Six Degrees Of Separation

Vanishing Act

"Tutuloy ka?" Therese gaped.

"Yeah." Jho said.

"Why are you taking this so lightly?" Jamie looked puzzled.

"We've talked about it," I shrugged. "It's for the best."

"Ha? Bakit naman?" Mich said.

"Para makatulong muna ako sa amin. Di pa rin nakakabalik sa trabaho si Papa eh." Jho explained.

"How is he, by the way?" Therese asked.

"Better. Thank you." Jho smiled. "Pero mahina pa rin siya at may lapses pa rin sa mobility."

"Still?" Jamie frowned.

"Ganun daw talaga pag mild stroke." Jho shrugged.

"Are you sure that's what you both want?" Jia looked at me seriously.

"Yeah, it's only gonna be for 3 months. No big deal." I said simply.

"But--" Jamie started.

"Seriously, guys. It's cool." I smiled. "Don't fret."

"Kelan alis mo?" Mich asked Jho.

"Sa Monday." Jho replied.

"Oh siya," Therese said. "Lasingin natin ulit si Jho one last time bago niya tayo iwanan."

The rest of the gang murmured in agreement.

"Ano ba kayo," I chuckled. "Di naman magi-ibang bansa si Jho. We'll all be together every weekend anyway."

"Sige na, inom na rin tayo ngayong weekend." Mich goaded.

"As if we need a reason to drink naman." Jamie added.

We all laughed.

"Fine," Jho said. "Manlilibre ako."
The rest of them cheered.

"We miss you already!"

...

Weekend came and as usual, we got faced. Still, everyone had fun. They were all sprawled out on the mattress so Jho and I chose to sleep on my bed. 

We laid in bed, arms locked in an embrace.

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Jho asked me.

"Oo naman." I smiled at her. "Basta babalikan mo ako."

"Oo naman." She kissed my forehead. "Onting tiis lang, okay? Para rin satin 'to."

"I know." I sighed.

"Wag ka magloloko habang wala ako, ha." She held my chin.

"Naku, baka pag balik mo, kami na ni Fel." I joked.

She smacked my face, hard.

"Joke lang po." I rubbed my nose.

"Subukan mo lang, sige." She flared her nose. "Lalandiin ko si Marci."

I snorted. "Go lang. Lakad pa kita eh."

"Bakit,di ka mag seselos?!" She fired up.

"No." She aimed another blow to my face so I hurriedly followed it up. "Because I know you. Di mo kakayaning mag pretend to like someone just to spite me. Remember the scavenger hunt?" I grinned at her.

"Nakayanan ko kaya!" She replied. "Di nga lang ng matagal. Di kita matiis eh."

"You know it, girl." I smirked.

She scoffed. "Yabang."

"Pero mahal mo?" I hugged her tighter.

She smacked my face before nodding.