Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Twelve

"Get to work. Marami pa tayong dapat gawin," Ara said, blinking her remaining tears away.

Gusto ko sana siya i-comfort, she's still my... well, I don't know if I could call her a 'friend' pero, she's still my...acquaintance?

"Ara, if you need..." I paused for a moment. "An acquaintance, nandito lang ako," I said, trying to comfort her.

I saw Ara smirk a little. "Acquaintance? Grabe naman 'yun."

Napa-smile ako, seeing her loosen up. 'Di naman kasi ako sanay na nakikita siyang umiiyak, even before. "Eh, 'di ko naman alam kung 'friends' na ba tayo... ulit," Nag-aalanganin kong sabi.

Finally, she chuckled. "Friends na tayo... ulit. At least in my perspective."

"Talaga?" I said with a smile. "Edi friends na nga tayo."

"Friends," Ara said.

"Yup!" I said enthusiastically. "So, if you ever need a friend, I'm here."

She smiled, nodded and started typing on her computer. "Thanks, pero, trabaho muna. Mamaya na lang yung kadramahan kung may time pa."

I smiled in reply and walked towards my desk. Sinabi niya na yung kailangan kong gawin, which is monitoring the deadlines for the production of the new running shoes. Friday ngayon, and next week would be busy, according to Ara, kasi sa may factory kami mag-w'work at dun namin i-m'monitor yung progress nung bagong running shoes.

I made a chart para dun ko i-r'record 'yung progress nung production for each day next week, kasi Friday next week ang deadline. This was the most work I had to do, well, eto kasi 'yung unang beses na may pinagawa sa akin si Ara besides getting coffee for her. Nakakapagod, pero, it was okay. At least hindi na ako bored.

We ended up doing too much work na hindi na nagka-time para makwento ni Ara kung anong nangyari kanina between her and her parents. It was okay, I sensed din naman na hindi pa siya ready sabihin.

Nang mag-5:32 pm na, pinauwi na ako ni Ara since malapit na rin naman siya matapos sa ginagawa niya. I waved goodbye at her and made my way to the elevator. I texted Jerome habang nasa elevator ako, and it turns out, mga 6:30 pa raw siya papauwiin ng boss niya. Nagtataka nga raw si Jerome e, kanina good mood boss niya, then after lunch, parang bigla na lang naging galit sa mundo.

Well, wala naman na ako magagawa since nasa baba na ako and nakakatamad pang umakyat ulit, so tumambay muna ako sa Starbucks.

Maraming tao, pero 'di kasingdami 'pag umaga. I went and ordered myself a Caramel Frappe and sat on the empty seat on the far corner. I took my phone out and used my 3G (kahit sobrang bagal), to browse through my social media.

I checked my Twitter notifications to make sure na wala na ulit ginawang kababalaghan si mysterious person na nag-take ng mysterious picture namin ni Ara nung Wednesday. My notifications were the usual, 30+ ngayon pero wala namang kahit anong mysterious photo. I liked a few of the tweets that were addressed to me and took a sip of my Caramel Frappe.

Tomorrow's Saturday, so makakapaghinga na rin. Not that maraming pinapagawa si Ara, wala nga siya pinapagawa e, what I meant was, makakapaghinga na rin ako sa cringe-worthy and awkward meetings namin ni Ara. It's so hard to come face-to-face with the person I've been most close with during my college days, and not even talk to each other about it. Yes, we mention a bit about the past, pero, ang hirap e. Ang hirap na nag-p'pretend na hindi kami nagkasakitan noon, and that, it could possibly happen again.

Anywaaay, napasandal ako sa chair kasi I've never been this tired after a day at work. I'd decided to close my eyes and take a little nap (kahit medyo maingay dito sa Starbucks at rinig na rinig 'yung mga nagdadaanang kotse sa labas). About a minute into my nap, however, I was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"It's a strange place to take a nap," The voice said. Napamulat ako, and it was none other than Ara. "Maingay, maraming tao, and your chair's a bit uncomfortable, I mean, 'di ka ba magkaka-stiff neck nyan?" She sat on the chair in front of me as she held her usual brewed coffee in one hand.

"Since when did you care about my comfort?" I said jokingly. Ara smirked and shook her head a bit. "Besides, pinagod mo kaya ako." I added as Ara laughed. Second time ko pa lang yata nakita siyang tumawa nang ganyan after three years-- yung totoong tawa, na parang wala siyang pinoproblema. Seeing it now for the second time (the first one was when pinagtatawanan niya ako sa sinabi kong 'may some sort of connection'), I realized that I've almost forgotten how she looked like 'pag masaya siya.

I know I've said we had awkward and cringe-worthy meetings, pero, I don't know why, but, this one's different. Maybe because we meet in a different environment than her office or in the building. Or baka kasi we're finally talking as to how real friends should.

"You are my friend, kaya syempre, I care about you!" She casually said as she took a sip of her brewed coffee.

Napatingin ako sa kanya but she wasn't looking at me, she was looking outside, watching the cars pass by. Napatingin ako sa buhok niya, and it was how I exactly remembered it, short and shaved on the sides. Sobrang hindi bagay sa kanya. Feeling ba cool siya tignan 'pag ganyan kaiksi buhok niya? Gosh.

Suddenly my gaze shifted to her face, and at that moment, it was how I exactly remembered it too-- blooming (kahit kailangan mong tignan nang mabuti para makita 'yung pagka-blooming), matangos na ilong (kahit din'deny niya), makapal na lips (that she manages to pull off), and deep black eyes. Yup, that's pretty much the same Ara Galang three years ago. Except for one thing.

"Anyway, I have to go," She said, standing up. "See you on Monday!"

I smiled and waved my hand at her. "See you."

She's just not the same, clingy, madaldal, friendly Ara I remember. I mean, yes, I saw her being madaldal nung chin'check namin 'yung bagong deliver na soles, pero, nagiging madaldal siya dahil hindi siya nauubusan ng kailangang sabihin, not because hindi siya nauubusan ng pwedeng sabihin. Plus, yes, we're friends now, but it took her two days to befriend me? The friendly Ara I know becomes friends with anyone she meets in a minute. Not in two days.

Yes, maybe she has changed, and maybe it's for the better, pero, could I really spend my time with her, noticing every little detail that has changed for the past three years?

Jusko, ano bang kaartehan 'to Mika Aereen. Ang gulo, nakaka-confuse, even for me. All I know is, ano naman if she'd changed? I can still spend my time with her, 'wag ko lang gawing habit na i-compare 'yung present Ara sa past Ara, 'cause that will really disappoint me.

Okay, Mika, kaya mo 'to. Besides, Ara's getting there, right? She's not totally the same Ara, but, okay lang naman 'yun, diba? Kaya ko 'to. Si Mika Reyes 'to e!