The Crazy Things I Did for Love

First Female Friend

Chapter Five

First Female Friend

He was driving home from Ike’s studio. Doon sya naka tulog kagabi dahil sa subrang kalasingan. Nasa may corner na sya ng park ng mahagip ng kanyang paningin ang isang babaeng nag jo-jogging. She looked familiar…

Is it Grae Allison? What in the whole wide world is she doing outside in this freaking early, cold morning?

Nag preno sya at hininaan ang takbo ng kanyang kotse ng malagpasan nya na ito…si Allison nga. Saan pala ito naka tira? Takang tanong ni Ash…and just went by.

Hindi nya mapigil na di tingnan ito sa kanyang rear view mirror…hanggang sa nawala na ito.

He took a deep breath…he’s going crazy. Bakit ba kasi ang babaeng yun lagi nalang nyang naiisip.

SHE WAS BOTHERING HIM SO MUCH. She was bothering him, kahit pa nasa harapan nya ito o wala.

Lagi itong nakikisiksik sa kanyang isip.

Napabuga ito ng hangin at napasuklay ang kamay nito sa kanyang buhok…He dialled Aries’ number.

After numerous rings, Aries answered…

“Ash, this is very early…” anang sagot sa kabilang linya...halatang naistorbo sa gising.

“I know, Aries. I just wanted to ask you something…”

“Yeah, what’s that…ang aga naman ata ng Q & A portion natin…go…”

“I want to make that Transferee girl my friend. What do I do?”

“Friend or Girlfriend?” natawang sagot ng kabilang linya.

“C’mon I clearly said a friend. She’s not my type.”

“Okay, sinabi mo, e… your first female friend…interesting.”

“Whatever. So what do I do?”

“You befriend her…”

“What the hell, how do I do that…I always seemed to threathen her, not befriend her.”

 “Just stay with her, when she needed you, talk to her, be nice to her.”

“Aww, we both know I’m far from being nice.”

“If she’s worth trying it, then why not? Alam ko namang hindi ka nalang puro galit at angas e. Remember, you have to be nice to her, she saved your life…while others are wishing you’re dead at that time…hindi na nya yun inisip…nor did she think of herself…hindi na nya inisip na baka malunod na rin sya while saving you. Come to think of it.”

“Pinapa konsensya mo ba ako?”

“Teka, meron ka ba non?” and he laughed.

“Damn you!”

“Good morning, Ash…gotta go.” And he heard a girl’s voice in the background…

Argh, that guy!

He looked at the rearview mirror…he’d be nice to her? Baka naman magtaka ‘to, isiping may sapi s’ya o may sakit…ah, he’d befriend her in ways he knows. Nag U-turn sya para puntahan si Grae.

***

Sabado ng umaga. Maaga syang gumising dahil uuwi sya sa kanilang bahay....pero bago umuwi ay nag jogging muna sya sa kanyang route. Mula bahay papuntang park, balik sa bahay.

Sinuot nya yung kanyang running shorts na puti at yung kulay maroon na sweat shirt nya at running shoes at nagsimulang mag jog. 5:30 na iyon ng umaga kaya hindi na rin madilim.