano siya nakapag-adjust doon, na sobrang namimiss niya ang mga kapatid niya dito sa Pinas. Akala niya siguro na hindi ko mapapansin ang pag-iwas niya sa topics related to college life, and obviously, kay Lean. Kaya ibang bagay na lang ang tinanong ko sa kanya. Isang bagay na medyo bothered ako for some time now.

She was thoroughly surprised after I said my question. "You never asked Andreau?"

I shook my head furiously before taking a sip of my frappe. "Hindi. And you know him, Ate. Maiinis lang 'yon pag kinulit ko siya. Nakakatakot kayang masigawan non!"

Nodding in agreeement, she continued. "Well.. I know this isn't my story to tell.. pero you really have the right to know since nakakasama mo silang dalawa."

So.. she told me the reason behind this weird thing between Andreau and Pipo. Apparently may on-off thing pala sina Ate Anya at Pipo nung freshman year nila. Hindi officially naging sila pero may something. Then nung sophomore year, doon nagkakilala sina Kuya Lee at Ate Anya, plus nabuo ang barkada nila with Andreau, Roldan and Badz. Close silang lima, lalo na sina Andreau, Dan and Badz. Off sina Ate Anya at Pipo nung nagparamdam na si Kuya Lee. And because nagkagusto na rin siya kay Kuya Lee that time, tinapos ni Ate Anya yung thing nila ni Pipo, kaso medyo messy ang nangyari. Come second sem that year, malapit na sagutin ni Ate Anya si Kuya Lee nang i-recruit ni Pipo sina Andreau, Dan at Badz sa frat nila. Hindi naman daw gumaganti si Pipo kay Ate noon, nakitaan lang nila ng potential ang tatlo kaya sila gustong kunin. Andreau declined dahil sa showbiz shit, at package deal sila ni Dan so naiwan si Badz. Ilang beses daw pinilit ni Andreau na wag sumali si Badz kaso mas napilit siya ni Pipo kaya ayun, nakuha siya. Since then bihira na nilang nakasama si Badz, to the point na nawala na ito sa barkada nila.

"Sumama talaga loob ni Andreau that time, Zades. Sophomore year nila nina Dan nung first and last time ko siyang nakitang wasak. Choosy kasi talaga si Andreau sa friends eh. Kaya ilag talaga si Andreau dyan kay Pipo. Is he still doing that whole Philip thing?" I nodded, making her chuckle. "Hay naku talaga 'tong si Andreau! Sinumpa kasi niya na never niyang tatawagin si Pipo ng.. Pipo. Nawiweirduhan kasi siya sa nickname na 'yon."