(The day of acquaintance party.)
Nakatambay kami ngayon nila Seulgi at Jisoo at sa field where the cheerdance team is practicing. Konti nalang din tao sa uni ngayon kasi tonight will be the acquaintance night. We're just actually waiting for Roseanne kasi may quick meeting sila and for you to ask kung bakit ko siya hinihintay, that was actually the thing I asked her to do when we had the deal. Na starting from that day onwards, ako na ang mag-hahatid sundo sakanya so she wouldn't be encountering the same problem ulit. Thus, wala rin naman akong ibang ginagawa so it wouldn't be a problem on my part.
"Do you guys have any date na for tonight?" biglang pag-open up ni Seulgi sa topic kaya napatingin naman ako sa dalawang kasama ko.
"Date?" tanong ko and this time sila naman ang napatingin sakin.
"Yes, date. Like a plus one ganon. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
"Is it really needed?" tanong ko.
"Well in your part, 'di mo naman na ata kailangan mamroblema kasi baka si Rosé lang din naman kasama mo." Seulgi pointed out.
"Ha, 'di mo sure. Knowing our friend, eh hindi nga nagtatanong yan. What if somebody asked Roseanne na pala? tapos hindi ka aware, edi olats ka later?" sabat naman ni Jisoo.
"Speaking," sabi ni Seulgi at tinuro kung nasan si Roseanne being surrounded with different guys.
"Wait up, so all this time, those guys who are approaching her since last week are actually asking her to be their date?" takang tanong ko.
Napailing lang naman Jisoo sakin habang si Seulgi ay hindi makapaniwala na wala akong kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari. Pinagmasdan ko lang naman ang mga lalaking sunod sunod na lumalapit kay Roseanne at masama silang tiningnan.
"Ikaw ba Seul, do you have a date na?" tanong ni Jisoo.
"Yep, I actually asked Irene to be my plus 1, luckily she agreed kasi she's free naman daw." nabaling naman ulit ang tingin ko kay Seulgi.
"Irene? As in, the Irene Bae?" tanong ko.
"Yep." sagot nito. "Wait, isn't she from other school? Pwede ba 'yon?" tanong ko.
"Yes. Sinabi naman na you can bring anyone as your plus one kahit na they're from outside the school.
Irene Bae is actually Seulgi's long time crush. We actually met her from one of Seulgi's shoot when they recrui her to model sa OXGN. Irene is one of the recruits din and she have been partnered with Seulgi that time at ang gago, na-love at first sight daw. They've known each other for a year already pero itong kaibigan ko torpe parin. Although, they have been in touch naman and they've been going out in a few "friendly" dates daw.
"How about you, Chu?" tanong ko.
"Oh, Jennie's going with me." sabi niya na kinagulat namin ni Seulgi.
"Whaaat? So Jennie even went home for this, teka, kailan pa siya nakauwi????" manghang tanong ni Seulgi at natawa lang naman ang kaibigan namin.
"Last night." sagot ni Jisoo. "And you didn't even bother telling us??! grabe namiss ko rin si rugbyjane no! kahit ang sungit sungit non tsaka napaka-arte." Seulgi huffed.
"We missed each other kaya sinolo ko muna siya, plus makikita niyo rin naman siya later."
Jennie Kim. She is actually Jisoo's girlfriend. They've been in love with each other since high school, actually magkakaklase kami since elem pero nang mag college kami, Jennie's family decided to move to New York because of their business. Hindi naman naging hadlang yun para sa relationship nila, actually they still stayed in love with each other despite of the distance. Napaka-supportive lang din talaga ni Jennie kay Jisoo kasi umuuwi siya dito sa Pinas from time to time para samahan si Jisoo sa mga ganap niya sa buhay. Ganun din naman si Jisoo, she would to NYC to visit Jennie, ganun sila ka-strong.
"Grabe, you lucky son of a bitch." sabi ni Seulgi at natawa lang kami ni Jisoo.
Hindi naman namin namamalayang nasa harap na pala namin si Roseanne. She's only wearing black cropped top, topped with a blue hoodie and a boyfriend jean. She removed her cap at hinawi ang buhok na humaharang sa mukha niya tsaka naupo sa tabi ko.
"What are you guys talking about?" pagsali nito sa usapan namin.
I handed her a bottled of water and a handkerchief for her to swipe her sweat away at 'di naman nakawala sa paningin ko ang simpleng pagtitinginan ng dalawang kaibigan ko.
"Wala naman, just our dates for tonight." sagot ni Jisoo.
