The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 28: Not Slowing Down

"He said he lost it," she told her friend. "Ang pangit tingnan, di ba?"

They're not exactly obsessive-compulsive, but little things like that missing bullet can be bothersome. Lalo na't eksakto ang espasyong inilaan sa mga bala tapos kinulang ng isa. It's like a misplaced tile, a glaring eye sore.

"Did he tell you the story?" tanong ni Mickey.

"About that?" Iisa lang yata sila ng nasa isip dahil tumango ito. "Yes, he did."

"What's that?" kunot-noong tanong ni Aika. "Ano'ng pinag-uusapan nyo?"

"Bawal sa bata," sagot ni Mickey.

Ngumuso ang kaibigan niya. "I'm already 26! Mas bata pa sa 'kin si Fresia, 'no!"

"I meant emotionally young," Mickey retorted. "Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba? Hindi pa, di ba? So you're emotionally immature."

"Writer ako! I know about romance!"

Mickey laughed mockingly. "No, you don't."

Aika stomped her foot in protest. Pumagitna siya sa dalawa bago pa mag-away ang mga ito. She promised Aika that she will tell her when she sits down. Naupo naman ito kaagad. Mickey sat on the coffee table across Aika. Si Felix naman ay mukhang gusto ring makisali. Manang Sinyang left a while ago. Pagkatapos nitong ipagluto si Felix ay sumibat na ito para gumawa ng ibang bagay.

"Bullet told me that he cheated on Leila," simula niya.

Aika looked so surprised. "He did?! Di ba, once a cheater, always a cheater?"

Mickey shook his head. "This is why you can't be in a conversation with us adults."

Her friend glared at him. "I am an adult!"

She rolled her eyes. "Can't you two keep it down?"

Aika apologized. She continued telling the story of what Bullet did to Leila. Nang sabihin niya ang dahilan ay binawi ni Aika ang una nitong sinabi.

"But what does it have to do with the missing Bullet?" lito nitong tanong.

Nagkatinginan sina Felix at Mickey. Do they something about it?

"Sobrang importante sa kanya no'n. It was his father's. Plano sana niyang ibigay 'yon kay Leila pero bigla namang nawala," Mickey explained.

"Tingin namin, kinuha 'yon no'ng babae."

"Did she?" she asked.

Felix shook his head. "Hindi namin alam. Sabi raw kasi no'ng babae, wala itong kinukuha. But we'll never know."

"Why not? He can ask her again."

Nagkibit-balikat si Mickey. "Maybe he didn't want to."

"Well... you could ask her," she suggested. Gusto na rin tuloy niyang hanapin ang nawawalang bala. Importante iyon kay Bullet. She's sure he'd want it back.

"We never met her. We didn't even know her name," Mickey told her. "Bullet kept her in the dark because he was ashamed of what he did to Leila."

Felix then told them how Bullet met Leila. Kaibigan daw ito ng on and off girlfriend ni Felix, na currently ay ex na naman nito. They just broke up a few months ago. Maybe it's why he's not entertaining the thought of getting together with Mona. That or he just doesn't like her friend. Either way, wala pang pag-asa sa ngayon ang kaibigan niya.

Marami pa sana siyang gustong malaman kaso ay dumating na sina Mona. Agad siyang tumakbo palapit kay Bullet na sinalubong naman siya ng yakap.

"Bakit ang tagal nyo?" tanong niya sa dalawa.

"Kinausap nya pa kasi 'yong mga cook sa restaurant. Tinatanong 'yong family recipes namin. Wala namang nagbigay sa kanya."

"Ang higpit ng pamilya nila, grabe!" reklamo ni Mona. "When you two get married, promise me that you'll give me the recipe," sabi nito sa kanya.

"Just give me your cupcake recipe and I'll give you what you want," Bullet negotiated.

"No way!"

"Akala ko ba next of kin lang ang pwedeng makakuha? So kamag-anak nyo lahat ang nagluluto sa restaurant?" kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"Parang gano'n na rin. After my father died, grandma adopted two boys and raised them as her own. Anak ni Manang Sinyang 'yong isa. Hirap kasi sila dati kaya kinailangang ipaampon 'yong anak ni Manang. Sila na ngayon 'yong nagluluto do'n."

"So pwede nyo ngang ibigay ang recipe sa ibang tao," singit ni Mona.

"Yes, but I'm not going to give it to you unless you give me your cupcake recipe," mariing sabi ni Bullet.

"The restaurant is still yours, right?" paninigurado naman niya.

"It is... if I want it."

"Do you want it?"

"I don't know. I just want to cook for my future wife and kids," nakangiti nitong sabi.

Mona grunted. "Pwede ba! Maghiwalay nga kayo!"

Imbes na sundin ang utos nito ay ikinawit niya ang mga braso sa batok ni Bullet para inisin ang kaibigan. Yumuko naman ang lalaki para halikan siya sa pisngi. While the others were laughing and teasing them, Mona looked actually annoyed.

Hinila siya nito palayo kay Bullet.

"Bitter mo talaga!"

"Jusko, beh! Sino'ng hindi mabi-bitter sa inyo? Kulang na lang magkapalit kayo ng mukha. Palagi kayong nakapulupot sa isa't isa!"

"Kasi kami!" dahilan niya. "Alangan namang palagi kaming magkalayo?"

She reached out for Bullet but Mona pulled her further away from him.

--

Diterminado si Mona na paglayuin silang dalawa ni Bullet. Kapit-kapit siya nito sa braso kahit saan ito magpunta. Nang magpunta sila sa kusina para maturuan nina Manang Sinyang kung paano magluto ay bantay-sarado siya ng kaibigan. She's standing near the counter with Mona and Aika. Nakaupo naman sina Mickey at Felix, tumutulong sa paghihiwa at pagbabalat ng mga sahog. Bullet's with his grandma, speaking in Kapampangan while making a steamed dessert.

She'd occasionally glance at Bullet and would smile when she catches him already looking. Si Mona naman ay dadalihan siya ng hampas sa braso.

"You'll cut your finger!" sabi nito sa kanya.

"Sa dessert na lang kasi ako tutulong."

Mona rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Ang landi mo, alam mo 'yon?" mahina nitong sabi.

Sumimangot siya. "Malandi na agad? Hindi ba pwedeng masaya lang?"

"Your eyes sparkle a lot these days," seryoso nitong sabi.

She couldn't help but smile. It should be illegal to be this happy.

"Do you love him?" pabulong nitong tanong.

Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot. Looking at him from across the room, watching him do what he does, it does something to her. It makes her indescribably happy, but at the same time, makes her heart ache for some reason.

"I don't know," she told her friend. "It's too soon to tell."

"You know what..." Mona placed her hand on her shoulder and whispered, "I think you already do."