CHAPTER 24 - DESERVE
I never thought a simple reunion could feel this warm again.
After years of chasing deadlines and surviving sleepless nights at the firm, I am finally here, sitting on Nica’s couch, surrounded by the same people who once stayed up with me for review sessions and heartbreak talk.
The air smelled like home-cooked meals and laughter, the kind that echoed louder than the old pop songs playing in the background.
"Cheers to our CPA!" Madie raised her glass with the same chaotic energy she had back in college.
"You’ve been saying that for three years now," I said as I raised my glass for a toast.
"And I’ll keep saying it until you stop looking like an overworked auditor!" she said, giggling.
Palagi nalang talaga nila akong inaasar. Mukha daw kasi akong auditor na kontrabida ng mga accountants.
"Because I am an overworked auditor," I laughed, sipping my drink. "Ang hobby ko nalang ngayon ay ang magbayad ng tax na hindi ko alam kung saan na napunta.
Everyone burst into laughter, even Nica, who sat cross-legged on the couch, one hand on her growing belly. Three months pregnant, glowing, and still bossing everyone around, especially her husband, Cade.
"What if mag-abroad ka? I swear malaki ang sweldo ng CPA sa ibang bansa," sabi naman ni Madie.
Nica nodded, "True ka diyan."
"Pero paano ba naman niya kasi iiwan si..." Madie looked at me with teasing smile. "So, Julie.."
"Don't even say it." They gasped.
"Oh no, she's deflecting! So totoo nga ang chika!" Madie laughed. "After all your drunk sessions! Omg, it's true nga!"
"What's true?" I asked innocently, already knowing where this was headed.
"That you got back with Vince!" Madie squealed. Naibuga ko nalang ang wine na iniinom ko.
I pretended not to hear it. Instead, kumuha ako ng tissue at pinunasan ang sahig kung saan naibuga ko ang wine.
"Girl, that's not a soft launch, that's a comeback story." Buti pa 'to si Maya kalmado lang. Itong si Nica at Madie napaka-OA.
"Hoi itigil mo nga 'yan." Hinila ako ni Nica paupo ulit sa sofa. "Don't tell me you're denying Vince?"
"No!" They dramatically gasped. "You guys are unbelievable. Mas nauna niyo pang nalaman na kami na ulit ni Vince kaysa sa family ko."
"Bakit naman hindi? Nagpm lang naman ng picture si Nica ng picture na nakaluhod si Vince sa harap mo." Tumingin ako kay Maya at tumango siya. "Teka, marriage proposal ba 'yun?!" Madie gasped once again.
"No, we just started dating again." My cheeks burned as laughter filled the room.
Nica shook her head, her phone already aimed at us. "If this isn't worth celebrating, I don't know what is. Except I can't drink, so I'll document instead."
"Perfect! Kung kiligin naman kasi 'to si Julie, akala mo kung sinong teenager. 25 years old ka na kaya!" Inirapan ko lang si Madie.
Maya poured each of our glasses, something that I did not expect from her. "For the love restored." She raised her glass for another toast.
"For the love restored!" We said in unison as we clink our glasses.
We continued on drinking wine until naglabas na talaga ng gin si Nica. Well, she did not drink, tanging juice lang ang iniinom niya dahil buntis siya.
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