"Oh. Okay." simpleng sagot ng babaeng katabi ko at ininom na ang tubig na iniabot ko sakanya.
"How about you Roseanne, do you already have—" hindi naman natapos ni Seulgi ang sasabihin niya nang may lumapit samin na isang lalaki with wide smile printed on his face.
Oh I know this guy, he's actually from the same class as mine. What was his name again?
"Hi Roseanne." bati niya sa katabi ko. Napatingin lang din naman kaming apat sa lalaki nang nag abot ito ng bouquet of roses sa katabi ko.
"Oh, hi Jaehyun. Uhm, thank you for this, I guess?" alangan namang sagot nito.
"Yeah, well hindi na ako magpapaligoy ligoy pa, I heard kasi na wala ka pa daw date for tonight's acquaintance party?" nanliit naman ang mata kong tiningnan ang lalaki.
"Oh, who said that?" tanong naman ni Roseanne.
"Uhh, my friend Taeyong, from the basketball team." sagot nito. "Yeah, so that's why I wanna ask sana if you wanna be my date—"
"Actually I do have a date na eh. Didn't the other guys from the field told you that kanina?" sabi niya at itinuro ang kinaroroonan ng mga lalaking nag-approach sakanya kanina.
"Uhh? pardon?"
"She's actually here, my date. Lisa." sabi nito at sabay sabay naman silang napatingin sakin.
"Oh." sabi naman ni Jaehyun at tinignan ako.
"Sorry pare, I didn't know. Sige una na din ako. Have a great day, Roseanne." tugon nito at bumuntong hininga pa bago naglakad papalayo.
Nagpalipat lipat naman ang tingin ni Jisoo at Seulgi at samin ng katabi ko while waiting for an explanation kaya tumikhim ako.
"Why did you say that?" tanong ko.
"Said what?" takang tanong mo.
"That I'm your date." gulat ka namang napatingin sakin while you dramatically put your hand on top of your chest.
"Grabe, did you really not consider me to be your date??" nagtatakang tanong mo kaya mas lalo pa kaming naguluhan ng mga kaibigan ko.
"Well, I never asked you?" sagot ko and you glared at me. "..yet. I haven't asked you yet." tuloy ko.
"Did you know how many guys asked me to be their date since the announcement but I rejected all of them kasi nga I already considered you to be my date. It's like, I don't even need to wait you to ask me kasi it's already been decided that way. Like, automatic na yon." you said and rolled your eyes at me.
"Sussss. Yun naman pala eh, Rosè pagpasensyahan mo na itong kaibigan namin, pinanganak kasing insensitive yan." sabat ni Seulgi and they both high-fived.
Pasimple lang naman akong nangiti at matamang pinigilan ang sarili after I processed what you just said.
"Oh oh ano yang nginingiti ngiti mo jan, tangina mo kinikilig ka ba?" sabi ni Jisoo at binato ako ng dahon. Sinamaan ko lang naman siya ng tingin pero she just sticked her tongue out to tease me.
"Sinong kinikilig?" interested na tanong mo.
"Si Lisa daw." natatawang sabat ni Seulgi pero you only rolled your eyes at me.
"Gago." sabi ko naman at binato ng bottled water si Seulgi at agad na sinalo ito para hindi matamaan sa mukha.
"Aba gago, nananakit. Tama yan Roseanne, irapan mo lang yan akalain mo hindi ka pala cinonsider as her date."
"True. Siguro may iba siyang gusto maging date." pagsasang-ayon mo naman kay Seulgi kaya sinamaan ko kayo ng tingin.
"Bakit, sino ba gusto mo maging date, Lis? Don't tell me you're meaning to ask your ex." paggatong naman ni Jisoo.
"Can you shut up? tsaka wala akong ex."
"Wehh, wala daw ex, Seul." sabi ni Jisoo at humagalpak ang dalawa sa kakatawa. Interested ka naman ulit sa usapan kaya nakisali ka.
"Sino ba ex ni Lisa? Gwapo ba?" tanong mo kaya mas lalo pang natawa ang dalawa.
"What do you mean gwapo? allergic sa hakdog yan si Lisa. Maganda kamo." sagot ni Jisoo and even winked at me.
"What? akala ko ba straight ka???" takang tanong mo sakin.
"Wala akong sinabing straight ako."
"But I can still clearly remember what you said to me before nung sinabi ko na I thought you're gay, sabi mo "what made you think na I'm gay?" you mimicked me at gumulong na nga sa damuhan ang dalawa sa kakatawa.
