Snippets of Our Future (Commit and Run Series #2)

Chapter 5

"Well, I look up to him for that. Kahit ayaw ko sa kaibigan niya," Frat smirked. "Sarap upakan."

"Childish mindset but I also hate his other friend. What the fuck is their problem! For god sake, I'm just living my life not until he entered!" gigil na sabi ni Tres.

Nasa harapan ko silang dalawa kaya nakatalikod sila sa cashier, obviously I could see whatever Uno's doing.

Naguguluhan akong bumalik sa usapan. "Normalizing context first before telling the story. I am lost. What the hell..."

"Naku, magandang tanong 'yan, Cap! Roll VTR!" he looked up to pretend he's watching something on the ceiling.

Binatukan siya ni Tres. "Tanga, bakit naman sa taas? Mahirap manood ng nakatingala, tangina mo!"

"Stop calling me Cap. We're not in the training." I said so they would stop calling me Captain in public.

Sinabi ko na naman sa kanilang applicable lang 'yon kapag on training at nasa laro kami. Okay lang naman sa akin na first name basis but Coach insisted so I don't have a choice to let them.

"Ganito kasi 'yon," huminga ng malalim si Tres.  "Do you remember the girl I was talking about last month?"

Mahina akong tumango. "Yes... that atenean girl?" I asked because I might be wrong. Makakalimutin pa naman ako.

"Oo 'yon, 'yung palagi niyang pinupuntahan kaya sumasabay sa akin pauwi dahil malapit lang doon ang meeting place nila." Sabat ni Frat kaya pinitik ni Tres ang tainga niya. "Aray naman!"

He was talking about that girl because he's inlove. That is the right term. Pinapadalhan niya ng mga gifts, mga jewelry, at mga designer bags. Ewan, kakaiba magmahal si gago.

I couldn't not judge her the way he express his love on his girl since I was never in a relationship.

"I just found out last week that girl cheated on me. And the worst part is Uno's friend was the other guy." He lowered his voice so the latter won't heard he's name got mentioned.

Mukhang hindi naman niya maririnig dahil nakasuot siya ng headset. Busy pa nga dahil may ginagawa sa counter.

"Oh, boy. You are fucked." I said in dismayed. "Does the other guy know your relationship with that... girl?"

I forgot the name. Inaalala ko pero hindi talaga mahukay ng mga cells ko kung nasaan nalagay.

He tapped the corner of the table to support himself. Gigil na siya. "Of course, he knew. That's impossible since he saw us once in our dating place!"

"I don't think he won't be curious if the girl introduces me as a relative or something!" he was now pissed.

"And you confronted them? Especially the girl because I'm sure if she didn't cheat on you, this mess will never occur." I asked, I'm trying to be reasonable here.

If you think about it, the other guy was just clueless if ever the girl denied Tres in front of him. But if ever he knew, then he's a jerk.

"Nagsuntukan sila noong isang linggo. Sinugod ba naman sa dating place nila. Doon kasi dinala ni Ateng Chararat ang lalaki niya kaya nakatikim ng flying spike." Frat laughed for the nickname he used for the girl.

"Buti hindi mo napuruhan?" I asked and sipped on my drink. Medyo malamig na rin dahil sa kwento ni Tres.

Ubos na ang pagkain ni Frat dahil bukod sa alam na niya ang kwento, pagod na ata siyang marinig ang love life ni Tres.

"Muntik na, buti napigilan ako nito." Tinuro ni Tres si Frat. "Umiyak rin si Danica kaya hindi ko na nasundan ang suntok ko."

Oh, so that girl named Danica. Pangalan pa lang mukhang mataray at hindi kayang i-handle si Tres base na rin sa palagi nilang pagtatalo noon.

We talked about different things after that. Bunot si Frat sa sumunod na oras kaya siya ang pinagtatawanan namin kapag nagkwekwento siya sa away nila noong isa pang atenean.

It was just a pity fight. Parang sa amin lang din ni Uno. Wala namang kailangang pagbatian dahil inis lang naman ang nararamdaman na minsang nagiging galit depende sa sitwasyon. But then, it's a one sided rage so there is no need for us to forgive each other.

When the clock rolled in twelve midnight, Frat decided to go home. Malapit lang naman ang bahay nila dahil tulad nga ng sabi ko, malapit lang sa Ateneo ang convenience store ni Lola.

Tres also go with Frat dahil hindi naman kalayuan ang bahay nila mula rito. I offered them a ride but they refused. Inaya rin nila ako kaso parang ayokong umuwi.

Hindi ako inaantok. Bagay na napapansin ko kapag nandito ako sa store. Crazy.

Tumayo ako para magikot-ikot sa mga shelf. I wore my hoodie na kinuha ko pa sa kotse ko kaya hindi na masyadong malamig ang aircon.

Nang makarating ako sa shelf na malapit sa counter ay napansin kong busy nga siyang magguhit sa isang puting illustration na nakalatag sa lamesa.

Mukhang iyon ang nakalagay sa drafting tube niya kanina. He's listening to music because he was still wearing the headset.

Nagulat ako nang lumabas ang isang staff mula sa office na bitbit ang bag. Mukhang hindi ako nakita dahil diretsong lumapit kay Uno sa counter.

"Uno, mauuna na ako. Nasa labas na sundo ko, eh. Bumili kana ng pagkain mo, may iniwan anong pera sa loob ha." sabi ng staff which I assume the name was Loxi. Nakalimutan ko rin ang mukha pero sa boses, mukhang siya nga 'yon.

"Naku, 'wag na, 'Te Loxi. Busog pa naman po ako." He answered, narrowing his eyes on the tables.

"Hindi ko tinanong kung gutom ka or busog, ang sabi ko kumain ka! Oh, siya, alis na ako." Iyon na ang huling binilin ni Loxi at lumabas na sa store.

So, hindi pa siya kumakain? It was so late in the evening and yet he was prioritizing his work and school projects?

As a man who always believe that rest should be prioritize so health wouldn't be damaged.

Kumuha ako ng isang meal order at drinks sa ref tsaka ako lumapit sa counter at nilagay iyon sa harap niya kasama ang card ko. Nagulat pa siya ng makita ako pero agad ring pinunch ang pinamili ko. Marami 'yon kasi kumuha rin ako ng akin dahil nagutom ako bigla.

Nang maibalik na ang card ko ay saka ko tinulak palapit sa kaniya ang pagkain at inumin.

He looked confused and even knitted his forehead.

"Eat." That's the only word I said and proceeded to my table earlier to eat mine.

Hinayaan ko na siya at hindi na nilingon ang counter para hindi na siya makapanlaban pa pero nagulat nalang ako nang may biglang magbaba ng pagkain sa harap ko.

"Salamat. Makiki-table na rin ako." He smiled a little, just enough to lighten the mood.