Apricity (Published under PSICOM)

1st

Einj:

noted on that, Doc! :)

Wala kong natanggap na text mula kay Davion at hindi naman na nakakagulat iyon. He's lazy as fuck and would rather play than reply. I'm not even sure if he opens or checks his inbox.

Elcid:

Tapos na. Hinahanda ko na lang ang supplies para sa shop bago magpahinga. Ikaw?

Saka ko lang nabalikan ang bukod na usapan namin ni Elcid nang pumasok ang panibagong text. Pinindot ko iyon at dinala ako sa thread ng messages namin mula pa kanina.

Einj:

Nag-dinner na rin :) Tulog na si Aria?

Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras noong makatulog ako. We're trying to make the most of the remaining vacation days dahil madalas ay pare-pareho kaming abala tuwing pasukan.

"Sinong okay na prof sa Hist?" Adea asked while her eyes are fixed on the laptop screen.

Nasa bahay kami nila Davion ngayon habang si Adea ay abala na sa pag-aayos ng class schedule niya. She has to do it ahead of time dahil wala na siyang panahon para roon sa oras na magsimula ang training nila.

"Hindi pa ko nagte-take ng Hist. I can't recommend anyone," wika ko.

Bumaling ako kay Elcid. He simply shrugged.

"Kas ang kinuha ko.. Hindi ako sigurado kung pareho lang ang instructors,"

"Ikaw," lumingon si Adea kay Davion. "Prof mo tong Libero last sem di ba? Kunin ko ba?"

"Ge kunin mo. Kahit may insomnia ka, makakatulog ka." his eyes didn't even leave his phone.

Binato siya ng unan ni Adea. "Taenang 'yan. Wala kang kwenta mag-BS Valorant ka na lang,"

"This is PUBG though," pagtatama niya.

Halos umusok ang ilong ni Adea. "Wala kong pake."

Adea is usually composed and the most rational among us. Yun nga lang ay tila naglalaho ang pagiging level-headed niya tuwing nayayamot kay Davion. Maraming bagay ang hindi nila pinagkakasunduan. While Adea is often mature, Davion just lives his life as he pleases.

"Fuck!" sumulpot si Cal mula sa kitchen patungo sa pwesto namin sa living room.

"Ang hirap pag-in love, bigla-bigla na lang napapangiti habang nagsasaing." sumalampak siya sa couch. "Tangina ni Aysen nagulat ako, nakangiti habang nakatitig sa bigas,"

Ngumisi si Davion, nakatutok pa rin sa laro. "Naol,"

"Naol amputa. Di ba may girlfriend ka rin?"

"As if naman seryoso yan." irap ni Adea. "But speaking of Aysen and his lovelife... nasa law school na rin ngayon si Hyacinth diba? Yet they're going strong? Damn that's my kinda relationship goal right there,"

That's true. I'm also one of the biggest fan of Aysen and Hya's relationship. Ilang taon na rin sila at ngayon ay unti-unti na nilang naaabot ang mga pangarap nila. It's Aysen's second year in med school while Hya's now on her first year in law. 

Although Aysen is the eldest among us, we just got used in calling him by his name through the years of growing up together in the same neighborhood. Si Hya naman ay sinanay na rin kaming wag syang tawaging Ate dahil mas mainam daw iyon.

"Pag nagkataon, their kids are gonna be loaded. Imagine having top-notch Doctor and Lawyer as your parents... Gago, Aysen paampon!" sigaw ni Cal.

I can't help but laugh.

Totoo naman, Aysen is truly an inspiration. His family is not well-off kung kaya't noon pa lang ay kinupkop na siya ng pamilya nila Davion para suportahan hanggang sa pag-aaral niya ng medisina. Kapatid ng Mommy ni Davion ang Tatay ni Aysen so they're technically first cousins.

Aysen doesn't want to live off their wealth for free so he runs all the errands in this household. Tingin ko nga ay mas marami pa siyang ginagawa kaysa sa mga mismong kasambahay at driver nila Davion.

"Nag-eenrol ka na Dea?" dumungaw si Cal sa ginagawa ni Adea. "Ilang units kukunin niyo?"

We briefly talked about our plans for the coming semester. Kung anong mga subjects ang ieenlist pati na ang ilang electives na pwede kaming maging magkakaklase.

Elcid, however, was just silent all throughout. Our friends may have noticed it too. I can't help but fall silent as realization hit me. Right.

Bumaling sa kaniya si Adea.

"Tuloy na ba talaga, Elcid? Hindi ka muna mag-eenrol this year?"

From my peripheral vision, I saw him nodded a bit.

Cal's lips parted. "Bro, I told you, our parents could help-"

"Huwag na..." his face was serious as it always is. "Sapat na lahat ng natulong niyo samin. I don't think I can ask for more,"

Binalot kami ng katahimikan.

Things have been so rough for Elcid in the past year. I couldn't even imagine it happening to me.

Tumikhim siya.

"Also.. we're planning to sell the house,"

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

Napansin ko ring natigilan sa paglalaro si Davion.

"What?" Adea's forehead knotted.

"You can't be serious."

I can see something within Elcid's eyes but he was trying to conceal it with his impassive facade.

"Nakahanap na ng bibili yung broker... In a week or two, lilipat na kami."