"So all this time, you thought straight si Lisa? Tangina mas baliko pa yan dun sa kanto papasok sa subdivision niyo." natatawang tanong ni Seulgi.
"Tangina hahahahaha. Gago tama na, ang sakit na ng tiyan ko pffffttttt."
"Mga gago. Hindi ba kayo titigil?" inis na pagsuway ko sa dalawa kaya nanahimik naman sila at umayos na ng upo.
"So it's a she? Yung ex ni Lisa, i mean? Sino ba yun?" tanong mo ulit.
"She's not my ex nga—"
"Manahimik ka, I am not talking to you." pagputol mo sa akin.
"Krystal Jung. BSMT, 2nd year college. Class 1-A." sagot ni Jisoo. I know they're not gonna drop this topic kaya sa inis ko ay tumayo na ako.
"Bahala nga kayo jan." pikon na sabi ko at nagsimula nang maglakad papalayo.
"Hey, Lisa! Joke lang eh! Hintayin mo kami!" pahabol na sigaw ni Seulgi pero hinayaan ko nalang sila at nagdire-diretso sa paglalakad.
Tahimik lang akong nagd-drive not minding you na kanina pa nakatingin sakin.
"Hey, sorry na nga kasi. I was just trying to tease you naman." rinig kong sabi mo pero hindi kita pinansin.
"Lisaaaaaa, sorry na ngaaaaa." pangungulit mo pa at hinatak hatak ang isang braso ko.
"Tigil nga. Do you want us to get into an accident?" pagalit na tugon ko sayo.
"Eh sorry na nga kasi. Hindi mo naman kasi ako pinapansin hmpp." pagmamaktol mo.
"Oo na, wag ka nang makulit jan." sagot ko at nakita ko naman ang pagngiti mo.
"Bati na tayo? You're not angry na?"
"Bati amputa, what are you? 5?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ko sayo.
"KJ." I heard you muttered. "Anyway, daan ka muna sa condo mo so we can get your clothes, dun ka nalang sa bahay mag-ayos. I'll help you." pag-oopen mo ng panibaging topic at tumango lamang ako.
As we got in your place, dumiretso muna tayo sa kwarto mo para tumambay. I picked up your nintendo switch that was placed on top of your table tsaka comfortable na humiga sa bed mo. Maaga pa naman, it's still 4 pm and 8 pa ang start ng party, we decided to rest for a while muna at mag prepare nalang by the time 6 strikes.
Ikaw naman ay nagsalpak ng earphones tsaka nahiga sa tabi ko.
"I'll take a nap muna, I'm tired. Just wake me up pag 6 na." sabi mo at tumango nalang din ako.
🎶 Sunday morning, rain is falling
Steal some covers, share some skin 🎶
I got woken up by the alarm na I set a while ago. Inatake din kasi ako ng antok kaya natulog na rin ako. Marahan kong kinusot ang aking mata when I felt something heavy on top of me. I lifted my body a little only to see you hugging me so tightly with your head on top of my chest. Pati sa pagtulog ang clingy mo parin.
I lightly tap your shoulder to wake you up.
"Roseanne, 6 na." I said pero you only buried your face more.
"Hey, we're gonna be late if we still don't prepare for now." sabi ko kaya tamad ka namang naupo with your eyes still closed.
Ilang minuto pa before you finally stood up at nagtungo sa bathroom.
(fast forward)
We are now dressed with our chosen outfits. 7:30 na rin. You just finished tying my tie and went back in front of your make up table to do a retouch. Naupo naman ako sa may bed and wore my patent leather shoes.
"I'm done." sabi ko at tumayo na.
"Come here, let me put some lip balm on your lips." lumapit naman ako sayo at nilagyan ng kung ano ang labi ko. You popped your lips gesturing me to do the same and so I did.
I observed you wearing that black, crystal cutout drapped dress. That's the same dress na I told you is still your best find. You eventually end up buying it and I didn't know what made you changed your mind. Pero one thing is for sure, you totally look good in that dress and I know na you'll be the prettiest among the rest once we arrived in the venue.
"All set?" tanong ko at tumango ka naman.
"Let's go." sabi ko pero held my wrist at kinuha ang camera na nakalagay sa taas ng table.
"Let's take a picture muna." sabi mo as you leaned your head a little closer to mine. This feels like deja vu.
Naaalala ko nanaman yung nangyari sa mall last time. All the feels came back rushing to my body as I stared at our reflection towards the mirror. I put my hand around your waist tsaka ka hinapit papalapit.
"There, we look good together nga." sabi ko tsaka nangiti when you click the camera.